Hornady .38 Special Critical Defense Lite Ammo

For 2013, Hornady is introducing a reduced recoil .38 Special load in the Critical Defense line of ammunition.  The Critical Defense Lite is a light weight .38 load loaded to standard pressures specifically designed to minimize abuse to the shooters of small, light revolvers.

Seemingly everyone carries a snub nose revolver in their pocket.  I’ve got a J-frame Smith & Wesson in mine as I write this.  They are easy to carry and have numerous advantages when compared to other guns and style of carry.  But, small revolvers carry at least one significant disadvantage:  recoil.  That’s where the Critical Defense Lite comes into play.

It uses a 90 grain FTX bullet and makes for 1200 fps out of a 4″ test barrel.  Out of a 1 7/8″ barrel J-frame, expect a lot less speed.  I’d guess about 950 or so fps.  At these speeds, this light bullet isn’t much of a powerhouse, but that isn’t what it is designed for.

Probably one of the hardest recoiling .38 loads out of a lightweight revolver is the old FBI load:  a 158 grain LSWC-HP loaded up to +P pressures.  Before the Speer 135 grain Gold Dot SB and the Corbon 110 grain DPX rounds, the old FBI load was the only thing I would consider carrying.  I would still carry it (because it performs,) but there are less harsh-on-the-shooter alternatives now.

For anyone with chronic hand or wrist problems, the FBI load is likely too painful to shoot.  Likewise the other loads I mentioned can be too harsh for someone with a physical limitation.  For these folks, the Hornady low recoiling .38 Special could be considered.

One of the things I do not like about this load is the pink packaging and support of breast cancer research through its sales.  It seems to suggest that only women shoot this ammunition, and they can’t handle full-power loads.  How many men might benefit from shooting this ammo, but will not even consider it because of the marketing?  For women, does this send a message that they can’t shoot the same ammo as men?

I’m positive that Hornady had no ill intention, and values all of their customers.  I just hope Hornady comes out with alternative packaging to avoid alienating some of their potential customers.

There have been several other low-recoil rounds to make the dealer shelves in the past.  My favorite light load is the Federal Nyclad:  a standard pressure, 110 grain soft lead bullet that is “jacketed” in polymer.  The Nyclad line used to be very popular, but fell out of favor when the more modern bullet designs started coming onto the market.  Federal reintroduced the .38 Special Nyclad a few years back, but I don’t know what the sales numbers might look like.

Regardless of the packaging, this ammunition can be a real life-saver for shooters with significant recoil aversion.  If you fall into that category, check out the Critical Duty Lite and see if it makes sense for you.