Help protect my wife!

[Fryerpower]

There were 10 boxes of Winchester silver tip JHP, 85 grain at my local Coop last week. $40 for a box of 50.

I was there buying hay. I had no idea they sold ammo.

Here it is at Midway, out of stock:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/50...acp-85-grain-silvertip-hollow-point-box-of-50

Jim

 

[22-rimfire]

I saw some 380 at Walmart yesterday in my area. Seems that not many buy ammunition at that store as I saw a larger quantity of the same about a week before.

 

[Certaindeaf]

If you want/need penetration the Buffalo Bore hardcast flatpoint will do over thirty inches in gelatin. I cast a 105gr SWC that makes full size holes and penetrates well.
A major manufacturer makes a FMJ flat point that's very reasonable in cost that'll penetrate well and do more damage than a RN.

 

[Cosmoline]

I happen to be one who doesn't think the FBI 12" minimum applies to most of us in a SD shooting situation.

I don't know about that. There are some REALLY big dudes out there these days, and if your HP is just getting lost in fat it's not going to do much to stop a determined attacker. Even .40 S&W HP's have a spotty track record against the big ones. Personally I'd go with FMJ's in .380.

 

[Stress_Test]

If I'm remembering right, the 12" in gel doesn't equate to 12" penetration in an actual body. It's just a standard to determine if the round will penetrate deep enough.

 

[FireInCairo]

This will not be a popular answer, but the late, great gun writer/law enforcement officer, Skeeter Skelton (Guns and Ammo, Shooting Times), used to carry his Walther PPK with FMJ ammo. His reasoning was that the cartridge had marginal power and he would rather have penetration in case of heavy clothing, rather than a hollow point that might not expand anyway. YMMV.

I agree with this sentiment, totally.

 

[Fremmer]

10 or 15 years ago that sentiment may have been accurate, but hasn't jhp ammo come a long way?

Regardless, you get what you can get and use it.

 

[Deus Machina]

I don't know about that. There are some REALLY big dudes out there these days, and if your HP is just getting lost in fat it's not going to do much to stop a determined attacker. Even .40 S&W HP's have a spotty track record against the big ones.

If I'm carrying ammunition that can penetrate even my minimum and not hit something vital, I think it's a safe bet that I can outrun the guy.

I mean, you can only charge up the batteries in a Rascal so much.

 

[buck460XVR]

Regardless of the hype or FBI tests, for SD/HD, I consider reliability and accuracy long before I consider bullet brand or construction. A hit to the blood pump with a FMJ will drop a BG faster than the most expensive JHP that either fails to feed or hits the perp in the shoulder. It never fails to amaze me the folks that make a decision on ammo before they even fire a round of it in their gun. This goes for hunting ammo as well as SD/HD. While I know ammo availability right now is tough and erratic, I would be more concerned with finding enough to practice with and becoming proficient with, than what particular brand or type. The difference in terminal performance in SD/HD ammo is minimal compared to being able to hit what you're pointing at.

 

[psyopspec]

10 or 15 years ago that sentiment may have been accurate, but hasn't jhp ammo come a long way?

Bonded bullets and better construction have increased the reliability of expansion and weight retention. But .380 is still .380, meaning that even with the advantages of better hollow points not much can be done about penetration. As evidenced by this thread, different shooters have subjective requirements for what they consider to be adequate penetration. There's nothing wrong with that.

After a lot of reading, I chose FMJ for my LCP. My primary reason was that I could easily buy and shoot 200 rounds, which is my minimum before relying on a firearm and a brand of ammunition. It would have been cost-prohibitive to go with more expensive JHPs in my case, and my opinion boiled down to that extra money buying me no particular advantage, and possibly a disadvantage since I put penetration right behind shot placement in what I look for in a defensive gun.

A note of caution on one brand mentioned, I did try the "+P" Buffalo Bore .380 cast rounds. They were a blast to shoot, but were unreliable. In doing further reading, I found that there were no +P standards for .380 and that Ruger does not recommend using higher rated ammunition in the LCP.

Go with a JHP if it makes you more comfortable, but keep in mind that even if there are varying views of penetration vs. expansion, shot placement and reliability should be at the top of the priority list for a defensive gun and ammo. Plan to test whatever you carry to your satisfaction.

ETA: Hey Luke, maybe this would be a fun challenge when it eventually warms up again. Pocket .380 to a 2-liter bottle at 50 or 100 yards!