I just bought a Ruger LCP and I already like it very much even though I have not had a chance to fire it. I bought a couple boxes of Fiocchi ammo which is loaded with the Hornady XTP at 50 fps less than Hornadys TAP or their custom ammo. I know that the XTP is a good bullet so I thought that would be a good place to start. Even if 50 fps does make a difference, I suppose I could shoot a couple hundred rounds of the Fiocchi through iit and carry the XTP load instead. Their is a big difference in price here. So my first question is are any of you carrying the Fiocchi XTP load? If not which load do you prefer for carry?
Which 380 ammo for carry.
- Thread starter CZ223
- Start date
- Status
Hornady 380 Auto 90 gr. FTX ballistics have shown 10.5" of penetration.
Hornady Link
I have been thinking about the 380 alot lately and I don't quite know where I stand on the FMJ vs JHP debate. I am still in the thinking / research stage... but I do like talking penetration!
Hornady Link
I have been thinking about the 380 alot lately and I don't quite know where I stand on the FMJ vs JHP debate. I am still in the thinking / research stage... but I do like talking penetration!
benzuncle
Member
I use 102gr Remington Golden Sabers. As I have not shot anyone to know, I can only tell you what the tests that I have found say: 8in penetration and .570 to .588 expansion. Works for me; that oughta make'em leak if nothing else. I carry my 380 when, for whatever reason, I can't carry one of my 45's.
sniper7369
Member
My .380 load for my P-3AT is a 90gr GDHP over 3.4rg of Bullseye with a CCI 500 primer. Looks like it would do the trick. 
Darth AkSarBen
Member
Nice penny!!
I shoot a Bersa with Cor-Bon DPX all copper bullets. They do an excellent job, and penetrate very well. Here is link to John Farnam's Quips about it:
Cor-Bon Ammunition
And a picture I have of a .45 ACP in Cor-Bon 185 gr, Federal Hydra Shock and 2 of the .380. first one is a DPX and the second one is a Remington Golden Saber. Both of these .380 rounds are very good and I would not want to be shot with either.
I do think that the new Hornady round above is going to be VERY prime for SD carry. It has the makings of a winner...plus it's made in Nebraska,....spelled backwards it's aksarbeN *S*
I shoot a Bersa with Cor-Bon DPX all copper bullets. They do an excellent job, and penetrate very well. Here is link to John Farnam's Quips about it:
Cor-Bon Ammunition
And a picture I have of a .45 ACP in Cor-Bon 185 gr, Federal Hydra Shock and 2 of the .380. first one is a DPX and the second one is a Remington Golden Saber. Both of these .380 rounds are very good and I would not want to be shot with either.
I do think that the new Hornady round above is going to be VERY prime for SD carry. It has the makings of a winner...plus it's made in Nebraska,....spelled backwards it's aksarbeN *S*
Attachments
Last edited:
Darth AkSarBen
Member
And yes, skeptiq, penetration is good.
Penetration is the weak point of the .380acp JHP. Due to the bullet's poor sectional density, it doesn't have a lot of momentum behind it relative to its bullet diameter. A .32 caliber bullet at 90gr will penetrate much deeper than a .38 caliber 90gr bullet since its mass is focused onto a smaller point. The same is observed with a 9mm 135gr bullet and a .40S&W 135gr bullet. So, JHPs that perform best in the .380acp are those that reduce expansion enough to get a penetration depth close to that of 12" in bare gel.
Right now, the only loads that can do this reliably are the Hornady 90gr XTP, and the new Hornady 90gr FTX. I would say the FTX might be the best of the two. Based on what I've seen in reviews from the FBI, the Firearms Institute, and the recent testing by ATK the only .380acp JHP loads I would trust would be the two Hornady loads I mentioned.
Velocity increases in loads such as Double Tap and Buffallo Bore do nothing other than increase expansion of the bullet with virtually no increase in penetration. It's like trying to put a fire out in the kitchen by throwing ice into the swimming pool.
Right now, the only loads that can do this reliably are the Hornady 90gr XTP, and the new Hornady 90gr FTX. I would say the FTX might be the best of the two. Based on what I've seen in reviews from the FBI, the Firearms Institute, and the recent testing by ATK the only .380acp JHP loads I would trust would be the two Hornady loads I mentioned.
Velocity increases in loads such as Double Tap and Buffallo Bore do nothing other than increase expansion of the bullet with virtually no increase in penetration. It's like trying to put a fire out in the kitchen by throwing ice into the swimming pool.
Sunray
Member
"...and carry the XTP load instead..." Always practice with the ammo you use when carrying. You really need to try a box of as many brands as you can to find the ammo your pistol both shoots well and cycles the action.
"...since its mass is focused onto a smaller point..." Nonsense. Penetration is about bullet construction, velocity and weight. Mostly bullet construction.
"...since its mass is focused onto a smaller point..." Nonsense. Penetration is about bullet construction, velocity and weight. Mostly bullet construction.
Snowdog
Member
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2002
- Messages
- 4,608
Some JSP or FMJ-FP
Yeah, boring... I know. I don't carry a .380acp, but if I did, I would likely choose something like what's offered by Winchester. There was some 95gr JSP Santa Barbara ammunition on the market a while back that I wouldn't mind giving a go if I opted to carry a .380acp as it appeared to be loaded consistant and warm, but it looks hard to find these days.
I personally wouldn't bother with JHPs in .32acp or .380acp (S&B FMJs reside in my P32), but those FTX suggested in Skeptiq's post are new to me and sure look snazzy.
Yeah, boring... I know. I don't carry a .380acp, but if I did, I would likely choose something like what's offered by Winchester. There was some 95gr JSP Santa Barbara ammunition on the market a while back that I wouldn't mind giving a go if I opted to carry a .380acp as it appeared to be loaded consistant and warm, but it looks hard to find these days.
I personally wouldn't bother with JHPs in .32acp or .380acp (S&B FMJs reside in my P32), but those FTX suggested in Skeptiq's post are new to me and sure look snazzy.
Jkwas
Member
I have my reservations shooting JHP thru a small .380 like the P3AT. Plus mine feeds FMJ more smoothly then the many of the JHP brands I've tried. I compromise: One JHP in the tube, and the rest FMJ.
As far as brand goes, whatever works in your gun.
As far as brand goes, whatever works in your gun.
Acouple of responses to a couple of points
First to address Sunray's point. I understand what you are saying about shooting the same ammo as you will carry at least to make sure that the gun is reliable with that ammo. That was actually my point. The Fiocchi ammo is loaded with the same bullet as the Hornady Custom and TAP rounds albeit at 50 fps slower. They all use the Hornady XTP bullet. As long as feeding is reliable with both rounds I see this as being a very acceptable substitute as both rounds are dimensionally identical. Lets face it, not very many people are gonna spend almost a dollar a round for practice ammo.
Grizz, yeah I was kinda thinking about that myself but judging from the responces so far there seem to be some good alternatives out there.
Skeptiq, that look like an interesting round. I hope to find it locally.
As to all the rest of the suggestions, I will be trying other brands like the Speer Gold-dot, Remington Golden Sabre et al.
First to address Sunray's point. I understand what you are saying about shooting the same ammo as you will carry at least to make sure that the gun is reliable with that ammo. That was actually my point. The Fiocchi ammo is loaded with the same bullet as the Hornady Custom and TAP rounds albeit at 50 fps slower. They all use the Hornady XTP bullet. As long as feeding is reliable with both rounds I see this as being a very acceptable substitute as both rounds are dimensionally identical. Lets face it, not very many people are gonna spend almost a dollar a round for practice ammo.
Grizz, yeah I was kinda thinking about that myself but judging from the responces so far there seem to be some good alternatives out there.
Skeptiq, that look like an interesting round. I hope to find it locally.
As to all the rest of the suggestions, I will be trying other brands like the Speer Gold-dot, Remington Golden Sabre et al.
Geezer Glide
Member
My P3AT is loaded with FMJ at all times. It feeds this ammo well and I'm in the crowd that thinks penetration is better.
- Status
