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The Critical Defense Triple Defense is one of the few shotshell loads specifically engineered for the short, rifled barrels found in .410 handguns like the Taurus Judge, Bond Arms derringers, and Smith & Wesson Governor revolvers. Rather than relying on traditional buckshot, Hornady took a different approach by stacking a non-jacketed FTX slug beneath two high-antimony lead round balls, all in a single cartridge.
The stacked projectile design produces extremely tight, concentrated patterns at close distances, which matters when you're dealing with limited sight radius and shorter barrels. The .41-caliber FTX slug actually engages the gun's rifling, meaning it contacts the target nose-on and can use Hornady's Flex Tip technology to assist in expansion. The two .35-caliber round balls behind it provide additional penetration and wound channels. This combination was engineered to deliver all three projectiles onto a man-sized target at seven yards.
The round balls are made from high-antimony, cold-swaged lead that resists deformation during firing and feeding through compact actions. The ammunition itself has proven reliable across a variety of defensive .410 handguns in real-world testing, feeding and ejecting without hiccups. The load uses optimized propellants that burn quickly to keep recoil manageable in lighter-kicking compact firearms, and the shells themselves feature nickel-plated cases that resist corrosion.
If you own a .410 defensive handgun, you know the ammunition selection is limited compared to other calibers. The Triple Defense stands out because it balances the need for penetration from a more concentrated load with the benefits of multiple projectiles. At 2.5 inches, it also functions in shorter barrel handguns where full-length 3-inch shells might not cycle reliably.
Yes, the 2.5" length is specifically designed to function reliably in short-barreled .410 handguns, including the Taurus Judge, Bond Arms Snake Slayer, and similar platforms. The load was engineered for the rifled barrels and shorter sight radius of defensive .410 handguns.
The Triple Defense stacked design produces tighter, more concentrated patterns than standard buckshot loads, which is critical for accuracy from short barrels and defensive handguns at close range. The combination of a rifling-engaging slug with two round balls balances penetration with the benefit of multiple projectiles.
Hornady's FTX slug features a polymer tip that assists in expansion when the projectile contacts the target. Because the slug engages the gun's rifling directly, it contacts targets nose-on, enabling the Flex Tip technology to work as designed for enhanced terminal performance compared to traditional soft-lead hollow points.
No, the Triple Defense is designed specifically for rifled-barrel .410 handguns and should not be fired from full-choke shotguns, as the concentrated projectile stack can cause damage to the gun.
| Caliber/Gauge | 410 Bore 2.5" |
|---|---|
| Case Material | 2 Round Balls/1 Slug |
| Cost per Round | 1.10 |
| Grains | 2 Round Balls/1 FTX Slug |
| Length | 2 1/2'' |
| Manufacturer | |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 86238 |
| Model | |
| Product Type | Slug |
| Shipping Weight | 1.05 |
| Shot Size | SLUG |
| Units per Box | 20 |
| UPC | 090255862386 |
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