.380 ammo poll - Ball/FMJ vs. HPs

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Pick one & discuss.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

PS. If you favor lead, like the BB hardcast 100, then please refrain from voting, because it doesn't have the feeding characteristics of ball, and doesn't have the expansion / lack of penetration characteristics of HPs, so it's just an anamoly for my poll. But please DO post and tell us that you prefer cast lead round, if that's what you carry.

In fact, my poll is less than ideal - I should have added 3 two options:

3. Ball only, mainly due to the lower cost & availability of practice ammo, coupled with the importance of having congruence between practice ammo with carry ammo.

5. Neither; I carry cast lead rounds in .380

If a moderator could add those two, that'd be great; thanks.

 

[Girodin]

Critical defense--it out penetrates many of the FMJ loads I've shot. Many FMJ loads are range ammo and are downloaded. Thus, anyone who thinks they are getting FMJ for superior penetration needs to make sure they are getting a load that will actually offer it.

The critical defense offers good expansion. It has fed 100% through my LCP and my Mustang.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Bersa Thunder , PPK/S, 2 Colt Mustangs , and a KelTec all loaded with Corbon DPX or Corbon 90gr HP . But I have not really had a problem with any HP I have tried in these pistols .

 

[rswartsell]

FEG PMK-380, Speer Gold Dot 90gr GDHP. A tick under 1,000 fps, also a tick under 200 # at muzzle.

Speer GDHP are always outstanding performers for me.

 

[Bill B.]

Thus, anyone who thinks they are getting FMJ for superior penetration needs to make sure they are getting a load that will actually offer it.

Quite a bit of the .380 loads loaded in Europe / Eastern Block seen hotter than USA ammo for what it's worth .....................

 

[kokapelli]

Critical defense--it out penetrates many of the FMJ loads I've shot. Many FMJ loads are range ammo and are downloaded. Thus, anyone who thinks they are getting FMJ for superior penetration needs to make sure they are getting a load that will actually offer it.

The critical defense offers good expansion. It has fed 100% through my LCP and my Mustang.

In Goldenloki's 380 gelatin tests http://www.goldenloki.com/ammo/gel/380acp/gel380acp.htm using a P-3AT pistol as the test platform ALL fmj rounds penetrated much deeper than Critical Defense 380 and Cor Bon JHP 90 grain had significantly deeper penetration and greater expansion than the Critical Defense.

The Cor Bon 80gr DPX round had almost as good penetration as the Critical Defense round but the DPX had way better expansion.

The Speer GDHP also had deeper penetration and slightly better expansion than the Critical Defense round.

 

[MedWheeler]

In colder weather (more than usual of that lately here in Florida), FNEBs, which are closer to ball. More penetration than HP, which is more likely to be needed against thugs wearing heavier clothing.
In warmer weather, which is most of the time, JHPs are carried.
These two loads are the only 380 ammo I have, and I have about 200 rounds of each. I'm satisfied with the performance of each. Both feed fine in my Bersa Thunder. Both are Remington UMC loads. The first is 95 grains, I believe, and the second is 88.
Because I carry both, I did not cast a vote.

 

[rcmodel]

1st. Gen Kel-Tec P3AT.

Feeds any JHP load or reload I have tried in it after a couple hundred rounds break-in when it was new.

Currently loaded with Federal HS.

rc

 

[denfoote]

HPs penetrate & feed fine in my .380 (post which gun & which ammo please)

I run Fiocchi hollow points tipped with the Hornady XTP bullet.

My 9mm kurz launching platform is this:

 

[zxcvbob]

I have a P3AT at home loaded with 95 grain cast bullets and 4.2 grains of Unique as a backup HD gun. (primary is a S&W 15 with LSWCHP's.) I have some 102 grain Remington Golden Something hollow points but I haven't tried them yet (bullets, not ammo.) They look like they should feed well but who knows.

The P3AT may get promoted to a carry gun soon -- in which case I'll load it with whatever brand of factory 95 grain FMJ's is handy. It feeds the Winchester flat-nosed just fine, so probably those. If the Remingtom bullets are a winner, I might seek out some ammo loaded with them.

 

[rswartsell]

I'll have to give those Cor Bon 90 gr JHP a try. Used some Cor Bon hunting loads and liked 'em. Never thought these would outperform the Speer GDHP though.

The Goldenloki test doesn't cover weight retention but the pic looks good for the Cor Bon 90 JHP. The DPX looks like it might have lost some though.

 

[Just One Shot]

LCP w/ Hornady's Critical Defense.

 

[NMGonzo]

Fiocci hollow points on my Bersa Thunder .380 with factory mags.

 

[Phantom Captain]

Walther PPK/s with the heavy Remington Golden Sabers

 

[OldCavSoldier]

Walther PPK and Colt Gov't Model .380 with Handloaded Hornady 90gr XTPs. Both the Walther and the Colt just LOVE 'em.

 

[R.W.Dale]

after seeing how cor-bon 90grn 380 +p failed to perform on multiple armadillo test subjects (unwilling) I'm firmly in the FMJ only camp for pocket pistols



I would only carry FMJ were I do buy another keltec, preferably the really really HOT Spanish Santa Barbra stuff
http://www.defensivecarry.com/vbull...tion-ballistics/31950-whats-380-acp-ammo.html

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

on multiple armadillo test subjects (unwilling)

Now that's just wrong....

 

[R.W.Dale]

Now that's just wrong....

as fun as it was it had to have been.

That year they were thick on the ground for some reason and I was charged with offing every one I saw by the landowner

Seriously though I burnt up a whole box though a bersa thunder and not once did a shot keep a armadillo from running to it's burrow. And many shots did not exit even on a critter as small as a "texas speed bump"

 

[TheDawgfather]

Haven't had any problems in my PPK/S shooting Federal Hydra Shok.

 

[kokapelli]

after seeing how cor-bon 90grn 380 +p failed to perform on multiple armadillo test subjects (unwilling) I'm firmly in the FMJ only camp for pocket pistols



I would only carry FMJ were I do buy another keltec, preferably the really really HOT Spanish Santa Barbra stuff
http://www.defensivecarry.com/vbull...tion-ballistics/31950-whats-380-acp-ammo.html

I purchased a thousand rounds of Santa Barbara ammo when it was readily available and it was ok for range work, but it was very inconsistent and frequently jammed IN MY BERSA, P-3AT and NAA Guardian.

I can't remember where, but some time back someone did some very thorough testing of it and found that the bullet weight was all over the place as was the powder content and in the chrono test it was very inconsistent too.

Velocities were nowhere near what people thought they were either.

Doesn't really make any difference though since it's not available anymore.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

I have a Makarov which is a bit stouter than the .380acp of which I have a BDA. both have a hot handload JHP in the chamber and hot handload FMJ in the mag. both feed and fire the HP's just fine - XTP in the Mak and Rem GS for the BDA but I figure the FMJ in the mag is gonna do the job for sure.

 

[skoro]

I alternate ball and HP in the magazines of my P3AT. I figure I have both bases covered.

 

[sidheshooter]

Of late, I am +1 on the fiocchi extrema with the hornady XTP pill. Fairly warm, and a jhp that is designed to expand more slowly. Probably as good as anything when you get right down to it.

But frankly, part of choosing that load is because I can get it regularly and it is cheaper than the US name brand designer bullets...

After last year, I am of the opinion that any .380 load beats an empty gun.

 

[TexasBill]

Our .380 collection includes a Browning BDA (wife's gun), a Beretta 84FS Cheetah and a Walther PK380. I use cheap FMJ at the range and use Remington Golden Sabers or Speer Gold Dot for carry. Would like to try some other rounds, but variety is still hard to come by.

I have thought about alternating JHP and FMJ rounds; may try that.