P-3AT ballistics question

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hollywoodfl

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Just got a P-3AT since I live in South Florida where it hard to find a place to put a pistol. Any ideas on best self defense rounds for this? I was told that there is no round that will generate enough speed to produce expansion and adequate penetration. If this is the case, then I guess penetration trumps expansion. Any thoughts on best rounds? Thanks.

I am relatively new to shooting so my knowledge is limited.
 
You may consider a hot FMJ load like Fiocchi. I usually had Cor-Bon in my P3AT when I had it but if I had to do it again it would be hot FMJ.
 
Buffalo Bore has some 100Gr hard cast designed for maximum penetration, they have a fairly reasonable sales pitch for their .380 ammo on their website.

The 380 auto inhabits a valuable and useful place in our society, mostly because of the easily concealable, tiny pistols chambered for it. HOWEVER, because of the very limited size of the cartridge, it is plagued with limited power and therefore most of the existing ammo in 380 auto suffers from not being reliable as a man-stopper. We’ve studied and played with nearly all of the existing available 380 ammo and find it wanting as a reliable means of self defense, especially against a large, insane, drugged up/pain free, determined attacker.

More...
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Personally, I use 95Gr Ranger SXT in my PPK and my Guardian. I don't really know if it will expand though... I like it mostly 'cause my gun shop has it in stock and the box is pretty.
 
The Remington 105 Grain JHP Golden Sabers are nice as well
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They're actually 102 grains and yes, they're a good round. I use handloaded 102 GS's in my .380's.

On that note, the Golden Sabre is a good bullet in any caliber. I use it in .38/.357, 9x19mm, .40, 10mm and .45 ACP.
 
corbon dpx

corbon designed the 380 dpx totally around the kel-tec 380 gun. Their only two test guns used in the design of the 380 dpx was the kel-tec. If that won't work in ur kt, then nothigngwill. The barnes all copper bullet is super, retains 100% of its bullet weight, expansion even in this kt 380 is 100 % to. A very nice and very expensive defense round. Not a cheap round but neither is life. just shoot it like you stole it..
 
I use the Cor-Bon DPX round as I am a big fan of the DPX products in various calibers. That said, with a .380 I think bullet placement is key.

There are some good ballistics tables here: http://www.brassfetcher.com
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I am confused because this ballistics site seems to trash the Cor-Bon. Am I misreading this? I know I am inexperienced, but they seem to be bashing the Cor-Bon.

"Cartridge: .380ACP 80gr. Cor-Bon DPX

Firearm: Kel-Tec P3AT with 2.75" barrel length

Block calibration: 10.3cm at 593 ft/sec

Single shot fired into gelatin block penetrated to 9.4" (corrected). Expanded diameter was 0.558". Testing was halted due to the underwhelming penetration depth. "

:confused:
 
hollywoodfl

+1 on that to. placement has to be #1 with a 380, but IMO the 380 dpx round is the best defense round out there, penetration is great, expansion is awsome. Most allof the other hp's that have beentested just don't produce the results the dpx does- shot after shot after shot. The corbon people told me they designed it around the kt 380, so the new Ruger lcp should be a perfect ccw for this round also, and hopefully the new kahr P380 when it hits the market..
 
I am confused because this ballistics site seems to trash the Cor-Bon. Am I misreading this? I know I am inexperienced, but they seem to be bashing the Cor-Bon.

"Cartridge: .380ACP 80gr. Cor-Bon DPX

Firearm: Kel-Tec P3AT with 2.75" barrel length

Block calibration: 10.3cm at 593 ft/sec

Single shot fired into gelatin block penetrated to 9.4" (corrected). Expanded diameter was 0.558". Testing was halted due to the underwhelming penetration depth. "
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I think they were looking for the majic 12" and didn't get it My self I think 9.4" and almost 56 caliber from a KT will do nicely for a pocket pistol. Since most SD shootings are close and face on the 9" should be fine. Corbon DPX is in all my 380's
 
I think they were looking for the majic 12" and didn't get it My self I think 9.4" and almost 56 caliber from a KT will do nicely for a pocket pistol. Since most SD shootings are close and face on the 9" should be fine. Corbon DPX is in all my 380's
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What's magical about that 12"? They seem to really want that! Again, I am a novice.
 
Another vote for the Corbon DPX - best there is.

The results of that testing look superb to me, nearly 10 inches of penetration and an expanded diameter of 0.56 is absolutely top grade performance from a mouse gun.

If penetration is absolutely your number 1 priority, load it with any European .380 FMJ, preferably Santa Barbara. Most American .380 FMJ is so downloaded these days it's a joke quite frankly.
 
380

one thing that has not been mentioned...follow up shot time...some of these hot loads take that barrel sky high...just some more food for thought....gpr
 
dpx

corbon dpx is in my 9mm also. It is totally reliable and expansion is 100% and it goes bang every time.
 
What's magical about that 12"? They seem to really want that! Again, I am a novice.
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The experts have attempted to come up with an amount of minimum penetration in gelatin that will try to cover most needs of defensive shooting. It came about from a time when expansion and other "energy dump" where emphasized. Shallow penetrating rounds were costing people their lives when they weren't penetrating deeply enough to reach vital organs to stop the attacker. We didn't take into account things like having to shoot through an attackers arms that are in front of their body, their body being bladed, or the path to the point of aim not being a straight line. 12" was determined to be an absolute minimum amount of penetration in gel that would be able to produce a wound deep enough to stop most attackers. If your bullet can't go deep enough to reach the "important bits" it isn't going to force him to stop.

To this effect there was a study a while back by Eugene Wolberg, he measured the actual wound tract length in bodies shot by the san diego PD. He checked 28 wounds. The average length of the wound was 13.2" Two rounds had penetrated to 13.5-14.5" and were stopped just under the skin. Wolberg speculated that they could have penetrated more deeply but that the skin has a "holding in" effect. The most shallow wound was 10", and the deepest was 17" Neither of those two were about to exit the body. That should give you some idea of just how realistic it is to think 9" of penetration will leave a hole on both sides.

I'd use a fmj and preferably trade up to a .38spl ;)
 
I'd use a fmj and preferably trade up to a .38spl
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I suppose the 38 is ballistically superior to the 380 acp? Maybe a 642 would be okay. Again, I live in South Florida so its hard to find a place to put anything! Those 642's are +p so I guess you can really get some juice going on those.
 
.38 special +p is similar to 9mm. I think the P3AT is still smaller and definitely slimmer but nothing wrong with a 642. I've used gold-dot in my P3AT and FMJ but haven't tested for penetration depth yet. I may bite the bullet (har har) and get some DPX to try.
I don't like depending on .380 but if super deep concealment is necessary it beats a can of OC.
 
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