Hornady Critical Defense .223 Remington 73gr FTX Ammo Ballistics
Brass Case • FTX • MPN: 80260
Hornady Critical Defense .223 Remington 73gr FTX Ammo Ballistics
Brass Case • FTX • MPN: 80260
Solved from this product's advertised 2790 fps, 73gr bullet and G1 BC 0.265, with the sight 1.5" over the bore at standard conditions. Compare every zero for .223 Remington.
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 8" vital zone, ±4" 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 500 yards.
.223 Remington 73gr with a 36-yard zero
Zeroed at 36 yards with a 1.5" sight height, this load crosses the line of sight at 36 and 157 yards, peaks +1.0" at 98 yards, and is -13.2" at 300 and -34.3" at 400 yards.
| Range (yd) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Wind drift, 10 mph (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -1.5" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,790 | 1,262 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -0.4" | -1.50 | -0.44 | 2,703 | 1,185 | 0.1 |
| 50 | +0.4" | +0.76 | +0.22 | 2,618 | 1,112 | 0.3 |
| 75 | +0.9" | +1.12 | +0.33 | 2,535 | 1,042 | 0.7 |
| 100 | +1.0" | +0.98 | +0.28 | 2,454 | 976 | 1.3 |
| 125 | +0.8" | +0.62 | +0.18 | 2,374 | 913 | 2.0 |
| 150 | +0.2" | +0.13 | +0.04 | 2,295 | 854 | 3.0 |
| 175 | -0.8" | -0.44 | -0.13 | 2,218 | 797 | 4.1 |
| 200 | -2.3" | -1.08 | -0.31 | 2,142 | 744 | 5.4 |
| 225 | -4.2" | -1.78 | -0.52 | 2,068 | 693 | 7.0 |
| 250 | -6.6" | -2.53 | -0.74 | 1,995 | 645 | 8.7 |
| 275 | -9.6" | -3.34 | -0.97 | 1,924 | 600 | 10.7 |
| 300 | -13.2" | -4.20 | -1.22 | 1,854 | 557 | 13.0 |
| 325 | -17.4" | -5.11 | -1.49 | 1,786 | 517 | 15.5 |
| 350 | -22.3" | -6.08 | -1.77 | 1,720 | 480 | 18.3 |
| 375 | -27.9" | -7.10 | -2.07 | 1,656 | 445 | 21.4 |
| 400 | -34.3" | -8.19 | -2.38 | 1,594 | 412 | 24.8 |
| 425 | -41.6" | -9.34 | -2.72 | 1,534 | 382 | 28.5 |
| 450 | -49.8" | -10.56 | -3.07 | 1,477 | 354 | 32.6 |
| 475 | -59.0" | -11.85 | -3.45 | 1,421 | 328 | 36.9 |
| 500 | -69.2" | -13.22 | -3.84 | 1,369 | 304 | 41.7 |
73gr G1 .265 at 2,790 fps, 1.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight. Source: Manufacturer's advertised velocity and BC.
.223 Remington 73gr with a 50-yard zero
Zeroed at 50 yards with a 1.5" sight height, this load crosses the line of sight at 50 and 116 yards, peaks +0.3" at 83 yards, and is -15.6" at 300 and -37.5" at 400 yards.
| Range (yd) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Wind drift, 10 mph (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -1.5" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,790 | 1,262 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -0.6" | -2.27 | -0.66 | 2,703 | 1,185 | 0.1 |
| 50 | 0.0" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,618 | 1,112 | 0.3 |
| 75 | +0.3" | +0.35 | +0.10 | 2,535 | 1,042 | 0.7 |
| 100 | +0.2" | +0.21 | +0.06 | 2,454 | 976 | 1.3 |
| 125 | -0.2" | -0.15 | -0.04 | 2,374 | 913 | 2.0 |
| 150 | -1.0" | -0.64 | -0.19 | 2,295 | 854 | 3.0 |
| 175 | -2.2" | -1.21 | -0.35 | 2,218 | 797 | 4.1 |
| 200 | -3.9" | -1.85 | -0.54 | 2,142 | 744 | 5.4 |
| 225 | -6.0" | -2.55 | -0.74 | 2,068 | 693 | 7.0 |
| 250 | -8.7" | -3.30 | -0.96 | 1,995 | 645 | 8.7 |
| 275 | -11.8" | -4.11 | -1.20 | 1,924 | 600 | 10.7 |
| 300 | -15.6" | -4.97 | -1.44 | 1,854 | 557 | 13.0 |
| 325 | -20.0" | -5.88 | -1.71 | 1,786 | 517 | 15.5 |
| 350 | -25.1" | -6.85 | -1.99 | 1,720 | 480 | 18.3 |
| 375 | -30.9" | -7.87 | -2.29 | 1,656 | 445 | 21.4 |
| 400 | -37.5" | -8.96 | -2.61 | 1,594 | 412 | 24.8 |
| 425 | -45.0" | -10.11 | -2.94 | 1,534 | 382 | 28.5 |
| 450 | -53.4" | -11.33 | -3.30 | 1,477 | 354 | 32.6 |
| 475 | -62.8" | -12.62 | -3.67 | 1,421 | 328 | 36.9 |
| 500 | -73.2" | -13.99 | -4.07 | 1,369 | 304 | 41.7 |
73gr G1 .265 at 2,790 fps, 1.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight. Source: Manufacturer's advertised velocity and BC.
.223 Remington 73gr with a 100-yard zero
Zeroed at 100 yards with a 1.5" sight height, this load crosses the line of sight at 59 and 100 yards, peaks +0.1" at 79 yards, and is -16.3" at 300 and -38.4" at 400 yards.
| Range (yd) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Wind drift, 10 mph (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -1.5" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,790 | 1,262 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -0.7" | -2.48 | -0.72 | 2,703 | 1,185 | 0.1 |
| 50 | -0.1" | -0.21 | -0.06 | 2,618 | 1,112 | 0.3 |
| 75 | +0.1" | +0.15 | +0.04 | 2,535 | 1,042 | 0.7 |
| 100 | 0.0" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,454 | 976 | 1.3 |
| 125 | -0.5" | -0.36 | -0.10 | 2,374 | 913 | 2.0 |
| 150 | -1.3" | -0.84 | -0.25 | 2,295 | 854 | 3.0 |
| 175 | -2.6" | -1.42 | -0.41 | 2,218 | 797 | 4.1 |
| 200 | -4.3" | -2.06 | -0.60 | 2,142 | 744 | 5.4 |
| 225 | -6.5" | -2.75 | -0.80 | 2,068 | 693 | 7.0 |
| 250 | -9.2" | -3.51 | -1.02 | 1,995 | 645 | 8.7 |
| 275 | -12.4" | -4.31 | -1.25 | 1,924 | 600 | 10.7 |
| 300 | -16.3" | -5.17 | -1.50 | 1,854 | 557 | 13.0 |
| 325 | -20.7" | -6.08 | -1.77 | 1,786 | 517 | 15.5 |
| 350 | -25.9" | -7.05 | -2.05 | 1,720 | 480 | 18.3 |
| 375 | -31.7" | -8.08 | -2.35 | 1,656 | 445 | 21.4 |
| 400 | -38.4" | -9.16 | -2.67 | 1,594 | 412 | 24.8 |
| 425 | -45.9" | -10.31 | -3.00 | 1,534 | 382 | 28.5 |
| 450 | -54.4" | -11.53 | -3.35 | 1,477 | 354 | 32.6 |
| 475 | -63.8" | -12.82 | -3.73 | 1,421 | 328 | 36.9 |
| 500 | -74.3" | -14.19 | -4.13 | 1,369 | 304 | 41.7 |
73gr G1 .265 at 2,790 fps, 1.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight. Source: Manufacturer's advertised velocity and BC.
Product Overview
Hornady's Critical Defense 73-grain is a personal-protection load, and Hornady markets it for self-defense rifles. It uses Hornady's FTX bullet, which has a soft polymer tip in its nose. It leaves the muzzle at 2,790 fps with 1,262 ft-lbs of energy.
Compared with Speer's Gold Dot 55-grain, which Speer also markets for self-defense rifles, the Critical Defense is 18 grains heavier and starts 430 fps slower. It kicks about 50 percent harder in the same rifle. At 300 yards, a steady 10 mph wind blowing across the range pushes both about 13 inches sideways. Compared with Federal's 62-grain Fusion MSR, a bonded soft point that Federal markets for hunting, the Critical Defense leaves the muzzle at nearly the same speed. It kicks about 41 percent harder than the Fusion in the same rifle, and at 300 yards the same wind pushes the Fusion about 11 inches.
Buy the Critical Defense if you want Hornady's personal-protection load with a heavier 73-grain bullet. Pick the Gold Dot if you want a defense load that starts faster and kicks less. Pick the Fusion MSR if you want nearly the same speed with much less recoil. For practice at nearly the same weight, Hornady's BLACK 75-grain BTHP Match is a target load that leaves the muzzle at the same 2,790 fps and kicks about 6 percent more in the same rifle.
- Starts with 1,262 ft-lbs at the muzzle against 1,041 for the Federal Fusion MSR 62-grain
- A 10 mph crosswind pushes it about 13 inches at 300 yards, against about 14 for Barnes' 55-grain VOR-TX TSX
- Leaves the muzzle at 2,790 fps against 2,750 for the Federal Fusion MSR 62-grain
- Leaves the muzzle at 2,790 fps against 3,100 for Sig Sauer's 60-grain Elite
- Zeroed at 100 yards, it drops about 16 inches at 300, against about 12 for Speer's Gold Dot 55-grain
- Kicks about 48 percent harder than Barnes' 55-grain VOR-TX TSX in the same rifle
Similar Products Compared
| PRODUCT | WEIGHT | TYPE | VELOCITY | ENERGY | BC | PRICE/RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 73 gr | FTX | 2790 fps | 1262 ft-lbs | 0.265 |
$2.42
20 Rounds
|
|
| 60 gr | Copper | 3100 fps | 1280 ft-lbs | 0.24 | N/A | |
| 62 gr | Fusion | 2750 fps | 1041 ft-lbs | 0.31 |
$2.23
20 Rounds
|
|
| 55 gr | TSX | 3240 fps | 1282 ft-lbs | 0.209 |
$1.96
20 Rounds
|
|
| 55 gr | Gold Dot SP | 3220 fps | 1266 ft-lbs | 0.222 | N/A |
All Hornady Critical Defense .223 Remington 73gr FTX Ammo Prices
| DEALER | QTY | PRICE | SHIPPING | TOTAL | PRICE/RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucky Gunner | 20 | $30.00 | $18.43 | $48.43 | $2.42 |