Lucnic
Member
For me it's Underwood Extreme Defender in 380+p. In my 365-380 it's accurate and hard hitting. For my micro's it's anything with an XTP bullet.
Best .380 carry ammo
- Thread starter Chazman1946
- Start date
CMYSIX
Member
Buffalo bore hard cast lead 100 grain flat nose 980 fps or freedom munitions 100 grn FMJFN 960, I love all the talk about hollow points but everyone just ignores what the bullet company's have told us over and over, HP's are useless till you get the bullet supersonic, then they start expanding as advertised
Maybe, maybe not.
Police: Sheriff's Deputy Shoots, Kills Laytonsville Man Who Was 'Driving Erratically' - YouTube
Twelve to the chest from a Glock 17 at arms length while beating the deputy with a stick. An autopsy showed that Costlow received 12 gunshot wounds. That autopsy also showed that Costlow was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Last edited:
With smaller rounds, I wholeheartedly agree with this. I know a guy who carries a 43C and he based his decision on defensive ammo almost solely on reliability and penetration. When I get my own 43C to pair with my 686 (When I do not feel like lugging it around) I will use the same ammo as him.
I would say this logic applies to any round with less power than 9mm. Once you get to 9mm and beyond, I think hollows are not only more effective, they are an obligation for those of us who wish to avoid collateral damage due to over-penetration.
To be honest, if I am going with a round smaller than 9mm, I would rather just go all the way to 22LR for many reasons. If 380 is your thing, go for reliable ammo that drives the deepest.
THE PILGRIM
Member
Have a Ruger LCP Max. Loaded with Ball.
Has never failed to fire or function.
I just can't shoot it that well.
Have several 22s.
Let's stay with the Rugers.
Have a LCP 22. Fun to shoot, can shoot it better than I shoot the 380.
But - have had Failures to Fire, a few Fail to Function.
Which Ammo seems to be the best that I have fired?
CCI Stingers.
Has never failed to fire or function.
I just can't shoot it that well.
Have several 22s.
Let's stay with the Rugers.
Have a LCP 22. Fun to shoot, can shoot it better than I shoot the 380.
But - have had Failures to Fire, a few Fail to Function.
Which Ammo seems to be the best that I have fired?
CCI Stingers.
"The only sure stopper is a supersonic telephone pole."
.380 is inadequate.
9mm is inadequate.
But they are convenient.
I know of no .380 hp that can meet minimum 12" penetration FBI std.
So FMJ all the way. I do like the flat point FMJ. Meplat is your friend.
.380 is inadequate.
9mm is inadequate.
But they are convenient.
I know of no .380 hp that can meet minimum 12" penetration FBI std.
So FMJ all the way. I do like the flat point FMJ. Meplat is your friend.
Agree with this point 100%
NFrameFred
Member
I've never shot anyone, don't plan to, don't want to . . . as a former instructor I always recommended folks carry the most powerful gun/round they can handle, shoot accurately and comfortably carry and conceal.
Not advocating or hating on the .380 - have owned several and occasionally carried one. My only comment since I don't have a dog in this fight is it's hard not to note that on some of the crime shows like "The First 48" (which certainly doesn't appear to be scripted at all), a lot of bodies seem to be found in the immediate vicinity of the empty .380 cases from the rounds that did the victim in. The .380 unfortunately seems to account for a lot of funerals in some parts of town and there seems to a lot of hardball used. Of course the need and desire for defensive rounds to quickly "stop" whatever behavior recommends one be shot, but dead is dead. One round doesn't kill any deader than than the next. But the OP asked and it gives us something to argue about in these threads . . . I always felt like a .380 in the dark parking lot was better than the model 29 at home in the safe . . .
I always gave a lot credence to the old saw "if caliber is king, shot placement is most certainly queen".
Not advocating or hating on the .380 - have owned several and occasionally carried one. My only comment since I don't have a dog in this fight is it's hard not to note that on some of the crime shows like "The First 48" (which certainly doesn't appear to be scripted at all), a lot of bodies seem to be found in the immediate vicinity of the empty .380 cases from the rounds that did the victim in. The .380 unfortunately seems to account for a lot of funerals in some parts of town and there seems to a lot of hardball used. Of course the need and desire for defensive rounds to quickly "stop" whatever behavior recommends one be shot, but dead is dead. One round doesn't kill any deader than than the next. But the OP asked and it gives us something to argue about in these threads . . . I always felt like a .380 in the dark parking lot was better than the model 29 at home in the safe . . .
I always gave a lot credence to the old saw "if caliber is king, shot placement is most certainly queen".
Last edited:
I've read the same thing as above about the 32 Auto round. Awful lot of death attributed to the 32...but it was a gun of choice all over the world for easy carry. Especially in Europe. Larger was better mostly in the US as our idea about shooting things EG..people, was kill 'em all let the big guy upstairs to sort 'em out...and even the police and military officers carried 32s...maybe as a badge of honor or something. I too am a believer in the larger is better...injured people just like a wounded bear, are dangerous. I have seen quite a few shootings working as a paramedic/FF. Many I saw were fatal and yep the 9mm were quite often fatal esp at almost touching range. the 38 was more often fatal and the 357 was in a class of it's own. Of course I didn't see as many as a city cop maybe but just an observation I mean 5 or 6 rounds to the torso usually did real damage esp with the 357. Only person I dealt with shot with a 44 survived...to be killed 8-9 months later with a knife IIRC
Two types make the grade in my book....
...and I just acquired the second one. Sig Sauer V-Crown is the first one. And Precision One is a bullet making outfit East of Charleston in Mt. Pleasant (They are online) and they use an XTP bullet loading that has consistently done very well in various tests all over the web. They were a 'no-name' outfit back in the early 20teens, but they have come a VERY long way.
...and I just acquired the second one. Sig Sauer V-Crown is the first one. And Precision One is a bullet making outfit East of Charleston in Mt. Pleasant (They are online) and they use an XTP bullet loading that has consistently done very well in various tests all over the web. They were a 'no-name' outfit back in the early 20teens, but they have come a VERY long way.
Last edited:
I wonder if......
Maybe we can entice Paul Harrell to do some new testing.
Update: I don't think Paul is doing very well. It seems he may have cancer. He says it was caught early and will be making videos.
Maybe we can entice Paul Harrell to do some new testing.
Update: I don't think Paul is doing very well. It seems he may have cancer. He says it was caught early and will be making videos.
Last edited:
Hi Folks;
'Tools and Targets' recently did a gel test of the .380 Federal Personal Defense HST and Federal Punch ammo.
He was shooting a Bodyguard 2.0 with 2.75" barrel through denim. I like his testing and no nonsense approach.
What do you think?
'Tools and Targets' recently did a gel test of the .380 Federal Personal Defense HST and Federal Punch ammo.
He was shooting a Bodyguard 2.0 with 2.75" barrel through denim. I like his testing and no nonsense approach.
What do you think?
Tangential, but important:
380s tend to be small pistols. It is imperative with small pistols to grip them tightly when firing. The frame may not have enough mass to resist the motion of the slide, so you MUST provide the resistance with your tight grip.
Great point....
Old thread, but I'm always interested in the latest developments in .380, being a problematic round to get both expansion and penetration (Missus Smiff has a .380 EZ). 'Tools and Targets'? I like his channel and presentation but he gets 5 data points for velocity then shoots one, maybe two bullets of each type into the gel and gets a chrono reading then, too. I think I'll suggest that he shoot less for velocity and a few more into the gel.
ANYWAY, I only have a couple of types of .380 ammo that I'll use. That would be the Sig V-crown and Precision One XTP loading, both standard. He shoots +P out of his Shield EZ sometimes, but I try to stick with standard loads as per the S&W manual. I've always liked the Federal HSTs in all of my pistol calibers and now I'm going to add those and the Punch to my very short list of ammos to use in the .380.
The world's graveyards are peppered with recipients of .380 ball.
STORMINORMAN
Member
Since this thread is almost of historic resurrection status, I'll FINALLY comment...
Hard to beat (IMHO) both/either(?) Underwood's 68gr (@ 1300fps) LEHIGH Xtreme Defender or the (Polycase) Inceptor ARX 56gr (@ 1260fps)! Both projectiles can also be easily reloaded at lesser velocities. Soft shooting and effective for SD/HD.
Cheers!
Hard to beat (IMHO) both/either(?) Underwood's 68gr (@ 1300fps) LEHIGH Xtreme Defender or the (Polycase) Inceptor ARX 56gr (@ 1260fps)! Both projectiles can also be easily reloaded at lesser velocities. Soft shooting and effective for SD/HD.
Cheers!
geeollie
Member
I can only test for velocity and accuracy from a firearm held in my hand. Therefore I have to read and watch others who have done some sort of testing. Like Norman who is Stormin, the Underwood 68 grain looks hard to beat. I think there are some that can keep up, but not beat them and not persist in penetrating more than 18 inches.
2 additional comments:
#1: I have not called Underwood, but would be interested to know if they could go any faster and still avoid a +p situation. I would buy more of it if they could.
#2: I read a newspaper report of a State Trooper who self inflicted himself in the neck and face and lived. It was with his duty Sig in 45 ACP. That is a confirmed account.
2 additional comments:
#1: I have not called Underwood, but would be interested to know if they could go any faster and still avoid a +p situation. I would buy more of it if they could.
#2: I read a newspaper report of a State Trooper who self inflicted himself in the neck and face and lived. It was with his duty Sig in 45 ACP. That is a confirmed account.
Gentlemen; all this talk is about small guns and small calibers. These are bad breath distance firearms. Not 50 yards, not 25 yards, not even 15 yards. Look around and think about your every day lives. Other than the mall, street/sidewalk, or show venue, where are you going to encounter such distances? Surely not in your home, businesses, or friend's houses, unless you and they count money in 7-9 figures.
Penetrations in these distances doesn't have to equal anything the FBI requires, the local police requires, not even what your best friend carries. Stuff a .32, .380, 9mm, or any other small caliber pistol into someone's gut and watch their eyes do a dance just after you squeeze the trigger. While a .22LR might not drop him/her where they stand it will surely cause them to reconsider their life choices.
Let some people get within 10 yards of you and its highly likely they can be on you before you can unholster and present your firearm, just getting ready to squeeze the trigger. Especially considering the "modern" method of training I see in all the videos on TV. If I'd followed such stupidity when overseas, I'd be gone, long ago pushing daises.
Penetrations in these distances doesn't have to equal anything the FBI requires, the local police requires, not even what your best friend carries. Stuff a .32, .380, 9mm, or any other small caliber pistol into someone's gut and watch their eyes do a dance just after you squeeze the trigger. While a .22LR might not drop him/her where they stand it will surely cause them to reconsider their life choices.
Let some people get within 10 yards of you and its highly likely they can be on you before you can unholster and present your firearm, just getting ready to squeeze the trigger. Especially considering the "modern" method of training I see in all the videos on TV. If I'd followed such stupidity when overseas, I'd be gone, long ago pushing daises.
Many years ago, I saw on TV Tiger McKee training Tom Gresham on shooting a .380. McKee had him practice shooting the .380 back over his shoulder as he ran away.
Think of the .380 as being for suppressive fire, not for actually shooting somebody.
Think of the .380 as being for suppressive fire, not for actually shooting somebody.
