Ruger LCP: JHP or FMJ for carry?

[Scotticus]

I just got a LCP tonight at a gun show (have not shot it yet). Looking for opinions on carry ammo. Assuming equal reliability, do I want do carry FMJ or JHP? I carry FMJ in my .32 and JHP in my 9mm. Which way do I swing with a .380? Thanks for opinions.

 

[frogger42]

I have a Ruger LCP and it is my EDC now. I use Federal Hydro-Shok Low Recoil rounds. They feed perfect and give about as much stopping power as you can get in a .380. One tip... the Cor-Bon's did not feed reliably in my LCP and after talking to Ruger CS, they don't feed well in most of them. Don't waste your money on them. They won't work. Also, Ruger did say it was not designed for +P rounds.

 

[Disaster]

For self defense I'd fire the meanest stuff I could find. That is Buffalo Bore with 90 gr. Gold Dots.
http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#380

P.S. Which Corbons didn't feed properly...the DPX or PwrBall? Have you tried polishing the feed ramp?

 

[legion3]

I put 75 rounds down range with Corbon DPX with no issues whatsoever.

I have also put down range 425 other rounds including Speer GD's, Winchester SXT's and Fiocchi HP's with no issues.

With regards to these types of guns you will get a steady stream of the FMJ vs JHP discussion. Penetration vs expansion. Both have merits.

Numerous tests argue both ways as well.

One test touts Corbon DPX, others say its too weak. Others say the Remington Golden Sabers are the way to go. Or a "hot" JHP which some say is the Corbon PP. Still some suggest hot FMJ like Santa Barbara or Fiocchi as the only true choice.

The Kel Tec guys who have been at this longer have the following threads,

http://www.ktog.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1199737660

http://www.ktog.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1209241627

 

[Scotticus]

Thanks for the info, guys. Those are some interesting links. For some reason, it did not occur to me last night to check this out over on the Kel-tec site.

 

[wnycollector]

When I carried a Mak as my CCW it was loaded with FMJ's. I opted for penetration over expansion. I live in a colder climate...lots of heavy carhart's and "hoodies" worn by bad guys ~5 months/year.

 

[Northalius]

Personally, I'd use FMJ for any mouse gun with a caliber of .380 and under. I'd only use JHP for 9mm and above.

To me, If I were to pick one being superior over the other, I'd go for penetration.

If the bullet expands fully, but doesn't travel far, what good is it in the end? Not much good to me, personally.

If the bullet doesn't fully expand, but travels far, then there's more of a chance of hitting vital organs and/or the BG's spinal chord; especially if you're shooting a guy with a lot of mass (muscle or fat)? You NEED good penetration much more than good expansion... imo. If for some chance it actually exits (unlikely, imo, with a .380 and under) it's not going to go much further afterward. Plus, an exit wound is 3-4 times worse than an entrance wound, so that's just more hurtin' on the BG... which is good!

Go FMJ for self defense, if you ask me.

 

[aomagrat]

I'm going to carry my LCP witn Hornady 95gr XTPs.