Ruger LCP - Reliable SD Ammo Choices
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M_E_
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Each pistol is different. What runs on one may choke the other. Get a chronograph, buy a variety of ammo & shoot into wet phone books. The ONLY way to tell for sure. Do your own tests.
Myself, I use DPX, Golden Sabers & Gold dots. All run about the same.
Myself, I use DPX, Golden Sabers & Gold dots. All run about the same.
BADUNAME37
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Let me put mine this way.
I have shot over 20 different bullet, load combinations out of my LCP and I have not had one misfire nor one fail-to-feed!
90 grain Hornady XTP.
I have shot over 20 different bullet, load combinations out of my LCP and I have not had one misfire nor one fail-to-feed!
90 grain Hornady XTP.
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I prefer the Speer Gold Dots for several reasons.
1. they appear to be on the upper end of velocity compared to other 380 loads.
2. the bullets are designed to hold together and have limited expansion which is important in a lower powered round like the 380.
3. the bullet is made of a soft material. When you fire the Gold Dots in you LCP the action of the feed ramp striking the next bullet in the magazine is more likely to deform the tip of the bullet rather than causing setback issues. I tried Hornady XTPs in my LCP and the bullet from the next bullet would often get setback significantly. I won't shoot them from my LCP anymore.
My next choice is the Federal Hydrashok for 380. Once again a moderately powerful load for a 380, limited expansion, and I don't experience any setback with the HS.
1. they appear to be on the upper end of velocity compared to other 380 loads.
2. the bullets are designed to hold together and have limited expansion which is important in a lower powered round like the 380.
3. the bullet is made of a soft material. When you fire the Gold Dots in you LCP the action of the feed ramp striking the next bullet in the magazine is more likely to deform the tip of the bullet rather than causing setback issues. I tried Hornady XTPs in my LCP and the bullet from the next bullet would often get setback significantly. I won't shoot them from my LCP anymore.
My next choice is the Federal Hydrashok for 380. Once again a moderately powerful load for a 380, limited expansion, and I don't experience any setback with the HS.
pikid89
Member
i like hornady TAP and critical defense, but right now im using gold dots cuz thats what i have...ymmv
all that really matters though is what works in YOUR gun
all that really matters though is what works in YOUR gun
rogerjames
member
OK, I'm an idiot, so please forgive me for not paying attention to any of the ammo manufacturers as I usually shoot several guns at the range and the TCP is usually at the bottom of the priority list, but... most self-defense rounds have fired without issue.
One box of cheap "range ammo" failed to fire and the range refunded my money. The last time I went to different range and both my SD ammo and range ammo worked with 1 failure to fire from range ammo. I've had one failure to feed and all the other failures appeared to be from stubborn primers.
I shoot the TCP much more accurate than my S&W 442 btw and it is more pleasant to shoot. I am encouraged to spend a little more range time with her
One box of cheap "range ammo" failed to fire and the range refunded my money. The last time I went to different range and both my SD ammo and range ammo worked with 1 failure to fire from range ammo. I've had one failure to feed and all the other failures appeared to be from stubborn primers.
I shoot the TCP much more accurate than my S&W 442 btw and it is more pleasant to shoot. I am encouraged to spend a little more range time with her
Apocalypse-Now
Member
don't waste your time trying to find a .380 jhp that both penetrates adequately and expands reliably. no such bullet exists.
in .380, stick to FMJ, the heaviest weight you can find. penetration is far more important than a tiny bit of (unlikely) expansion.
in .380, stick to FMJ, the heaviest weight you can find. penetration is far more important than a tiny bit of (unlikely) expansion.
BADUNAME37
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Are you the ".380 authority?"
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Lets not start that nonsense. The OP is asking about hollowpoints so lets answer questions about hollowpoints. If you think FMJs are better good for you but it doesn't add anything to answer the OPs question. If you want to start a thread to figure out what FMJs to use in your LCP go start your own.
BADUNAME37
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Absolutely!
I find the Hornady 90g XTP's to work extremely well as I stated in post #4.
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BADUNAME37
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Cartridges that contain the 90g Hornady XTP would be a start!
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Apocalypse-Now
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why? do you believe yourself to be? sorry if others' opinions upset you. you should report me to your diary immediately.
orly?
you should really do some solid reading on wound ballistics. 3inches in wood maple don't equate to solid performance in flesh.
apparently you don't realize this (and are quite defensive on the subject): .380 jhp's that actually do expand will get 9-10 inches of penetration at the most. if you're comfortable with that, then use it.
12+ inches of penetration with a fmj will serve you better.
just do some googling on the subject, including "dr. gary roberts" in that search. he's an authority on the subject
on youtube, Tennesseeoutdoors9 is a good one to watch. he recently purchased sim test ballistic gell, which is a very good medium that simulates flesh.
internet forum commandos shooting into wood, and believing it's a relevant measure of how a jhp performs are confused.
BADUNAME37
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orly?
LOL
Oh, and your comment about me being upset?
Why should I be upset, I am here to have fun regardless of the reason you may be here.
LOL
Oh, and your comment about me being upset?
Why should I be upset, I am here to have fun regardless of the reason you may be here.
Apocalypse-Now
Member
^^yes, 'rly
you're pretty rude to folks that don't agree with your opinion. maybe you should re-read the title of this forum
(and do some reading on the subject of wound ballistics while you're at it)
you're pretty rude to folks that don't agree with your opinion. maybe you should re-read the title of this forum
(and do some reading on the subject of wound ballistics while you're at it)
BADUNAME37
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I simply asked a question -- however you took that is up to you -- as you tell me, you ought to "log that in your daily-diary!"
LOL
LOL
BADUNAME37
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I would check as many different HP loads for accuracy.
If there are two that are just as accurate, I would then turn to terminal ballistics to make my final decision.
If there are two that are just as accurate, I would then turn to terminal ballistics to make my final decision.
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I'm not sure if I posted it here but I posted accuracy impressions with SD rounds out of my Sig P238, since then I have tried others.
Of course these have nothing to do with ballistics but with how accurate the round was out of my .380 Sig.
The most accurate was the Horny Critical Defense, followed by Gold Dot, Rem Ult Home Defense and PowerBall by far the least accurate. However, after two days of shooting SD rounds, the Gold Dots seem to catch the first round as the slide was being released. I tried 3 mags-did not experience this with any other round.
Waiting for my Buffalo Bore to come in the mail. I ordered 4 boxes of assorted BB ammo. I am going to experiment with a mag of the first two rounds using a heavy 102 gr. Jhp and the next 4 rounds of 100 gr. +P BB FMJ. Read some good reviews on this ammo setup on another site. The heavy BB has looked very impressive from what I have seen.
Of course these have nothing to do with ballistics but with how accurate the round was out of my .380 Sig.
The most accurate was the Horny Critical Defense, followed by Gold Dot, Rem Ult Home Defense and PowerBall by far the least accurate. However, after two days of shooting SD rounds, the Gold Dots seem to catch the first round as the slide was being released. I tried 3 mags-did not experience this with any other round.
Waiting for my Buffalo Bore to come in the mail. I ordered 4 boxes of assorted BB ammo. I am going to experiment with a mag of the first two rounds using a heavy 102 gr. Jhp and the next 4 rounds of 100 gr. +P BB FMJ. Read some good reviews on this ammo setup on another site. The heavy BB has looked very impressive from what I have seen.
1KPerDay
Member
To the OP:
I have run about 20 different kinds of fmj and jhp through mine.
The only malfunctions I've had were with cor-bon 90 gr jhp, and IIRC it was only one or two FTFs out of a box of 20. DPX ran fine for me.
Of course your experience may be different.
I run Speer Gold Dot in mine now for the most part. Never any issues and seems to work about as well as any .380 jhp I've seen or read about.
I have run about 20 different kinds of fmj and jhp through mine.
The only malfunctions I've had were with cor-bon 90 gr jhp, and IIRC it was only one or two FTFs out of a box of 20. DPX ran fine for me.
Of course your experience may be different.
I run Speer Gold Dot in mine now for the most part. Never any issues and seems to work about as well as any .380 jhp I've seen or read about.
Bill_G
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Remington golden saber
PMC hardball
PMC hardball
Cards81fan
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Mine has eaten everything I have fed to it.
My recommendations for SD ammo would be:
1) Speer Gold Dot if you prefer a Hollow Point. Those and Corbon are reported to have the most reliable expansion in smaller calibers (.32 and .380 ACP). I simply use Speer as it is readily available nearly everywhere around here.
2) Fiocchi in in FMJ. They are perceived by many to be loaded a bit "hot" for smaller caliber FMJ, and my pistol feeds them fine, so I use them. Whether the "hotness" is perceived or actual I do not know, as I have not bothered to check the load data published on them.
My recommendations for SD ammo would be:
1) Speer Gold Dot if you prefer a Hollow Point. Those and Corbon are reported to have the most reliable expansion in smaller calibers (.32 and .380 ACP). I simply use Speer as it is readily available nearly everywhere around here.
2) Fiocchi in in FMJ. They are perceived by many to be loaded a bit "hot" for smaller caliber FMJ, and my pistol feeds them fine, so I use them. Whether the "hotness" is perceived or actual I do not know, as I have not bothered to check the load data published on them.
ETCss Phil McCrackin
Member
Most of the data I've managed to find seems to indicate that the vast majority of .380 HP's will not penetrate to at least 12". One of the few that does so in tests is the Federal 90 grain Hydra Shok. Since it's an older design, many folks snub the round in favor of the DPX or something newer.
I for one figure that if it fails to expand then I'm at FMJ performance anyway, and if it does, then data indicates it will still meet the 12" min, so it's the best of both worlds.
YMMV though...
I for one figure that if it fails to expand then I'm at FMJ performance anyway, and if it does, then data indicates it will still meet the 12" min, so it's the best of both worlds.
YMMV though...
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