Glock G42, digests everything and has less felt recoil than any of the above. I have put hundreds of Freedom Munitions XTP through the G42 and have yet to have a failure.
Favorite Defensive .380 ACP Load?
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RevolvingGarbage
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I use the Hornady Critical Defense load with the FTX hollowpoint in my LCP. They function perfectly in my gun, they hit point of aim, and I am confident in them working as advertised. Gel tests show 12-15 inches penetration with great expansion and to me thats just fine for a gun that can be easily hidden in any clothing or weather situation.
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Speedo66
Member
Last time I looked, Buffalo Bore had the hottest solids and HP's. Although they feed fine in my little LCP, once I found they worked, I restricted them to carry only, not plinking.
Too hard on the gun, too hard on my wallet. lol
Too hard on the gun, too hard on my wallet. lol
Zendude
Member
Hornady Critical Defense
Ironicaintit
Member
congratulations!
I meant older, as in, pre-Glock. walther P38 and older BHPs with the humped feed ramp usually choke on JHP.
the XTPs do fairly well IME, with those older styles that may be picky about their diet
The Lehigh is interesting but there a number of complaints on the internet of feeding problems with it.
Also the high cost of the Lehigh round is a turn off for me. being able to buy the XTP round from Freedom Munitions for 30 cents a round allows me to do a lot practice with what I carry.
Also the high cost of the Lehigh round is a turn off for me. being able to buy the XTP round from Freedom Munitions for 30 cents a round allows me to do a lot practice with what I carry.
Haven't seen any feed complaints; any pattern in particular pistols?
As far as shooting carry loads I don't worry about it. I pick a load that is reliable, shoots close enough to POA, buy enough to recycle first rounds from mag loadings to avoid setback problems. And have sufficient on hand for the time I'm likely to keep the gun. At the range I just use the cheapest ball ammo I can get. For business, cost is not a factor when I select the load.
In pistols like 9s I might want a hot load for carry, but don't want to shoot them for practice to save wear and tear on the gun.
Also look at post# 16.
Saddlebag Preacher
Member
Hornady Critical Defense .380 is what I use and have been happy with it.
Reading the Sig forum link it appears the problems are with particular pistols. As with most ammo choices it is prudent to buy a box and try first, rather than buy lots and find out it is not reliable in your particular pistol.
With a new pistol it is probably a good idea to burn a few boxes of cheap ball ammo to break it in first.
With a new pistol it is probably a good idea to burn a few boxes of cheap ball ammo to break it in first.
From Shooting The Bull gelatin tests.
Armored farmer
Member
I prefer hollow points after having poor performance on deer with my lwfp cast .357s.
Anyway......
I have had two ammo related failures in my trusty lcp.
One was with Sig's defensive hollow points, one was with Hornady Critical Defense.
.....bad primer......not a good thing.
^^^^entry holes
^^^^exit holes
Not too scientific, but interesting if nothing else.
Anyway......
I have had two ammo related failures in my trusty lcp.
One was with Sig's defensive hollow points, one was with Hornady Critical Defense.
.....bad primer......not a good thing.
^^^^entry holes
^^^^exit holes
Not too scientific, but interesting if nothing else.
Grayrock
Member
Has anyone tried that Ruger ARX stuff?
Jeb Stuart
member
I have shot it in numerous 380's with fine results. Actually going to shoot some more today. What I really do like is the the 9mm Plus P. Some great results. Shoots very nice, a lot of horse power with about a 15-20% reduction in felt recoil.
Here is a great review of the ammo shot with the short barrel LCR 9mm.
http://mousegunaddict.blogspot.com/search?q=lcr+9mm
Here is a great review of the ammo shot with the short barrel LCR 9mm.
http://mousegunaddict.blogspot.com/search?q=lcr+9mm
chaim
Member
I've read that thread before, and Erich's conclusion is pretty much the same as mine (though mine is from reading about or watching online various gel tests, I don't have the history/sources he does): .380 JHP doesn't penetrate enough, and the FMJ risks/borders on too much penetration. Given those options, I'd go FMJ and be very careful what/who is behind my attacker/target. Because of those options, I strongly prefer a 9mm when I go with a small pocket gun, and sometimes go with a J-frame (and I'm about to return to my J-frames more often again). If someone doesn't like the recoil of a small 9mm, and they want an auto over a revolver, I've been starting to think that the .32ACP may be the better bet (still too little penetration in a JHP, but the FMJ are in "just right' territory for penetration).
usp9
Member
I have used a single box shot through my Pico. The last one too. It fed and fired but I had what seemed to be no control over where it hit the target. Had a mind of it's own. I shot at several distances. With other ammo I can shoot a pretty consistent 2" group, but the ARX might land 6" or more away from my point of aim. I've been doing this for 50 years so I knock the ammo. The other 8 brands used in my Pico all shot in an acceptable manner.
Jim NE
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That's kind of my attitude. With small micro carry pistols, like my LCP, reliability is job one. My gun will chamber and cycle most fmj ammo, round or flat nose. I personally think that penetration is important for the less stout .380 round.
Having said that, I've seen some real positive reviews for the Lehigh Defense Xtreme Penetrators, so I've bought some to try out. The key will be whether the funny shaped projectile will cycle OK in my LCP. If it does, I may start carrying that stuff for .380 defense. The Underwood, which uses the exact same bullet, may be even better.
Let us know how the Lehigh works in your pistol.
It doesn't make sense to use FMJ when there are good round like PrecisionOne's loading of the XTP, and there are hollow points that perform well when they do expand and when they don't - they act like FMJ. Why not get a round that's worst case scenario is acting like a FMJ, with upside potential to expand some and only penetrate 13 - 14 inches ?
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Excessive velocity is not necessary. You only need enough velocity to insure reliable bullet expansion. The more velocity the more recoil and accuracy is most important in a SD ammo next to reliability. The best ammo in the world will do you no good unless you hit what you shoot at.
For some reason many shooters judge how good an ammo is by how much velocity it generates. That just isn't true.
For some reason many shooters judge how good an ammo is by how much velocity it generates. That just isn't true.
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