Ballistic gelatin test results : .380ACP RBCD 45gr TF/SP (bare gelatin)

[Brass Fetcher]

Special thanks to JK for sponsoring this test.

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Brass Fetcher ballistic testing

Test # JK 13
Bare gelatin block. (Nominal 10% concentration)

Cartridge : .380ACP RBCD 45gr TF/SP
Block Calibration : 3.3 ± 0.05 inch penetration @ 585 ± 0.5 ft/sec

Block Calibration temperature : 37.9 ± 0.05 Degrees Fahrenheit

Block Core temperature : 38.8 ± 0.05 Degrees Fahrenheit

Bullet Performance:

Impact Velocity : 1378 ± 0.5 feet/second
Deepest Penetration Depth : 8.0 ± 0.05 Inch
Maximum Crack Diameter : 2.0 ± 0.05 Inch
Max Crack Diameter Location : 1.9 ± 0.05 Inch
Cavitation Depth : 0.0-6.3 ± 0.05 Inch

Notes:
Weapon – Kel-Tec P3AT, with 2.75” barrel length
Distance – 10.0 feet, muzzle to gelatin impact face
Test site conditions - 66 deg F, 48% relative humidity
Time out of refrigeration prior to shot impact - 4 minutes
Bullet recovered weight – 41.0gr
Bullet recovered average diameter – Jacket = 0.508”; lead core = 0.339”; plastic core = 0.334”
Bullet recovered length – Jacket = 0.159”; lead core = 0.153”; plastic core = 0.248”

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[makarovnik]

Not enough penetration.

 

[71Commander]

Where did you get a 45 gr . 380 bullet?

 

[Drgong]

Ouch, not impressive, then agian, I am used to seeing the amazing stats for the .327 mag ...

 

[burningsquirrels]

from reading the ammo's website, it sounds like it wasn't made to penetrate. TFSP is for total fragmenting soft point.

 

[NG VI]

Looks pretty pathetic. Golden Saber and Gold Dot if you want a little expansion with your .380 is what it looks like to me.

 

[Happiness Is A Warm Gun]

Why does anyone do bare gelatin tests?

If a JHP is going to fail it is from loss of velocity when punching through clothing and/or mouth getting clogged lowering pressure inside the JHP and reducing expansion.

I guess if your neighborhood has a large number of naked muggers or a nude home invasion ring it would make sense.

Regardless the numbers seem horribly low. 8". Now normally I don't get too excited by numbers anything in the 12"-15" range looks good to me. 8" is just too little.

Makes me think for .380ACP FMJ is the way to go.

 

[71Commander]

For the most part, this test is meaningless. 45 gr .380 bullets are not available to reload and are not for sell at most, if not all commercial retailers, locally or on line. Most .380 bullets are in the 90/100 gr. range.

 

[jocko]

yup

sure a waste of "good gelatin"

 

[Funderb]

well, gee guys, hard on the man much?

Thanks for posting, hope it was fun.

 

[71Commander]

well, gee guys, hard on the man much?

Thanks for posting, hope it was fun.

Not at all. I appreciate the posting of the geletin results, but this one was for a round that is extremely hard to come by. Maybe 5% (SWAG) of .380 owners might use it.

 

[Happiness Is A Warm Gun]

Yeah the test itself looks very professionally done. Good photos w/ rulers as scales and neatly printed data. I like the test & setup. Looks nice.

I just wonder 2 things
1) why this particular round sucks so bad?
2) why people request test data naked?

 

[NG VI]

The test looks very good, brassfetcher always does a great job on their gelatin tests. I hope the new site gets fleshed out soon!

 

[71Commander]

Round sucks because it's a extremely light bullet at nearly 1400 fps. Bullet is too fat and short. Bullet blows up.

 

[KBintheSLC]

Thanks for posting the results... seems like the only thing I can see this ammo being used for is for Sky Marshall carry loads at 30K feet. Besides that, I see no practical use for it.

 

[burningsquirrels]

yup. i think that was their point outlined on their website.

i don't want an air marshal carrying a 357 magnum, lol.

 

[NG VI]

Or an air marshal carrying a .380!

 

[burningsquirrels]

well, maybe if it was loaded with the above tested round lol...

 

[NG VI]

Oh boy... I'd rather have them carry Extreme Shock .50 Action Express!

 

[jocko]

if, if

iof all the sky marshall had was a lowly 380. I think I would rahter he just keep the gun in his pocket

 

[R.W.Dale]

iof all the sky marshall had was a lowly 380. I think I would rahter he just keep the gun in his pocket

I guess it would be preferable to you to have your flight slammed into a nuke plant at 600mph than admit that a pocket gun can get the job done