Description

The Hornady Critical Defense Lite .38 Special 90 grain FTX is a reduced-recoil defensive handgun load designed for compact revolvers and short-barreled handguns. It employs Hornady’s FTX polymer-tipped bullet to encourage controlled expansion across a range of velocities. Rounds are loaded into nickel-plated brass cases for corrosion resistance and improved visibility in low light conditions.

Key Specifications

• The cartridge caliber is .38 Special.
• The bullet weight is 90 grains.
• The bullet type is a polymer-tipped FTX (Flex Tip) design.
• The package contains 25 rounds per box.
• The listed muzzle velocity is 1200 fps (manufacturer attribute).
• The listed muzzle energy is 288 ft-lbs (manufacturer attribute).
• The cartridge case material is brass (nickel-plated).
• This load is marked as reloadable.
• Boxes per case are 10 (250 rounds per case).
• The intended application is home/handgun defensive use.

Critical Defense Lite offers a lower-recoil, reliable defensive option tailored to shooters who prioritize controllability in compact revolvers and short-barreled platforms. The combination of the FTX polymer tip and optimized propellant promotes consistent expansion and feeding in close-range defensive scenarios while the nickel-plated cases aid handling and corrosion resistance.