Serious .380 Ammo

[roninrlm]

I know that the .380 is a small and minimal round. So what I am looking for is some suggestions on New Factory Ammo that produce Serious results. Shooting it in a Beretta .380.

Ronin

 

[ku4hx]

Assuming feeding and extraction are not problematic, any premium ammunition will be good for self defense. I favor Remington Golden Saber, but there are others: Gold Dot, Hydra-Shok and etc.

I like our .380 Auto guns (AMT Backup, Walther PPK/S) but I don't consider either to be "serious" SD guns. For that, our minimum is 9mm with the .380 Auto falling into the belly gun/last resort arena.

 

[roninrlm]

I agree---personaly my minimum is a .38 spl ++P. But I am not the one who is using the .380. Just looking for advice or experience with the .380.

Ronin

 

[Tomac]

With .380's you run the risk of underpentration if you use expanding rds. Since shot placement and sufficient penetration are paramount, I keep my wife's .380's stoked w/Buffalo Bore 100gr +P hardcast.
If you must use JHP's then consider the aforementioned Golden Saber or (my fav) CorBon's DPX.
Tomac

 

[skoro]

I'm another one who likes the hardcast Buffalo Bore load.

 

[jimbo555]

Any fmj 380 has sufficient penetration and will get the job done if placed properly.

 

[ku4hx]

... my minimum is a .38 spl ++P.

Being there is no standard for ++P/+P+ ammunition, I prefer to go with standard pressure fodder in a more "robust" gun. Guns wife and I can practice with at the same power levels of the stuff we carry. Since I roll my own (cast and load), practice for us is 200-250 rounds each at least once per week. "++" stuff just ain't my thing but if you like it that's all that counts.

 

[Snowdog]

Any fmj 380 has sufficient penetration and will get the job done if placed properly.

I posted a couple video on a previous .380acp thread showing both 95gr FMJ and FMJ-FP plowing through 24" or so of ballistic gel. Granted, a bone or two might trip things up a bit, but the standard .380acp FMJ absolutely can penetrate fine.

Personally, I like RA380T as it's a pointy JHP bleeder when it opens, but penetrates like a FMJ-FP on the occasions it won't (from my tiny P238HD).
Of course, I do tend to use Wichester Ranger-T in most my pistols. I suppose I could just be stubborn.

 

[ID-shooting]

Just me, mine is loaded with Honady XTP

 

[CNobbe]

I use XTP, the Critical Defense loads in my P238s and they've never malf'd on me.

 

[Mainsail]

MAH has some Hornady Critical Defense in stock (and I'm very surprised).

 

[mljdeckard]

I might question how good of an idea it is to carry a round where you are so concerned about penetration, you have to carry a different kind of bullet to make sure it will be effective. It's a free country, and it's your keyster, not mine.

Double-tap makes hot .380 loads.

 

[2wheels]

If you want penetration, any FMJ will work. No need to spend extra money and deal with extra recoil from something like Buffalo Bores "+P" hardcast stuff when standard FMJs are proven to penetrate more than enough in ballistic gel.

If you want expansion, most brand name JHPs are decent.

 

[jimbo555]

All handgun rounds can be ineffective if placed poorly.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Rounds from 38spl on down are FMJ or cast only propositions in my book.

There's just not enough energy AND mass to make me comfortable with the penetration or lack thereof using JHP ammunition.

My p32 has fiocchi FMJ in the mag and my LCR 38 will likely get a wadcutter or SWC of some sort

 

[Mohave-Tec]

Hornady Critical Defense. One of the most reliable cambering rounds in 380, faster, high penetrating and greater likeliness of expansion.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Hornady Critical Defense. One of the most reliable cambering rounds in 380, faster, high penetrating and greater likeliness of expansion.

If it actually expands from a 380 it's going to be anything BUT "high penetrating"

 

[concepthomes1]

Any fmj 380 has sufficient penetration and will get the job done if placed properly.

I agree. I carry my PK380 as my primary.

 

[ddc]

Underwood ammo usually get's mentioned whenever these 380 threads arise. I have no personal experience and don't own a 380 but I'm considering one.

http://www.underwoodammo.com/pistolammunition.aspx

 

[beatledog7]

For SD with a .380 Auto pistol, choose any FMJ of more than 95 or so grains that reliably functions and shoots to POA at 4-8 yards. Practice with it regularly, study the laws in your state, and carry it whenever the law and property rights allow.

Remember that the best SD shot is not the one that penetrated best or expanded most or even hit exactly the right spot; it's the one you managed to avoid needing to take.

 

[Mohave-Tec]

A self defense 380 round that can penetrate clothing and still expand in soft tissue.
380 is not famous for expanding. Penetrating 10 inches and expanding for the duration trumps 13 inches and no expansion all day long. But to choose 380 of any kind over most larger calibers as your primary defense round is just plain ridiculous.

 

[beatledog7]

But to choose 380 of any kind over most larger calibers as your primary defense round is just plain ridiculous.

That may be true for you, but many CCW holders are limited to guns whose recoil they can manage and which they can reliably conceal in the outfits they must wear, and that combination can preclude guns in larger calibers.

In my state I could open carry a .44 Magnum (that's for the woods) or a duty-sized semi-auto with an oversized magazine (that's for things we don't discuss on THR), but either could draw attention that I might not want. If I'm carrying a minuscule .380 it's because I want to carry concealed, and my mode of dress means anything bigger will pose concealment issues. I don't feel under gunned carrying 15 (7+1 + another 7) 100-grain FMJ rounds in a gun with which I can make hits if I have to.

If you would feel under gunned with a .380 by all means carry something bigger as your primary, but don't belittle those who do--one of us might save your bacon with a .380 one day.

 

[concepthomes1]

That may be true for you, but many CCW holders are limited to guns whose recoil they can manage and which they can reliably conceal in the outfits they must wear, and that combination can preclude guns in larger calibers.

In my state I could open carry a .44 Magnum (that's for the woods) or a duty-sized semi-auto with an oversized magazine (that's for things we don't discuss on THR), but either could draw attention that I might not want. If I'm carrying a minuscule .380 it's because I want to carry concealed, and my mode of dress means anything bigger will pose concealment issues. I don't feel under gunned carrying 15 (7+1 + another 7) 100-grain FMJ rounds in a gun with which I can make hits if I have to.

If you would feel under gunned with a .380 by all means carry something bigger as your primary, but don't belittle those who do--one of us might save your bacon with a .380 one day.

Couldn't have said it any better. All points are spot on.

Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk 2

 

[Mohave-Tec]

Oh my. I take back everything I said. : )

 

[orionengnr]

When I had a .380, it was loaded with CorBon DPX.
By no small coincidence, my .45acps, 9mm, .45LC are likewise loaded with DPX. If I find some DPX in .41 Mag, 10mm and .357 Mag, I will trust those as well.