I’m setting up my Glock 35 for home defense. It has the TFX pro sights and I just ordered the Streamlight TLR-2 G. I used to run the 155 gr HST and it was reliable in the gun. Then I switched and I’m currently using the 175 gr critical duty. It works fine (actually soft shooting for a 40). But I’m thinking of changing ammo. You can get those 180 gr HST for pretty cheap, but I’m not sure if I’ll get similar performance.

You’re going to have a very hard time finding something that will produce better results than the Critical Duty

Not necessarily better. If HST or Gold Dot can produce comparable results, I’d probably switch. I can get those for a cheaper price.
I’ve also noticed that the critical duty isn’t as much popular in 9mm.

This is an interesting read:

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/#40SW

The performance of the Critical Duty isn’t that good. They shot it with a G27. I wonder if the performance would be better with an additional 50 fps that you would get with longer barrel.

Other ammo seems to perform better (including the Federal HST and Speer Gold Dot).

^^ Exactly. That test should have at least been done with a 4" barrel, if not a 4.5" barrel. I also use a G35 as my main house gun, and it's loaded with 165 Hornady Critical Duty ammo. I like these bullets. I have a few thousand 180 grain Speer Gold Dots (UHP bullets) I also plan to load up to have. I like the Gold Dots. The large hollow point really helps for expansion and being bonded, it will hold together really well.

You mean critical defense. Right?

Yes, I think so. It's the 165 grain bullet.

I have killed a few hogs with the 135g Critical Duty ammo out of an 8" barreled 9mm AR
Complete pass throughs on hogs heads (sub 100lbers) and lights out.

From what experience do you speak? I have personally shot the 9mm and 357sig into the ballistic gel blocks, through denim, dry wall, glass, sheet metal, and bare gelatain. All the critical duty performed excellent, my Speer Gold Dot has numerous failures. It either over penetrated, broke apart, or clogged up and didn’t expand. There is a reason numerous law enforcement agencies are switching primarily to Critical Duty, and that’s simply because it works as needed. If you’re needing/wanting to get the additional 50fps back, then go for the +p. Also, I believe the Critical Defense is better designed for the short barrels, at least it is for the revolver ammo.

This explains the difference Critical Defense vs Critical Duty

https://www.hornady.com/support/duty-defense-differences

Ordered a few boxes of 180 gr HST. $15/box of 50. It's ridiculously cheap. Even cheaper than the equivalent 9mm self defense ammo. I suspect it's because agencies are going with 9mm and the market is saturated with self defense 40S&W.

The other day Midway has a promo and I ordered some 40S&W range ammo for $10.99/box of 50.