Design Difference

• The FTX bullet features a pointed nose made of a flexible material. This soft material is the primary difference between the FTX and other bullets. In a rifle with a tubular magazine, such as most lever-action rifles, a cartridge in the magazine rests with the tip of its bullet against the primer of the cartridge in front of it. When a shooter fires the rifle, it is possible that one of the bullets could detonate a primer, causing a cartridge to fire in the magazine. In the past, these rifles could only safely use round or flat-nosed bullets. By creating a bullet with a flexible tip, Hornady created the first pointed bullet safe for use in a tubular magazine.
  
  

Ballistic Performance

• Due to the pointed design of the FTX bullet, it has a higher ballistic coefficient, a measurement of an object's ability to overcome air resistance, than standard round or flat-nosed bullets. In practical terms, this means that compared to a bullet of similar weight but with a round or flat nose, the FTX will experience less bullet drop and retain more velocity at longer ranges. While the cartridges used in lever actions are not ideal for long-range use, the increased performance from the FTX is useful for hunting even at shorter distances.
  
  

Available Sizes

• Hornady produces the FTX bullet in a number of different calibers and weights, both for traditional lever-action cartridges and other cartridges. Hornady makes the .30-caliber FTX in 160 grain for the .30-30 Winchester, the .35-caliber in 200 grain for the .35 Remington, the .44-caliber in 265 grain for the .444 Marlin and the .45-caliber for the .45-70 Government and the .450 Marlin. Hornady also produces FTX bullets designed for the .308 Marlin Express, .32 Special, .357 and .44 Magnums and the .45 Colt.
  
  

Other Information

• While Hornady sells the FTX bullet as a component for reloading, Hornady also produces loaded ammunition using the FTX bullet. Hornady markets the loaded ammunition for use in a lever action under the name LEVERevolution. Hornady also loads the FTX bullet in a line of pistol ammunition for self defense use under the name Critical Defense. When Hornady introduced the LEVERevolution ammunition using the FTX bullet, Marlin also introduced the XLR line of lever-action rifles with a longer barrel to better take advantage of the improved ballistics the LEVERevolution ammunition provides.