Ruger ARX .45 for the Shield 45

[micocyco]

Today I took the Bersa Thunder .380 out to do some testing with the Ruger ARX ammo. I wanted to see how it would do if shot into similar situation to a human torso. I used a piece of flexible rubber scrap that we use to cover tank tops and seal them. it is 1.78mm or about 0.070" think, and pretty resilient. I used it to replace skin. Then I used some Beef Ribs that I bought that are to be used as dog treats, individually wrapped in plastic, that would represent a human's rib. However, anyone familiar with biology structure will know that a cow rib is thicker and larger than a human's rib. So I figured it was the extreme test of rib penetration. Behind it 1 gallon water jugs.

I shot through the rubber, through the rib, and through the 1st jug, which had a large rupture, and into the 2nd jug that almost, but not quite went through the 2nd jug. It hit the other side and caused a crack but the bullet was still in the 2nd jug. This shows me that a torso shot on a human would penetrate skin and bone and also deliver enough energy to drive deep enough to hit the heart, and probably lodge in the back without exiting. This is the lowest of the self defense pistols I have, and wanted to see how it would work. Obviously 9mm and .45 ACP would complete the job in spades.

My wife, who cannot handle very much recoil due to pain and arthritis issues, can shoot this .380 Bersa Thunder, and loves it now that is less recoil. Would it stop a "Bad Guy"? Depends. Most people (90 %) run away at the mere showing of a firearm. If struck, there is the psychological element , "I'm shot!" and then there is the fact that this round should put enough pain and injury to cause panic and flight. Multiple shots might be needed, but multiple shots might be needed on any aggressor regardless of the caliber or bullet, EVEN HST or Ranter T. In other words, THERE IS NO ABSOLUTE guarantee any pistol will kill an intruder.

Below are pictures showing the rubber piece 1.78mm, the rib which is around .257" where the bullet entered, and shows entry and exit. And the pic of the water jug of the bullet entering immediately after the rib, and then the final bullet.

The beef rib bone before shooting, covered in plastic.


The rubber "imitation" skin...



Bullet enters the rib this side:



Bullet exits the rib:



Ruger 380 ARX enters water jug after just exiting rib.



Ruger .380 ARX bullet after rubber, rib, 2 gallon jugs of water:

Thanks for all your post
I think most of us don't a place where we could do our own test, muchless the expendable funds to do it.
I to have a Bersa Thunder 380 mine is the CC model I currently have HST in it but I am going to look for some ARX if nothing else just to compare the recoil.

 

[Aksarben]

Thanks for all your post
I think most of us don't a place where we could do our own test, muchless the expendable funds to do it.
I to have a Bersa Thunder 380 mine is the CC model I currently have HST in it but I am going to look for some ARX if nothing else just to compare the recoil.

You'll be surprised! I told my wife, to her happy surprise, that the recoil reminds me of shooting a .22 LR. For those that are limited, one way or another, to shooting pistols because of health issues, this will be a boon. I have to doubt, and I'm betting my life on it (as it is now the carry ammo of the 9mm and S&W Shield 45) that it will stop an attack.

Bullets are one design purpose, and that is to halt an attack. If you have good shot placement, calibers don't matter as much. What matters is, 1. it reliably feeds and functions (enough energy to work the slide, eject, etc) 2. That it stops the threat. That's all you need. This ammo, by it's very design, is cloth-barrier blind, so no matter what clothing they are wearing it doesn't matter, and after it punches through their rib it's going to continue on, without exiting. If the .380 can puncture a larger cow rib, it won't have difficulty with a human rib. If it can go though 2 gallons of water jugs, it will make it deep inside and likely not exit.

Hollow points "have" to expand just to slow them down since they are heavy bullets. Or else, no expansion, it's onward and on through and through.

The 9mm +P (either the 80 grain, earlier design, or the 65 grain) and .45ACP are certainly more capable than the lowly .380, so I figure, give it (the ARX) the least of the calibers to see what it can do. Sort of make the .380 more of a pocket gun choice now, doesn't it.

 

[micocyco]

You'll be surprised! I told my wife, to her happy surprise, that the recoil reminds me of shooting a .22 LR. For those that are limited, one way or another, to shooting pistols because of health issues, this will be a boon. I have to doubt, and I'm betting my life on it (as it is now the carry ammo of the 9mm and S&W Shield 45) that it will stop an attack.

Bullets are one design purpose, and that is to halt an attack. If you have good shot placement, calibers don't matter as much. What matters is, 1. it reliably feeds and functions (enough energy to work the slide, eject, etc) 2. That it stops the threat. That's all you need. This ammo, by it's very design, is cloth-barrier blind, so no matter what clothing they are wearing it doesn't matter, and after it punches through their rib it's going to continue on, without exiting. If the .380 can puncture a larger cow rib, it won't have difficulty with a human rib. If it can go though 2 gallons of water jugs, it will make it deep inside and likely not exit.

Hollow points "have" to expand just to slow them down since they are heavy bullets. Or else, no expansion, it's onward and on through and through.

The 9mm +P (either the 80 grain, earlier design, or the 65 grain) and .45ACP are certainly more capable than the lowly .380, so I figure, give it (the ARX) the least of the calibers to see what it can do. Sort of make the .380 more of a pocket gun choice now, doesn't it.

Recoil as a rule does not cause me a problem, I have had surgery on my shooting hand but it only pains me after long range shooting trips, I mostly carry 380 in the Bersa ( not a pocket pistol to me ) IWB or LCP II pocket & IWB. I do have a 1911 45 ACP, M&P 9c, SD9ve & SN 38 sp. What you said about shot placement I find to be true no matter what I shoot, no matter how much you are affected by recoil it does have some affect & the less the recoil to sooner you can place another shot back on target.

 

[bigbob76]

I believe there is a lot of good information here, thank you very much. I would like to buy enough of the ARX ammo to shoot and convince myself that it is reliable in both my Shield 9 and 45.