FBI Selects Hornady Critical Duty Ammo

by
posted on October 20, 2017
critical_duty.jpg

The FBI has chosen Hornady’s Critical Duty 40 S&W 175 gr. Flexlock as its official ammunition. Introduced in 2011, the ammo was designed specifically for on-duty law enforcement and other tactical roles.

“Critical Duty ammunition is the culmination of many years of hard work, research and development and dedication,” said Jason Hornady, vice president of Hornady Mfg. “We are thrilled to obtain this contract from our nation’s highest law enforcement agency as it gives credence to the performance and reliability of this product.”

One of the features that make this load desirable for law enforcement is a patented Flex Tip, which eliminates clogging and aids bullet expansion. Additionally, a large mechanical jacket-to-core InterLock band keeps the bullet and core from separating for maximum weight retention. In all FBI test barriers, the bullet offered excellent expansion, consistent penetration and terminal performance.

Other features that favored this cartridge over others include the bright nickel-plated cases, which simplify chamber checks in reduced light. The ammo uses low-flash, clean-burning propellants, which preserves night vision in low-light firing.

“At Hornady, we’re honored to provide ammunition to the American heroes who put their lives on the line to protect us and our neighbors every day,” said Steve Hornady, president of Hornady Mfg. Co. “This contract is an important part of our corporate history, and it’s a distinct pleasure to fulfill this need for the FBI.”

The agreement is for what is called an IDIQ—Fixed Price Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity. For more, visit Hornady.com.

Additional Reading:
Understanding Hornady’s Critical Defense and Critical Duty Ammo

Latest

Leupold Vx 6Hd Cds Szl2 Hunting Riflescope
Leupold Vx 6Hd Cds Szl2 Hunting Riflescope

New For 2025: Leupold VX-6HD Gen 2 Riflescopes

Leupold & Stevens will offer a new generation of premium Gold Ring riflescope for hunters in 2025 of which include innovative features that go above and beyond previous VX-6 designs—their best just got better.

Review: Iver Johnson MF20

It’s no surprise that innovative designs like the Iver Johnson MF20 have emerged; by merging the best features of both shotguns and ARs, this firearm offers impressive—but controllable—firepower while mitigating the scattergun’s usual shortcomings.

6 New Handguns For 2025

Several of the nation's biggest names in firearm manufacturing have released new models ahead of SHOT Show 2025. Here's a rundown of the features that each of them offer.

Boys To Riflemen: Aiken’s Volunteers During The British Attack on Plattsburgh

In September 1814, Americans once again stood against the might of the British military, as their forefathers had done during the Revolution. A small group of teen boys proved their valor in the face of a British attack and earned a special presentation rifle for their efforts.

The Armed Citizen® Jan. 20, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

A Gas-Operated M1903 Conversion That Never Was

The U.S. government's never-ending quest for a more effective shoulder-fired arm to equip its military has, naturally, resulted in more prototypes than production models. This semi-automatic Model 1903 Springfield conversion was one such dead-end.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.