Ranger98
US Veteran
My "Texas" LCP
Has about 500 rounds through it...no problems so far ..
Has about 500 rounds through it...no problems so far ..
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The .380
- Thread starter imjin138
- Start date
Mod10
US Veteran
I also bought a Ruger LCP last month. Is it true that hollow points don't expand with the velocities of a .380?
I was told only ball ammo is good for a .380 as hollow points wouldn't expand, and if they did, it would be too soon to allow adequate penetration.
I was told only ball ammo is good for a .380 as hollow points wouldn't expand, and if they did, it would be too soon to allow adequate penetration.
No it is not true. Todays modern JHP bullets will expand. There are lots of ballistic tests on the web which show this.
I have done the milk jug filled with water test (for whatever that's worth) and they do expand. I have shot Hornady CD, Gold Dots, and Rem Golden Sabers. The 380 is 2 mm smaller than a 9mm. With a little smaller bullet 90-102 it does just fine. The 380 has been used for many years in Europe as a Police, Military round.
I plan on testing the new Winchester PDX1 this week. I'll try to post a pic of it and some others.
Here is one of the better ones. It's on the web as a PDF for all to see so I do think it is a problem posting it here. It is the work of the individual who did the test and I do not claim any credit for it.
http://www.brassfetcher.com/380ACP ammunition performance in ballistic gelatin.pdf
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What he said.
I was working part time at a gun shop then. We couldn't keep anything 380 in stock. We had a mile long waiting list for Kel Tec's and LCP when they came out. Every gun shop in the area was the same. We also had to ration 380 ammo so we would have some available to those that bought 380 guns.
But it has slowed way down around here. 380 guns are sitting on shelves and ammo can be found if you know where to look.
Andy Griffith
Member
I'm just happy everyone is nuts about the .380, as now I can get .32 ACP brass and bullets for my Savage. 
Below is a link to a thread about .380 and penetration. I think Erich makes some very good points and I tend to agree with his findings.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/ammo/98508-380-load-calling-erich.html
Don
writerinmo
US Veteran
Looking over the Cabela's website, I see that they have .380 on sale right now, Sellier and Bellot, box of 50 for $13.99
Can you get hollowpoints for the Makarov?
Can you get hollowpoints for the Makarov?
That's what's so great about ballistic discussions. Kinda like Politics and Religion for every study there is a equal and opposite opinion or result.
I can show you a study of one stop, stopping power that shows a .380 has a higher percentage of one shot stops than a 38 spl. Most will say that's crazy, but none the less it is out there with statistics by published authors.
So who really knows??? My thought on it is that it really does not matter. You get hit with either/or and your gonna stop, unless of the BG is drug crazed 300 lb zombie.
My milk jug test(no it's not a body with bones) went through 4 jugs and expanded completely. At 5 feet I shot it through a 3/4 inch exterior plywood. That's thicker than my sternum.
That's what's so great about ballistic discussions. Kinda like Politics and Religion for every study there is a equal and opposite opinion or result.
I can show you a study of one stop, stopping power that shows a .380 has a higher percentage of one shot stops than a 38 spl. Most will say that's crazy, but none the less it is out there with statistics by published authors.
So who really knows??? My thought on it is that it really does not matter. You get hit with either/or and your gonna stop, unless of the BG is drug crazed 300 lb zombie.
My milk jug test(no it's not a body with bones) went through 4 jugs and expanded completely. At 5 feet I shot it through a 3/4 inch exterior plywood. That's thicker than my sternum.
No arguments from me
..... But when my safety is on the line, I simply feel better relying on real life accounts of when flesh and bone are part of the equation. It seems from those accounts that "hardball" is more reliable.Don
amd6547
Member
You can get JHP for the makarov.
However, in both the 380 and 9mm mak, I prefer hardball...Not for any reason of reliability, as my Browning 1910/55 handles JHP just fine, as does both my Polish P64 and CZ82 9mm mak's. For my use, I want the most penetration these calibers can give.
However, in both the 380 and 9mm mak, I prefer hardball...Not for any reason of reliability, as my Browning 1910/55 handles JHP just fine, as does both my Polish P64 and CZ82 9mm mak's. For my use, I want the most penetration these calibers can give.
No arguments from me
Don
Ah yes, there lies the dilemma That is one persons accounts of limited information. No disrespect meant. But what happens when a JHP does not expand? It acts like a hardball. My intent is not to kill but to stop. Either one will do so.
I have yet to find someone willing to hold my targets while shooting JHP.
Ah yes, there lies the dilemma That is one persons accounts of limited information. No disrespect meant. But what happens when a JHP does not expand? It acts like a hardball. My intent is not to kill but to stop. Either one will do so.
I have yet to find someone willing to hold my targets while shooting JHP.
Well, I certainly don't want to hold your targets
. But you make some good arguments...........I may regret not using JHP's if I'm ever attacked by sabre-toothed milkjugs!!
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Tested the Winchester PDX1 95 gr. 380 Ammo.
Yes they expand.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/ammo/1...-95-gr-personal-protection.html#post135576658
Yes they expand.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/ammo/1...-95-gr-personal-protection.html#post135576658
FMJ please
One thing no one has mentioned. (FMJ vs. JHP) My choice is FMJ for a very basic reason. Almost all my semi-autos are 'semi-antiques'. Designed in the days when there was no such thing as a JHP, and cannot be relied on to function with them.
One thing no one has mentioned. (FMJ vs. JHP) My choice is FMJ for a very basic reason. Almost all my semi-autos are 'semi-antiques'. Designed in the days when there was no such thing as a JHP, and cannot be relied on to function with them.
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HCD
Member
just posting the quote so you dont have to look back.
UPDATE: When I got home I went to my local shop and got some brake-in ammo, got Rem. FMJRN 15.95 box of 50. Shop had plenty of that stuff but little if any PP ammo. And by the by I got the Kel-Tec 215.00+tax new in the plastic box with plastic lock thingy. I did waste 6 rounds of the Win. PDX1 10 yards at steel plates and it shot fair with no malfunctions, the gun is a bit difficult to handle due to size but quite snappy with said ammo. Guess it'll have to do till the temps back off a bit.
On another note I see where some state the price is a rip off for some of the ammo, and would say this. After buying 410 shells for a lot of years and finding it always more expencive than 12 ga. I could never understand this. That is untill I started loading my own shot shells, I can load 3 boxes of 12 ga. in the time it takes me to load one box of 410. This may be some of the reason the little .380 is so expencive. Smaller things are more trouble.
armenius
US Veteran
A few rounds out of my Kel-Tec is painful for the fingers on my size 8 1/2 hand.Fair accuracy.My Walther is accurate with a terrible bite.The FEG has a slight beavertail and is quite accurate with no bite.The PPK styles are a bit heavy in the front pocket.One I haven't heard mentioned is the LLama which is a miniature 1911.It is light and very accurate and since I use a 1911 or Commander quite a bit I like it,however some folks might not like the mechanics of the 1911.
I love the 45 format and have had several Llamas. The new ones are blowback and give more recoil. There was an alloy frame model; I shot mine enough it began to peen where the breech of the barrel slammed into the frame during unlocking. Now I have one from circa 1956 that is almost new. It feels wonderful in my hand and is very reliable. Accurate for a 380, too.
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