Ballistic gelatin test results - Various .380ACP

[Brass Fetcher]

Various .380ACP handloads

Calibration = 10.8 ± 0.05cm BB penetration at 601 ± 0.500 ft/sec.

Firearm was recoil-operated semi-auto with 2.75” barrel

Shot 1 was Hornady 90 grain XTP with 2.8gr N310 powder. Penetrated 11.6 ± 0.031”. 0.437 ± 0.0005” average diameter. Impact velocity = 912 ± 0.500 ft/sec.

Shot 2 was Hornady 90 grain XTP with 2.9gr N310 powder. Penetrated 10.7 ± 0.031”. 0.421 ± 0.0005” average diameter. Impact velocity = 936 ± 0.500 ft/sec.

Shot 3 was Hornady 90 grain XTP with 3.0gr N310 powder. Penetrated 10.3 ± 0.031”. 0.465 ± 0.0005” average diameter. Impact velocity = 1004 ± 0.500 ft/sec.

Shot 4 was Speer 90 grain GoldDot with 2.9gr N310 powder. Penetrated 10.2 ± 0.031”. 0.456 ± 0.0005” average diameter. Impact velocity = 914 ± 0.500 ft/sec.

Shot 5 was Speer 90 grain GoldDot with 3.0gr N310 powder. Penetrated 10.1 ± 0.031”. 0.471 ± 0.0005” average diameter. Impact velocity = 914 ± 0.500 ft/sec.

Please note that most reloading tables list 2.9gr of N310 as the maximum load for the above cartridge combination.