I have to say i have read all the tests and just keep clinging to Hydra shok.Really it seems like the best 380 rounds are a **** shoot in tests.The hydra shok puts out close to 900 fps in my body guard.They say light recoil but in my book its loaded hot.Anyway the gun loves it and i dont think there is to much chance of me heaving to shoot someone wearing 4 layers of denim. Thoughts !!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've read better reviews on the HST, just saying nothing wrong with HS, if your gun likes it and makes you happy then good.

I like 'em too. They are pretty warm and they expand just enough to still get decent penetration.

I have thought of the HST gets big but not a deep penetrateor from all the info i saw. Like a 8.5 inches.Unless you have seen something i have not?

Hate to be a downer, but I wold never recommend a friend use them, especially in that small gun.

I worked on two shootings with .380 Hydra Shoks in which the initial shots failed to adequately penetrate. And that was from a longer barrel than the one you're using. I guess it could happen with anything and two incidents don't mean much in the overall scheme of things, but after seeing many such incidents with a variety of .380 hollow points, I think physics is just a problem. The bullets are (relatively) light and traveling (relatively) slowly. Adding expansion to the picture appears to bleed off enough energy to rob such rounds of the penetration they are likely to need to get to the vitals that need to be hit to effect a stop.

I've worked in some capacity on over 200 handgun killing cases, and, while I'm not the world's biggest fan of the FBI, their shooting protocols appear to very well describe what happens in the real world. Based on what I've seen of the gel testing of people who appear to be following correct protocol, I don't believe there is a .380 JHP loading that reliably meets the FBI penetration minimums.

But it's a free country and I'm just some guy on the internet so whatever you decide is right for you is the right answer.

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Now go make God proud...

My bad I was thinking of 9mm..but still here are some comparison test..
http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self...-tests/#380ACP

Here is a quite thorough comparison test of various .380 self-defense rounds fired from a short-barreled pistol using FBI testing procedures:
Final Results of the .380 ACP Ammo Quest | Shooting The Bull
A few of the rounds actually performed fairly well, including Hydra Shok.

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What, me worry?

Use hydrashok in my G42. After watching the shooting the bull gel tests, it was the easiest one to find locally that did decent.

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M&P .40, M&P 9c & Shield 45

I believe it is a reasonable choice, I would only caution that I had a few rounds that were short overall length ( OAL ) and would jam the nose on frame while attempting to feed. I discontinued them for SD and used them for practice. I might suggest Winchester ranger RA380SXT which has a 95 gr Black Bullet, this is Not the Ranger TA or T series. This utilizes a 380 bullet of the same design as the original Black Talon, same pointed tips on petals compared to the T series/TA which have a flat tip on the petals. Performed well with or without denim, on gel/water. I still have some of the test bullets which showed extensive expansion. Be Safe,

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I BACK OUR BLUE

In my LCP, I carry WW white box FMJ .380's. They have a fairly large flat nose which should make them a better stopper than a RN bullet, yet penetrate better than an expanding bullet usually will. A good compromise, I think, for this cartridge.

Larry

Really if you look at ammo quest and Lucky gunner totally different results. The speer gold dot does great and the old silver tip was great.But than again the lucky gunner test barrel is 3.25 inch

I use STHP in 32 and my wife in 9mm, I use Hydra-shok in 380and 45ACP. I've been very happy with the performances.

Ivan

I carry Hydra Shok in my .45 pistol. I like the round, and have some for my .380's. The .380 is a good round. I have many pistols that use it. Unlike a .25 round, the .380 will do damage even through clothing. A round doesn't have to expand to be effective, though it is better if they do, shot placement is the key.