More Effective Small Cartridges

[10isnotenough]

I subscribe to the drill press analogy of handgun rounds. To maximize a given round's effectiveness make a hole 12-14 inches deep as big as possible.

When it comes to small rounds such as .32 acp and .380 acp, a round that expands too much won't penetrate 12 inches. However, using FMJ you can get up to 18 inches which may be too much. More important than the over-penetration concern is the fact that FMJ rounds tend to leave smaller than caliber holes in elastic tissue due to the streamlined shape.

Why don't ammo companies try to make a good .380 round by making a slightly expanding round (maybe to .45 inches) that results in an expanded shape a lot like a flat meplat cast bullet? I think such a round should penetrate about 12 inches and would at least maximize the effectiveness of a .380 round. Maybe an EFMJ that results in a .45 inch flat faced bullet?

What do you think?

 

[E357]

Everything you said is 100% correct, but there is just not enough enery in the .32 or .380 to both expand and penetrate that far. The rounds also have to feed through autos so they can't use the wadcutter design of a revovler bullet. The newer .380 bullets are not bad, but they are not not 9's either.

Elliot

 

[makdaddy03]

Hey, I'll agree with ya.