What PD ammo for a .380 auto?

[dev_null]

Moderator: feel free to move this, but there is no "Ammo" forum in the Ammo & Acc area.

So, what's the consensus on the high-dollar PD rounds like MagSafe, Glaser, etc., and are they any better than hardball or Hydra-Shoks in a small .380 auto? A quick look through the catalogs shows the following options:

• Standard load FMJ; 950-1000 fps; ~200 ft/lbs; $8 / 50 for the cheapo stuff, twice that for big name brand
• Standard load JHP; 950-1000 fps; ~200 ft/lbs; $8 / 50 for the cheapo stuff, twice that for big name brand
• Federal Hydra-shok JHP; 1000 fps; 200 ft/lbs; $25 / 50
• Magtech +P JHP; 1082 fps; 221 ft/lbs; $6.50 / 20
• Glaser Silver (jacketed, #6 shot core); 1350 fps; 283 ft/lbs; $10.50 / 6
• Glaser Blue (jacketed #12 shot core); 1350 fps; 283 ft/lbs; $10.50 / 6
• MagSafe JHP; 1500 fps; 300 ft/lbs; $11.50 / 8

On the face of it, the MagSafe and Glaser look like a good bet for a PD round, and plain 'ol hardball for range practice, but what's the word on these... do they pan out as well as the stats would seem?

-0-

 

[dev_null]

BTT

Nobody has an opinion on the high dollar PD rounds? Hard to believe.

<kidding>
Things were so much easier under the Shoguns, you could test new weapons out on condemned prisoners.
</>

-0-

 

[MikeJ]

My problem with the high-dollar rounds for any semi auto is the cost of testing them to make sure they are reliable. To even run a hundred rounds costs more than I am willing to spend. I use to use the .38+p Magsafe for PD but was convinced to change to a quality hollowpoint because, as the argument went, they are designed for ideal conditions. In other words frontal shots with out any obstruction, like a raised arm etc. I just came to the conclusion that they lacked the versatility needed for PD. I know that they are still popular with many people but that is my opinion. Mike

 

[Gary A]

I find that Federal 90 grain Hydro-Shok seems the best blend of velocity, reliability, reputation, accuracy, availability, and shootability of the brands I've tried. Cor-Bon is "hot" but seems less accurate and feed-reliable. Remington Golden Saber is attractive but the heavy bullet seems to recoil quite a bit more in a small blow-back. I have not tried much Gold Dot but Federal is available and seems to have a good reputation to go along with my own personal positive experience. I too have flirted with and discarded my interest in the ultra-light exotics partly because I don't wish to go broke testing them. They are impressive, though, on water jugs, melons, grapefruit and other assorted reactive targets for whatever that is worth.

 

[Kentucky Rifle]

I went from Hydra-Shoks to RBCD's in my Colt Mustang after seeing what the .32ACP RBCD did to a corned beef brisket taped to a water-filled milk jug. (The jug plumb exploded!) I guess RBCD's could be considered "high dollar" @ 20 for $34.00.

KR

 

[jc2]

I do not use pre-fragmented rounds in any calibre (and especially the "mouse" calibres). I do not trust them to penetrate enough to get the job done, period. There is also the previously mentioned problem of the expense of running three or magazines full of EACH magazine to insure reliability.

From what I've seen of the various testing of .380 JHPs, the best seems to be the Hornady XTP in that when it expands it still penetrates deep enough to be effective. From the testing I've seen of other .380 JHPs, if they expand (and always a big "if"), they don't penetrate to a sufficient depth.

Frankly, I usually just stuff mine full of Fiocchi FMJs and practice head shots.

 

[196pc]

I use FMJ flatpoints in my .380. In 1984, one of my good friends shot a suspect with a .44 mag Glaser out of a SW 629. It flat tore the suspect up. But that was out of a powerful round. I would have my doubts about a .380. It would also be tough to practice with the high dollar rounds due to costs.

 

[dev_null]

Some good points... thanks, all. I think I'll take the money I would have spent on the high dollar stuff and use it to buy more ammo for practicing. I'm sure I'll need to work on my accuracy from a gun this small.

-0-

 

[concerned citizen]

I also like the federal HI-SHOCK 90g, I have been happy with the accuracy of remington GS 102g also, I am using the remington in my colt mustang.

 

[Dave R]

Yeah, I like the Remington 102gr Golden Sabre, too. Groups well in my FEG, and performed very well in some informal expansion testing I did. Made a believer out of me.

 

[Jeff OTMG]

I am like KR and use the RBCD 380 ACP 45 gr. TFSP 1500 fps / 283 flbs. They are cheaper than the Glaser and MS. They are not pre-fragmented and have a round nose profile for improved feed reliability. The other thing is that they are loaded to standard pressure unlike the MS.

 

[Daguerre]

From all that I've found in researching defense ammo the best choice seems to be the CorBon 90gr. JHP. If your gun feeds and fires it well, it's as good as anything (probably a lot better.)

Next choice looks like the Federal 90 gr. HydraShok. Followed by Remington 102 gr. Golden Saber BJHP. (GS380M).

The MagSafe sounds really impressive, but one credible source indicates that this brand of ammo doesn't measure up in quality control. And being exotic ammo, it's really costly to function test and may have more limited application effectiveness than a conventional JHP.

I plan on testing and (probably) settling on the CorBon in my new Mustang .380 I bought last weekend.

 

[denfoote]

I use Federal 90gr PD Hydroshok. Largely because it feeds well in my PPK!! I prefer the 9mm Makarov round, though.