3 ccw rounds evaluated (.380 and .357)

[pps]

Tested a couple of .380 hollow points to see if some rounds might penetrate enough that I might consider moving away from FMJ for carry. The Buffalo Bore 80 grain Barnes MIGHT.

The Hornady Critical Defense will, most definitely, NOT be replacing fmj. At the very least, I'd like a defense round to, at least, be able to penetrate the full depth of a sternum.

The last round was to see the performance of the .357 Federal 140 grain Barnes bullet out of my 2" snub nose revolver. (I've tested before in rubber mulch, but never through bone)

The tests were done in ballistics gel, with bone embedded 1/2" into the gel for half the shots

.380 Buffalo Bore 80 gr Barnes versus Critical Defense, and Federal 140gr Barnes .357 - YouTube

 

[Martimus]

Interesting test!

Out of curiousity, were the test results repeatable?

The CD test was surprising but I'm wondering if it shattered consistently when hitting bone? A one-time failure might be more indicitive of an issue with the individual round as opposed to the product in general.

 

[pps]

Interesting test!

Out of curiousity, were the test results repeatable?

The CD test was surprising but I'm wondering if it shattered consistently when hitting bone? A one-time failure might be more indicitive of an issue with the individual round as opposed to the product in general.

Actually, I have seen another test of the CD round on youtube that did the same thing. In part, I did this to see if the shattered round was a fluke on the other test...I think the problem is probably more inherent in the caliber, rather than the design of the bullet.

By that, I mean that the bullet probably has to be so fragile to open at 380 velocities that hard targets tend to destroy it. I'm tempted to try this test in .40cal C.D., as my father has this cal for his ccw (he carries golden sabers, though). I really like the concept of the polymer tip to prevent clogging of the hollow point, and I'm hoping that Hornaty's larger caliber versions of this ammo hold up better against bone.

Looks like I'll have to get some more ballistics gel

 

[125JHP]

I just bought some Magtech 95gr Soft Points to try but I dunno if they offer that bullet in a factory load. I also got some 100gr FMJ to try. Although I don't have access to gel, my thinking is that the jacketed lead soft tip should act more like a FMJ for penetration yet expand more and not clog. The 100gr FMJ is just to give a little more umph than the 95. I clock both at 950 to 1000 fps out of my Bersa.

 

[pps]

I just bought some Magtech 95gr Soft Points to try but I dunno if they offer that bullet in a factory load. I also got some 100gr FMJ to try. Although I don't have access to gel, my thinking is that the jacketed lead soft tip should act more like a FMJ for penetration yet expand more and not clog. The 100gr FMJ is just to give a little more umph than the 95. I clock both at 950 to 1000 fps out of my Bersa.

I am still inclined to keep fmj (for me it's Winchester FMJ-flat points) stoked in my gun...BUT if I were forced to use a hollow point in this caliber I'd definitely go with the Buffalo Bore loading of the Barnes bullet, over the critical defense.

 

[Stu Honea]

Excellant testing,pps. Those who don't do their own testing don't realize the work that goes into proper tesing.
Much appreciated.

 

[kenjen]

the testing has good info,but there is something about shooting in the direction of moving vehicles and houses....i have a sister-in-law who was shot in the leg by someone doing the same thing, she is now lame for life... mistakes do happen. you should have a proper back stop...

 

[Martimus]

What I'd actually be curious about is whether the determined test results would be consistent through other brands of ammo. If we know that CD consistently shatters when hitting bone, what would Speer Gold Dots do in similar testing.

I have no means of doing similar testing so I typically follow testing like that performed by tnoutdoors9 on Youtube.