9mm – 135 Gr FlexLock – Hornady Critical Duty (90236) – 250 Rounds

This 9mm load (90236) is built for home defense when reliable expansion and barrier performance both matter. Hornady loads it with a 135 grain FlexLock bullet. That bullet uses a polymer tip, a mechanical jacket-to-core lock, and a cannelure that helps resist bullet setback during feeding. As a result, it stays consistent under stress and performs more predictably through common intermediate barriers. Hornady markets the Critical Duty line specifically around duty and personal protection needs, and the company describes FlexLock as a tough, heavy-jacketed design built for controlled expansion and barrier-blind performance.

Hornady lists this load at 1,010 fps muzzle velocity and 306 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. Those numbers support a controllable defensive recoil profile without sacrificing practical terminal performance. In addition, the 135 grain weight gives the round a solid balance of momentum and manageable recoil. Therefore, shooters can maintain faster follow-up shots while still using a serious defensive load. That matters in a home defense role, where control, reliability, and repeatable point of impact all matter.

The design details reinforce that purpose. Hornady states that the Flex Tip helps prevent clogging and initiate consistent expansion. The InterLock-style construction helps keep the bullet together during impact. Nickel-plated cases improve corrosion resistance and make chamber checks easier in low light. Low-flash propellants also help preserve vision indoors or in dark conditions. Consequently, this is not generic range ammo in premium packaging. It is a purpose-built defensive load engineered around realistic use.

Packaging also works well for serious buyers. Each box contains 25 rounds. Each case includes 10 boxes, for a total of 250 rounds. That format gives the buyer enough ammunition for function testing, point-of-impact verification, magazine loading, and reserve storage. You can confirm reliability in the pistol, then keep the rest sealed and organized. Retail listings for this exact SKU also identify the case material as nickel-plated brass and the primer as Boxer.