Critical Defense (FTX™)

A stunning breakthrough in personal defense ammunition design.

Personal defense ammunition is redefined with the introduction of Hornady® Critical Defense™ ammunition. You may have never thought about the effects of fabric and clothing on the performance of personal defense ammo. But clothing — especially heavy clothing — has a lot to do with how the bullet expands upon impact.

It’s a dirty little secret, but conventional hollow point bullets often experience tip clogging as the bullet passes through light and heavy clothing, which diminishes expansion and causes unreliable bullet performance.

Hornady® Critical Defense® ammo eliminates clogging with the use of the patented FTX® (Flex Tip eXpanding) bullet. Upon entering soft tissues, the tip swells and imparts equal pressure across the entire circumference of the bullet cavity. The result is unrivaled bullet expansion and performance every single time!