Hornady 9mm Luger Critical Duty 135gr FlexLock Ammo
Hornady Ammo
$31.16 - $519.99
or 4 payments of with 
(No reviews yet)
Write a Review
Write a Review
Hornady Ammo
Hornady 9mm Luger Critical Duty 135gr FlexLock Ammo
- UPC:
- 090255902266
Related Products
Hornady Ammo
Hornady 91376 Critical Duty FlexLock Duty Hornady FlexLock 175 Grain .40 S&W 1010 fps
$31.27 - $647.09
Hornady's 9mm Luger Critical Duty 135gr FlexLock Ammo sets a new standard in law enforcement and personal defense ammunition. Engineered to excel in real-world scenarios, this round combines advanced bullet technology with consistent performance. The innovative FlexLock bullet ensures optimal expansion and penetration, even through tough barriers. Whether for professional use or personal protection, this ammunition delivers when it matters most.
Hornady 9mm Luger Critical Duty 135gr FlexLock Highlights:
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Hornady |
| Model | Critical Duty |
| Caliber | 9mm Luger |
| Bullet Weight | 135 grains |
| Bullet Type | FlexLock |
| Muzzle Velocity | 1070 fps |
| Muzzle Energy | 958 ft-lbs |
| Ballistic Coefficient | .195 |
| Sectional Density | .153 |
| Rounds Per Box | 25 |
| Primer Type | Boxer |
| Case Material | Nickel-plated Brass |
| Recommended Use | Law Enforcement, Personal Defense |
Key Features
The Hornady 9mm Luger Critical Duty 135gr FlexLock ammunition offers impressive performance characteristics that make it an excellent choice for law enforcement and personal defense. Here's a breakdown of its key features:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| FlexLock Bullet Design | Patented flex tip and interlock design Ensures consistent expansion and weight retention through barriers |
| Heavy Jacketed Bullet | 135 grain bullet weight Optimized for barrier penetration and terminal performance |
| Nickel-Plated Brass Cases | Corrosion-resistant and visible in low light Enhances reliability and ease of chamber checks |
| Low Flash Propellants | Minimizes muzzle flash Preserves night vision in low-light defensive scenarios |
| Sealed Primers and Case Mouths | Water-resistant Ensures functionality in adverse environmental conditions |
Applications & Use Cases
The Hornady 9mm Luger Critical Duty 135gr FlexLock ammunition is designed for various defensive scenarios, particularly excelling in law enforcement and personal protection:
Pros and Cons
Pros
- ✔ Barrier Performance: FlexLock bullet design ensures consistent expansion through common urban barriers.
- ✔ Weight Retention: InterLock band promotes high weight retention for optimal penetration.
- ✔ Nickel-Plated Cases: Enhances corrosion resistance and visibility in low-light conditions.
- ✔ Versatile Application: Suitable for both law enforcement and civilian self-defense use.
- ✔ Low Flash Propellant: Minimizes muzzle flash to preserve night vision in low-light scenarios.
Cons
- ✘ Higher Cost: More expensive than standard FMJ or basic hollow point ammunition.
- ✘ Recoil: May produce slightly more felt recoil than lighter 9mm loads.
- ✘ Limited Training Use: Not ideal for high-volume practice due to cost and specialized design.
- ✘ Wind Sensitivity: Despite improvements, still more affected by wind than larger calibers.
About Hornady:
Hornady Manufacturing Company, founded by Joyce Hornady in 1949, has become a leading innovator in the ammunition industry. Based in Grand Island, Nebraska, Hornady has built a reputation for producing high-quality ammunition, reloading tools, and components for both civilian and law enforcement markets. Their commitment to research and development has resulted in numerous patented technologies, such as the FlexLock bullet used in the Critical Duty line. Hornady's dedication to quality control and performance testing ensures that each round meets rigorous standards for consistency and reliability. As a family-owned business, Hornady continues to push the boundaries of ballistic science, providing shooters with cutting-edge ammunition solutions for hunting, self-defense, and competitive shooting applications.
- UPC:
- 090255902266
- Brand:
- Hornady Ammo
- Caliber:
- 9mm Luger (9x19 Parabellum)
- Condition:
- New
- Bullet Type:
- FlexLock (FL)
- Bullet Weight (Grains):
- 135
- Casing:
- Nickel Plated Brass
Hornady 9mm Luger Critical Duty FAQ:
The effective range depends on the firearm and the shooter's skill, but generally, it's designed to be effective at typical self-defense distances up to about 25 yards. However, it maintains accuracy and terminal performance at longer ranges, making it suitable for law enforcement use at extended distances.
While it can be used for practice, Critical Duty ammunition is primarily designed and priced for defensive use. For high-volume training, it's more cost-effective to use similar-weight practice ammunition and reserve the Critical Duty rounds for occasional function checks and familiarization.
The 135gr bullet weight is slightly heavier than typical 9mm defensive loads, which often use 115gr or 124gr bullets. This additional weight contributes to better penetration and energy transfer, especially through barriers, without significantly increasing recoil or compromising velocity.
Critical Duty ammunition is designed to function safely in all modern 9mm handguns rated for standard pressure 9mm Luger ammunition. However, as with any ammunition, it's always best to check your firearm's manual or consult with the manufacturer to ensure compatibility.
Hornady has optimized the propellant in Critical Duty ammunition to maintain consistent velocities across a wide temperature range. This ensures reliable performance in various environmental conditions, from very cold to very hot temperatures.
This ammo is specifically designed to perform well in short-barreled pistols, maintaining good velocity and expansion characteristics. This makes it an excellent choice for compact and subcompact 9mm pistols commonly used for concealed carry.
The FlexLock bullet is designed to expand reliably upon impact, increasing its frontal area and slowing it down. This controlled expansion helps to reduce the risk of overpenetration while still ensuring adequate penetration depth for effective stopping power.
The FlexLock bullet is designed to expand to about 1.5 times its original diameter upon impact. This controlled expansion creates a larger wound channel while maintaining the bullet's integrity for deep penetration.
While the cases are of high quality and could technically be reloaded, Hornady designs Critical Duty as a premium self-defense ammunition and does not recommend reloading it. The specialized bullet construction and propellant are difficult to replicate in hand loads.