.380 ACP: Flat-Point FMJ vs JHP

[flagaman1950]

Sgt. Buzzard, your G42 gives feeding issues with HP, kind of surprised at that. Hornady HP ammo has been very good in mine. That said, I still only use RN as I prefer the penetration. Also, I can practice more as the ammo is less expensive. I'm retired and on fixed income so try to watch my spending.

Do you feel the Sig recoil is enough less that it has a positive effect on your accuracy or do you think ammo choice could be the factor, just curious.

 

[Rule3]

This is years old but he did one of the best reviews on ammo for short pistols

It really doesn't matter, shot placement is King
Back to the Popcorn

 

[Cphobes]

2) 90 gr Gold Dots and V Crowns are better choices for short barrel .380 ACPs.


That 11" is still "under penetration" but realistically in a face to face armed citizen self defense shoot, 10" or more penetration will be plenty. If you are shooting fleeing assailants or shooting assailants from odd angles, you're going to need a really good lawyer and he'll be focused on getting you a good plea bargain or reduced sentence

Lots of great info in that post, I'd only comment on two points.

It seems the GD and V Crowns don't perform as well as some XTP out of short barrels. At least from what I've found. Though GD performs well out of longer barrels. For me I've gong to XTP in the BG2.0 and use the GD in the 380EZ.

I agree short barrel 380's are not your precision and/or long range option. Self-Defenders generally aren't snipers.

Again great info, thanks for sharing.

 

[Cphobes]

This is years old but he did one of the best reviews on ammo for short pistols

It really doesn't matter, shot placement is King
Back to the Popcorn

Yes, and precision one XTP can be hand for $0.60/rd online, though I'd likely buy the +P flavor based on more recent testing with the BG2.0

 

[Imissedagain]

In over 3K of TFMJ or the Penns, in my earlier post, non have tumbled.
I shoot mostly at 20-25 yards indoors, offhand and SA.
2" groups are common, SA, with the Walthers.
Have not tried the Sig P238HD, with some experimental stocks, yet
Marked with blue dot.
Palm swell, thumb rest, 7 round mag, with pinky rest removed.
Feels good enough for F Class.
L-R, P238, P238HD, LCP and Walther.

Have not shot the Penn115gr, mini H&G 68s at distance yet.

 

[Phenix]

For the reasons you mentioned, I have only been using flat point ammo in .380 for a couple of years now.

The Flat Point FMJ seems to be the single best compromise.
I always have them in my Bodyguard 2.0, but sometimes when I load the magazines I make every other round a Jacketed Hollow Point.

 

[Imissedagain]

I was hoping that Sig would make a longer grip frame for the P238s.
Something like the Colt Plus II, for the HD models. The Legion model did not fit that wish.