Description

Hornady Backcountry Defense™ ammunition is designed to address a specific gap in handgun defensive loads: reliable, deep-penetrating performance against large, dangerous animals in remote backcountry settings where a sidearm may be the last line of defense. Unlike conventional hollow point or hard cast loads, Backcountry Defense uses the DGH® (Dangerous Game Handgun) bullet — a jacketed design with a protected point that mechanically locks the bullet nose to the lead core. This construction resists deformation on impact and forces the bullet to track a straight line through dense tissue and bone rather than deflecting, which is the primary terminal performance requirement when stopping a large predator.

The jacketed construction also eliminates the lead smoke produced by hard cast bullets, allowing the shooter to reacquire a sight picture and fire faster follow-up shots. At 138 grains, this load uses a heavy-for-caliber bullet in the 9mm Luger +P chamber pressure specification to deliver increased energy — 405 ft-lbs at the muzzle from a 4-inch test barrel at 1150 fps — prioritizing mass and penetration depth over expansion. Sold in 25-round boxes.

Key Features

• Caliber: 9mm Luger +P
• Bullet Weight: 138 grain
• Bullet Type: DGH® (Dangerous Game Handgun) Jacketed Protected Point
• Muzzle Velocity: 1150 fps (4″ test barrel)
• Velocity Class: Supersonic
• Muzzle Energy: 405 ft-lbs
• Weight: 0.790 lbs (shipping weight per box)

Use Case

• Protected point locks bullet nose to core for maximum straightline penetration through dense tissue and bone with minimal deflection
• Jacketed construction eliminates lead smoke produced by hard cast bullets, enabling faster follow-up shots on target
• Heavy 138-grain bullet weight delivers increased energy from standard 9mm Luger +P handguns used as backcountry sidearms
• Designed for defense against dangerous wildlife in remote environments where conventional hollow point loads may not provide adequate penetration depth
• Suitable for use in common backcountry sidearms rated for +P chamber pressure, including full-size and compact 9mm semi-automatic pistols, without requiring a dedicated revolver caliber

Box / Package Contains

• 25 rounds of Hornady Backcountry Defense 9mm Luger +P 138gr DGH® factory-loaded ammunition