Posted: 3/3/2026 2:04:04 PM EDT
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All 10-Shot averages fired this morning from a Bodyguard 2.0 Attached File Attached File Attached File The Aquila was the most consistent while also the fastest. |
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For comparison here was some substandard 380 FMJ I returned for the excessive extreme spread Attached File |
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For reference the weakest 9mm I had on hand Attached File You are giving up a lot of bullet weight, velocity and energy by carrying a .380 instead of 9mm All .380 ball is not the same. Quality and velocity vary greatly. Test your ammo in your gun. |
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380 is so weak, I want as much energy and penetration as I can muster so I just picked up some of this 65grn underwood. https://underwoodammo.com/380-acp-p-65-grain-xtreme-defender/?searchid=3220573&search_query=380 It’s hot, 1400fps and almost 296ft/lbs of energy. It’s not 9mm, but it’s ~100ft/lbs of energy closer than most rounds. |
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Quoted: 380 is so weak, I want as much energy and penetration as I can muster so I just picked up some of this 65grn underwood. https://underwoodammo.com/380-acp-p-65-grain-xtreme-defender/?searchid=3220573&search_query=380 It’s hot, 1400fps and almost 296ft/lbs of energy. It’s not 9mm, but it’s ~100ft/lbs of energy closer than most rounds. I tried it in my LCP. Poor groups, didn’t shoot to POA and had a misfire. Underwood gave me a refund. |
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Quoted: May I ask why it is at S&W? Quoted: Quoted: I got some Magtech, PPU, and S&B today. I’ll chrono it when I get my BG2.0 back from S&W May I ask why it is at S&W? Horribly inaccurate. Actually the least accurate handgun I have ever owned. My LCP and LCP Max both outshoot it. |
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Quoted: Okay..  Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Have you tried any screw head underwood +p? There’s no such thing as +P .380. Anything labeled as such is suspect. So no. Okay.. First sentence is true. Maybe he’d shoot it if it said, super spicy .380 or muy fuego .380… at the end of the day everyone knows what +P means I assume that’s why they went with traditional naming. |
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Only took one new load to the range today. Attached File Pretty anemic compared to the Aquila. |
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Quoted: So the BG 2.0 is no good? Quoted: Quoted: Horribly inaccurate. Actually the least accurate handgun I have ever owned. My LCP and LCP Max both outshoot it. So the BG 2.0 is no good? Mine has been great. I had an occasional failure to feed with one magazine but SW sent me a new replacement mag free of charge. It has been 100% reliable with the exception of that one particular magazine. Mine is very accurate for such a small pistol. My favorite carry pistol by far. |
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Quoted: I use Hornady American Gunner XTPs, that proved to be the best performer a few years ago, don’t know if it’s still good or not. Have you chronoed that before? In the OP. I bought my sample in January 2025 though and there’s some bad batches of American Gunner XTP that’s come out since then. No tension on the bullet. Setback from rough handing / shipping. |
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Quoted: So the BG 2.0 is no good? Quoted: Quoted: Horribly inaccurate. Actually the least accurate handgun I have ever owned. My LCP and LCP Max both outshoot it. So the BG 2.0 is no good? My sample of one had issues. I think it’s over priced. The rear sight is horrible. some shoot left with the sights centered and myself and others have found a different slide sometimes corrects that. It should also come with a magazine loader. I won’t say it’s a bad gun but the carry comp version seems to be better and an LCP Max is a better value. |
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Quoted: My sample of one had issues. I think it’s over priced. The rear sight is horrible. some shoot left with the sights centered and myself and others have found a different slide sometimes corrects that. It should also come with a magazine loader. I won’t say it’s a bad gun but the carry comp version seems to be better and an LCP Max is a better value. Do you know the production date on yours? Mine was Feb 2025 and I've been happy with it. (there is a small 6 digit number on the box barcode label that shows the date) |
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Quoted: 380 is so weak, I want as much energy and penetration as I can muster so I just picked up some of this 65grn underwood. https://underwoodammo.com/380-acp-p-65-grain-xtreme-defender/?searchid=3220573&search_query=380 It’s hot, 1400fps and almost 296ft/lbs of energy. It’s not 9mm, but it’s ~100ft/lbs of energy closer than most rounds. I use the +P penetrator. |
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Quoted: There’s no such thing as +P .380. Anything labeled as such is suspect. So no. Quoted: Quoted: Have you tried any screw head underwood +p? There’s no such thing as +P .380. Anything labeled as such is suspect. So no. I shoot the +P underwood out of mine all the time. Works fine. |
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Quoted: I shoot the +P underwood out of mine all the time. Works fine. Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Have you tried any screw head underwood +p? There’s no such thing as +P .380. Anything labeled as such is suspect. So no. I shoot the +P underwood out of mine all the time. Works fine. There is no SAAMI spec for +P .380. Anything marked or marketed as such is just .380 pressure or over pressure .380. Buyer beware. |
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Attached File I was able to get my hands on some of this , I’ll see how it performs at the range supposed to be the best for 380 ammo . |
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Quoted: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/374673/image_jpg-3737553.JPG I was able to get my hands on some of this , I’ll see how it performs at the range supposed to be the best for 380 ammo . Perfect example of deceptive marketing. It’s either just .380 or it’s over pressure for .380. |
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Quoted: Wow! Thanks for sharing. Im a super casual shooter and haven't kept up with recent developments. So a 85gr 380 has about half the ballistic impact as a standard 115gr 9mm? I’d say the only real recent developments with .380 is the small guns chambered for it have become reliable and popular. LCP/LCP Max/Bodyguard 2.0 allow you to always have a gun on you. Even in swim trunks You are of course giving up capability when compared to something like a 12+1 P365. But those are too big for normal peoples pockets. |
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Quoted: For reference the weakest 9mm I had on hand https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/128204/IMG_7381_png-3722746.JPG You are giving up a lot of bullet weight, velocity and energy by carrying a .380 instead of 9mm All .380 ball is not the same. Quality and velocity vary greatly. Test your ammo in your gun. I don't think the intention was to compare. If so, we can post up the data from a Glock 20 with Underwood Xtreme Penetrators putting out over 700ft lbs of energy and we'd say how much you are giving up with the Glock 19. Fact is, .380 can kill someone dead. If going into combat, sure, I'd take my G19. Or if my G19 could be carried in the pocket, I'd have no reason to carry a .380. So mostly, I carry my LCP Max, with Xtreme Penetrators. 1100fps and 242 ft lbs. of muzzle energy. So not giving up as much and it will bust right through clothing. Unfortunately, my 2.0 won't shoot it reliably, so it gets XTP's, which are just fine. |
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I recently got a BG 2.0 for specific situations. No pocket carry. I have some Fiocchi xtrema 90g XTP that STB tested years ago. I began reloading for 380 to make a comparable round to the Fiocchi. 90g XTP's are easy to come by. I am using Sig primed nickel plated brass. VV N320. VV has reloading data for the 90g XTP. 3.1 - 3.6g. 873 - 1047fps. 3.1 for me was high 700's and reliable. 3.6 was high 900's and reliable. I ran the numbers in GRT and 3.6 is not overpressure. Makes sense since VV isnt gonna go past SAAMI soec. Well I went back to watch the STB testing of Xtrema and was suprised to see it was chrono'd around 800fps average. Thats weak as shit. I did find that PrecisionOne ammo makes 2 different versions of their XTP .380. One goes about 800fps the other 975. P1 labels it +P and recs it for G42's. So there is more powerful SD rounds out there. All that said, Why are manufacturers loading self defense .380 rounds to 800fps when more powerful rounds can be made without going over SAAMI preessure max? Im sure its the tiny gun factor. But my full power reloads were more than manageable with the BG2.0. Maybe Ill try them in my original LCP. |
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Tried some more ammo today. Black Hills 100Gn FMJ. Very low recoil. Attached File Magtech 95Gn FMJ. Terrible extreme spread. Will not buy again. Attached File PPU 94Gn FMJ. Attached File That’s everything I have on hand for .380. Everything was completely reliable in my BG2.0 If you want a hot ball load buy the Aquila. If you want a low recoil load buy the Black Hills 100Gn. |
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Quoted: I don't think the intention was to compare. If so, we can post up the data from a Glock 20 with Underwood Xtreme Penetrators putting out over 700ft lbs of energy and we'd say how much you are giving up with the Glock 19. Fact is, .380 can kill someone dead. If going into combat, sure, I'd take my G19. Or if my G19 could be carried in the pocket, I'd have no reason to carry a .380. So mostly, I carry my LCP Max, with Xtreme Penetrators. 1100fps and 242 ft lbs. of muzzle energy. So not giving up as much and it will bust right through clothing. Unfortunately, my 2.0 won't shoot it reliably, so it gets XTP's, which are just fine. My 2.0 shoots the penetrators fine; but is not consistent with the defender bullet/ The nose geometry and the two element feed ramp are the culprit. I am thinking of asking S&W if they will take a look at it. It does not seem to be an issue with the carry comp 2.0. I wonder if the feed ramp has been fixed. |
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Quoted: Fact is, .380 can kill someone dead. If going into combat, sure, I'd take my G19. Or if my G19 could be carried in the pocket, I'd have no reason to carry a .380. Attached File Attached File |