Reviving a question: 380 FMJ or 380 JHP?

[Muddyboot]

Many years ago a bunch of my LEO buddies that carried 380's carried what was called then a "Mixed Salad", ie alternating HP and Ball rounds.

Also, as some of the pistols back then would not reliably feed HP bullets, they would carry a HP in the barrel and ball in the magazine.

I have also seen some 380's that would not feed a HP if it was the last round or two in the magazine.

Those guys wouyold csarry 3 or 4 HP's "on top" with ball rounds as the last 2 or 3 rounds in the Mag.

That's how I carry in my Ruger LCP, I start with a HP and next is a FMJ and so on with alternating HP and Ball rounds.

 

[Tycer]

Did a couple of penetration tests on the shoulder and chest of my little whitetail harvest with my P3AT and Winchester white box from ten feet. Complete pass through one rib and the heart on a broadside and 6" penetration depth through the shoulder joint into the heart. The wound channel through the heart was 5/8" broadside and 3/4" on the shoulder one with the shoulder bullet holding together completely with little obturation.

This is exactly what I'd hoped for and is why I carry the WW white box in the pocket gun. That and I can shoot boatloads of them without breaking the bank.

 

[Rob1109]

Hey All,

Not to beat a dead horse, but I'm wondering if there has been any further thought or evolution of thought on the question of which is the better option for the 380 defensive round -- FMJ or JHP -- and, of course, why you think so. Seems as if there have been a number of new tests conducted of the 380 round in the last year or so. I was curious if these new tests (or anything else for that matter) have changed anyone's opinion, anyone's rationale (if not their opinion), or both. In addition, S&W has the new BG380 on the market, so I'm sure that we have a number of new 380 owners on this forum, me included.


By the way, some of the new tests include an additional round of testing (August 2010) by "Ballistics by the Inch" and the "Completely Unscientific Ballistic Testing with the Ruger LCP .380ACP" done by Brian Orr. I would like to post links, but I'm not sure that I fully understand the forum rules about doing so.

I should mention that my wife carries the Speer Gold Dot JHP in her Kahr P380, while I carry the Speer Lawman TMJ, in part because I have tested only FMJ/TMJ ammo in my BG380. So, we are a "divided house" in this regard, and my opinion on the better choice is divided as well.

In my LCP the 1st three rounds are Speer Gold Dot and if that won't work the next 4 are Buffalo Bore Hard Cast Flat Points. I would like to carry +P's but, I've been warned off at too many places

 

[Goffman]

Did a couple of penetration tests on the shoulder and chest of my little whitetail harvest with my P3AT and Winchester white box from ten feet. Complete pass through one rib and the heart on a broadside and 6" penetration depth through the shoulder joint into the heart. The wound channel through the heart was 5/8" broadside and 3/4" on the shoulder one with the shoulder bullet holding together completely with little obturation.

This is exactly what I'd hoped for and is why I carry the WW white box in the pocket gun. That and I can shoot boatloads of them without breaking the bank.

This is a very informative report. Thanks, Tycer.

 

[BarbC]

I carry Corbon DPX.

I haven't actually had to shoot anybody with my KelTec P3AT (carrying a mix of Gold Dot and Golden Saber and Hornady XTP), but my brother-in-law actually shot a mugger with his KelTec P3AT with two rounds of Corbon DPX into his upper left chest and it took that big guy right down.

 

[Goffman]

Thanks for the report, Barb. It's encouraging to hear a report of a 380 stopping an attack successfully. One hears so many fables about the 380 round simply bouncing off an attacker, as if he's a super villain or something.

 

[Goffman]

One last question:

I read somewhere that Blazer Brass is the highest velocity, standard pressure FMJ round in short-barrel "real world" chronograph tests. We do know for certain that there is variation in velocity across the different brands of FMJ rounds (any of the various websites that list tests conducted by users confirms it), despite the fact that pretty much all major manufacturers list the same velocity for their FMJ rounds. Can anyone confirm the report that I read about Blazer Brass, or maybe just tell me where I read it (I should have bookmarked it when I found it)?

 

[alwslate]

In my old Beretta 1934 with it's 3 7/16" barrel Blazer Brass averages
930 fps, Remington UMC gives 957 fps, and Federal AE gives 928 fps.
Realize that all ammo will vary from lot to lot. Win flat point is under
900 fps.

 

[DWalt]

FMJ vs Expanding in .380

There's no definitive answer possible. A number of the so-called "Experts" seem to believe that FMJ is the best choice (not only in the .380 but also the .32 and .25) considering both its improved functional reliability and its greater penetration capability (though maybe not by a lot). It's probably too much to expect that bullet expansion with these lighter and slower-moving expanding bullets, if it occurs at all after passing through clothing, etc., will add any significant additional "Knock Down" capability vs. FMJ. Plus, if you ever HAVE to use one of the little guys, it will probably be at very close range where putting your shots into a BG's vital areas is easier than at a distance, and that's more important than a little bullet expansion.

In short, if one of the high-priced .380 loads makes you more confident in a dark alley, fine, go ahead and use it. Just don't expect miraculous performance.

Me? I use FMJ only. I carry a .25 ACP due to its minuscule size and ease of concealment. The only 100% functionally-reliable .25 round I have found after a lot of testing is the Blazer aluminum-cased FMJ. Of course, I'm not out prowling around in ghettos of large cities and other dangerous locations either, and always avoid going anyplace I shouldn't be, either armed or unarmed.