bluethunder1962
Member
ppks but just when all I have is my pockets to carry.
For those who carry 380 ACP...
- Thread starter CDR_Glock
- Start date
- Status
WRGADog
Member
Kahr P380
Either Hornady Critical Defense, Corbon, or Hydra-Shok
Either Hornady Critical Defense, Corbon, or Hydra-Shok
Black Duck Charlie
Member
Walther PPK/S, because I happen to both like it and I can shoot it accurately enough, with whatever FMJ happens to be least expensive for practice and Winchester "Supreme Elite" PDX1 JHP for carry, because it was available at a comparatively decent price.
Black Duck Charlie
Member
M1key asked "How thick is the human skull?"
Well, how deep does any bullet have to go to reach a human heart -- or any vital organ? A hint: The average person's body is about 8 to 9 inches deep.
Well, how deep does any bullet have to go to reach a human heart -- or any vital organ? A hint: The average person's body is about 8 to 9 inches deep.
lobo9er
Member
and currently paired with
Seems to shoot pretty well with gold dots or hornady, mostly gets fed FMJ's that are on sale though. Still havent shot any steel cased stuff.
REMINGTON 88 grain jhp
I use the REMINGTON 88 grain jhp in my SIG and BERETTA .380's. I buy the 100 round boxes for less than the price of 2 x 20 round NAME BRAND BULLETS. While the REMINGTON load may not expand as well as the hot loads, I can practice and practice and practice with my carry load.
It is also the most reliable feeding jhp load that I have come across. I am going to try some of the other ammo, but they are all harder to find, much more expensive and will have to prove their feed reliability before I carry them.
I want to try both the REMINGTON Golden Sabre and COB BON DPX jhp loads. Both should offer better penetration with reliable expansion. The big question will be the accuracy and feed reliability.
I have had less than 100% with FEDERAL Hydro Shok, which I would have carried if I could get them to feed perfectly in my SIG 232.
Jim
I use the REMINGTON 88 grain jhp in my SIG and BERETTA .380's. I buy the 100 round boxes for less than the price of 2 x 20 round NAME BRAND BULLETS. While the REMINGTON load may not expand as well as the hot loads, I can practice and practice and practice with my carry load.
It is also the most reliable feeding jhp load that I have come across. I am going to try some of the other ammo, but they are all harder to find, much more expensive and will have to prove their feed reliability before I carry them.
I want to try both the REMINGTON Golden Sabre and COB BON DPX jhp loads. Both should offer better penetration with reliable expansion. The big question will be the accuracy and feed reliability.
I have had less than 100% with FEDERAL Hydro Shok, which I would have carried if I could get them to feed perfectly in my SIG 232.
Jim
Orion8472
Member
- Joined
- May 8, 2008
- Messages
- 3,638
Has there been over penetration with .380acp using FMJ?
My problem with FMJ is that there doesn't seem to be much availability for "cutting" like in expanding design projectiles. Does a small hole really prove to "stop"?
Now, I've heard of .22lr rounds being fatal and few if any of them expand [the only ones I've seen "expand" were Velocitors out of a rifle]?
My problem with FMJ is that there doesn't seem to be much availability for "cutting" like in expanding design projectiles. Does a small hole really prove to "stop"?
Now, I've heard of .22lr rounds being fatal and few if any of them expand [the only ones I've seen "expand" were Velocitors out of a rifle]?
I use LCP with 90gr Gold Dots. They feed perfectly, have good weight retention, and I have generally seen favorable reviews and videos for them.
0.517" diameter expanded, a bit over 10" penetration (although he does say the gel was calibrated to the "high end of spec."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTTuXpFChsA
This one shows one test of 10 3/4" penetration and 0.743" (max) diameter expansion. It also shows 16 3/4" penetration with 0.537" max diameter through denim. Not sure how well he calibrated his gel though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_MmREJxM_E&feature=watch_response
My thought on penetration vs expansion: 12" is the FBI standard, which is great, but 10+ inches will have to suffice for a pocket gun, as long as you get decent expansion. Everyone always assumes they will hit where they aim and the bullet will be following a perfect trajectory to the heart and then (oh no!) stop short by 1/2" allowing the bad guy to continue the attack.
But to me, it is just as likely that you will miss something vital by a smidge, but still get one petal of the expanded bullet to knick it. . Also if you miss COM but still hit the guy, and hit a shoulder or something, I'd rather have it expand and cause way worse tissue damage (pain) to hopefully stop the attack, than some thru-shot that the BG may not even feel.
0.517" diameter expanded, a bit over 10" penetration (although he does say the gel was calibrated to the "high end of spec."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTTuXpFChsA
This one shows one test of 10 3/4" penetration and 0.743" (max) diameter expansion. It also shows 16 3/4" penetration with 0.537" max diameter through denim. Not sure how well he calibrated his gel though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_MmREJxM_E&feature=watch_response
My thought on penetration vs expansion: 12" is the FBI standard, which is great, but 10+ inches will have to suffice for a pocket gun, as long as you get decent expansion. Everyone always assumes they will hit where they aim and the bullet will be following a perfect trajectory to the heart and then (oh no!) stop short by 1/2" allowing the bad guy to continue the attack.
But to me, it is just as likely that you will miss something vital by a smidge, but still get one petal of the expanded bullet to knick it. . Also if you miss COM but still hit the guy, and hit a shoulder or something, I'd rather have it expand and cause way worse tissue damage (pain) to hopefully stop the attack, than some thru-shot that the BG may not even feel.
huntsman
Member
I'd guess FMJ would do more damage to bone and cause more pain, JHP may have an advantage with tissue but wouldn't have the same energy FMJ has to break or damage bone.
Maddox Se7en
Member
For about a year I carried a Walther PK380 loaded with Remington Golden Saber, JHP, 102 gr.
I had three reasons I carried this gun/load.
1. The PK380 is lightweight, accurate, easy to conceal, and it has a decock function.
2. It fit into my left-handed Fobus USPc-45 paddle holster (I'm a southpaw, and carried the USPc whenever I could).
3. The 102 gr offered sufficient penetration, and the RemGS bullet provided superior expansion compared the ammunition brands readily available in my area.
I had three reasons I carried this gun/load.
1. The PK380 is lightweight, accurate, easy to conceal, and it has a decock function.
2. It fit into my left-handed Fobus USPc-45 paddle holster (I'm a southpaw, and carried the USPc whenever I could).
3. The 102 gr offered sufficient penetration, and the RemGS bullet provided superior expansion compared the ammunition brands readily available in my area.
Certaindeaf
member
A Colt 1908 loaded with hardcast Lee 105 grain SWC's. It'll hit a nickel offhand at fifty feet.
Ruger LCP, Wincherster 95gr PDX1, DeSanti Nemosis pocket holster. It's a primary carry gun for summer
I chronographed several factory loads a few monhs back in the LCP. temp 65 degrees, 1st screen 21' from muzzle
Winchester 95gr PDX1 903fps
Hornady 90gr FTX 851FPS
Remington 102gr Golden Saber 832FPS
Could not - still haven't found any Speer Gold Dots to try so no comment on them. I really like them in other calibers.
A friend was present while chronographing these, he was instant on the 7yard distance to 1st screen. We ran his .38 special S&W M36 loaded with Federal 110gr loads over the screens, 802 FPS. Seemed awful slow so we did it again for another 5 rounds, 803 FPS average.
This is a very limited sample - especially with the .38 snubbie but I no longer look down on the .380 acp as inadequate. 2 thousandths of an inch less diameter, 8 grains less bullet weight and 30 fps more impact velocity when comparing the 102gr Rem against the 110gr Fed.
I chronographed several factory loads a few monhs back in the LCP. temp 65 degrees, 1st screen 21' from muzzle
Winchester 95gr PDX1 903fps
Hornady 90gr FTX 851FPS
Remington 102gr Golden Saber 832FPS
Could not - still haven't found any Speer Gold Dots to try so no comment on them. I really like them in other calibers.
A friend was present while chronographing these, he was instant on the 7yard distance to 1st screen. We ran his .38 special S&W M36 loaded with Federal 110gr loads over the screens, 802 FPS. Seemed awful slow so we did it again for another 5 rounds, 803 FPS average.
This is a very limited sample - especially with the .38 snubbie but I no longer look down on the .380 acp as inadequate. 2 thousandths of an inch less diameter, 8 grains less bullet weight and 30 fps more impact velocity when comparing the 102gr Rem against the 110gr Fed.
brokeman51
Member
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2012
- Messages
- 1
380
I use the Ruger 380 LCP any ammo solid and pretty sturdy for such a small gun.
I use the Ruger 380 LCP any ammo solid and pretty sturdy for such a small gun.
Interesting numbers on the chronograph chg.
Having seen several You Tube chrono tests using the LCP it appears the Gold Dots move at about the same speed as those PDX1's.
You will have no issues finding .380 Gold Dots online.
I picked up a box myself at an Academy Sports store just last Friday.
Having seen several You Tube chrono tests using the LCP it appears the Gold Dots move at about the same speed as those PDX1's.
You will have no issues finding .380 Gold Dots online.
I picked up a box myself at an Academy Sports store just last Friday.
MCgunner
Member
Hornady Critical Defense ..... Grendel P12
I don't carry it much, but it can come in handy being a little smaller than my 9x19 P11 and a little bigger than my .22 mag NAA Black Widow. The gun isn't all THAT accurate and the trigger really sux, but out to 25 yards, I can make torso hits just fine with it and it is reliable. It carries 11 plus one, too, and is still under 1" thick. The Grendels were a bit ahead of their time.
I don't carry it much, but it can come in handy being a little smaller than my 9x19 P11 and a little bigger than my .22 mag NAA Black Widow. The gun isn't all THAT accurate and the trigger really sux, but out to 25 yards, I can make torso hits just fine with it and it is reliable. It carries 11 plus one, too, and is still under 1" thick. The Grendels were a bit ahead of their time.
Sapper771
Member
Kel-Tec P3AT with either Lee 105gr SWC's or WWB 95gr RNFP.
I was surprised that my little Kel-Tec fed the SWC's smoother than RNs or RNFPs.
I was surprised that my little Kel-Tec fed the SWC's smoother than RNs or RNFPs.
TMann
Member
P3AT. Corbon PDX.
Joistman
Member
Kahr P380 / Gold Dots
X hunter
Member
Mustang Plus II or CZ83 both with Hydra-Shok because I've never thought to use anything else.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
