buffalo bore 380+p

[DonnyBrook13]

My problem with .380s is not necessarily that they are underpowered. They are probably borderline. My problem is that they are tiny and difficult to aim and shoot well. People who carry them because they are intimidated by bigger guns, or because they don't want to carry something bigger because they are inconvenient, but don't TRULY have the skill and practice to shoot them well aren't doing themselves any favors.

That's why I opted for the Bersa Thunder .380 over some of the other midget offerings. Everybody said, "You can get a 9mm the same size!" Yeah, but .380 in that 3.5" barreled frame is more controllable, esp. with the fixed barrel. I've got a full 3-finger grip and can shoot accurately out to about 20 yards.

 

[481]

tnoutdoors9 FMJ & FMJ-FP penetration in ballistic media

Wow, those two FMJs went quite quite a ways.

One thing's for sure- if you want a lot of penetration, you want FMJs.

 

[kBob]

Anyone remember the old Super Vel 88 grain JHPs that were basically TCs with a hole in the end?

Anyone else used to do reloading with the old Speer 100 grain SJHP hollow base?

I liked the old blue box S&W branded ammo as an idea, but their execution was awful with QC problems. It was a semi jacketed soft point having a good bit of exposed dead soft lead ....or Peanut butter as we called it. A 90 grain bullet to boot. Unfortunately it did not seem to feed reliably in anything my buddies and I had.

These days I try not to use a .380 as a carry gun but when I do, like a couple of others here, I reach for factory loaded TC-FMJ bullets for absolute reliability of functioning in my remaining .380 ACP pistols.

-kBob

 

[MCgunner]

I just bought a 9 and was happy.

 

[JohnBT]

"I think that's a little optimistic."

Maybe it's my public school education. But they said "straight-line penetration in flesh and bone". I might believe it if they only said "flesh".

 

[jimbo555]

Shooting illustrated .com tested the 90grain jhp+p from a s&w bodyguard and it penetrated 10 inches,expanded to .60 at 986fps. My beretta 84 has almost twice the barrel of the bodyguard so i'm thinking penetration would be better.

 

[481]

Shooting illustrated .com tested the 90grain jhp+p from a s&w bodyguard and it penetrated 10 inches,expanded to .60 at 986fps. My beretta 84 has almost twice the barrel of the bodyguard so i'm thinking penetration would be better.

The (possible) increase in velocity from your longer barrel may also increase the amount of expansion causing the JHP to penetrate less.

 

[kBob]

1974 Speer Reloading manual #9 list a load for their 100grJHP using unique that produced 1004 fps in an HSC. The STARTING LOAD made 963fps.

Using a lighter 90 grain JHP and unique they listed a 1046fps load with a starting load at 1012fps from a Mauser HSC.

1981 Handloading from NRA listed a Unique load for a 115gr JHP that made 850fps from a 4.5 inch barrel and a 90 grain JHP unique load that made 1000 from a 3.5 inch


and this new stuff is hot?

-kBob