.380 ACP--- Alternating FMJ and JHP for CCW self-defense purposes

use of FMJs or "ball" ammunition for defense-carry pistols...

I agree with part of the last forum post, but I'd still suggest using ball or FMJ rounds in a .380acp IF that feeds or cycles 100%.
A gunfight or lethal force event is not the time to have a .380acp malfunction due to ammunition.
Ball type rounds may over-penetrate but I'd take that risk over having a semi auto pistol jam up.
I read a NRA article about popular pocket size(carry type) .380acp pistols about 2 years ago. The article T&Eed a few well known brands(Ruger, Kel-Tec, Kahr).
Many .380acp pistols had problems with JHP rounds & none really seemed very reliable IMO.

If you need to go to a second or third pistol magazine in a lethal force event, ball-FMJ ammunition may keep you in the fight.

CF
 
I read a NRA article about popular pocket size(carry type) .380acp pistols about 2 years ago. The article T&Eed a few well known brands(Ruger, Kel-Tec, Kahr).
Many .380acp pistols had problems with JHP rounds & none really seemed very reliable IMO.
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Not seeing the article I don't know what rounds were tested, or if the guns used were well proven to function correctly with any ammo. I can only speak of my personal experience with a Ruger LCP. Over 100 rounds of Hornady Critical Defense without any failures. I also have shot about 60 rounds of Speer Gold Dot without problem. where my testing of Winchester PDX1 in 380ACP has been limited to only about 40 rounds it has also proven to be 100% reliable in my Elsie Pea. As was also experienced with 25 rounds of Remington Golden Saber.
In fact, every make, type, or design of 380ACP ammo tried have worked perfectly in this gun.
I have no connection with Hornady, and in fact only use the CD in my 380. I do believe it is the very best round in that caliber. Combining some expansion, and stretch cavity producing ballistics along with better penetration, and 100% reliability.
 
The problem with FMJ is it is cheap ammo, and cheap ammo sucks for SD. If I could find premium FMJ, I would probably run it exclusively. All the WWB and other cheap brands are marginal in performance, and the last thing I would worry about is over penetration. If you can find some S&B hardball, you probably have something. Lawman can be good. Too much of the other stuff is loaded down to just cycling the action. I trust my reloads more than any of that stuff to get the job done when performance counts.
 
Here in Ohio, neither an assailant who gets shot nor his mutant relatives can collect any damages if it's a good shoot. If you shoot through your assailant and hit somebody else, they or their survivors can sue you all day long.

I've never carried FMJs from the day I got my Ohio CHL and never will.
 
Federal Red Box .380acp FMJs are stout. In the olden days you used to be able to buy .380, (9X17) euro FMJs that were great. I'd stay away from any economical .380 now days unless you could shoot a 'lot' or 'batch' sample. Then be ready to buy the entire case if any good. For .380 SD work...it would be hard to beat Golden Sabre or Critical Defense.

The best cure for .380 over-penetration is to hit you target, center mass if you please.
 
Has the American Rifleman September 2012 article: Handgun Stopping Power altered anyone's position on SD use of any or all the 13 tested .380 ACP SD cartridges, i.e. Buffalo Bore, Federal, Hornady, Remington, Speer and Winchester? Cylinder & Slide recently completed custom work on my S&W 2011 manufacture Walther PPK/S .380 ACP so I need to identify dependable and accurate FMJ and/or JHP cartridges. Prior to the article I had narrowed the cartridge field to BB 100gr Hardcast +P and Hornady 90gr Critical Defense both of which I remain inclined to use for SD.
 
I carry Corbon DPX in my Bersa ,and all my other 380's I also use it in 45acp

I would never mix loads in any of my SD pistols.
 
Hollowpoint or full patch (hardball), either one is fine, but both depend upon proper shot placement. Head, heart or spine and a .22 LR is lethal. Shot placement. Practice. Wild Bill used a .36 cap and ball Colt.
 
Shurshot hit the nail on the head. What`s most accurate and allows for the quickest follow up shots in your particular pistol? Especially with a .380 WHERE you hit is MUCH more important than which round you use! Is there a particular ammo while they're shooting it it's obvious that they could effortlessly empty the entire mag into the x ring? That should be the goal.
 
No reputable trainer recommends alternating rounds. It's an old debate that sounds fun on the Internet.
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Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding...we have a winner.

Using alternating rounds shows a lack of faith in the caliber. If you do not have faith in the caliber, why carry it at all?

This is only an issue in "marginal" rounds such as .32, .380 and (occasionally) 9x18.

Yes, I do own a .380 (LCP). I carry it a few days each year, and it is loaded with DPX. I should probably just sell it, and avoid the temptation of carrying it those few days. My PM9 is only a bit larger, and I shoot it better. Again, I only carry the PM9 a few days per year...

YMMV.
 
IMHO I wouldn't worry one way or the other, but I do like the every other concept.

My HD SD gun (CZ75B) has 6-7 9mm GDHP 124g +Ps fallowed by 7-8 Fiocchi 115g +P+ FMJ NATO cross circles, so I believe in mix and match.
 
I have never tried the buffalo bore +P loads in 380 but I have used the standard pressure ones. They are still hot but should not damage the gun.
 
Quin: Yes, it does.....esp. in Taurus Judge discussions where shotshells & .45C rounds apply. But revolver function doesn't rely on ammo type as much as autopistol function does.

IMHO, if you don't trust HP ammo to do the job, don't use it in the first place.....same for FMJ loads.....
 
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