otis24
Member
Please recommend a reliable (feeding, ejection) .380 self-defense round for the Glock 42.
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Glock 42 self-defense ammo
- Thread starter otis24
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I dont carry a 380, however I would say a good qualify 380 FMJ round.
From the ballistic testing Ive done 380 out of short barrels doesnt usually expand super well, nor does it tend to over penetrate in FMJ form.
If you want a JHP round, hornady would be the one Id recommend and can generally be found pretty easily at any store.
From the ballistic testing Ive done 380 out of short barrels doesnt usually expand super well, nor does it tend to over penetrate in FMJ form.
If you want a JHP round, hornady would be the one Id recommend and can generally be found pretty easily at any store.
gmiller0737
Member
I have Hornady Critical Defense in My Glock 42 no issues when I shot @ the Range Have also used Federal Hydrashok no operational issues with that either
I would look at Lehigh Defense. Now owned by Wilson Combat.
Not a hollow point. See their videos on YouTube.
Not a hollow point. See their videos on YouTube.
If you check also Underwood Ammo, they offer the excellent Lehigh Defense Xtreme Penetrator .380 in standard and +P loadings. This ammo is pretty good at bridging the .380 ACP “gap” between acceptable penetration and terminal performance.
Be careful though. Many 380 caliber pistol’s are not rated for +P ammo.
It’s like having a V8 in a go cart.
It’s like having a V8 in a go cart.
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Would try the above mentioned rounds in 'your' Glock 42 for 100% function and accuracy.
A few years ago, a website called Shooting the Bull performed some extensive tests of .380 self-defense ammo. The better performers, such as Precision One, HPR, and Fiocchi, all used XTP bullets, and all came close to 9mm ammo for penetration and expansion in gel. Here is the link to the results:
Final Results of the .380 ACP Ammo Quest | Shooting The Bull
Final Results of the .380 ACP Ammo Quest | Shooting The Bull
As noted by many above, the .380 is right at the gray area between penetration and expansion. My personal preference is to go for the for-sure penetration rather than the maybe-expansion. It is, however, a personal decision and you should make it for your own reasons. that is of course assuming your Glock is fully reliable with whatever you pick, which it very likely will be.
hyena
Member
After seeing test results for Federal Hydra Shock Deep I went with it in my Bodyguard. No problems with reliability. Excellent penetration AND expansion out of pocket size guns.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I agree. Your first consideration should be 100% reliability in an SD ammo. For the most part almost all the big name, and smaller name ammo makers too, produce good performing ammo.
I like Speer Gold Dot, Federal HST but especially the Fiocchi Defense Dynamics ammo.
I carry the Fiocchi Defense Dynamics .32 Auto ammo in my Kel-Tec P32 pistol. IMO very good stuff.
jframejoey
Member
102 grain Golden Saber.
.380
Glock 42 is usually what I carry. 90 grain non plus P Underwood xtreme
Penetrator is my go to round October to April. Probably put 200 rounds of the stuff thru my 42. Its hot, no reliability issues and the tests show you will get about 18 inches thru denim. In winter, I think that's the issue. In summer I usually switch to hornady 90 grain xtp and figure that 7 rounds of it into the bad guy real fast should be enough to get me out of trouble even if it expands and penetrates less.
Glock 42 is usually what I carry. 90 grain non plus P Underwood xtreme
Penetrator is my go to round October to April. Probably put 200 rounds of the stuff thru my 42. Its hot, no reliability issues and the tests show you will get about 18 inches thru denim. In winter, I think that's the issue. In summer I usually switch to hornady 90 grain xtp and figure that 7 rounds of it into the bad guy real fast should be enough to get me out of trouble even if it expands and penetrates less.
Pointblank2U
US Veteran
The Glock and Kahrs are all ok with +P. If you want to see extensive 380 testing look at Shootingthebull410 on YouTube.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WMMr5ANHlw&list=PLgNSGOEQko_Nx7Q-88jeEVd5JW9n791lA"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WMMr5ANHlw&list=PLgNSGOEQko_Nx7Q-88jeEVd5JW9n791lA[/ame]
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WMMr5ANHlw&list=PLgNSGOEQko_Nx7Q-88jeEVd5JW9n791lA"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WMMr5ANHlw&list=PLgNSGOEQko_Nx7Q-88jeEVd5JW9n791lA[/ame]
Pro Bodyguards that I've met and talked to, who work in the Tropics, said they like XTPs or similar bullet shapes.
IIRC they said expansion starts at about 850 fps.
Ruger LCPs were often carried.
N320 was also used as is Bullseye.
These conversations were about 10+ years ago.
We load 115gr XTPs with the Bullseye load from Lymans below, after proper load development in all pistols.
N320 as well.
Won't give any other data of how hot for the XTPs or anything posted below.... but accuracy is paramount.
Penn's 115gr and 120gr HC truncated leads as well as their 100gr HC leads. Penn called them PC (premium cast).
We also load Hornady's 115gr FMJ.
Mini-9s they be.
In almost four decades outfitting yachts for the rich and famous with marine electronics, at the end of a long work day, while having a beer, the conversations would be about fishing, recipies and protection at sea.
LCP
S&Walther PPKs
P238
G42
Sadly 45s and 460s don't fit in a Speedo at the beach.
Some people also don't fit in a Speedo.
IIRC they said expansion starts at about 850 fps.
Ruger LCPs were often carried.
N320 was also used as is Bullseye.
These conversations were about 10+ years ago.
We load 115gr XTPs with the Bullseye load from Lymans below, after proper load development in all pistols.
N320 as well.
Won't give any other data of how hot for the XTPs or anything posted below.... but accuracy is paramount.
Penn's 115gr and 120gr HC truncated leads as well as their 100gr HC leads. Penn called them PC (premium cast).
We also load Hornady's 115gr FMJ.
Mini-9s they be.
In almost four decades outfitting yachts for the rich and famous with marine electronics, at the end of a long work day, while having a beer, the conversations would be about fishing, recipies and protection at sea.
LCP
S&Walther PPKs
P238
G42
Sadly 45s and 460s don't fit in a Speedo at the beach.
Some people also don't fit in a Speedo.
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I don't carry a 380 but do own one, (a vintage Colt 1908 pocket Pistol Series M over 100 years old).
From everything I have personally chronographed, read and research I've done, the .380 round that will work the best for SD is the Federal American Eagle 95 grain FMJ. NO - it will not expand but it does have the highest velocity of all the ball ammo bullets on the market and will give the most reliable penetration. The hollow points in this caliber shot out of 3" bbl.s are just too slow to expand reliably and lack a lot in the penetration dept. While both are important, I'd much sooner have reliable penetration, than a tiny amount of expansion and inadequate penetration of only 6-7".
So this is one of the very few times I would recommend (Ball Ammo) specifically the 95 grain Federal American Eagle FMJ in a 3" bbl .380 acp.
From everything I have personally chronographed, read and research I've done, the .380 round that will work the best for SD is the Federal American Eagle 95 grain FMJ. NO - it will not expand but it does have the highest velocity of all the ball ammo bullets on the market and will give the most reliable penetration. The hollow points in this caliber shot out of 3" bbl.s are just too slow to expand reliably and lack a lot in the penetration dept. While both are important, I'd much sooner have reliable penetration, than a tiny amount of expansion and inadequate penetration of only 6-7".
So this is one of the very few times I would recommend (Ball Ammo) specifically the 95 grain Federal American Eagle FMJ in a 3" bbl .380 acp.
Doug M.
Member
Doctor Roberts recommends ball for adequate penetration. A quality ball round is likely as good as it gets. IIRC, there is ONE .380 JHP that LAPD authorizes for off-duty and BUG use, but I am not recalling what it is. I have seen good test results with the Fiocchi 95 grain JHP, but my general carry in .380 is Black Hills Honey Badger. In talking to Gary (Roberts) he had tested it, but expects it will penetrate like ball, and I think with the fluting it might do a bit more damage (a factor on which I am not relying). The reduced recoil was of value to me as it might be used by wife, and I carry after my heart surgery as an "Old Man" gun.
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I've bought the Precision One XTP and it shoots fine from my G42.
Since then, Precision One lists a higher pressure version they say works better in the Glock. I don't know what issue there was because I haven't seen it. it would be worth asking before buying.
Lucky Gunner Lab tested a variety of .380 in gel including Hornady FTX and XTP using a G42.
https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/#380ACP
Paul Harrell has a number of videos exploring the topic of .380 ammunition for personal defense. Although in this one he does not use a G42 (but RIA with similar barrel length), in others he does.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWmg0wB5xsA[/ame]
As he likes to say, in the end you have try some and decide what you think works best for you and your gun.
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Lucky Gunner hasn't tested any ammo with the solid copper monolithic bullets like the Underwood or Wilson Combat.
I'd advise the Xtreme Defender rather than the Xtreme Penetrator for personal carry unless you could be attacked by a four legged animal.
Norma also has a monolithic round (NXD) that isn't solid copper but a molded copper bullet which doesn't cost as much as the solid bullets.
Bill Wilson of Wilson Combat carries the monolithic ammo in his EDC and liked it so much he bought the bullet designer and producer. He also built a plant in Texas to produce the monolithic ammo.
If Bill can spend millions on this ammo production, I'm game to see if it performs as well in my EDC as my JHPs.
I'd advise the Xtreme Defender rather than the Xtreme Penetrator for personal carry unless you could be attacked by a four legged animal.
Norma also has a monolithic round (NXD) that isn't solid copper but a molded copper bullet which doesn't cost as much as the solid bullets.
Bill Wilson of Wilson Combat carries the monolithic ammo in his EDC and liked it so much he bought the bullet designer and producer. He also built a plant in Texas to produce the monolithic ammo.
If Bill can spend millions on this ammo production, I'm game to see if it performs as well in my EDC as my JHPs.
