Federal Personal Defense Punch .44 Special 180gr JHP Ammo Ballistics
Nickel-Plated Brass Case • JHP • MPN: PD44SP1
Federal Personal Defense Punch .44 Special 180gr JHP Ammo Ballistics
Nickel-Plated Brass Case • JHP • MPN: PD44SP1
Solved from this product's advertised 815 fps, 180gr bullet and G1 BC 0.145, with the sight 0.5" over the bore at standard conditions. Compare every zero for .44 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.
.44 Special 180gr 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 19 yards, peaks +0.0" at 14 yards, and is -3.5" at 50 and -20.9" 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 | 815 | 266 | 0.1 |
| 5 | -0.2" | -3.31 | -0.96 | 811 | 263 | 0.1 |
| 10 | 0.0" | -0.03 | -0.01 | 807 | 261 | 0.1 |
| 15 | +0.0" | +0.25 | +0.07 | 804 | 258 | 0.2 |
| 20 | -0.1" | -0.25 | -0.07 | 800 | 256 | 0.2 |
| 25 | -0.3" | -1.06 | -0.31 | 796 | 253 | 0.3 |
| 30 | -0.6" | -2.04 | -0.59 | 792 | 251 | 0.4 |
| 35 | -1.2" | -3.11 | -0.91 | 789 | 249 | 0.5 |
| 40 | -1.8" | -4.25 | -1.24 | 785 | 246 | 0.6 |
| 45 | -2.6" | -5.44 | -1.58 | 782 | 244 | 0.7 |
| 50 | -3.5" | -6.66 | -1.94 | 778 | 242 | 0.9 |
| 55 | -4.6" | -7.91 | -2.30 | 775 | 240 | 1.0 |
| 60 | -5.8" | -9.18 | -2.67 | 771 | 238 | 1.2 |
| 65 | -7.1" | -10.47 | -3.04 | 768 | 236 | 1.4 |
| 70 | -8.7" | -11.77 | -3.42 | 764 | 234 | 1.6 |
| 75 | -10.3" | -13.09 | -3.81 | 761 | 231 | 1.8 |
| 80 | -12.1" | -14.43 | -4.20 | 757 | 229 | 2.1 |
| 85 | -14.1" | -15.77 | -4.59 | 754 | 227 | 2.3 |
| 90 | -16.2" | -17.13 | -4.98 | 751 | 225 | 2.6 |
| 95 | -18.4" | -18.51 | -5.38 | 747 | 223 | 2.9 |
| 100 | -20.9" | -19.89 | -5.79 | 744 | 221 | 3.2 |
180gr G1 .145 at 815 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.
.44 Special 180gr with a 15-yard zero
Zeroed at 15 yards with a 0.5" sight height, this load crosses the line of sight at 13 and 15 yards, peaks +0.0" at 14 yards, and is -3.6" at 50 and -21.1" 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 | 815 | 266 | 0.1 |
| 5 | -0.2" | -3.56 | -1.03 | 811 | 263 | 0.1 |
| 10 | 0.0" | -0.27 | -0.08 | 807 | 261 | 0.1 |
| 15 | 0.0" | +0.01 | 0.00 | 804 | 258 | 0.2 |
| 20 | -0.1" | -0.49 | -0.14 | 800 | 256 | 0.2 |
| 25 | -0.3" | -1.30 | -0.38 | 796 | 253 | 0.3 |
| 30 | -0.7" | -2.28 | -0.66 | 792 | 251 | 0.4 |
| 35 | -1.2" | -3.36 | -0.98 | 789 | 249 | 0.5 |
| 40 | -1.9" | -4.50 | -1.31 | 785 | 246 | 0.6 |
| 45 | -2.7" | -5.68 | -1.65 | 782 | 244 | 0.7 |
| 50 | -3.6" | -6.90 | -2.01 | 778 | 242 | 0.9 |
| 55 | -4.7" | -8.15 | -2.37 | 775 | 240 | 1.0 |
| 60 | -5.9" | -9.42 | -2.74 | 771 | 238 | 1.2 |
| 65 | -7.3" | -10.71 | -3.11 | 768 | 236 | 1.4 |
| 70 | -8.8" | -12.01 | -3.49 | 764 | 234 | 1.6 |
| 75 | -10.5" | -13.34 | -3.88 | 761 | 231 | 1.8 |
| 80 | -12.3" | -14.67 | -4.27 | 757 | 229 | 2.1 |
| 85 | -14.3" | -16.02 | -4.66 | 754 | 227 | 2.3 |
| 90 | -16.4" | -17.38 | -5.06 | 751 | 225 | 2.6 |
| 95 | -18.7" | -18.75 | -5.45 | 747 | 223 | 2.9 |
| 100 | -21.1" | -20.13 | -5.86 | 744 | 221 | 3.2 |
180gr G1 .145 at 815 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.
.44 Special 180gr with a 25-yard zero
Zeroed at 25 yards with a 0.5" sight height, this load crosses the line of sight at 8 and 25 yards, peaks +0.2" at 16 yards, and is -2.9" at 50 and -19.7" 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 | 815 | 266 | 0.1 |
| 5 | -0.1" | -2.22 | -0.65 | 811 | 263 | 0.1 |
| 10 | +0.1" | +1.06 | +0.31 | 807 | 261 | 0.1 |
| 15 | +0.2" | +1.34 | +0.39 | 804 | 258 | 0.2 |
| 20 | +0.2" | +0.84 | +0.25 | 800 | 256 | 0.2 |
| 25 | +0.0" | +0.03 | +0.01 | 796 | 253 | 0.3 |
| 30 | -0.3" | -0.95 | -0.28 | 792 | 251 | 0.4 |
| 35 | -0.8" | -2.03 | -0.59 | 789 | 249 | 0.5 |
| 40 | -1.3" | -3.17 | -0.92 | 785 | 246 | 0.6 |
| 45 | -2.1" | -4.35 | -1.27 | 782 | 244 | 0.7 |
| 50 | -2.9" | -5.57 | -1.62 | 778 | 242 | 0.9 |
| 55 | -3.9" | -6.82 | -1.98 | 775 | 240 | 1.0 |
| 60 | -5.1" | -8.09 | -2.35 | 771 | 238 | 1.2 |
| 65 | -6.4" | -9.38 | -2.73 | 768 | 236 | 1.4 |
| 70 | -7.9" | -10.68 | -3.11 | 764 | 234 | 1.6 |
| 75 | -9.5" | -12.00 | -3.49 | 761 | 231 | 1.8 |
| 80 | -11.2" | -13.34 | -3.88 | 757 | 229 | 2.1 |
| 85 | -13.1" | -14.69 | -4.27 | 754 | 227 | 2.3 |
| 90 | -15.2" | -16.05 | -4.67 | 751 | 225 | 2.6 |
| 95 | -17.4" | -17.42 | -5.07 | 747 | 223 | 2.9 |
| 100 | -19.7" | -18.80 | -5.47 | 744 | 221 | 3.2 |
180gr G1 .145 at 815 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
Federal's Personal Defense load fires a 180-grain jacketed hollow point, a bullet built for self-defense, at 815 fps with 265 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. Power factor is 147, which misses the 165 major floor by 18 and scores minor. From a 25-yard zero it drops 2.9 inches at 50 yards and 19.7 inches at 100, so anything past typical defensive range needs a hold.
It is the slowest load in its comparison group. Hornady Critical Defense 165 is the closest peer: 85 fps faster and within about 1 percent on recoil energy in the same revolver. PMC Bronze 180 uses the same bullet weight but runs 165 fps faster, and it produces about 35 percent more recoil energy. The 200-grain loads carry more at the muzzle: Federal Champion 200 LSWCHP 71 ft-lbs more, Fiocchi 200 SJHP 95 more and DoubleTap 200 TAC-XP 179 more. The DoubleTap also kicks about 73 percent harder in the same revolver.
Pick it for a lightweight revolver when control matters more than energy, or for a shooter still getting used to a big-bore gun. Shooters who want a harder-hitting 180-grain should take the PMC Bronze instead and accept the extra recoil. For soft recoil with far more energy, Black Hills HoneyBadger 125 is the other route: about 5 percent less recoil energy in the same revolver and 152 ft-lbs more at the muzzle.
- About 27 percent less recoil energy than Federal Champion 200 LSWCHP and 31 percent less than Fiocchi 200 SJHP in the same revolver
- Recoils on par with Hornady Critical Defense 165 while firing a bullet 15 grains heavier
- Power factor clears the 125 minor floor by 22
- 265 ft-lbs at the muzzle is 119 less than PMC Bronze 180 with the same bullet weight
- Scores minor, while PMC Bronze 180 and Federal Champion 200 LSWCHP both clear the 165 major floor
- Starts 185 fps behind DoubleTap 200 TAC-XP, the fastest load in the group
Similar Products Compared
| PRODUCT | WEIGHT | TYPE | VELOCITY | ENERGY | BC | PRICE/RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 180 gr | JHP | 815 fps | 265 ft-lbs | 0.145 |
$1.43
500 Rounds
|
|
| 165 gr | FTX | 900 fps | 297 ft-lbs | 0.125 |
$1.33
500 Rounds
|
|
| 200 gr | LSWCHP | 870 fps | 336 ft-lbs | 0.14 | N/A | |
| 180 gr | JHP | 980 fps | 384 ft-lbs | 0.105 |
$0.88
500 Rounds
|
|
| 200 gr | SJHP | 900 fps | 360 ft-lbs | 0.15 |
$1.15
500 Rounds
|
|
| 200 gr | TAC-XP | 1000 fps | 444 ft-lbs | 0.138 |
$2.67
20 Rounds
|
All Federal Personal Defense Punch .44 Special 180gr JHP Ammo Prices
| DEALER | QTY | PRICE | SHIPPING | TOTAL | PRICE/RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Basin Outdoors | 500 | $716.29 | $0.00 | $716.29 | $1.43 |
| Black Basin Outdoors | 200 | $300.10 | $0.00 | $300.10 | $1.50 |
| Black Basin Outdoors | 20 | $32.86 | $10.99 | $43.85 | $2.19 |
| Lucky Gunner | 20 | $33.00 | $18.43 | $51.43 | $2.57 |
Firearms Chambered in .44 Special
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