best 380 SD round

[cougarman]

Thinking about getting a 380 for cc. What is the best round you have found for 380 SD? I have a Steoger Cougar 9mm but was looking for something smaller to carry.

 

[BlackSky]

I used the .380 +P Buffalo Bore 100 grain hardcast lead flat nose in my Sig P230 when I was carrying it. Impressive round to say the least. I don't recommend it in any overly plastic guns though. I've read of issues with this round when fired out of an LCP.

 

[EMC45]

FMJ ball.

 

[rcmodel]

You cannot go too far wrong with a JHP from any of the major manufactures.

The new Hornady 90 gr FTX® Critical Defense® load looks very promising, as it's expansion is not effected by heavy clothing like many conventional HP bullet designs.

http://www.hornady.com/store/Critical-Defense-newammo/

rc

 

[Ben86]

#1: Speer Golddot 90 grain jhp

#2: Winchester pdx1 95 grain jhp

#3: Remington golden saber 102 grain jhp (It has by far the most recoil though)

All three of these have been accurate and functioned 100%.

 

[EdLaver]

the 102 Golden Sabers stay in my Bersa Thunder .380

 

[cgs500]

My wife and I (well she is going to be the one carrying it) are in search of the exact same thing.

I bought a couple boxes of defense ammo including the Hornady FTX, CorBon and Federal JHP yesterday, along with a case of FMJ. This was after my wife decided on going with a Sig P238. She bought a PT-709 a couple of weeks ago and it is on it's second trip down to Taurus to repair a failure to eject (even 124gr Speer).

She lost confidence in the Taurus so we started a new search for a gun and she liked the feel of the Sig P238 (she has small hands). We are going to do some function testing tonight but should be shooting some of the defense rounds by the end of the week. I will try and remember to post pic's of the rounds fired through jean material and water jugs. We may end up going with FMJ for defense but if we can get at least 4 water jugs worth of penetration out of the JHP and it feeds without a failure that is what she will use.

Is the .380 my first choice for her to carry? No, but I want her to be able to handle what she is shooting and the only ones that she could easily rack the slide on were the Taurus, Kahr, Kel-Tec and Sig. She didn't care for the trigger on either the Kahr or Kel-Tec so now we are left with the Sig.

For those who would recomend a revolver, that is what she has in the nightstand. She wanted to move to a semi for a carry gun. Once we find an acceptable preforming defense round and get the shake down done I think she will be happy with the Sig in .380. As long as she shoots it a couple times per month I will be O.K. with her choice.

Please post any results you come up with on your end and I will post whatever I come up with here.

 

[Ben86]

We may end up going with FMJ for defense but if we can get at least 4 water jugs worth of penetration out of the JHP and it feeds without a failure that is what she will use.

You are not going to get that out of most any load of any practical handgun caliber. I routinely get 2-2.5 jugs worth of penetration at 7 yards with .380, 9mm, and .40 jhps. My .223 soft points won't even do that at 10 yards. Water is quite a stout medium.

 

[D Rock]

My wife and I did a lot of testing (wet phone books, 1 gal bottles, etc) and settled on the Hornady 90gr FTX Critical Defense. We also tried the Honaday 90g FTX but it fragmented and with the .380 you need all the mass you can get. Some will argue that penetration thru heavy clothing in cold months is better with a FMJ. Probably true so train for head shots!

Dave

 

[cgs500]

You are not going to get that out of most any load of any practical handgun caliber. I routinely get 2-2.5 jugs worth of penetration at 7 yards with .380, 9mm, and .40 jhps. My .223 soft points won't even do that at 10 yards. Water is quite a stout medium.

What is the ratio of water to ballistic gel penetration? I thought it was 2:1 so you wanted 24 inches of water to equal 12 inches B/G. Maybe I have it backwords.

 

[Ben86]

24 inches of water may be correct, but if you are using plastic jugs to contain the water that may not be achieved, even though the load may be fully capable of penetrating 12"+ in jello. The most penetration I've ever got from a handgun cartridge was from a 9mm hydroshock shot from a glock 19, it penetrated 3 jugs but didn't expand that well. This is just my experience, think what you will about it.

 

[skimbell]

Pretty good stuff...

 

[RidgwayCO]

Just checked my ammo stash, and I've got a decent supply of Speer 90gr GDHP and Federal 90gr Hydra-Shok. I guess I like 'em. I've also got a few Speer 90gr GDHP and Hornady 90gr HP/XTP bullets for reloading if I need 'em...

 

[montess85]

whatever one feeds through your gun reliably

 

[makarovnik]

Buffalo Bore hardcast

 

[71Commander]

I used the .380 +P Buffalo Bore 100 grain hardcast lead flat nose in my Sig P230 when I was carrying it. Impressive round to say the least. I don't recommend it in any overly plastic guns though. I've read of issues with this round when fired out of an LCP.

LCP is not +P rated.

 

[herkyguy]

there is no 1 .380 round that is the best. It'll take at least 2 or 3 to accomplish whatever task you have set out to conquer. you're best off just carrying a .45 as nothing smaller will even penetrate a paper target... just thought I'd get the .380 hate club going......

kidding aside, nothing ever jammed up my LCP. Carried Speer Gold Dot, but shot just about anything I could find to feel out the gun.

 

[Goodshot]

I really like the CorBon DPX 80 grain cartridges for my LCP.

 

[9026543]

I carry the Cor-Bon DPX in my P238. No problem with feeding.

 

[skoro]

I like the new Hornady Critical Defense, Buffalo Bore hardcast, and Remington Golden Sabers.

 

[searcher451]

I've tried a variety of them through the years; they all work well enough, if you believe that a .380 is potent enough for your carry needs. That being said, use the round that works the best in your weapon of choice. It's an easy call.

 

[wnycollector]

My Father-in-law has seven Fiocchi FMJ loaded in his mag and a Buffalo Bore 100 grain hardcast flat nose as his +1.

 

[gofastman]

LCP is not +P rated.

...because there is no "380 +P"