As I've been reading through the posts on Hollow-Points for Home Defense, I'm learning that it seems to be universally understood that there isn't a good reason not to use HP over FMJ in a home defense scenario.
However, when it comes to the .380ACP caliber, I'm also hearing via forums that JHP rounds have very marginal penetration from the smaller calibers (smaller than 9mm). It seems that there is a large group of people saying that FMJ is better FOR THE .380 CALIBER, because of the penetration issue.
To set up my question, understand my situation. I live in a large inner-city older neighborhood with very small, aluminum-sided houses that literally have mabye 5 or 10 feet inbetween them. I worry about over-penetration with FMJ. I have nextdoor neigbors on both sides of me that have small children in the house. My bedroom is set up so that if I have to shoot at a BG breaking in from out my bedroom door, I'm pointing directly towards the neighbor's child's bedroom (about 20 yards from my bedroom doorway). I couldn't stand the thought of shooting in the dark at the BG who just woke me up, and the bullets flying through 2 thin walls and into the house next-door.
With the real lack of confidence floating around in the 380 JHP round, yet the fear of over-penetration with a potential missed shot, I'm caught between a rock and a hard place. What are the opinions of this forum?
However, when it comes to the .380ACP caliber, I'm also hearing via forums that JHP rounds have very marginal penetration from the smaller calibers (smaller than 9mm). It seems that there is a large group of people saying that FMJ is better FOR THE .380 CALIBER, because of the penetration issue.
To set up my question, understand my situation. I live in a large inner-city older neighborhood with very small, aluminum-sided houses that literally have mabye 5 or 10 feet inbetween them. I worry about over-penetration with FMJ. I have nextdoor neigbors on both sides of me that have small children in the house. My bedroom is set up so that if I have to shoot at a BG breaking in from out my bedroom door, I'm pointing directly towards the neighbor's child's bedroom (about 20 yards from my bedroom doorway). I couldn't stand the thought of shooting in the dark at the BG who just woke me up, and the bullets flying through 2 thin walls and into the house next-door.
With the real lack of confidence floating around in the 380 JHP round, yet the fear of over-penetration with a potential missed shot, I'm caught between a rock and a hard place. What are the opinions of this forum?