DoubleTapDrew
Member
My Dad and I did some shooting today to try out some 380 loads for the pocket pistols (Kel-Tec P3AT and Ruger LCP).
We did the wet phone book method at about 10ft with 3 different 380 loads, 3 9mm loads, and a single .45acp (didn't bring any other .45 ammo) for kicks.
The 380 loads were: Cor-Bon DPX 80gr, Speer Gold Dot 90gr, and Federal Hydra-Shok 90gr. All were shot through a Kel-Tec P3AT.
All of the 380 rounds penetrated fine but the DPX didn't expand and the hollow point was filled with phone book. Hmm. I thought maybe it was a fluke and shot 2 more rounds with the same results! We thought maybe it needs a more fluid medium to expand so put a 1 gallon milk jug filled with water in front of the phone books. Same thing (only this time the HP wasn't filled with paper).
What the heck is going on? This is supposed to be the end-all-be-all 380 ammo and it didn't even expand! Pics of the bullets are below, the far right DPX round was the shot through water then phone book.
For the other 380 ammo the speer gold-dot didn't expand much at all (half the pedals bent over, the rest are intact) and the hydra shock expanded nicely. The center "post' on the hydra shok was deformed but it didn't clog with paper.
For the 9mm ammo I was using 124gr +P Remington Golden Saber, Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P (actually Georgia Arms loaded ammo with those bullets rated at 1200fps on the package), and our practice ammo: 115gr hollow point handloads (I think they are remington or federal bullets). These were shot through a Glock 26 (3.5" barrel). The Golden Saber separated and left the jacket behind, the core spread a little but wasn't much more than a wadcutter. The gold dots from georgia arms did very well and look like most of the pics I've seen of expanded gold dots. The handload did way better than expected, stayed together and mushroomed nicely.
The 45 round was a 230gr Federal Hydra-Shock and did what it's supposed to, bust through and open up. The jacket peeled a little unevenly (check out the side-view pic) but it looks like it'll do the job.
My question is what's the deal with the DPX 380 ammo? I was under the impression this was the ultimate 380 ammo (and it should be for $1.50 a round) but it didn't even open up!
We did the wet phone book method at about 10ft with 3 different 380 loads, 3 9mm loads, and a single .45acp (didn't bring any other .45 ammo) for kicks.
The 380 loads were: Cor-Bon DPX 80gr, Speer Gold Dot 90gr, and Federal Hydra-Shok 90gr. All were shot through a Kel-Tec P3AT.
All of the 380 rounds penetrated fine but the DPX didn't expand and the hollow point was filled with phone book. Hmm. I thought maybe it was a fluke and shot 2 more rounds with the same results! We thought maybe it needs a more fluid medium to expand so put a 1 gallon milk jug filled with water in front of the phone books. Same thing (only this time the HP wasn't filled with paper).
What the heck is going on? This is supposed to be the end-all-be-all 380 ammo and it didn't even expand! Pics of the bullets are below, the far right DPX round was the shot through water then phone book.
For the other 380 ammo the speer gold-dot didn't expand much at all (half the pedals bent over, the rest are intact) and the hydra shock expanded nicely. The center "post' on the hydra shok was deformed but it didn't clog with paper.
For the 9mm ammo I was using 124gr +P Remington Golden Saber, Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P (actually Georgia Arms loaded ammo with those bullets rated at 1200fps on the package), and our practice ammo: 115gr hollow point handloads (I think they are remington or federal bullets). These were shot through a Glock 26 (3.5" barrel). The Golden Saber separated and left the jacket behind, the core spread a little but wasn't much more than a wadcutter. The gold dots from georgia arms did very well and look like most of the pics I've seen of expanded gold dots. The handload did way better than expected, stayed together and mushroomed nicely.
The 45 round was a 230gr Federal Hydra-Shock and did what it's supposed to, bust through and open up. The jacket peeled a little unevenly (check out the side-view pic) but it looks like it'll do the job.
My question is what's the deal with the DPX 380 ammo? I was under the impression this was the ultimate 380 ammo (and it should be for $1.50 a round) but it didn't even open up!
