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Posted: 1/25/2015 12:48:54 AM EDT
[#1]
Speer Gold Dots or FMJ
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Posted: 1/25/2015 12:51:09 AM EDT
[#2]
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As you wish. You have probably vetted your gun and the ammo it prefers. For others to simply dismiss .380 as not expanding or lacking sufficient penetration, the tests he did are informative. If you are a .45.>9 guy, this is all moot anyway. 
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FMJ in a .380, better penetration and .380 HP doesn't expand much anyway. Correct answer. You didn't watch shootingthebull's videos either I see. He strikes me as "odd" A lot of 32 and 380s have issues with HPs. I'll stick with hot FMJs. As you wish. You have probably vetted your gun and the ammo it prefers. For others to simply dismiss .380 as not expanding or lacking sufficient penetration, the tests he did are informative. If you are a .45.>9 guy, this is all moot anyway.
I'm a 45>9 guy but I'm also a 32 or 380 > pointy stick guy. I carry either a P32 KelTec or a P3AT about 50% of the time, a glock in 40 short and weak about 40%(got in trade, decided to give it a try, 20 days into a 3 month trial), and a NAA 22 the rest of the time. |
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Posted: 1/25/2015 12:59:40 AM EDT
[#3]
Unless things have changed over the years you can load better 380 ammo
than you can buy. The European stuff is generally loaded hotter than what is loaded domestically too. I am still shooting 380's I loaded 25 years ago..
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Posted: 1/25/2015 1:14:41 AM EDT
[#4]
Interesting. I didn't know that ball ammo was better to run. I have some Hornady critical defense rounds for the wife's 380. I'll have to swap them out for some fmj.
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Posted: 1/25/2015 1:21:45 AM EDT
[#5]
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I use Corbon 80 grain DPX in my Ruger LCP and SIG P232. yup |
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Posted: 1/25/2015 1:28:22 AM EDT
[#6]
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There is a great test video on YouTube. Look for it. They tested a lot of common brands that you would think would be good. It was surprising to see Speer and Federal fall short and Hornady was dogshit. The only brand that got consistent 12"+ penetration was some brand I was unfamiliar with. It was even better than Buffalo Bore which was my first choice. Seriously, do some research. .380 isn't the anemic caliber in HP it once was if you go with the right brand. ?  http://youtu.be/GNtPHYwcDts
Not bad. I have a PPK/s I'll probably carry once in a while, and will probably look at either the Armscor or Browning mini-1911 in .380 this year. As the video says, pretty much anything in the XTP and the Federal Hydrashok are likely GTG. The mini-1911s should have a full 4" barrel, which will help with velocity. |
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Posted: 1/25/2015 1:30:59 AM EDT
[#7]
I have been using Hyrdashocks for years, good to see that my choice was one of the top finishers.
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Posted: 1/25/2015 1:33:34 AM EDT
[#8]
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Precision One XTP |
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Posted: 1/25/2015 1:45:34 AM EDT
[#9]
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FMJ in a .380, better penetration and .380 HP doesn't expand much anyway. Gold Dots. 
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Posted: 1/25/2015 1:51:00 AM EDT
[#10]
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I know that 9mm is better. I have plenty of 9mm pistols. This gun is for pocket carry. I bought a M&P Bodyguard last week on an impulse. What carry ammo should I buy? This looks pretty nice. BUFFALO-BARNES LEAD-FREE 380 Auto +P Ammo - 80 gr. Barnes TAC-XP That's my exact carry ammo for a .380. They run those bullets HOT, and the JHP in that same round fragment on impact with water. All copper is the only choice. |
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Posted: 1/25/2015 1:51:34 AM EDT
[#11]
Lehigh defense maximum penetration. Nothing close IMO.
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Posted: 1/25/2015 2:14:30 AM EDT
[#12]
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Ball In the form of LRN! |
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Posted: 1/25/2015 4:16:32 AM EDT
[#13]
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Lehigh defense maximum penetration. Nothing close IMO. This is the correct answer. Plenty of youtube videos with 380 tests. FMJ does not do well nor do some of the main "name" brands. |
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Posted: 1/25/2015 5:23:00 AM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Interesting. I didn't know that ball ammo was better to run. I have some Hornady critical defense rounds for the wife's 380. I'll have to swap them out for some fmj. |
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Posted: 1/25/2015 8:10:28 AM EDT
[#15]
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This, plus better feeding in pocket guns. Quote HistoryQuoted:
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FMJ in a .380, better penetration and .380 HP doesn't expand much anyway. This, plus better feeding in pocket guns. |
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Posted: 1/25/2015 8:14:21 AM EDT
[#16]
Another vote for Speer Gold Dots -- does pretty good in the FBI standards tests, fairly easy to find, loads consistently in my G42 (amazingly.... one of the only rounds that does!).
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Posted: 1/25/2015 8:52:19 AM EDT
[#17]
Federal Hydrashoks run reliably in my wifes G42 and are one of the top performers in .380acp
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Posted: 1/25/2015 12:12:03 PM EDT
[#18]
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In true arfcom fashion, get both- a good hp and stagger it with high quality ball in the mag. I was waiting to see how long it would take for someone to suggest a "candy cane." 
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Posted: 1/25/2015 12:20:23 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Federal Hydrashoks run reliably in my wifes G42 and are one of the top performers in .380acp |
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Posted: 1/25/2015 12:20:28 PM EDT
[#20]
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I was waiting to see how long it would take for someone to suggest a "candy cane." Quote HistoryQuoted:
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In true arfcom fashion, get both- a good hp and stagger it with high quality ball in the mag. I was waiting to see how long it would take for someone to suggest a "candy cane." A lot of people load a JHP in the chamber of a .32 acp handgun then load the mag with FMJ for reliability due to the potential for rim lock. Some persons do this with 380 too. I have encountered several handguns which won't run reliably with some HPs or truncated cone bullets. In these guns, it's a good idea to run round nose FMJ. A jammed pocket pistol usually isn't long enough to be a reliable club and too light to be a decent rock. Edit ipad autoincorrect drives me friggin nuts. |
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Posted: 1/25/2015 1:09:05 PM EDT
[#21]
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A lot of people load a JHP in the chamber of a .32 acp handgun then load the mag with FMJ for reliability due to the potential for rim lock. Some persons do this with 380 too. I have encountered several handguns which won't run reliably with some HPs or truncated cone bullets. In these guns, it's a good idea to run round nose FMJ. A jammed pocket pistol usually isn't long enough to be a reliable club and too light to be a decent rock. Edit ipad autoincorrect drives me friggin nuts. Quote HistoryQuoted:
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In true arfcom fashion, get both- a good hp and stagger it with high quality ball in the mag. I was waiting to see how long it would take for someone to suggest a "candy cane." A lot of people load a JHP in the chamber of a .32 acp handgun then load the mag with FMJ for reliability due to the potential for rim lock. Some persons do this with 380 too. I have encountered several handguns which won't run reliably with some HPs or truncated cone bullets. In these guns, it's a good idea to run round nose FMJ. A jammed pocket pistol usually isn't long enough to be a reliable club and too light to be a decent rock. Edit ipad autoincorrect drives me friggin nuts. I sometimes use a JHP in the chamber of a .380, and FMJ behind it in the mag stack. |
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