what is the most bad @$$ .380 ammo?

Site Notices

2024's Favorite CCW? | PSA Micro Dagger

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - what is the most bad @$$ .380 ammo?

Posted: 1/26/2013 3:41:32 PM EDT

I gave up my search for a PPK and got a PPK/S with the beams coming my way. What the most bad ass defense ammo I can get for it.

Posted: 1/26/2013 3:42:58 PM EDT

[#1]

FMJ Double Tap

Posted: 1/26/2013 3:43:17 PM EDT

[#2]

Hornady critical defense or Powerball.

Posted: 1/26/2013 3:43:41 PM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:
FMJ Double Tap

penetration and not expansion?

Posted: 1/26/2013 3:43:46 PM EDT

[#4]

9x19mm

Posted: 1/26/2013 3:46:07 PM EDT

[#5]

I forget which one my P238 likes better, gotta go do some more testing - but the Winchester stuff seems to do well. I have some PDX1 left, I forget what the other was - been thinking about ordering some Ranger-T in 380, Winchester Ranger is my preferred 9mm ammo when I can find it.

Posted: 1/26/2013 3:46:29 PM EDT

[#6]

Posted: 1/26/2013 3:46:59 PM EDT

[#7]

9mm

Posted: 1/26/2013 3:47:15 PM EDT

[#8]

At .380 velocities I'll take reliability.

FMJ.

Posted: 1/26/2013 3:47:34 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
9x19mm

Dammit you beat me to it

Posted: 1/26/2013 3:48:07 PM EDT

[#10]

I carry buffalo bore hard cast +p in my mustang

Posted: 1/26/2013 3:48:47 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
9x19mm

Posted: 1/26/2013 3:50:08 PM EDT

[#12]

+1 hornaday crit. defense. Zombie ammo is what she has, same stuff different filling (green, not red) its reliable

Posted: 1/26/2013 3:50:15 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
At .380 velocities I'll take reliability.

FMJ.

As soon as it get here its being stripped and given a melt job. Ramps checked/ recut if needed to feed HP's.

Posted: 1/26/2013 3:50:32 PM EDT

[#14]

The wife feeds her Bersa Thunder CC 102 grain Golden Saber.

Posted: 1/26/2013 3:51:17 PM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
I gave up my search for a PPK and got a PPK/S with the beams coming my way. What the most bad ass defense ammo I can get for it.

I thought they couldn't import the PPK because it weighed too little so they added a bit to it and called it the PPK/S.

Posted: 1/26/2013 3:52:15 PM EDT

[#16]

it's called 9x18

Posted: 1/26/2013 3:52:28 PM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I gave up my search for a PPK and got a PPK/S with the beams coming my way. What the most bad ass defense ammo I can get for it.

I thought they couldn't import the PPK because it weighed too little so they added a bit to it and called it the PPK/S.

S&Walther is making the PPK state side so its cool now..

Posted: 1/26/2013 3:52:59 PM EDT

[#18]

i am convinced for weak round like 380, fmj is the way to go

Posted: 1/26/2013 3:53:00 PM EDT

[#19]

I buy Remington Golden Saber 102 grain for my wife's .380.
I generally go with the heavier bullets in smaller calibers; penetration seems better.
The Golden Sabers are 100% reliable in her sig, and dead-nuts accurate to boot.

Posted: 1/26/2013 3:54:00 PM EDT

[#20]

I'm sorry, but a .38Special is my absolute floor for carry.

Posted: 1/26/2013 3:55:08 PM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:
I'm sorry, but a .38Special is my absolute floor for carry.

me, too, with Remington 158 gr LSWCHP +P.

Posted: 1/26/2013 3:55:41 PM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:
I carry buffalo bore hard cast +p in my mustang

This is what performed best in the NRA test in American rifleman a few months ago

Posted: 1/26/2013 3:59:27 PM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:

Quoted:

At .380 velocities I'll take reliability.

FMJ.

As soon as it get here its being stripped and given a melt job. Ramps checked/ recut if needed to feed HP's.

from what i recall 380 HP's really never really mushroom so it seems to be better to go with slightly heavier FMJ's and go deeper

Posted: 1/26/2013 3:59:27 PM EDT

[#24]

Quoted:

Quoted:
FMJ Double Tap

penetration and not expansion?

W/ .390 it's hard to get enough of both. Penetration is the most critical IMO. I prefer the Winchester FMJ w/ the trunicated cone(flat nose). You could always load a couple of expanders on the top w/ the rest of the mag FMJ..

Posted: 1/26/2013 4:03:13 PM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:

Quoted:
At .380 velocities I'll take reliability.

FMJ.

As soon as it get here its being stripped and given a melt job. Ramps checked/ recut if needed to feed HP's.

from what i recall 380 HP's really never really mushroom so it seems to be better to go with slightly heavier FMJ's and go deeper

Not true I have some Speers that I fired into the "Bullet Test Tube" and they are expanded nicely. I will see if I can find them again, and post a pic.

Posted: 1/26/2013 4:03:22 PM EDT

[#26]

Posted: 1/26/2013 4:03:40 PM EDT

[#27]

S&B FMJ...the .380 won't give you both expansion and good penetration in the same round...go for deep penetration.

Posted: 1/26/2013 4:26:20 PM EDT

[#28]

Winchester PDX-1

This is the FBI's pick

Posted: 1/26/2013 4:28:35 PM EDT

[#29]

FMJ

Posted: 1/26/2013 4:32:42 PM EDT

[#30]

I shot a opossums face off with speer gold dots and another time had a one hit and die to the dome with the same. I used my LCP for both.

Posted: 1/26/2013 4:33:40 PM EDT

[#31]

I have federal hydra shok in mine.

Posted: 1/26/2013 4:34:02 PM EDT

[#32]

How about we confuse the matter even more with some pesky facts:

http://www.goldenloki.com/ammo/gel/380acp/gel380acp.htm

I quit carrying golden sabers and switched to gold dots based on this.

Posted: 1/26/2013 4:35:04 PM EDT

[#33]

Quoted:
I carry buffalo bore hard cast +p in my mustang

This. I carry it in my Mustang clone p238

Posted: 1/26/2013 4:42:13 PM EDT

[#34]

I used to load a lot for .380 many years ago and unless things
have changed you can load better than you can buy for it.
My P3AT goes everywhere with me... even when I pack my
Glock 27.
But I must ask why a PPKs when there are so many 9mm
guns out there in the same size package.

Posted: 1/26/2013 4:42:19 PM EDT

[#35]

FMJ

Posted: 1/26/2013 4:43:46 PM EDT

[#36]

.45 ACP

Posted: 1/26/2013 6:09:22 PM EDT

[#37]

Quoted:
I used to load a lot for .380 many years ago and unless things
have changed you can load better than you can buy for it.
My P3AT goes everywhere with me... even when I pack my
Glock 27.
But I must ask why a PPKs when there are so many 9mm
guns out there in the same size package.

ive wanted one for 30+ years. and finally had the extra scratch to get it..

Posted: 1/26/2013 6:10:33 PM EDT

[#38]

Quoted:
Hornady critical defense or Powerball.

Posted: 1/26/2013 6:13:03 PM EDT

[#39]

Quoted:
9x19mm

Posted: 1/26/2013 6:14:08 PM EDT

[#40]

Quoted:

Quoted:
9x19mm

I have one.. a very nice Russian Mak..

Posted: 1/26/2013 6:14:30 PM EDT

[#41]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Hornady critical defense or Powerball.

Hornady critical defense has done well in nearly every test i have seen done with it.
I carry it in my g19, I wouldn't hesitate to trust it to expand as expected

Posted: 1/26/2013 6:15:46 PM EDT

[#42]

Corbon. Meets FBI spec and expands. Fairly hot round for a .380 though. Over 1000 FPS.

Posted: 1/26/2013 6:20:55 PM EDT

[#43]

Gold Dot in .380 & 9mm. Just cause I heard it at the gun shop.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - what is the most bad @$$ .380 ammo?

General » General Discussion

Win a FREE Membership!

Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!

You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.

Warning

Confirm Action

About AR15.COM

Stay Connected

Newsletter

Contact Us