As Evan Marshall says, flash and recoil are range issues, not gunfight issues. Like I posted above, there are managed recoil loads (which, I'm sure, have no more flash or bang than the Hornady stuff, and honestly, I think Remington and particularly Speer's engineers have their **** together moreso than Hornady's and their pruducts reflect that) that will work as good, or better, and have proven themselves over time. With full power loads I would use a heavier bullet in a K frame and avoid the 125 gr. issue entirely. The Hornady Critical Defense ammo has nothing to offer ballistically over the competition, IMO. Availability, and/or price may be it's only advantage.
I've tested the FTX bullet in two calibers now (.38 results should be up within a week in the Perma-Gel thread). There really isn't anything that gives it any advantage over other brands of bullets, unless it can be considered a nonhollowpoint (and I won't say that's the case, I'm not anyone's lawyer), then it will be something that the few in New Jersey that are allowed to carry can utilize because the silly no hollowpoint law.
You may want to contact Hornady and/or Smith & Wesson regarding the kind of wear and tear CD .357 will put on your gun. I just don't know. What I do know is that whether or not the stuff is full power, you will almost certainly be better served by other choices, unless your gun shows a preference to CD.
Last edited by flop-shank; 02-09-2010 at 02:23 PM.
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). That sounds a little slow, so that load may be downloaded compared to Federal and Remington's famous 125 gr. sizzlers. I'm not sure though, and since there are great full power loads available in heavier weights and proven managed recoil loads in the Remington 125 gr. Golden Sabre and Speer 135 gr. Short Barrel Gold Dot (which is bonded and should work better against auto glass than Critical Defense), I would use something else.
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