Hornady Critical Defense .38 Special +P 110gr FTX Ballistics
Nickel-Plated Brass Case • FTX • MPN: 90311
Hornady Critical Defense .38 Special +P 110gr FTX Ballistics
Nickel-Plated Brass Case • FTX • MPN: 90311
Solved from this product's advertised 1090 fps, 110gr bullet and G1 BC 0.131, with the sight 0.5" over the bore at standard conditions. Compare every zero for .38 Special.
How to read it: filled circles are the near and far zero, where the bullet's path crosses the line of sight;the triangle is the peak (max ordinate). The shaded band is the 4" vital zone, ±2" either side of the line of sight. The dashed line marks the edge of the hold-dead-on window. The chart is zoomed to where the zero matters; the tables below run to 100 yards.
.38 Special 110gr with a 10-yard zero
Zeroed at 10 yards with a 0.5" sight height, this load crosses the line of sight at 10 and 32 yards, peaks +0.2" at 21 yards, and is -1.2" at 50 and -10.7" at 100 yards.
| Range (yd) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Wind drift, 10 mph (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -0.5" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1,090 | 290 | 0.1 |
| 5 | -0.2" | -3.89 | -1.13 | 1,078 | 284 | 0.1 |
| 10 | 0.0" | -0.06 | -0.02 | 1,068 | 279 | 0.1 |
| 15 | +0.1" | +0.77 | +0.22 | 1,058 | 273 | 0.2 |
| 20 | +0.2" | +0.82 | +0.24 | 1,048 | 268 | 0.3 |
| 25 | +0.1" | +0.55 | +0.16 | 1,038 | 263 | 0.4 |
| 30 | +0.0" | +0.11 | +0.03 | 1,029 | 259 | 0.5 |
| 35 | -0.2" | -0.42 | -0.12 | 1,020 | 254 | 0.7 |
| 40 | -0.4" | -1.02 | -0.30 | 1,012 | 250 | 0.9 |
| 45 | -0.8" | -1.67 | -0.49 | 1,004 | 246 | 1.1 |
| 50 | -1.2" | -2.35 | -0.68 | 996 | 242 | 1.3 |
| 55 | -1.8" | -3.06 | -0.89 | 988 | 239 | 1.5 |
| 60 | -2.4" | -3.79 | -1.10 | 981 | 235 | 1.8 |
| 65 | -3.1" | -4.55 | -1.32 | 973 | 232 | 2.1 |
| 70 | -3.9" | -5.32 | -1.55 | 966 | 228 | 2.4 |
| 75 | -4.8" | -6.10 | -1.78 | 960 | 225 | 2.7 |
| 80 | -5.8" | -6.90 | -2.01 | 953 | 222 | 3.0 |
| 85 | -6.9" | -7.72 | -2.25 | 947 | 219 | 3.4 |
| 90 | -8.1" | -8.54 | -2.49 | 940 | 216 | 3.8 |
| 95 | -9.4" | -9.38 | -2.73 | 934 | 213 | 4.1 |
| 100 | -10.7" | -10.23 | -2.98 | 928 | 210 | 4.6 |
110gr G1 .131 at 1,090 fps, 0.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight. This load is subsonic from the muzzle, so there is no transonic zone to cross. Source: Manufacturer's advertised velocity and BC.
.38 Special 110gr with a 15-yard zero
Zeroed at 15 yards with a 0.5" sight height, this load crosses the line of sight at 15 and 22 yards, peaks +0.0" at 18 yards, and is -1.6" at 50 and -11.6" at 100 yards.
| Range (yd) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Wind drift, 10 mph (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -0.5" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1,090 | 290 | 0.1 |
| 5 | -0.3" | -4.67 | -1.36 | 1,078 | 284 | 0.1 |
| 10 | -0.1" | -0.84 | -0.24 | 1,068 | 279 | 0.1 |
| 15 | 0.0" | -0.01 | 0.00 | 1,058 | 273 | 0.2 |
| 20 | +0.0" | +0.04 | +0.01 | 1,048 | 268 | 0.3 |
| 25 | -0.1" | -0.23 | -0.07 | 1,038 | 263 | 0.4 |
| 30 | -0.2" | -0.67 | -0.19 | 1,029 | 259 | 0.5 |
| 35 | -0.4" | -1.20 | -0.35 | 1,020 | 254 | 0.7 |
| 40 | -0.8" | -1.80 | -0.52 | 1,012 | 250 | 0.9 |
| 45 | -1.2" | -2.45 | -0.71 | 1,004 | 246 | 1.1 |
| 50 | -1.7" | -3.13 | -0.91 | 996 | 242 | 1.3 |
| 55 | -2.2" | -3.84 | -1.12 | 988 | 239 | 1.5 |
| 60 | -2.9" | -4.58 | -1.33 | 981 | 235 | 1.8 |
| 65 | -3.6" | -5.33 | -1.55 | 973 | 232 | 2.1 |
| 70 | -4.5" | -6.10 | -1.77 | 966 | 228 | 2.4 |
| 75 | -5.4" | -6.89 | -2.00 | 960 | 225 | 2.7 |
| 80 | -6.5" | -7.69 | -2.24 | 953 | 222 | 3.0 |
| 85 | -7.6" | -8.50 | -2.47 | 947 | 219 | 3.4 |
| 90 | -8.8" | -9.33 | -2.71 | 940 | 216 | 3.8 |
| 95 | -10.1" | -10.16 | -2.96 | 934 | 213 | 4.1 |
| 100 | -11.6" | -11.01 | -3.20 | 928 | 210 | 4.6 |
110gr G1 .131 at 1,090 fps, 0.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight. This load is subsonic from the muzzle, so there is no transonic zone to cross. Source: Manufacturer's advertised velocity and BC.
.38 Special 110gr with a 25-yard zero
Zeroed at 25 yards with a 0.5" sight height, this load crosses the line of sight at 13 and 25 yards, peaks +0.1" at 19 yards, and is -1.5" at 50 and -11.3" at 100 yards.
| Range (yd) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Wind drift, 10 mph (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -0.5" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1,090 | 290 | 0.1 |
| 5 | -0.2" | -4.43 | -1.29 | 1,078 | 284 | 0.1 |
| 10 | -0.1" | -0.59 | -0.17 | 1,068 | 279 | 0.1 |
| 15 | +0.0" | +0.23 | +0.07 | 1,058 | 273 | 0.2 |
| 20 | +0.1" | +0.28 | +0.08 | 1,048 | 268 | 0.3 |
| 25 | 0.0" | +0.01 | 0.00 | 1,038 | 263 | 0.4 |
| 30 | -0.1" | -0.43 | -0.12 | 1,029 | 259 | 0.5 |
| 35 | -0.4" | -0.96 | -0.28 | 1,020 | 254 | 0.7 |
| 40 | -0.7" | -1.56 | -0.45 | 1,012 | 250 | 0.9 |
| 45 | -1.0" | -2.21 | -0.64 | 1,004 | 246 | 1.1 |
| 50 | -1.5" | -2.89 | -0.84 | 996 | 242 | 1.3 |
| 55 | -2.1" | -3.60 | -1.05 | 988 | 239 | 1.5 |
| 60 | -2.7" | -4.33 | -1.26 | 981 | 235 | 1.8 |
| 65 | -3.5" | -5.09 | -1.48 | 973 | 232 | 2.1 |
| 70 | -4.3" | -5.86 | -1.70 | 966 | 228 | 2.4 |
| 75 | -5.2" | -6.64 | -1.93 | 960 | 225 | 2.7 |
| 80 | -6.3" | -7.44 | -2.16 | 953 | 222 | 3.0 |
| 85 | -7.4" | -8.26 | -2.40 | 947 | 219 | 3.4 |
| 90 | -8.6" | -9.08 | -2.64 | 940 | 216 | 3.8 |
| 95 | -9.9" | -9.92 | -2.89 | 934 | 213 | 4.1 |
| 100 | -11.3" | -10.77 | -3.13 | 928 | 210 | 4.6 |
110gr G1 .131 at 1,090 fps, 0.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight. This load is subsonic from the muzzle, so there is no transonic zone to cross. Source: Manufacturer's advertised velocity and BC.
Product Overview
Hornady's +P Critical Defense sends the 110-grain FTX out at 1,090 fps for 290 ft-lbs, the highest muzzle energy of the six loads in this group. The FTX is a hollow point with a polymer tip set in the cavity, built for defensive use. Power factor rounds to 120, exactly the USPSA revolver-minor floor and well above the 105 IDPA stock-revolver floor; a short barrel that loses velocity puts it under 120. Drop from a 25-yard zero is 1.5 inches at 50 yards and 11.3 at 100, the flattest here. Recoil energy in the same revolver is about 14 percent more than the standard Critical Defense 110-grain but about 2 percent less than the CCI Blazer +P and Speer Gold Dot +P 125-grain. It is a +P load: check that your revolver is rated for it before you buy.
The +P adds 80 fps and 41 ft-lbs over the standard Critical Defense 110-grain. Against the 125-grain loads it is faster by a wide margin: 190 fps over the American Gunner and 145 over the Blazer +P and Gold Dot +P, with 65 and 42 ft-lbs more at the muzzle. The Remington Golden Saber +P 125-grain is the closest on speed at 975 fps, still 115 fps behind, with about 7 percent more recoil energy. At 50 yards the FTX holds 242 ft-lbs against 219 for the Blazer +P and 203 for the American Gunner, and at 100 yards it is 210 against 196 and 185. Drop at 50 yards is 1.5 inches against 2.1 for the Blazer +P, a difference no revolver shooter will see.
This is the pick for a +P-rated revolver when the buyer wants the most muzzle energy in the caliber's light-bullet class and accepts a 110-grain bullet to get it. If your .38 Special revolver is not rated for +P, the standard Critical Defense 110-grain gives 249 ft-lbs with about 12 percent less recoil energy. Shooters who want a heavy bullet instead should look at Hornady's 158-grain XTP: 225 ft-lbs at 800 fps, a power factor of 126, and about 24 percent more recoil energy in the same revolver. For practice, the Speer Lawman 125-grain TMJ ball load at 863 fps produces about 12 percent less recoil energy than this +P, so it will not match the feel.
- Muzzle energy of 290 ft-lbs leads the set; the Golden Saber +P 125-grain is next at 264
- Flattest at 100 yards: 11.3 inches of drop against 14.7 for the Blazer +P and 16.0 for the American Gunner
- Retains 1,038 fps at 25 yards, faster than the Golden Saber +P leaves the muzzle at 975
- Power factor of 120 sits on the USPSA revolver-minor floor with no margin; the Golden Saber +P clears it at 122
- Loses 80 ft-lbs between the muzzle and 100 yards (290 to 210), the biggest fall-off in the set, where the American Gunner loses 40 (225 to 185)
- +P pressure rules it out of .38 Special revolvers rated for standard pressure only, where the Critical Defense 110-grain at 1,010 fps is the option
Similar Products Compared
| PRODUCT | WEIGHT | TYPE | VELOCITY | ENERGY | BC | PRICE/RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 110 gr | FTX | 1090 fps | 290 ft-lbs | 0.131 |
$1.31
250 Rounds
|
|
| 110 gr | FTX | 1010 fps | 249 ft-lbs | 0.131 |
$1.28
250 Rounds
|
|
| 125 gr | XTP JHP | 900 fps | 225 ft-lbs | 0.151 |
$1.00
250 Rounds
|
|
| 125 gr | JHP | 945 fps | 248 ft-lbs | 0.132 | N/A | |
| 125 gr | BJHP | 975 fps | 264 ft-lbs | 0.142 |
$2.42
20 Rounds
|
|
| 125 gr | JHP | 945 fps | 248 ft-lbs | 0.141 |
$0.67
1000 Rounds
|
All Hornady Critical Defense .38 Special +P 110gr FTX Prices
| DEALER | QTY | PRICE | SHIPPING | TOTAL | PRICE/RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucky Gunner | 250 | $309.00 | $19.56 | $328.56 | $1.31 |
| Lucky Gunner | 25 | $32.00 | $18.43 | $50.43 | $2.02 |
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