Hornady Critical Defense .45 Colt 185gr FTX Ballistics
Nickel-Plated Brass Case • FTX • MPN: 92790
Hornady Critical Defense .45 Colt 185gr FTX Ballistics
Nickel-Plated Brass Case • FTX • MPN: 92790
Solved from this product's advertised 920 fps, 185gr bullet and G1 BC 0.140, with the sight 0.5" over the bore at standard conditions. Compare every zero for .45 Colt.
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.
.45 Colt 185gr 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 23 yards, peaks +0.1" at 16 yards, and is -2.4" at 50 and -15.7" 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 | 920 | 348 | 0.1 |
| 5 | -0.2" | -3.60 | -1.05 | 914 | 344 | 0.1 |
| 10 | 0.0" | -0.05 | -0.01 | 909 | 340 | 0.1 |
| 15 | +0.1" | +0.50 | +0.15 | 904 | 336 | 0.2 |
| 20 | +0.1" | +0.27 | +0.08 | 899 | 332 | 0.2 |
| 25 | -0.1" | -0.27 | -0.08 | 894 | 328 | 0.3 |
| 30 | -0.3" | -0.98 | -0.28 | 889 | 325 | 0.4 |
| 35 | -0.7" | -1.78 | -0.52 | 884 | 321 | 0.5 |
| 40 | -1.1" | -2.65 | -0.77 | 879 | 318 | 0.6 |
| 45 | -1.7" | -3.57 | -1.04 | 874 | 314 | 0.8 |
| 50 | -2.4" | -4.52 | -1.31 | 870 | 311 | 0.9 |
| 55 | -3.2" | -5.49 | -1.60 | 865 | 308 | 1.1 |
| 60 | -4.1" | -6.49 | -1.89 | 861 | 304 | 1.3 |
| 65 | -5.1" | -7.50 | -2.18 | 856 | 301 | 1.5 |
| 70 | -6.3" | -8.54 | -2.48 | 852 | 298 | 1.7 |
| 75 | -7.5" | -9.58 | -2.79 | 847 | 295 | 2.0 |
| 80 | -8.9" | -10.65 | -3.10 | 843 | 292 | 2.2 |
| 85 | -10.5" | -11.72 | -3.41 | 839 | 289 | 2.5 |
| 90 | -12.1" | -12.80 | -3.72 | 835 | 286 | 2.8 |
| 95 | -13.9" | -13.90 | -4.04 | 830 | 283 | 3.1 |
| 100 | -15.7" | -15.01 | -4.37 | 826 | 281 | 3.4 |
185gr G1 .140 at 920 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.
.45 Colt 185gr 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 15 yards, peaks 0.0" at 15 yards, and is -2.6" at 50 and -16.3" 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 | 920 | 348 | 0.1 |
| 5 | -0.2" | -4.10 | -1.19 | 914 | 344 | 0.1 |
| 10 | -0.1" | -0.55 | -0.16 | 909 | 340 | 0.1 |
| 15 | 0.0" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 904 | 336 | 0.2 |
| 20 | -0.1" | -0.22 | -0.07 | 899 | 332 | 0.2 |
| 25 | -0.2" | -0.77 | -0.22 | 894 | 328 | 0.3 |
| 30 | -0.5" | -1.48 | -0.43 | 889 | 325 | 0.4 |
| 35 | -0.8" | -2.28 | -0.66 | 884 | 321 | 0.5 |
| 40 | -1.3" | -3.15 | -0.92 | 879 | 318 | 0.6 |
| 45 | -1.9" | -4.07 | -1.18 | 874 | 314 | 0.8 |
| 50 | -2.6" | -5.02 | -1.46 | 870 | 311 | 0.9 |
| 55 | -3.5" | -5.99 | -1.74 | 865 | 308 | 1.1 |
| 60 | -4.4" | -6.99 | -2.03 | 861 | 304 | 1.3 |
| 65 | -5.5" | -8.00 | -2.33 | 856 | 301 | 1.5 |
| 70 | -6.6" | -9.04 | -2.63 | 852 | 298 | 1.7 |
| 75 | -7.9" | -10.08 | -2.93 | 847 | 295 | 2.0 |
| 80 | -9.4" | -11.15 | -3.24 | 843 | 292 | 2.2 |
| 85 | -10.9" | -12.22 | -3.55 | 839 | 289 | 2.5 |
| 90 | -12.6" | -13.30 | -3.87 | 835 | 286 | 2.8 |
| 95 | -14.4" | -14.40 | -4.19 | 830 | 283 | 3.1 |
| 100 | -16.3" | -15.51 | -4.51 | 826 | 281 | 3.4 |
185gr G1 .140 at 920 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.
.45 Colt 185gr with a 25-yard zero
Zeroed at 25 yards with a 0.5" sight height, this load crosses the line of sight at 10 and 25 yards, peaks +0.1" at 17 yards, and is -2.2" at 50 and -15.4" 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 | 920 | 348 | 0.1 |
| 5 | -0.2" | -3.31 | -0.96 | 914 | 344 | 0.1 |
| 10 | +0.0" | +0.25 | +0.07 | 909 | 340 | 0.1 |
| 15 | +0.1" | +0.80 | +0.23 | 904 | 336 | 0.2 |
| 20 | +0.1" | +0.57 | +0.17 | 899 | 332 | 0.2 |
| 25 | +0.0" | +0.03 | +0.01 | 894 | 328 | 0.3 |
| 30 | -0.2" | -0.68 | -0.20 | 889 | 325 | 0.4 |
| 35 | -0.6" | -1.49 | -0.43 | 884 | 321 | 0.5 |
| 40 | -1.0" | -2.36 | -0.69 | 879 | 318 | 0.6 |
| 45 | -1.6" | -3.27 | -0.95 | 874 | 314 | 0.8 |
| 50 | -2.2" | -4.22 | -1.23 | 870 | 311 | 0.9 |
| 55 | -3.0" | -5.20 | -1.51 | 865 | 308 | 1.1 |
| 60 | -3.9" | -6.19 | -1.80 | 861 | 304 | 1.3 |
| 65 | -4.9" | -7.21 | -2.10 | 856 | 301 | 1.5 |
| 70 | -6.1" | -8.24 | -2.40 | 852 | 298 | 1.7 |
| 75 | -7.3" | -9.29 | -2.70 | 847 | 295 | 2.0 |
| 80 | -8.7" | -10.35 | -3.01 | 843 | 292 | 2.2 |
| 85 | -10.2" | -11.42 | -3.32 | 839 | 289 | 2.5 |
| 90 | -11.8" | -12.51 | -3.64 | 835 | 286 | 2.8 |
| 95 | -13.6" | -13.60 | -3.96 | 830 | 283 | 3.1 |
| 100 | -15.4" | -14.71 | -4.28 | 826 | 281 | 3.4 |
185gr G1 .140 at 920 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 Critical Defense loads a 185-grain FTX, a hollow point with a polymer tip set in the cavity and built for defensive use, at 920 fps for 348 ft-lbs. Power factor is 170, which clears the 165 USPSA major floor by only about 5 points, the thinnest margin here. From a 25-yard zero it is 2.2 inches low at 50 yards and 15.4 inches low at 100. The nickel-plated brass case is reloadable.
CCI Blazer 200-grain JHP leaves at 1,000 fps and 444 ft-lbs, 80 fps and 96 ft-lbs ahead, with about 34 percent more recoil energy in the same revolver. Barnes VOR-TX 200-grain XPB is 105 fps ahead with about 40 percent more recoil. Corbon's +P 200-grain JHP runs 1,100 fps and 537 ft-lbs, 189 ft-lbs more, with about 57 percent more recoil; Corbon restricts that load to revolvers rated for +P, so check yours first. The Federal 225s are slower but heavier. American Eagle 225-grain JSP starts 60 fps behind the Hornady with about 32 percent more recoil, and Champion 225-grain LSWCHP starts 90 fps behind and recoils about 25 percent more.
This is the load for a shooter who wants the lightest-recoiling defensive .45 Colt in this set. If you want more energy for a small recoil increase, Underwood's Extreme Defender 135-grain makes 596 ft-lbs, 248 more than the Hornady, for about 10 percent more recoil energy in the same revolver. For practice or cowboy matches, Atomic's 200-grain LRNFP at 800 fps recoils about 7 percent less than this load.
- Least recoil energy of the six loads compared, in a 185-grain bullet that still makes USPSA major at power factor 170
- The only polymer-tipped bullet in the set; CCI Blazer 200-grain JHP and Corbon +P 200-grain JHP use conventional hollow points
- No +P rating needed, unlike Corbon +P 200-grain JHP
- 348 ft-lbs at the muzzle trails every load in the set except Federal Champion 225-grain LSWCHP, and sits 21 under Federal American Eagle 225-grain JSP
- Power factor of 170 sits about 30 points under CCI Blazer 200-grain JHP and about 50 under Corbon +P 200-grain JHP
- Barnes VOR-TX 200-grain XPB makes 119 ft-lbs more at the muzzle without a +P rating
Similar Products Compared
| PRODUCT | WEIGHT | TYPE | VELOCITY | ENERGY | BC | PRICE/RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 185 gr | FTX | 920 fps | 348 ft-lbs | 0.14 |
$2.52
20 Rounds
|
|
| 200 gr | JHP | 1000 fps | 444 ft-lbs | 0.14 |
$1.25
400 Rounds
|
|
| 200 gr | XPB | 1025 fps | 467 ft-lbs | 0.145 |
$1.66
400 Rounds
|
|
| 225 gr | JSP | 860 fps | 369 ft-lbs | 0.195 |
$1.57
50 Rounds
|
|
| 225 gr | LSWCHP | 830 fps | 344 ft-lbs | 0.154 |
$2.67
20 Rounds
|
|
|
Corbon .45 Colt +P 200gr JHP
Sold by:
Lucky Gunner
|
200 gr | JHP | 1100 fps | 537 ft-lbs | 0.13 |
$2.32
20 Rounds
|
All Hornady Critical Defense .45 Colt 185gr FTX Prices
| DEALER | QTY | PRICE | SHIPPING | TOTAL | PRICE/RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucky Gunner | 20 | $32.00 | $18.43 | $50.43 | $2.52 |
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