once again re-evaluating 380 carry ammo

4098 Views 27 Replies 15 Participants Last post by rice paddy daddy, 1 mo ago

Bang_Bang

Discussion Starter · Jan 26, 2022

I occasionally research 380 ammo to see if there have been any new developments. In general, it seems you either get under-penetration with expansion, or over-penetration without it. There are a select few brands that seem to strike a good balance. I know the famous "shooting the bull" tests determined that an XTP bullet is optimal, but I prefer to stay with big-name brands, so I'm not interested in Precision One or others. Also, if you look here:

Handgun Self-Defense Ammunition - Ballistic Testing Data

Lucky Gunner tests more than 110 different 9mm, 45 ACP, 40 S&W and 380 ACP handgun self-defense ammunition loads in ballistic gel with analysis and video.

www.luckygunner.com

The XTP rounds didn't do so hot. They only met the 12" minimum because of failure to expand. I was reading about Federal's HST in .380, but those don't appear to do well when shot through layers of fabric. Hornady's Critical Defense seems good in the Lucky Gunner tests, but I've seen others where it doesn't fare well. I had a dud CD round at the range once, and that's shaken my confidence a bit.

So, my current carry round for Elsie is the Gold Dots. They seem to fall a hair short of the 12" mark, but they usually expand. At this point, is it really worth switching to something else? The GDs give around 11" and 0.5" expansion, which I think it fairly respectable.

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oldntrd

· #21 · Feb 24, 2022

Fla_dogman said:
I agree. Years ago I said I'd never own another .380 but the need to carry every day and with the small pocket pistols now I took the plunge. I found the PP are so light, thin and concealable they are a pleasure to carry. I probably carry it 60% of the time. Don't get me wrong, I prefer my bigger pistol but in those times when it's difficult to conceal a full size pistol the little PP fills that gap.
Like someone once said, "a small pistol in your pocket is better than the larger one left at home"

Sent from my moto g power using Tapatalk

mtkfish said:
There isn't a 9mm pistol anywhere that is remotely even close to the size of the LCP..........Glock 43 is not even close!!! I do like Glocks though but you have to compare apples to apples. LCP and other small pocket .380's offers deep concealment

For what its worth . A while back we had a big (250 ++pig) in a trap and I was in a hurry so decided to pop him in the top of the head to clear the trap . All I had was my small .380 but figured from 6 inches in the top of the head it would be fine . Big mistake , had to shoot him 3 times in the top of the head from about 6 inches . I believe in one shot instant kill and this upset me . Big gun or turn um loose !

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gogittum

· #22 · Mar 3, 2022

oldntrd said:
For what its worth . A while back we had a big (250 ++pig) in a trap and I was in a hurry so decided to pop him in the top of the head to clear the trap . All I had was my small .380 but figured from 6 inches in the top of the head it would be fine . Big mistake , had to shoot him 3 times in the top of the head from about 6 inches . I believe in one shot instant kill and this upset me . Big gun or turn um loose !

I've said quite a few times on quite a few forums now - check out Underwood's Hard Cast bullets for the .380. I got a real education when I shot a steel gong with .380 FMJ and JHP. They hit that steel (read hard bone) and flatten out to less than 1/8" thick. The hard cast leave a divot in the steel. Big, big difference in penetration. The same in 9mm Luger is even more dramatic.

I live in Hog Heaven in the north central coast of FL and there are acres and acres of torn up ground where I hike with my dog. It's very rare for a pig to attack a human, but they have done so and I feel much more comfortable with hard cast bullets in my .380 LCP. It rides completely un-noticed in the back pocket of my jeans.

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Greg B.

· #23 · Mar 13, 2022

I've done research and I can't find a single incident where a person used a .380 handgun to defend themselves against assault and failed to do so and were harmed because the ammo they used over penetrated or under penetrated. Not a single one.

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Lazareth

· #24 · Mar 13, 2022

"Modern 380 ammo". That's a term the old school can't come to grips with. My dad still tells me 380 isn't enough. Back "then" I would agree, but not anymore. I think most ANY modern 380 round, that will cycle through your gun, is more than sufficient to stop an aggressive individual if you are unfortunate enough to be in a self defense situation bad enough to shoot someone, granted you can hit them a few times. The caliber debate is always amusing to me. Reliability is the key term I'm more interested in.

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LMB

· #25 · Mar 14, 2022

Lazareth said:
"Modern 380 ammo". That's a term the old school can't come to grips with. My dad still tells me 380 isn't enough. Back "then" I would agree, but not anymore. I think most ANY modern 380 round, that will cycle through your gun, is more than sufficient to stop an aggressive individual if you are unfortunate enough to be in a self defense situation bad enough to shoot someone, granted you can hit them a few times. The caliber debate is always amusing to me. Reliability is the key term I'm more interested in.

A hit with a .380 beats a misss with a .44 ever

yday of the week!

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Lazareth

· #26 · Mar 14, 2022 (Edited)

👍

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GeneCC

· #27 · 1 mo ago

oldntrd said:
For what its worth . A while back we had a big (250 ++pig) in a trap and I was in a hurry so decided to pop him in the top of the head to clear the trap . All I had was my small .380 but figured from 6 inches in the top of the head it would be fine . Big mistake , had to shoot him 3 times in the top of the head from about 6 inches . I believe in one shot instant kill and this upset me . Big gun or turn um loose !

When I carried a 380 I used FMJ. I figured that it would under penetrate. I moved to the 38 +P. It's a bit better.

The problem I have with 380 is that most handguns that use it do not have very good sights. You need good sights for 380 because shot placement is critical.

I have 45 ACP and 10mm handguns. I do not like them for on the street because of their weight. Good for other things.

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rice paddy daddy

· #28 · 1 mo ago

Out here in SMALL town America ammo choice is hit or miss (pun intended). Our "gun shop" is Ace Hardware. But that's not entirely a bad thing, I DID get my AK there.
My carry choices are several, but I prefer either an LCP2 or a PPK because of size. Alternately a snub nose revolver, but I like the quicker reloads with a semi auto.
On either of the two .380's Hornady Critical Defense is in the inserted magazine, FMJ is in the second, just in case the Hornady didn't get the job done.
On the FMJ I prefer Winchester White Box flat nose, in the gel tests I've seen on YouTube they seem to cause a little more disruption in the gel.
tnoutdoors does a good presentation on flat nose versus round nose in gel.

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