Just picked up a used Colt Mustang, won't be reloading for it. Intend to use it for CCW on really hot summer days so I'm wondering what people choose for self defense in this caliber.
i have hydra-shoks in my G42 but I'd have no problem with FMJ for this caliber especially in the guns with sub-3" bbls.
I always use the one that's the most accurate,,,,I don't care what style bullet it is or what brand it is. The best bullet money can buy is useless if it doesn't hit the target...……………..
I purchased Speer Gold Dot .380 ammo for my .380 CCW. There are lots of videos and such on Youtube. I watched a number of those as well as looking at info like this at Lucky Gunner. https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/ Plus our local law enforcement use Speer Gold Dots so it can't be emotionally painted as especially horrendous vs what professionals here use for personal protection. Food for thought.
At the ranges appropriate for the .380, I don't believe there's enough difference in accuracy between the best and the worst to make a difference. If you can't hit a man-sized torso at 5-7 yards max, it ain't the ammo's fault.
Remington or Federal are solid bets. My experience with .380 is that it isn't hopeful you'll be hitting anything at too far a range. If you're decent at Point & Click with It, then it's fine.
For any ammo the first criterion is sufficient penetration and reliability. After I am sure of that then I will worry about expansion. For 380 I chose fmj, but I want to have full velocity and no downloaded ammo that some factories turnout. But I am not going to go for the buffalo bore loadings that seem make a 380 shoot almost as hard as 9x19. Certainly I think they are too much for a keltec 3AT. I want a 95 grain fmj at 850-900 fps in say a 3 inch barrel. Buffalo Bore load below https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=127
I carry the Buffalo Bore HP, after I made sure they worked fine in my LCP. Not a load to practice excessively with with small guns, probably shoot them loose eventually. Besides, who could afford to. lol
I use the Sig Elite performance fmj rounds. I prefer fmj's over hollow points on my .380. I am of the philosophy of the 3 P's. Practice, Placement, and Penetration trumps expansion.
Buffalo Bore .380 auto Standard Pressure 95 Grain Flat Nose FMJ if that's not too much for the small gun. If so, then WWB 95 Grain Flat Nose FMJ.
Me too. It runs well in my P238 and my G42. It seems like it’s easy to find and not so pricy that I mind shooting up a mag or two now and then.
The Sig V-crown ammo does pretty well in .380 short barrels as far as penetration and expansion. That’s what I use in a Sig Sauer P238, which is very similar to the Mustang. When it comes to aggressive hollow point profiles it pays to run a few boxes through your own gun to make sure they feed reliably.
XTP from Fiocchi, Speer Gold Dots, Hornady Critical Defense. They all seem good enough to me, whatever I have on hand.
Another endorsement for the Lucky Gunner test from here. I would also beg anyone looking at 380 +p to look at buffalo bore with barnes copper solids. The expansion and penetration is on par with most 9mms given sub compact lengths. The heavier nines outstretch on penetration, but it has plenty to go in the front and out the back even with heavy clothing.
Critical defense , ball for reload. The critical defense may not expand but it has a decent chance, ball reload in case the extra rounds are required due to lack of penetration of the HPs. Don't carry the 380 very often this time of year. Sometimes I don't carry a reload if I'm going for lightweight minimal carry in low risk situations, like pajama parties or swimming.
I carry the Federal HST made for the short barrel pistols. It's a 98 or 99 grain bullet that was specifically made to expand out of a 2" barrel.
Sellier & Bellot FMJ..... https://www.targetsportsusa.com/sellier-bellot-380-acp-auto-ammo-92-grain-fmj-sb380a-p-3391.aspx
