Hornady Critical Defense Lite .38 Special 90gr FTX Ballistics
Nickel-Plated Brass Case • FTX • MPN: 90300
Hornady Critical Defense Lite .38 Special 90gr FTX Ballistics
Nickel-Plated Brass Case • FTX • MPN: 90300
Solved from this product's advertised 1200 fps, 90gr bullet and G1 BC 0.099, 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 90gr 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 36 yards, peaks +0.2" at 23 yards, and is -0.8" at 50 and -9.2" 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 | 1,200 | 288 | 0.1 |
| 5 | -0.2" | -4.01 | -1.17 | 1,179 | 278 | 0.1 |
| 10 | 0.0" | -0.06 | -0.02 | 1,159 | 269 | 0.2 |
| 15 | +0.1" | +0.88 | +0.26 | 1,141 | 260 | 0.3 |
| 20 | +0.2" | +1.04 | +0.30 | 1,123 * | 252 | 0.4 |
| 25 | +0.2" | +0.87 | +0.25 | 1,107 * | 245 | 0.6 |
| 30 | +0.2" | +0.53 | +0.16 | 1,091 * | 238 | 0.8 |
| 35 | +0.0" | +0.10 | +0.03 | 1,076 * | 232 | 1.0 |
| 40 | -0.2" | -0.41 | -0.12 | 1,062 * | 226 | 1.3 |
| 45 | -0.5" | -0.97 | -0.28 | 1,049 * | 220 | 1.6 |
| 50 | -0.8" | -1.57 | -0.46 | 1,037 * | 215 | 1.9 |
| 55 | -1.3" | -2.20 | -0.64 | 1,025 * | 210 | 2.3 |
| 60 | -1.8" | -2.85 | -0.83 | 1,013 * | 205 | 2.7 |
| 65 | -2.4" | -3.53 | -1.03 | 1,003 * | 201 | 3.1 |
| 70 | -3.1" | -4.23 | -1.23 | 992 * | 197 | 3.5 |
| 75 | -3.9" | -4.95 | -1.44 | 982 * | 193 | 4.0 |
| 80 | -4.8" | -5.69 | -1.65 | 973 * | 189 | 4.5 |
| 85 | -5.7" | -6.44 | -1.87 | 964 * | 186 | 5.0 |
| 90 | -6.8" | -7.21 | -2.10 | 955 * | 182 | 5.6 |
| 95 | -8.0" | -7.99 | -2.32 | 946 * | 179 | 6.2 |
| 100 | -9.2" | -8.79 | -2.56 | 938 * | 176 | 6.8 |
90gr G1 .099 at 1,200 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. * Below the speed of sound (1125 fps) from 20 yards; expect groups to open up past the transition. Source: Manufacturer's advertised velocity and BC.
.38 Special 90gr 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 25 yards, peaks +0.0" at 20 yards, and is -1.3" at 50 and -10.2" 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 | 1,200 | 288 | 0.1 |
| 5 | -0.3" | -4.91 | -1.43 | 1,179 | 278 | 0.1 |
| 10 | -0.1" | -0.96 | -0.28 | 1,159 | 269 | 0.2 |
| 15 | 0.0" | -0.02 | -0.01 | 1,141 | 260 | 0.3 |
| 20 | +0.0" | +0.14 | +0.04 | 1,123 * | 252 | 0.4 |
| 25 | 0.0" | -0.03 | -0.01 | 1,107 * | 245 | 0.6 |
| 30 | -0.1" | -0.36 | -0.11 | 1,091 * | 238 | 0.8 |
| 35 | -0.3" | -0.80 | -0.23 | 1,076 * | 232 | 1.0 |
| 40 | -0.6" | -1.31 | -0.38 | 1,062 * | 226 | 1.3 |
| 45 | -0.9" | -1.87 | -0.54 | 1,049 * | 220 | 1.6 |
| 50 | -1.3" | -2.46 | -0.72 | 1,037 * | 215 | 1.9 |
| 55 | -1.8" | -3.09 | -0.90 | 1,025 * | 210 | 2.3 |
| 60 | -2.4" | -3.75 | -1.09 | 1,013 * | 205 | 2.7 |
| 65 | -3.0" | -4.43 | -1.29 | 1,003 * | 201 | 3.1 |
| 70 | -3.8" | -5.13 | -1.49 | 992 * | 197 | 3.5 |
| 75 | -4.6" | -5.85 | -1.70 | 982 * | 193 | 4.0 |
| 80 | -5.5" | -6.58 | -1.91 | 973 * | 189 | 4.5 |
| 85 | -6.5" | -7.34 | -2.13 | 964 * | 186 | 5.0 |
| 90 | -7.7" | -8.10 | -2.36 | 955 * | 182 | 5.6 |
| 95 | -8.9" | -8.89 | -2.59 | 946 * | 179 | 6.2 |
| 100 | -10.2" | -9.68 | -2.82 | 938 * | 176 | 6.8 |
90gr G1 .099 at 1,200 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. * Below the speed of sound (1125 fps) from 20 yards; expect groups to open up past the transition. Source: Manufacturer's advertised velocity and BC.
.38 Special 90gr with a 25-yard zero
Zeroed at 25 yards with a 0.5" sight height, this load crosses the line of sight at 15 and 25 yards, peaks +0.0" at 20 yards, and is -1.3" at 50 and -10.1" 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 | 1,200 | 288 | 0.1 |
| 5 | -0.3" | -4.87 | -1.42 | 1,179 | 278 | 0.1 |
| 10 | -0.1" | -0.92 | -0.27 | 1,159 | 269 | 0.2 |
| 15 | 0.0" | +0.02 | +0.01 | 1,141 | 260 | 0.3 |
| 20 | +0.0" | +0.18 | +0.05 | 1,123 * | 252 | 0.4 |
| 25 | 0.0" | +0.01 | 0.00 | 1,107 * | 245 | 0.6 |
| 30 | -0.1" | -0.33 | -0.09 | 1,091 * | 238 | 0.8 |
| 35 | -0.3" | -0.76 | -0.22 | 1,076 * | 232 | 1.0 |
| 40 | -0.5" | -1.27 | -0.37 | 1,062 * | 226 | 1.3 |
| 45 | -0.9" | -1.83 | -0.53 | 1,049 * | 220 | 1.6 |
| 50 | -1.3" | -2.43 | -0.71 | 1,037 * | 215 | 1.9 |
| 55 | -1.8" | -3.05 | -0.89 | 1,025 * | 210 | 2.3 |
| 60 | -2.3" | -3.71 | -1.08 | 1,013 * | 205 | 2.7 |
| 65 | -3.0" | -4.39 | -1.28 | 1,003 * | 201 | 3.1 |
| 70 | -3.7" | -5.09 | -1.48 | 992 * | 197 | 3.5 |
| 75 | -4.6" | -5.81 | -1.69 | 982 * | 193 | 4.0 |
| 80 | -5.5" | -6.54 | -1.90 | 973 * | 189 | 4.5 |
| 85 | -6.5" | -7.30 | -2.12 | 964 * | 186 | 5.0 |
| 90 | -7.6" | -8.06 | -2.35 | 955 * | 182 | 5.6 |
| 95 | -8.8" | -8.85 | -2.57 | 946 * | 179 | 6.2 |
| 100 | -10.1" | -9.65 | -2.81 | 938 * | 176 | 6.8 |
90gr G1 .099 at 1,200 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. * Below the speed of sound (1125 fps) from 20 yards; expect groups to open up past the transition. Source: Manufacturer's advertised velocity and BC.
Product Overview
Hornady's Critical Defense Lite pushes a 90-grain FTX, a hollow point with a polymer tip set in the cavity and made for defensive use, to 1,200 fps for 288 ft-lbs at the muzzle. That is the lightest bullet and the highest muzzle velocity of the three loads in this group. Power factor is 108, above the 105 IDPA stock-revolver floor and under the 120 USPSA revolver-minor floor. From a 25-yard zero the bullet is 1.3 inches low at 50 yards and 10.1 inches low at 100. In the same revolver it produces about 10 percent less recoil energy than the Critical Defense 110-grain and about 21 percent less than the Critical Defense +P 110-grain, and it is a standard-pressure load, so there is no +P rating to check.
Against the Critical Defense 110-grain, the Lite leaves 190 fps faster with 39 ft-lbs more, but the lighter bullet sheds speed sooner: by 50 yards both loads sit at 215 ft-lbs, and the 110-grain holds more from there on. Against the Critical Defense +P 110-grain the Lite is 110 fps faster at the muzzle with almost the same energy, and at 50 yards it trails by 27 ft-lbs, 215 against 242. Drop favors the Lite by a hair, 1.3 inches at 50 yards against 1.8 for the standard 110-grain and 1.5 for the +P, which no revolver shooter will notice. Power factors run 108, 111 and 120 across the three, so the Lite has the thinnest cushion over the 105 floor.
Buy this if recoil decides the purchase: a shooter with a light revolver, a weak grip or a hand injury gets a defensive hollow point with the least recoil energy of the three and will practice more because of it. If the revolver is rated for +P and recoil is not the problem, the Critical Defense +P 110-grain holds 210 ft-lbs at 100 yards to this load's 176. For practice ammunition, note that the Speer Lawman 125-grain TMJ ball load at 863 fps produces about 11 percent more recoil energy than the Lite in the same revolver, so it feels a little stiffer than this carry round rather than softer. A shooter who wants the heavier 125-grain bullet should look at the Remington UMC +P 125-grain: 945 fps and 248 ft-lbs, with about 29 percent more recoil energy.
- Still 1,107 fps and 245 ft-lbs at 25 yards, 135 fps ahead of the Critical Defense 110-grain at the same distance
- Flattest of the three at 100 yards: 10.1 inches of drop against 13.0 for the Critical Defense 110-grain and 11.3 for the +P
- Standard pressure with 288 ft-lbs at the muzzle, so a revolver that is not rated for +P still gets within 2 ft-lbs of the Critical Defense +P's 290
- Sheds energy fastest: 288 ft-lbs at the muzzle to 215 at 50 yards, a loss of 73, where the Critical Defense 110-grain loses 34 (249 to 215)
- Power factor of 108 is 12 under the 120 USPSA revolver-minor floor, which the Critical Defense +P 110-grain reaches
- By 100 yards it carries 176 ft-lbs against 190 for the Critical Defense 110-grain, so the muzzle advantage is gone past 50 yards
All Hornady Critical Defense Lite .38 Special 90gr FTX Prices
| DEALER | QTY | PRICE | SHIPPING | TOTAL | PRICE/RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucky Gunner | 25 | $33.00 | $18.43 | $51.43 | $2.06 |
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