Cor-Bon DPX disappointment

[John Wayne]

Did everyone who was so quick to point out that the .380 barely breaks the "magical 1,000 fps barrier required for expansion" not look at the other rounds in the pics? The other .380 rounds expanded just fine, which means that the Cor-Bon should have too.

 

[wesessiah]

^ the difference in the weight and material of the corbon rounds have been mentioned too. the affect of the bullets weight acts differently out of shorter barrels than larger.

 

[gym]

I'm using powerball 100 grain in my glock 26, and 230 grain hydroshocks in my 45 glock. I never liked the 380 and don't go lower than a 9. Unless it's my BUG seacamp with silvertips, but that's a weapon of last resort

 

[DasFriek]

When i owned my Sig P238 i carried the Hornady Critical Defense for the sheer fact that it was the only round i could find positive results for expansion tests online.

I will say i did expect the DPX to work as well as the CD also, I just didn't want to pay the extra costs.
Is it me or does that Giorgia Arms round look like a Federal HST bullet?

 

[Shawn Dodson]

Cor-Bon DPX .380 didn't expand in water, which is similar in density as typical soft tissues. A bullet that doesn't expand in water is not going to expand in the body.

Perhaps the cartridges are defective (e.g., insufficient propellent charge)?

I suggest chronographing a few rounds using the Kel-Tec to obtain more data.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

Next time I shoot it I'll chrongraph the velocity on the DPX. Recoil felt about the same as the other .380 rounds but we'll see.

 

[Beaux Nehr]

A bullet that doesn't expand in water is not going to expand in the body.

This is why the FBI standard is milk jugs full of tap water.

[/snark]

 

[rbernie]

A bullet that doesn't expand in water is not going to expand in the body.

True - usually bullets will expand MORE in water than ballistics gelatin...

 

[sleepyone]

Those DPXs don't look anything like mine. I have .357 and .38 +P. The attached pics show the .357 on left and .38 on right. The mouth of the bullets in the OP's pics look look more like tradidional JHP. Maybe the .380 is made differently. I don't remember .45 or 9mm looking like the .380 either.

 

[mljdeckard]

Wet phone books aren't tissue. Ballistic gel isn't either, but it's closer.

 

[herkyguy]

now I'm bummed I bought DPX .357 for my Ruger SP101.

 

[C-grunt]

1,000 fps is usually the minimum velocity to begin to get reliable expansion. The 380 barely achives this at the muzzle. What you experienced is rather typical of the 380. Since some bullets for the 380 are also loaded in 9mm, the hardness is rated for expansion in the 9mm and it's higher velocity. Another problem as well with making a bullet soft enough to expand well with the 380 is that due to the minimal weight and velocity a 380 round that expands well, may lack enough power to penetrate to vital organs. I have found that a 85-90 swc style bullet gives good penetration, while cutting a nasty wound channel. The problem with those is they don't feed well in all autos due to their short nose. The 380 is right at the threshold of power, with this round penetration to vitals should be the first goal, with expansion if and when you get some. In reality, the ball round is a fair consideration offering both deep penetration, and reliable feeding.

While the 1k FPS threshold was probably accurate 20 years ago, I dont think it matters much with todays bullet designs.

Look at the expansion HST and Gold Dots are getting with their 230grn .45 ACP, 180grn .40 and 147grn 9mm. All of these loads are proven to be reliable expanders and all have muzzle velocities under 1k FPS.

I do agree with you on the other stuff though.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

The 9mm may have been a HST, I'll have to check whats in the mag. I'll take a pic of the DPX, I think a couple of those may have actually closed a little on impact, the HP area looks too small, IIRC they looked more like sleepyone's 38 pic.

 

[Guns and more]

no surprise here. rarely will any .380 jhp expand well. there's just not enough velocity in this round to get the job done.

Well, I am. Cor Bon sells them at a premium knowing they won't do the job?

Personally, I stick with JHP in my .380, but that's more of a personal choice than research.

 

[gym]

I just saw the Hornaday Ad in American Rifleman for Critical Defense loads in 380, 38, 9mm, and 357. Looks like a powerball with a red tip. Said new for 2010.

 

[Elmer]

.380 or .32..... carry ball.