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AR15.COM
7/20/2009 6:16:59 PM EDT
Hornady Critical Defense ammo seems to have a good thing going as far as the silicon plug to aid with expansion when the round impacts a harder surface or thick clothing. I haven't looked at any data on their rounds, but the concept isn't difficult. So my question is whether or not it's a good idea or even feasible to do some DIY work with my preferred carry ammo? I would use something like silicon caulk or a soft rubber cement type substance.

Granted I'm not really one hundred percent sold on the idea, it's just an idle question that's been bumping around my head for a while. Also, if their bullets don't work as well as advertised then it's pointless. But who knows maybe someone has already tried it and can weigh in with their experiences. Thanks guys.
7/20/2009 7:28:59 PM EDT
[#1]
I haven't tried it myself but I'm guessing that all you'd be accomplishing by doing that is to plug up the bullet cavity and reduce reliable expansion as well as raise the chamber pressure by increasing the weight of the bullets.

The cavity, as well as the bullet, of the Critical Defense is designed to expand properly with the plug; the terminal performance of bullets that aren't designed that way is not likely to be improved, in fact, the opposite is likely to be true.

My 2 cents anyway.
7/20/2009 8:39:42 PM EDT
[#2]
I figured the added weight would definitely affect ballistics, but practice should compensate for the change. If a nice squishy medium is used to fill the cavity it seems like it would act like flesh or ballistic gel or water and push outward on the walls of the cavity. Hornady may be using some special proprietary substance, but if something cheaper is viable then good business sense would dictate they're using the cheaper easier stuff, if it works.

In any case, if their technology is so much better than the competition then everyone would be trying to copy them. Of course if I could just find Hornady ammo in my local store then I wouldn't bother asking.... in a perfect world (of course I wouldn't be a cheap bastard either).
7/21/2009 6:24:26 AM EDT
[#3]
Hollow points have been around for over 100 years. Were it as simple as you suggest, don’t you think someone might have stumbled on to it by now?

I think America-first is right, you will end up defeating the design of what you have.
7/21/2009 3:07:40 PM EDT
[#4]
Yeah probably. Unfortunately I don't have the funds to go messing around with my ammo right now, but someday I think I'll try it box of truth style.  Not to say you're wrong, but I figure why not give it a shot, just to see what happens.
7/22/2009 3:36:36 PM EDT
[#5]
Fuck hornady!! "we developed this bullet (critical defense) because civilians don't need to use the same ammo that Law Enforcement does because LE have policies about duty ammo and LE shoot threw auto glass all the time and civilians don't need ammo for that"

I say fuck hornady. YMMV

Flame on