Simple Question: Ball or JHP In Your Pocket .380?

[Phydeaux642]

I'm not looking for ballistic arguments or anything. I'm just curious as to what different folks are carrying in their pocket .380s either due to feeding issues or availability, etc.

 

[christcorp]

Hornady Critical Defense or PowrBall. BEST of BOTH worlds. The feeding of a FMJ and the expansion of a HP. For blowback guns that have an issue feeding HP or any gun that is picky, these are the 2 to be using.

 

[sidheshooter]

Fiocchi with the hornady xtp jhp in it. Delayed expansion, warm-ish load (for a .380), reliable feeding in my sig 238, and easy to find at cabelas.

 

[m2steven]

i carry FMJ in mine simply for reliability. I have shot Powerball with complete confidence, but i generally shoot what I practice with at the range.

I've got some Buffalo Bore coming in and Ill let y'all know how that feeds in my P238.

 

[smartshooter.45]

i am currently carrying ball in my p238 only because i havent found any great deals on JHP's to test. so far the p238 is great, just wish the trigger pull was a bit lighter...

gonna see if my local smithy can fix that.

 

[WardenWolf]

I don't have a .380, but I have a 9x18 which is basically the same thing. Short answer is, I carry FMJ until I know it'll feed my hollowpoints. I have to get to the outdoor range which is a long ways away to test my Silver Bear hollowpoints, so I don't know yet. So I load it with what I know it'll digest.

 

[joel_conley]

Gold dot HP's in my LCP. two thumbs up.

 

[harmon rabb]

i don't carry much LCP much anymore, as i prefer something chambered in a larger caliber, but when i do, it's loaded with corbon powerball.

 

[m2steven]

The trigger pull in my p238 is quite crisp and 1911 like. It was a bit hard when i first got it, but after 400 rounds - it's very,very nice and has no impact on my aim as I release the firing mechanism.

I spent about 20 minutes racking the slide and pulling the trigger before i took it to the range the first time.. That loosened up the pull a great deal.

Right now the trigger pull is almost as nice as that of my Springfield EMP 9mm.

The P238 is a great shooter,pointer, and it's sights are wonderful.. Also, I've got a copy with absolute no problems - just great shootinging fun.

 

[snooperman]

Corbon seems to have the m0st consistency in expansion..

based on my research of hollowpoint ammo for the 380 auto. I do not carry a 380 but have done some study for my neighbor that likes it.

 

[dovedescending]

I also have a 9x18, and I load FMJ. There aren't a lot of hollowpoint options, and FMJ is still a bullet. A nice, penetrate-y bullet.

 

[Storm]

PowrBall all the way. As has been said, you get the both of best worlds.

 

[wow6599]

This may sound dumb, but I carry FMJ in the winter and JHP in warmer weather.
I feel alright about penetration with a .380 JHP going through a shirt, but have my doubts about penetrating enough going through say a leather coat and two shirts.
YMMV.

 

[schiesz]

I get better feeding, overall reliability, and accuracy from Hornady Critical Defense in my P232 so its an easy choice for me.

 

[One-Time]

Not a simple question, kinda like the 45 v 9mm thing

Some say ball is needed to get penetration, others say JHP to get expansion

Id run Hornady Critical Defense ammo if i carried anything that doesnt start w/ a .4

 

[oasis618]

If I were to carry a .380 it would be filled with something like Powerball or Hornaday Critical Defense.

 

[benzy2]

As others have said I like critical defense or powerball. They seem to be fairly similar so I'll shoot either I can find. Not sure I really like either better than the other. Sometimes it feels like critical defense gets played up to be the only option out there but corbon seems to be impressive as well. If I absolutley can't get one of those two ill go with fmj as I don't trust other jhp to expand or penetrate. I would rather a fmj that pentrates and doesn't expand than a fmj that does neither.

 

[rattletrap1970]

Fiocci hollowpoints.

 

[BushyGuy]

FMJ would be better cuz .380 dont have as much penetration as the 9mm with JHP bullets.

stick with the 9mm and use +p JHP i would stay away from those .380's they are a waste of money .

There are people saying the 9mm aint satisfactory for self-defense ,that would put the .380 to shame.

Alot of people today are switching to .45ACP cuz they want enough gun.

 

[HexHead]

Carry Hornady Critical Defense in my Mustang.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Simple Question: Ball or JHP In Your Pocket .380?

Both.
I haven't resolved the .380 penetration/expansion question to my satisfaction, so I alternate FMJ and JHP in the magazine. At least I have to be half right.

JHP Hornady, Speer GD or CorBon in the chamber. First round in the mag is FMJ. Historically I've found the top round in the mag is the most likely to jam feeding and FMJ is the least likely bullet to cause jamming.

I have backyard tested the .380 PowerBall and it was very poor. Most did not expand at all from the short barrel guns.

 

[481]

Were I to carry a pistol of "lesser" caliber than 9mm it'd be loaded with FMJ.

Too many subcompact nines available these days to mess with the .380 IMO.

 

[DFW1911]

JHP if possible, but whatever it will feed and cycle reliably, as proven by extensive testing.

 

[Phydeaux642]

Too many subcompact nines available these days to mess with the .380 IMO.

The problem is I'm not going to spend $750 on a PM9 or $1,100 on a Rohrbaugh in order to get it into my pocket. Some say that they can fit the Keltec PF9 in their pockets but I have a difficult time drawing it once it is there. Most of the time I have a 642 in my pocket, but on the rare occasion that I can't do that I'll have one of these smaller .380 pocket rockets on me.

I carry FMJ in my little Keltec P32 because I'm certainly not worried about over penetration and was curious as to what everyone carries in their small .380s for whatever reason.

 

[Bobo]

Both - a mix of JHP and FMJ.