380ACP, Whats a good SD load?

J

JoeSixpack

New member
So I know this gets debated from time to time, I seen a fairly long thread but it was about 6 years ago.

So here's the thing, Baring some unforeseen problem I'll be picking up a little .380 sometime within the next week.

I've resisted pocket guns in general for a long time. When I finally did buy one it was a 9mm (my preferred caliber), But the .380's are smaller and lighter still.

I really did not want a .380 cause it's another caliber to stock, But I came across a deal I really could not pass up and so now I have to consider what Im gonna feed it once it arrives.

So there are 2 main lines of thinking.. FMJ for improved feeding + penetration
JHP's for expansion and greater wounding capability.

The problem is a pocket .380 has trouble generating the energy needed to get the best of both worlds that it's big brother can produce.

I've been looking at some gel tests and there are some really fine expanding JHP's in .380.. The problem is almost all of them come in the neighborhood of about 8 or 9 inches of penetration, that's not so good.

FMJ's have enough penetration and then some, But produce a much smaller wound channel.

So Im curious what is everyone have in their pocket 380's and whats the thoughts on FMJ vs JHP?

Im currently leaning towards FMJ, I haven't seen a lot of middle ground loads.
 
The only SD load I could ever make work in both my Pico and my girlfriend's LCP was Hornady's 90 grain Critical Defense. It functioned flawlessly. I don't know how wel it performs in gel but from the videos I've seen I think it could hold it's own.
 
Best defense rounds as tested in P3AT and later the LCP have been:

Any XTP load,
Critical Defense,
Corbon DPX (stand BEST since the beginning of the P3AT years ago),
Gold Dot,
Lehigh Defense Xtreme Penetrators,
-though not the best-the Federal with a post in the middle (hydra shok?)

I moved away from Gold Dots and into Xtrema Fiocchi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNtPHYwcDts

I also have the Underwood Lehigh Defense XP after watching this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PDQcE-1T40
 
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All those blowback pistols were designed primarily for concealment, not power. While the .380 is the best of the lot, it is a small round intended for use in pocket pistols. Even under the best conditions (and gunzine hype) NO .380 will give the penetration and expansion that a larger caliber will produce.

An expanding bullet sort of compensates for the lack of power, but without the power, the expanding bullet doesn't expand much beyond basic bullet diameter. My vote with those marginal calibers is for the FMJ, which will give the best penetration, and forget the photos showing some magic bullets that expand to twice the basic diameter. Plus the FMJ is a lot more likely to feed properly; if one must use a small pistol (and yes, I have), it must absolutely work, every time. Dying with a puzzled look on your face is no fun at all.

Jim
 
Carmady said:
This man was impressed with Hornady Critical Defense for .380.

The whole video is very good, but he sums it up around 9:15.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBnXnXe87f0
Click to expand...
Ya he has some great practical videos.
Here's another one where he tests 9mm/380 FMJ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX3gpJ-GAy0

I gotta say Its making me really rethink using FMJ's in a .380 but it seems like so few JHP's can penetrate in .380.

After looking at the lucky gunner tests I can see why the Hornady critical defense seems so popular, It looks like it might be a good all around load.
 
The sectional density of a 95 grain .355" bullet is a miserable .108.

That's the same as a .45 acp that weighs ~ 150 grains.

The last thing I'd want either to do is have an increased frontal area.

FMJ all the way for me.

Now, get the weight of the bullet up to 124/125 grains & its a different story - - but - - you're no longer talking about a .380 acp at that point.
You're either talking about a .357 mag, .38 spl or 9X19.
 
I would look at the new HST, there is a new youtube video that shows it.

Not a personal fan of 380 though... too many choices in small 9mm that are significanltly higher in performance
 
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Having owned nearly every single modern "small" 380 and 9mm except the Kimber Solo (can't tell if these are still made) and the now discontinued R9 (and now Remington RM380) and Micro Eagle/KEVIN 380, I can tell you no "pocket" 9mm fits as a true pocket gun for me due to weight and/or size except the DB9 and it has questionable reliability. All "fit" in a pocket, none work in the pocket for daily carry at work or play.

That's the appeal of the pocket 380. My LCP is in my pocket and I can at times forget about it.

(having owned: P3AT, LCP, DB9, DB380, CM9, PM9, PM40, CW380, PF-9, PPS, Shield, LC9, LC9s Pro, P938, P238, PPK (not -s), P232, and the P290RS)
 
When I use FMJ in my LCP it's Remington express, BDA is Buffalo Bore +p HC or FMJ. I do carry jhp in the summer but haven't settled on anything specific.


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