.380 HP vs .380 FMJ in a P3AT

[Animal Mother]

Has anyone seen any test data that would indicate which(if any) .380 hollow-point rounds showed adequate penetration and expansion out of a short barrel?

I've always carried .380 hollow-points in my P3AT, but I do wonder if standard ball ammo would be a better choice due to deeper penetration being more likely to stop an attacker.

I would think that with a P3AT or LCP, you would have to avoid .380 +P loadings.

 

[The Wiry Irishman]

It really depends on what hollowpoints you're using.

http://www.brassfetcher.com/380ACP.html

 

[Philo_Beddoe]

I use FMJ in my 9x18's and .380's I dont trust the HP's to have adequate penetration.

Penetration > expansion, doest matter how much the bullet expands if it doesnt hit the vitals.

 

[rcmodel]

This thread has links to every known P3AT bullet test.

http://www.ktog.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1199737660

Most every one will show at least 10" - 12" in ballistic gel with various amounts of expansion.

Around here, bad guys don't get much thicker then that to the middle of the boiler room.

I carry Federal HS or Gold-Dot, but would feel just as well armed with about any of the major brand JHP ammo.

Speer Gold-Dot, XTP, Silver-Tip, Golden Saber, Corbon DPX, etc.

Any of them will provide more massive tissue damage then a FMJ if they open up at all.

If they don't open, they will provide as much penetration as FMJ anyway.

rc

 

[Just One Shot]

Mix them up in the mag and you get both.

 

[JMusic]

I saw an ACD go off in a garage a few years ago with a 380 loaded with protection bullets. It hit the front plate at a 45% angle. Its a very minimal caliber and your need to set your strategy with that at mind. I'm not sure in 32 and 380 hp's make Any difference. I Carry both on occasion. But my tactics would be much different in these two calibers. My opinion and mods you can pull it if you want. nothing less than a head shot is a sure incapacitation in these calibers.


Jim

 

[rcmodel]

If you are good enough to make head shots in a gunfight, you might as well carry a .22.

rc

 

[cerberus65]

I doubt this question will ever be definitively answered. But FWIW I prefer to carry FMJ when I carry .32 or .380.

 

[S&W-Keeper]

My experience with the .380.Find the one that feeds, and use it.

 

[SimpleIsGood229]

This article written by our very own Stephen Camp should be of interest: http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Bersa Thunder.htm

 

[Elvishead]

I think a "Bullet cocktail" (FMJ. HP, FMJ, HP......) would solve those worries.

 

[matt_s07]

I think the "cocktail" is a good idea. That way you are covered.

 

[rcmodel]

Yep!
Covered with different muzzle blast and recoil impulse every shot.

Sure to improve your follow-up accuracy!

Just use JHP, or get a bigger gun if that tickles your fuzzy.

rc

 

[george29]

rcmodel and s&wkeeper both got it right. Personally, if I used HP, it would be something from corbon, but as s&wkeeper said, reliability is more of an issue here and that means FMJ in most blowbacks. We live in an age where we pooh-pooh the FMJ, but millions have been stopped and killed by FMJ long before there was anything but. Any volunteers want to stand 50 feet away from me as I shoot them with my mom's Taurus .25, I promise to only use FMJ.

 

[skoro]

I load a mix of Buffalo Bore hardcast and Hornady critical defense rounds in my Kel-Tec P-3AT. I figure that gives me penetration or expansion.

 

[zxcvbob]

I currently load my own with hardcast bullets and a max charge of Unique. (Unique is the best performing powder in .380)

But I also bought a some Remington 102 grain Golden-Something HP bullets to try. Out if that short barrel, they probably won't expand much, so they should still penetrate pretty well -- with sharp jagged edges.

Also going to try some 120 grain truncated cone bullets cast from dead-soft lead.

But first I gotta find some .380 brass...

 

[DeepSouth]

More ballistics

 

[Racinbob]

Neat info deepsouth. I just bought a LCP and it's coming with a box of Federal HS. Nice to know the HS was at the top with Corbon. The LCP has to prove itself before any carry use and it certainly won't replace my 442 as my main carry. There will be times when it's size will be handy. I'm using Fed +p HP in my 442 and waiting to get to the range to see how the Critical Defense feel in it before I carry them.

 

[emmie]

Down here in south Georgia,most people carry a brand of bullets called Double Tap. this is a high speed loading sitting under a Gold dot bullet.
and is marked on box as made for the Kel-Tec 3AT.
double tap is a company,which makes a lot of loadings in different calibers.

emmie

 

[johnnylaw53]

When I was carrying a kel tec 32 I would but a good HP in the chamber and load the magzine with HB this was more for rim lock but would also give you both, the power of the HP and the penatraction of a solid.

be safe

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Right now I'd say just about any .380 ammo would be good if you can find any. Given the choice I'd go for a good h/p that fed well from my pistol.

 

[ByAnyMeans]

I use Winchester Flat Nose FMJ, hope it will cause more tissue damage then a round nose while getting better penetration than a hollowpoint. When possible I carry a larger caliber.

 

[rcmodel]

It might interest you to know that the Winchester FP is about the weakest .380 ammo being made today.

Whatever advantage the FP bullet might have, it is more then lost to the very low velocity.

American Rifleman test of the P3AT:

[/IMG]

rc

 

[krs]

I doubt this question will ever be definitively answered. But FWIW I prefer to carry FMJ when I carry .32 or .380.

+1 , and they will be more likely to for-sure function the pistol, IMO.

 

[JMusic]

The lesser the caliber the more complicated the situation can become. You have to use whats between your ears. My opinion in most cases unless you have cover you move. How and which direction could be the key to survival.



Jim