380 carry ammo

[tactikel]

I’ve tried and like several depending on availability. Ruger ARX (discontinued), Lehigh defense, Gold Dots, XTP.
It must function 100% in my LCP.

 

[L-2]

Here's a 11-year old reference and a recommendation regarding the .380. Read the 2nd paragraph noting the recommendation to use a FMJ round for .380. I often relied on the info from the Pistol-Forum.com, besides many other forums such as Thehighroad.org.
https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?4336-BUG-s-380-ACP-vs-38-Sp

But do also read or study Luckygunner.com as recommended in a prior post to this thread as that info will likely be testing ammo newer than 11 years ago.

I personally carried either .40, 9mm, .357 or .38 Special for my BUGs as my department didn't authorize the .380 when I was employed. I don't know if my agency OK'd the .380 or not after I retired and the Glock 42 had just became available. Although someday, I might try a .380, I've yet to do so.

I did work for another department where I remember two officers who carried .380 guns but have no idea what ammo they used (~28 years ago).

 

[Agsalaska]

First for some clarity I am not personally a fan of pocket guns. For me.

That being I can put a 9mm HST bullet for example through any length barrel and get good performance out of it. Not so with the .380. The .380 hollow point bullet performance varies greatly with barrel length.

If I was carrying that gun I would probably carry FMJ. The only really good .380 is the Hornady FTX which does pretty well but may not cycle in your gun.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

Hornady factory loaded XTP or Underwood +P XTP.

 

[murf]

I am skeptical of traditional FMJ and hollow points in .380 for some of the reasons already mentioned in this thread. The projectiles are light and the velocities are relatively slow. Rounds that expand don't penetrate adequately. They usually get tested only against bare gelatin and denim covered gelatin, which totally ignores common barriers such as pocket clutter, cartilage and bones, without even getting into barriers like windshields. Anyway, I have been doing some gonzo-style testing over the last few years involving any .380 ammo I can get my hands on. I have posted 7 recent ones (3 today) on another forum, including entries from Lehigh, Buffalo Bore, Hornady, Federal and CCI. If you are interested, it is here: https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/17837796 FWIW, I also ran the same test with a 90 grain factory Speer Gold Dot before I started putting the water jugs behind the wood and steel sheet metal, and the round flattened and disappeared into the dirt between the first and second sheets of sheet metal.

just finished watching all the tests. i am surprised the fmj failed to go through the sheet steel. i am also glad to have positive confirmation on my own 68 grain xd lehigh defense water jug test. this is what i currently have in my lcp.

murf

 

[GooseGestapo]

I for one don’t put a great deal of reliance on the FBI tests. I’ve been around long enough to see scads of anecdotal results of a myriad of cartridges, bullets styles and shot placement, and subjects (people or domestic animals and wildlife).

I once arrested a “hunter”, hunting deer with a Browning BDA with FMJ. (He was also without licenses, -non resident, w/o permission, and over bait, illegal ammunition). On the other hand I’ve seen what an 85gr Winchester Silver Tip .380 does with a solid head impact on a 170lb deer, fired from a S&W sheild at 30’ (Dramatic!).

Over penetration with a handgun is a red herring. I’d have to see what the velocity post-penetration was/is before I’d be concerned. Most will be so slow as to not be an impact hazard.

IMO, MISSED shots are the problem. A recent gang shooting in Atlanta resulted in 19shots fired. One struct the leg of a bystander!
Also, a recent YouTube video illustrates that it may take multiple hits to render a perpetrator incapacitated leading to accusations of excessive force.

My reason for still carrying a .40 Glock or 10mm if carrying exposed (if not a .357mag, 44mag, or .45Colt revolver).

9’s, .380’s, .32’s are great concealed. Just don’t trust One shot to do the trick. Hollow or solid points.

 

[N555]

Plenty of shootings happened in places where cops had to use ball ammo. Places like NYC where cops shot a perp, bullets went through the perp and injured and some times killed other officers. One shooting a nyc cop shot a perp one time, bullet went through the perp, through a solid wood door and hit a woman in the eye, didn't kill her. Sued the heck out of NYC police.
But those were 9mm, not 380.
Talking 124gr bullet up to 1,200fps vs 95gr at about 1,000fps.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Hornady XTPs, in a G42 or an LCP. In several tests, some years back, these had a decent reputation for penetration and some expansion. We're going to have to accept that the .380 is a marginal round, and nothing will turn it to a death ray.
But it works in small, concealable pistols, and in somewhat larger guns, for the recoil sensitive. The first rule of gunfighting remains "Have a gun".
BTW, the LCP, and the G42, and a Walther PPK/s, and a Browning 1910, have all run just fine on my reloads. It's not a hard round to reload, and my loads run about the same speed as the carry ammo.
Moon

 

[Simplereloader81]

I carry hornady crit def out of my keltec p3at

 

[CaptHank]

I changed up to Underwood in my Sig P232.

 

[zaitcev]

Hornady XTP and Critical Defense demonstrate the best performance in tests. It is the only loads that offer reliable expansion and penetration. But unfortunately I found them problematic in Glock 42. The symptom is: after carrying in a holster for a few months, there's going to be an FTF after the first shot. After the condition is cleared, it will not return for months. If I shoot the guns regularly, there's no problem (plural because I have two). If the guns sit in the safe, there's no problem. If they're loaded with anything else, there's no problem. At this point, I am switching to Gold Dots. Check back some time in 2024 when another round of these tests is completed.

 

[WisBorn]

I have been carrying Percision One and Federal Punch, but will be switching to FMJ after a conversation with a THR friend.
I think the penetration trauma has a better opportunity to stop an attack versus the trauma created by a expanding hollow point.

 

[1KPerDay]

Hornady XTP and Critical Defense demonstrate the best performance in tests. It is the only loads that offer reliable expansion and penetration. But unfortunately I found them problematic in Glock 42. The symptom is: after carrying in a holster for a few months, there's going to be an FTF after the first shot. After the condition is cleared, it will not return for months. If I shoot the guns regularly, there's no problem (plural because I have two). If the guns sit in the safe, there's no problem. If they're loaded with anything else, there's no problem. At this point, I am switching to Gold Dots. Check back some time in 2024 when another round of these tests is completed.

weird

 

[N555]

I changed up to Underwood in my Sig P232.

View attachment 1126802

Mmmmmmmmm I like 232.

 

[defjon]

Hornady American Gunner XTP in two mags for my lcp custom.

Third 7 round mag is winchester fmj flat point.

Strong argument to make all the mags use that round but gel is like 27 inches of penetration. Maybe too much indoors/public areas.

 

[WYO]

Hornady XTP and Critical Defense demonstrate the best performance in tests. It is the only loads that offer reliable expansion and penetration. But unfortunately I found them problematic in Glock 42. The symptom is: after carrying in a holster for a few months, there's going to be an FTF after the first shot. After the condition is cleared, it will not return for months. If I shoot the guns regularly, there's no problem (plural because I have two). If the guns sit in the safe, there's no problem. If they're loaded with anything else, there's no problem. At this point, I am switching to Gold Dots. Check back some time in 2024 when another round of these tests is completed.

I can't speak to the XTPs, but I have noticed that the red rubber or plastic tips on .380 Critical Defense are dirt magnets in magazines that get carried a lot and shot little, especially spares. I wonder if that could be part of your issue with them.

 

[hutch51]

Sig P238.
It's picky. After several brands had feed problems found the Hornady Critical Defense will feed reliably. Ran a half-dozen boxes through with no malfunctions.
I carry it only when clothing restrictions prohibit carrying a full-size 1911. The P238 goes in an OWB holster when carried.
It goes to the range occasionaly and I'll run a few magazines through it, combination of the Critical Defense and ball.

 

[Buckeye63]

XTP bullets … or FNFMJ

 

[Zendude]

Inceptor ARX feeds reliably like fmj but does not over penetrate like fmj, if that is a concern.