Whats up with this stuff? I was looking for some home defense ammo and the guy at the LGS mentioned Hornady Zombie Max. It seems to be a rather cheesy marketing gimmick but I wanted to know it this stuff is any good. I noticed it has a rubber tip in the hallow point. I am assuming this is considered a non-ricochet round designed to stay in the target? Anyone use them? Are they any good or just a clever marketing champaign?

BTW...I am not a fan of people referring to firearms as "toys" and am somewhat put-off by a company using this cartoon-like sales strategy so sell something that has the capacity to kill whatever it encounters at high speed...off my soap box now.

It is excellent defensive ammo. It is the same thing as Horanady's Critical Defense ammo, it just has a green tip instead of red. The colored tip it to keep the hollow point from clogging with clothing or other barrier material. It also helps with expansion. It is very good stuff. It is very cleaver marketing. If you don't like it just buy the critical defense instead. It is the same thing.

Just supporting what jhallnv said. Great marketing gimmick, but still under the pop of the packaging Hornaday's good CD ammo. And - sometimes - you will find it to be the better priced stuff on the rack. I bought a box of .308 in Oregon (Salem, at Blackwater Tactical) and it was the least expensive on the shelf.

From what i have seen it is the same as the critical defense loads except the Zombie loads are brass cased, CD loads are Nickel plated. It shoots well in my 9mm and LCP 380. I have cocerns about it as a carry ammo because of the name.

WK

Really??? I could care less if my carry ammo was called "Winchester Thug Killer" as long as its effective. The name of a particular ammo is the last thing you will have to worry about in the aftermath of a shoot. Personally I carry .38 supercomp handloads. Ive got a 124gr XTP zipping along at 1430-1445 out of my 5" 1911.

I have a box of the Zombie Max ammo, as I think it's a very clever marketing idea! I would hesitate to use it as my carry ammo just due to the possible negative implications that a prosecuting attorney may draw in the event that I were forced to use the ammo for self defense.

Thanks for all of the replies. I did some research and it appears to be some pretty kick butt stuff. I may buy a box just to check it out.

Yea but the court house might have some fun wondering why your ammo is called "zombie max" :P

Ok then, I am not a fan of all the political correctness that people try to insert into every aspect of gun culture to appease the anti-gunners. "Kill whatever it encounters at a high rate of speed..." sounds like something you'd hear the Brady group saying immediately following "gun violence". Don't like something, don't buy it.

It also sounds like something I teach my children...and, obviously, I am pro-gun ;-)

Disclaimer on Hornadys website.
Disclaimer: Hornady® Zombie Max™ ammunition is NOT a toy (IT IS LIVE AMMUNITION), but is intended only to be used on…ZOMBIES, also known as the living dead, undead, etc. No human being, plant, animal, vegetable or mineral should ever be shot with Hornady® Zombie Max™ ammunition. Again, we repeat, Hornady® Zombie Max™ ammunition is for use on ZOMBIES ONLY, and that's not a nickname, phrase or cute way of referring to anybody, place or thing. When we say Zombies, we mean…ZOMBIES!

Notwithstanding the marketing angle or name of the ammo, I would just note that, for better or worse, the Hornady CD ammo (which i have in my firearm) is designed not to have "over penetration" but with that also comes reports that the CD ammo won't penetrate glass, fiberglass or even thick layers of clothing in some cases. (I was under the impression that the rubber tip is what prevents deep penetration while also helping w/ the bloom)

I'm not saying you need to be shooting through glass or fiberglass - and am purposely avoiding the 'placement vs penetration' discussion - but just wanted to bring it to your attention for what it's worth.

I picked up a box of .40's today to try out. Since it can only be used on Zombies...bring on the zombie apocalypse! I will try a few over the holiday and compare them to my Federal HD.

I called hornady i wanted to no some info on the ammo. Its not the same ammo as critical defensenits made on the machine but is not the same ammo. Its also not defense ammo. They dont recomend using it for self defense. They dont test the ammo for expansion or penetration. If you read the box it says not to be used on humans. GL in court with that one....its a range round.

Interesting. Anytime I have seen it it has been displayed with the personal defense ammo. Pretty expensive for range ammo.

Maybe the confusion around the proper use of the zombie rounds is enough reason to simply stay away from them. There are plenty of other options out there. You wouldn't want to have it for SD purposes if Hornady says that's not what it's intended for, & it may be a bit pricey for mere range rounds. Relying on gimmicky ammunition for either SD or range practice may be less than prudent.

Besides, I'm fairly certain most other ammo available will work fine on zombies, too.

A LGS gave me a box of this when I purchased a pistol. Should have realized they really wanted to get the gun out of inventory and had them give me a couple more boxes.