A +P .380 question

I had a LCP, and used the BB 100 gr +P in it. I found it was pretty snappy in an already snappy gun, but with a Wolff recoil spring shooters pack I got to a sweet spot that allowed the use of standard pressure for practice while allowing the use of the BB with slightly better results. IIRC, the spring was changed from a 9# stock to an 11#, and it functioned without fail with any ammo I tried.

But, like the man said, if you want more, getting a bigger gun is a more reliable way there. I walked into a deal on a SIG 938 that was to low to pass up, and while it isn't the pocket rocket the LCP is, it is a much better shooting gun. It even has real sights, which at my age I appreciate alot!
 
Went to the Buffalo Bore site and WOW:eek: pretty pricey if you ask me.
Think I'll just stick to the cheap stuff and just shoot twice.

Keep an eye on Freedom Munitions for a free shipping sale. Their 90 GR. XTP has the same specs as Hornady Custom for $15 / box of 50. Loaded with the same bullet. Cheap enough to practice with your carry ammo.
 
As I recall from the final results of the Shooting the Bull .380 tests the BB didn't even make the top group. He found almost any XTP round did a better job. I just re-watched the test and the reason he failed the BB round is it penetrated 45" in ballistic gel. Why would you want a SD round that over penetrates to that extent?

Shooting The Bull never tested the BB .380+p

During the test he specifically avoided +p ammo, for the same reason mentioned in this thread. No SAMMI specs.
Here's the link, +p is addressed in the comments at bottom of page.
And just for the record, the Buffalo Bore .380 standard pressure round penetrated 25 inches in bare gelatin, not 45 inches. .45 acp ball ammo doesn't even come close to 45 inches of gel penetration.

Final Results of the .380 ACP Ammo Quest | Shooting The Bull
 
Last edited:
Shooting The Bull never tested the BB .380+p

During the test he specifically avoided +p ammo, for the same reason mentioned in this thread. No SAMMI specs.
Here's the link, +p is addressed in the comments at bottom of page.
And just for the record, the Buffalo Bore .380 standard pressure round penetrated 25 inches in bare gelatin, not 45 inches. .45 acp ball ammo doesn't even come close to 45 inches of gel penetration.

Final Results of the .380 ACP Ammo Quest | Shooting The Bull

Look again, he did test it. He fired it out of a 9mm because he didn't trust it. It penetrated 45 inches. Here's the link: [ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgOa25NhFio[/ame]
 
Last edited:
Florida J, that's a very entertaining video. Tim Sundles took the time to write his reasoning for the round on his website (https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=127), which I will quote here:

The 380 auto inhabits a valuable and useful place in our society, mostly because of the easily concealable, tiny pistols chambered for it. HOWEVER, because of the very limited size of the cartridge, it is plagued with limited power and therefore most of the existing ammo in 380 auto suffers from not being reliable as a man-stopper. We've studied and played with nearly all of the existing available 380 ammo and find it wanting as a reliable means of self defense, especially against a large, insane, drugged up/pain free, determined attacker.

Here's the problem:

The current 380 auto frangible ammo delivers a large amount of surface trauma, but lacks serious penetration. For example, if you shot me or another sane man in the face with modern frangible 380 ammo, it would blow off a big portion of my cheek and send a few teeth down my throat, I would undoubtedly fall to the ground in shock and pain, but I would be very much alive and functional if I could get past the shock and pain as that frangible bullet would have stopped some where inside my face, never making it to my brain. However, if you shot a drugged up maniac in the face with that same frangible 380 ammo and blew half his cheek off, he would keep right on coming because he is insane and is not thinking like you or I. Plus, he is likely pain free and fear free and wont know that half his cheek is missing and if he did know, he would not care. So whatever 380 ammo you shoot him in the face with, had better go through his face and blow his brain stem out the back of his head, because only a CNS (central nervous system) hit with a 380 is going to stop him. Likewise, a torso hit to the sternum needs to penetrate deep enough to blow all the way through his spine in order to shut him down spontaneously. If you fail to shut him down instantly, you and your loved ones are going to have to find a way to survive while you wait for him to bleed out and pass out. The best chance of survival for you and your family is to shut down the attacker instantly. So, we've designed a few 380 auto +P loads to keep you and your loved ones alive under the worst of scenarios.


So, when I carried the .380 LCP, I opted for a round that would get through a big persons clothes, bones, and whatever else to get to the vitals. I found Sundle's reasoning on the failure potential of expanding ammo to be persuasive. YMMV, of course.
 
I saw that and I understand his reasoning but I think 45" of penetration is a little overkill. I carry a .380 and don't feel under-gunned with modern XTP rounds. If I did, I think I would find a way to carry something bigger rather than taking a chance on a "hot rod" round like the .380 +P. I would also like to know what the chamber pressure is with this round. It seems to me that short of magic, the only way to get that much out of a .380 is to raise the chamber pressure. It's an interesting conversation that reminds us that a handgun is always a compromise.
 
Florida J Frame, I stand corrected. I was going by my bookmarked link to the website, I didn't realize he went back and tried the BB +p .380 in a 9mm handgun. Interesting for sure.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top