Best .380 Auto defensive round?
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MCgunner
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I've never had a problem with 90 grain Hornady XTP feeding in my .380, a Grendel P12. I'm looking to get a P3AT soon and will play with ammo choices in it. I'm not sure whether a hollowpoint is all that good in the caliber considering marginal penetration, but I want a flat nose profile, not a FMJ ball. Those Winchester flat nose "green" loads don't feed well in my Grendel, but I might consider 'em in the P3AT if it feeds well with 'em. They hang on the feed ramp occasionally in the Grendel. I handload a SWC 105 grainer that feeds fine. That one is accurate, heavy, and I have a load that pushes 220 ft lbs with it that doesn't have excessive pressure. That's about all I can get out of a .380 and that might be the load I go with in the future.
As far as that Hawes site stating ANY .380 load can top a good .38 special, well, he's pretty full of it, me thinks. I'll trust a +P 158 grain hollow point out of my 2" at 290 ft lbs any day over any .380 load for both penetration and expansion. It will expand and still deliver the goods. I feel much better about totin' .38 than .380, but the allure of a tiny little pocket gun is strong, I'll admit, for deep concealment.
As far as that Hawes site stating ANY .380 load can top a good .38 special, well, he's pretty full of it, me thinks. I'll trust a +P 158 grain hollow point out of my 2" at 290 ft lbs any day over any .380 load for both penetration and expansion. It will expand and still deliver the goods. I feel much better about totin' .38 than .380, but the allure of a tiny little pocket gun is strong, I'll admit, for deep concealment.
DawgFvr
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I like Corbon DPX in my P3AT. I'm a simple man...I load Corbon DPX in every weapon I own...M1 Garand being the only exception.
Texastbird
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I guess we have been doing everything wrong. My wife carries her Mustang with the silvertips, and practises with 88Gr. Remingtons over 4 grains of Unique. Both are very accurate for her. With my fat hands, I have a hard time shooting the thing! It was her first pistol and she alternates it with her Model 10 that her father left her. Only problem is that now she has discovered how much fun 45acps can be to shoot, and I may have to get her a 1911 of her own.
MassMan
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I agree it is critical to test various ammo to see which works best in your particular gun. I was working in a gun store in the 70's and sold a couple of guys Walther PPK/s (German made). A week later they came back complaining the guns continued to jam. If I recall correctly, they were shooting S&W 88 gr. hollow points. I suggested they try a 90 gr. or heaver bullet as I had read the Walther needed a heavier bullet to function properly. They switched to a 90 gr bullet and that solved their problem.
If I recall correctly, they were shooting S&W 88 gr. hollow points.
Fortunately they don't make this ammo anymore. It had a blunt, almost flat profile that didn't feed easily in anything. I don't think bullet weight is a problem in PPKs as the 85 gr Silvertip feeds fine in all I've seen. I don't think 2 or 5 grs make a difference?
Fortunately they don't make this ammo anymore. It had a blunt, almost flat profile that didn't feed easily in anything. I don't think bullet weight is a problem in PPKs as the 85 gr Silvertip feeds fine in all I've seen. I don't think 2 or 5 grs make a difference?
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