i have herad federal hydro shock are good. i recently bought three boxes of hornady jhp bullets. i like the nickel casings for reliable feeding. but i have heard that that round doesnt penetrate as good as the others. would like to hear some more opinions on the best .380 self protection round.
best .380 rd. which brand for my sig 232
- Thread starter skipbo32
- Start date
- Status
doc2rn
Member
One word for the 232 CorBon
I got rid of all my 380s when ammo for them became scarce, but one round that could always be called upon for best performance was the CorBon
I got rid of all my 380s when ammo for them became scarce, but one round that could always be called upon for best performance was the CorBon
outerlimit
Member
If I had to use a .380 I'd likely opt for either the Remington Golden Saber 102gr. BJHP or one of the Fiocchi 90gr. Jhp loads, also would consider Ranger talon 95gr.
And like the poster above stated.. CorBon. Of course, you may not get expansion at .380 velocities even with a larger gun like the Sig or Bersa and premium ammo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLORdbiM4_o
But, expansion isn't everything..
And like the poster above stated.. CorBon. Of course, you may not get expansion at .380 velocities even with a larger gun like the Sig or Bersa and premium ammo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLORdbiM4_o
But, expansion isn't everything..
Last edited:
Shawn Dodson
Member
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2002
- Messages
- 3,227
I tested Hornady 90gr XTP JHP in my wife's Beretta 85, which has a 3.8" barrel. It chronographed at just over 1000 fps. In bare gelatin it penetrated about 11". In gelatin covered with four layers of heavy denim (4LD) cloth four of five rounds penetrated an average of 13.75" and the 5th completely penetrated through the 18" gelatin block (its velocity was a little slower than the others - which may have affected its expansion performance).
In bare gelatin it expanded and fragmented - which allowed it to achieve the penetration depth that it did. Its expansion performance against 4LD surprised me - it performed much better than I had anticipated it would.
Bare gelatin presents a best case situation for bullet expansion. 4LD presents a worst case situation for bullet expansion. Actual expansion and penetration performance in the human body usually falls between these two extremes.
Of all the .380 cartridges available I feel this is the best JHP load for my wife's pistol.
For test data and photos of recovered bullets see - http://www.firearmstactical.com/test_data/380acp/hor380-90xtp-b85.htm
As the Sig P232 has a 3.6" barrel I would expect similar terminal performance.
In bare gelatin it expanded and fragmented - which allowed it to achieve the penetration depth that it did. Its expansion performance against 4LD surprised me - it performed much better than I had anticipated it would.
Bare gelatin presents a best case situation for bullet expansion. 4LD presents a worst case situation for bullet expansion. Actual expansion and penetration performance in the human body usually falls between these two extremes.
Of all the .380 cartridges available I feel this is the best JHP load for my wife's pistol.
For test data and photos of recovered bullets see - http://www.firearmstactical.com/test_data/380acp/hor380-90xtp-b85.htm
As the Sig P232 has a 3.6" barrel I would expect similar terminal performance.
Shadow 7D
Member
what ever feed reliably that you like
wally
Member
Whatever feeds and functions 100% in your pistol.
I like the Golden Sabers because if their 102 weight compared to the typical 90-95 gr "normal" .380, and I sure hope it fails to expand! Penetration is what you are most likely not going to have enough of with a .380.
Remember, the three most important things about handgun bullets are: Placement, Placement, & Penetration. No magic bullet can make up for poor placement on the target and well placed rounds will fail if they don't penetrate to the vitals.
In a self defense situation you have a really good chance of needing the bullet to go through a hand or a forearm before it gets to where it matters.
I like the Golden Sabers because if their 102 weight compared to the typical 90-95 gr "normal" .380, and I sure hope it fails to expand! Penetration is what you are most likely not going to have enough of with a .380.
Remember, the three most important things about handgun bullets are: Placement, Placement, & Penetration. No magic bullet can make up for poor placement on the target and well placed rounds will fail if they don't penetrate to the vitals.
In a self defense situation you have a really good chance of needing the bullet to go through a hand or a forearm before it gets to where it matters.
wally
Member
Yes Golden Saber is a Remington brand. With these very small for their caliber guns reliable is a relative thing and some guns most definitely work better with one brand of ammo over another. Just because its fine in mine, don't mean it'll be fine in yours, you need to verify it on your own.
With these pocket pistols I seen no need to fire 200+ rounds "to be sure" as IMHO no failures in two or three times the round count you plan on actually carrying is IMHO enough to start with. Then want matters more is actually carrying it and verifying function at increasingly long intervals between tests.
My PM40 recently passed the carry for two years and worked 100% when tested at the range straight out of my carry rig.
With these pocket pistols I seen no need to fire 200+ rounds "to be sure" as IMHO no failures in two or three times the round count you plan on actually carrying is IMHO enough to start with. Then want matters more is actually carrying it and verifying function at increasingly long intervals between tests.
My PM40 recently passed the carry for two years and worked 100% when tested at the range straight out of my carry rig.
1KPerDay
Member
Everything I"ve tried in my P230 has functioned fine. I"ve tried about 15 different brands/types, including all the above. I like speer gold dots FWIW.
If you read the FBI report on wound ballistics, penetration is the most important issue. If a JHP expands (uncertain in .380), it will not penetrate as deep as FMJ.
Of course, I consider a .380 underpowered. Mine is loaded with FMJ. I would not use hollow points in that caliber.
Oh, there is a lot of advertising hype out there, they want you to buy their high priced hollow points. That does not mean that they have better stopping power than FMJ.
Ken
Of course, I consider a .380 underpowered. Mine is loaded with FMJ. I would not use hollow points in that caliber.
Oh, there is a lot of advertising hype out there, they want you to buy their high priced hollow points. That does not mean that they have better stopping power than FMJ.
Ken
[email protected]
Member
just like 1kperday above, everything I've tried in my Sig 230 has fired and hit the target I was aiming at.... trying to decide what round is best for a situation that is most likely (I hope) never going to happen is much more problematic...
personally I carry Georgia Arms Gold Dots in mine... but I shoot their FMJ for practice... the worse you have to worry about if a .380 over penetrates is you've just made two holes in the bad guy for one shot.
personally I carry Georgia Arms Gold Dots in mine... but I shoot their FMJ for practice... the worse you have to worry about if a .380 over penetrates is you've just made two holes in the bad guy for one shot.
KevininPa
Member
I have a 232 and......
........roll my own. I'm partial to a heavier FMJ for penetration like someone said before. Mine are loaded up with 100gr FMJs with 3.3grs of Bullseye behind them. Got the specs off the web from a site where a guy loads stuff a little hotter than the books. I fall just short of or hover around 1000 fps. Accuracy is decent at self defense range. My 232 is the heavier stainless model and I changed out the recoil spring for a heavier one, so there isn't any real "snappiness" to it common to the blowbacks.
........roll my own. I'm partial to a heavier FMJ for penetration like someone said before. Mine are loaded up with 100gr FMJs with 3.3grs of Bullseye behind them. Got the specs off the web from a site where a guy loads stuff a little hotter than the books. I fall just short of or hover around 1000 fps. Accuracy is decent at self defense range. My 232 is the heavier stainless model and I changed out the recoil spring for a heavier one, so there isn't any real "snappiness" to it common to the blowbacks.
J2FLAN
Member
http://www.buffalobore.com/
The 100gr cast +P FN feeds and fuctions without flaw in my 232. It is my every day carry round.
I had to put down a doe that was hit by a car, one of the guys standing by there asked "what did you shoot it with, a 45?" This round in my 232 is every bit what Buffalo Bore says it is. By far and away more powerfull than any of the "big name" rounds I have tryed.
The 100gr cast +P FN feeds and fuctions without flaw in my 232. It is my every day carry round.
I had to put down a doe that was hit by a car, one of the guys standing by there asked "what did you shoot it with, a 45?" This round in my 232 is every bit what Buffalo Bore says it is. By far and away more powerfull than any of the "big name" rounds I have tryed.
Captain Spalding
Member
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2010
- Messages
- 6
I have a P230. It has fed everything without a hiccup until recently when I bought a bunch of Hydra-Shok, which it won't chamber at all. I realize that the P232 was released to address some finicky feeding issues with the P230, but my advice is to try a box before you buy in bulk.
In my experience, the size of the hole in the front isn't the issue. It's whether or not the bullet is round. Hydra-Shoks are conical, with a sharp lip at the rim of the hollow point. On my P230 this lip hangs on the seam between the lower feed ramp (on the frame) and the upper feed ramp (on the barrel.) I have a friend with a P230, and he has no problem running Hydra-Shoks through his. This indicates a manufacturing variance among similar pistols. This makes anecdotal reports of what works and what doesn't less helpful. Like I said, whatever you choose, try a box before you buy in bulk.
In my experience, the size of the hole in the front isn't the issue. It's whether or not the bullet is round. Hydra-Shoks are conical, with a sharp lip at the rim of the hollow point. On my P230 this lip hangs on the seam between the lower feed ramp (on the frame) and the upper feed ramp (on the barrel.) I have a friend with a P230, and he has no problem running Hydra-Shoks through his. This indicates a manufacturing variance among similar pistols. This makes anecdotal reports of what works and what doesn't less helpful. Like I said, whatever you choose, try a box before you buy in bulk.
bikemutt
Member
I'm carrying Cor Bon JHP. Ran 200+ rounds of FMJ at the range first, then ran a box of the Cor Bob JHP though my Sig P230, no issues. I've found my pistol sensitive to feed ramp dirt which is why I soiled it before testing.
Accuracy was no worse at 7 yards.
I trust it, until I don't.
Accuracy was no worse at 7 yards.
I trust it, until I don't.
I was impressed by the Buffalo Bore ammo - if it feeds in your specific gun, I think it'd be hard to beat.
Jim D.
Jim D.
thanks for the input guys,....
well i am a bit disappointed with the Hornady .380 ammo. i put 5 rounds in a raccoon and it kept running after i hit him. i felt like i should have dropped him with one shot. he was a big coon but still...........something tells me i would have dropped him with a simple FMJ.
well i am a bit disappointed with the Hornady .380 ammo. i put 5 rounds in a raccoon and it kept running after i hit him. i felt like i should have dropped him with one shot. he was a big coon but still...........something tells me i would have dropped him with a simple FMJ.
usp9
Member
I can't recall any ammo that generated feeding problems in any of my .380 Sigs. I've come to trust several quality rounds, due more to their other qualities, such as accuracy, low flash and of course availability. If I were still carrting a P232 it would be loaded with one of these;
Winchester Silver Tips
Hornady Critical Defense
Winchester Ranger T
Gold Dot
Golden Sabre.
In the long run, the right ammo is less important than proficiency and familiarity.
Good info here from a past THR post...
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=529342
Winchester Silver Tips
Hornady Critical Defense
Winchester Ranger T
Gold Dot
Golden Sabre.
In the long run, the right ammo is less important than proficiency and familiarity.
Good info here from a past THR post...
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=529342
Last edited:
Yep, I go for the FMJ in my .380 as well. I look to maximize penetration and that is the way to do it. I don't claim to know all about the latest Corbon or Ranger expansion/penetration stats. When I was younger (a lot younger) I shot a heck of a lot of stuff in the dump like washers, old cars, buckets and the like. That little FMJ round penetrated the best of all of of the HP's even the old SuperVel.
Now I do use HP's in my 1911 SA 45 automatic, and Dan Wesson 10MM but that is another story.
Now I do use HP's in my 1911 SA 45 automatic, and Dan Wesson 10MM but that is another story.
- Status
Similar threads
