I don't think hollow points would be a good choice. I suspect they would not expand being fired from such a short barrel. I want to buy enough of whatever ammo seems best so I can test it for reliability before carrying it. Thanks, Bob

Due to the number of reported issues with ammo NOT feeding properly, for my carry I will only load it with “high quality” round nose FMJ. Also, with my own experience with FTF even after 500 rounds, I will load the mags with 1 less round = 10-round mag with 9, 12-round mag with 11.

My BG2 will NOT be my EDC until I have 250 to 500 more rounds without ANY issues to perform 100% as a pocket carry close encounter self-defense handgun.

There are plenty of YouTube videos of ammo gelatin and reliability tests out there to help guide a decision.

According to some studies, there is an ammo company called "Precision One" that is makes a superior .380 round.

I have fired a few hundred rounds of it without a single problem, but it is more expensive and not widely distributed by the ammo seller websites; you can only buy it on their own website.

Speer Gold Dot seems to expand well in testing. (gel)
Winchester 95gr PDX1 also has been reported as having good expansion in testing. As expected, penetration is marginal.

Of course, as you said, you'll have to check/test to see if it will be reliable in your pistol.



Carter

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

When you have an hour or so free time, there is a series on a site called Shooting The Bull. A series called Ammo Quest tested many different .380 rounds. If you search for his .380 tests you will find a number of videos and written material. He does testing per the FBI protocol and I found it both interesting and informative.

There is little real life data concerning which .380 rounds worked in real life scenarios. So, the next best thing is correctly done FBI protocol gels tests. That is what Shooting the Bull provides.

Hydra Shok Deep

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USN Retired, EDC BG 2.0

Hydra Shock Deep is the new kid on the block and has good results in testing.

In my LCP Max I prefer the Fiocchi Extrema which uses the Hornady XTP bullet. Decent expansion and good penetration. Even if it doesn't expand it doesn't tend to over penetrate.

If choosing a FMJ the Winchester round with a flat point would be my choice.

I've been running these Precision One XTP 90gr +P ammo for a while now in my BG 2.0. I also run these in my LCP Custom and they run with zero issue's. I purchase these direct from their website and I've no issue's with shipping and timeliness.

Hmmm... ?? +P ammo is explicitly not recommended for the BG2 or the LCPs.

Precision One 90gr XTP +p is in name only @ 975 fps, Underwood 90gr XTP +p is listed @ 1200 fps, I will not shoot the Underwood.

Geezzz... I did not know that any ammo manufacturer would label their ammo with a +P and it is in "name only", and not the actual +P rated extra powder??

I learn something new every day!

to them the Their standard load is 925 fps so bumping it up to 975 fps so in their terms they can call it a +P. Even the Winchester 95gr fmj flat nose target which I've shot a bunch is 955 fps. I consider all these safe loads, but when you get up in the 1300 fps with Underwood and the Buffalo Bore+P Ammo 100 gr. Hardcast F.N. @ 1,150 fps would be a little hard on the 2.0.

There's no official SAAMI spec for 380 +P the way that there is for 9x19, so +P simply means, 'exceeds SAAMI spec for max pressure.' Could be by a little (Precision One), could be by a lot (Underwood), buyer beware. Same deal with 9x19 +P+, except it exceeds the SAAMI spec for +P.

If you were going to shoot a lot of a load as hot as that Underwood (or 9x19 +P+), a heavier recoil spring should probably lengthen the longevity of the pistol.

Shooting the Bull does not do "correctly done FBI protocol" tests, although I see that posted all the time about a lot of .380 ammo. I am going to paste some stuff I have posted elsewhere.

The manufacturers and most social media influencers and hobbyists frequently conduct bare gel and cloth covered gel tests with .380 and proclaim that their tested ammo “meets FBI specifications.” Well, that is not true. They may perform barely adequately in 1/3 of the tests, but most reviewers are not performing the other 4.

As I understand the FBI protocols used for testing LE duty ammunition, 70% importance is given to penetration and consistency of penetration, 20% to expansion, and 10% to weight retention. Source: FBI Ammunition Protocol
The test involves five separate shots at 6 different sets of media, namely, bare gel, cloth covered gel, and gel placed behind each of plywood, wallboard, sheet metal (heavier 20 gauge, not the stuff I use) and windshield glass. The results are weighted based on criteria deemed important by the FBI and are cranked into a formula used to assign a number score to the ammo. In looking at the criteria in the above link (Note that the criteria are stated to be for 9mm Luger, which may be read to imply that there are different weightings for different calibers, but I do not know this.), penetration under 12 inches for any shot is assigned a point value of 1 per shot under 12 inches, while penetration over 18 inches is awarded 5 points per shot. Penetration between 12 and 18 inches is awarded points in the 8-10 range, with 14-15.99 inches getting 10 and 16 to 18 inches getting 9 points. 12 to 13.99 inches gets 8 points. There is no disqualification for penetration over 18 inches-it is awarded exactly half credit, 5. (I invite anyone who has better information on the FBI protocols to share it.)

Why are the testers ignoring the other 4 tests? Because .380 ammo that barely makes 12 inches in plain gel or cloth covered gel will suck when put through the barrier tests, losing a lot of points per shot and also on the score for number of shots per test under 12 inches. So, they focus on pretty mushrooms, which the FBI thinks is substantially less important than penetration. Now, a lot of reviewers imply that barrier penetration is not important because non-police people carrying .380s are only going to be getting in “best case scenario” shootings at 3 yards against someone facing them squarely out in the open, or against people who will run away at the sight of any gun. I also see people on forums say that their strategy with their .380 is to dump a couple of rounds and run away. Well, those ideas contain huge assumptions upon which I am not willing to rely. How does one know that there won’t be a side shot, or one through any kind of barriers? How does one know that getting away from a bad guy will not involve running over him? So, I shoot any ammo that does not receive the benefit of massive taxpayer funded research against a variety of stuff to see what it will do.

The only ammo that I have found that comes close to 9mm penetration against barriers is 68 grain XD ammo from Underwood. (I use standard pressure.) and 90 grain XP ammo. Buffalo Bore 100 grain hard cast flat point (again, I use standard pressure) is third. I carry the Underwood standard pressure 68 grain XD round in my .380s. No soft lead core ammo in either jacketed round nose or hollow point can get through the barriers I have shot, which is a piece of pine or fir 2X6 and two pieces of 22 gauge steel. I have posted links to numerous videos against those barriers on a long thread in another forum, for those who have time to burn. Attention Required! | Cloudflare

YMMV.

Cheyenne WYO:

Couldn't agree more! Have previously loaded that Lehigh 68gr bullet in 380acp, 9mm & 357 SIG (WOW!) and am about to give 38 Super a try...

The other non-conventional bullet (other than various other Lehighs) I have experienced good results with in 380acp is the ARX Inceptor 56gr from Polycase. Also have loaded some In 9mm, 40 S&W, 45acp and 38 Special: all shoot well to point of aim, exhibit reduced recoil and are, IMHO, viable for HD & SD purposes.

Cheers!

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Sit Reloader Sentiret

In duty caliber ammo I just stick with the common stuff police carry because they meet FBI protocols for all 6 tests and have been correlated with street results. (I'm not saying XD ammo won't work effectively. I just go with the known data.) But, the .380 is different because it is neither tested nor correlated.

If you go to the thread that I linked at the end of my post, I shot 9mm and .380 NOVX rounds, which fire an ARX style bullet. The 9mm performed well but the .380 went to pieces when it hit the barrier.

I prefer Flat Point FMJ, but they can be pretty hard to find.

For me defensive wise, Hydro Shok Deep - gun quality wise should handle anything though!

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USN Retired, EDC BG 2.0

Ball ammo.

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.

I guess I'm just less concerned about barriers than the fbi...

But they're there, sometimes: no doubt about it!

Cheers!

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Sit Reloader Sentiret

Not a bad idea if you're carrying a 9x19mm or .40 S&W pistol with a ~4.0" or longer barrel, or a .45 ACP with at least a 4.5" barrel. Results may vary the shorter you go in barrel length, however.

There may be some merit to XD ammo for shorter barreled duty-caliber firearms, but I have not seen any research on that. I also am not aware of any large police departments that issue different ammo for shorter barreled plainclothes/backup/off duty-guns than for their duty guns in the same caliber. If anyone has any insight on that, please share the info. When things are inconclusive, I don’t switch without some basis for doing so. But, that’s just me. I cannot say that people who don't agree with that philosophy are wrong.

I bought 600 rounds of this to test it for function. I took this pic to show a friend how small it is. So far I shot 200 rounds in one trip to the range with no problems. The target is 100 rounds, I'm going to have to adjust the sights. I seem to have lost the pic of the ammo. It was fairly inexpensive Armscor FMJ.

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NYPD somewhat famously switched from 158 gr lead semi-wadcutters to the Speer 135 gr +p JHP Short Barrel load for more reliable expansion from snubs, though they used it regardless of barrel length.

You'll find that US police departments are all over the map in what they issue, or what they don't issue.

Some departments will specify ammunition like Gold Dot, Ranger, or Federal's various loads. Some, just specify weight, JHP and/or velocity. This gives a bit more flexibility during ammunition shortages.

We can, however, examine Chicago PD, who helpfully have their general orders online. Chicago PD has issued Winchester Ranger Bonded for the last couple of decades (124 gr +P 9mm, 180 gr .40 S&W, 230 gr .45ACP, and 130 gr +P 38 Special), but the semi-auto pistol ammunition specifications are:

1. .45 Caliber ACP., 185 through 230 grain jacketed hollow point bullet, standard and +P.

2. .40 Caliber S&W, 155 through 180 grain jacketed hollow point bullet, standard and +P.

3. 9mm Luger (parabellum) Caliber, 115 through 147 grain jacketed hollow point bullet, standard, +P, and +P+.

4. .380 Caliber ACP, 80 through 102 grain.

.45 and .40 are for those who are grandfathered in with pistols acquired when the department still allowed duty calibers other than 9x19. .380 is only approved for back-up, administrative, and off-duty carry. Note that it is the only semi-auto caliber where JHP is not required. Presumably, this was done due to the oft-shallow penetration of .380 ACP JHP that actually expand.

With the exception of SWAT, CPD notably does not issue any pistols, duty or not. They issue duty ammo for the primary duty carry pistol, but other than that, it's run what ya brung so long as it meets the specifications above.

For the few dozen officers left carrying revolvers on duty, the ammo spec is:
.38 special caliber +P, 125 through 136 grain, jacketed hollow-point ammunition or .38 special caliber +P, 158 grain lead, semi-wad cutter, hollow-point ammunition

However, when it comes to off-duty/backup snubnoses:
.38 special caliber, non +P, 125 through 135 grain, jacketed hollow-point ammunition or .38 special caliber, non +P, 158 grain lead, semi-wad cutter, hollow-point ammunition will be used in alternate prescribed revolvers chambered in .38 special caliber which have an empty weight with standard factory handgrips of less than 21 ounces.

But:
Exceptions to this empty weight requirement are any approved revolver wherein manufacturer's specifications state that the revolver is compatible with high pressure +P cartridges. In such cases, +P ammunition may be used.

What pocket holster is that?

What pocket holster is that?[/quote]

It is the Muddy River Tactical Pocket Holster and I also have a Vedder Pocket Locker for my LCP Custom. I would choose the Muddy River over the Vedder due to the tension adjustability screws.

In .380, it’s all good.

I don't own a Bodyguard 2.0 but have owned the original Bodyguard since its introduction. It has performed flawlessly with every round fired through it. The only issue was that the original "Insight" laser failed, and S&W replaced it with a crimson trace model...at no charge.

As to ammo for carry I recommend Hornady Critical Defense. It has done well in every review I have seen and reached 11 3/4" penetration in TNOUTDOORS9 review, with good expansion. Hornady has been among the most reliable rounds I shoot - regardless to caliber.

As any self-defense use of this small gun is most likely to be at close range, I prefer JHP over FMJ, but that's a choice each must make individually.

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Stay protected my friends.

I've been using Hornady XTPs as carry ammo in .380s, and have for some time. They have run just fine in the BG2.0, a few, early stumbles notwithstanding.
Something to bear in mind with published data on any ammunition; what gun/barrel was used.
The XTPs do a measured 890'sec in my BG2.0.
Doubtful anything will turn the .380 into a death ray; simply carry what runs reliably, and has a decent rep.
Moon

My 2.0 loves Underwood Xtreme Penetraters and Xtreme Defenders; both +P. Runs like a sewing machine. 50 rounds each with zero failures. Also up to 600 rounds of ball ammo without any hiccups. I’ll pick up the redesigned RSA and sights when they become available.

Here’s my 2 cents worth – No one has mentioned Speer Lawman 380 Auto 95 gr TMJ #53608. It’s sold as a training round with a muzzle velocity of 950 fps (3.75 barrel length). They claim they’re made to more consistent standards and have a Total Metal Jacket encapsulating the entire lead core.

I ran across an article saying it was a LAPD authorized duty ammunition for whatever that’s worth.

I do know that it runs great in my Bodyguard 2.0 – no issues what so ever and it's reasonably priced.

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In my BG2 so far I've shot Magtech FMJ, PCM Bronze FMJ, Sig V-Crown JHP, Hornady Critical Defense FTX, Hornady Custom XTP, Hornady FTX, Federal HST Personal Defense JHP, and Winchester PDX1 JHP, with ZERO failures.

I have not tried my Winchester 95 gr FMJ Flat Nose.

I’m using critical defense and gold dots in mine. It’s for close and personal defense gun, I’m comfortable with my choice .