It seems other than +P rated Buffalo Bore, most of the FMJ I see is more for plinking/target shooting...like WWB, Fed Champ, and American Eagle.
I was just wondering if any were considered as reliable and consistent as a defensive load?  Speer Lawman maybe?

Your thoughts?

I like Federal Gold Medal Match 168gr. BTHP.

It has been very consistent out of a Remington 700 SPS.

I don't think that there is all that much difference amongst the .380 ball loads.

The Federal, Winchester, Remington, PMC, S&B, Buffalo Bore, and Fiocchi 90-95 gr. FMJs all seem to offer the same reliability, which is really very good.

According to the Schwartz and/or MacPherson ballistic penetration models, these FMJs will go somewhere between 17 and 19 inches in soft tissue. The BB HC load is good for 22 to 24 inches of penetration- again, according to both penetration models.

I'd say that there is little practical difference since any of the choices can be expected to pass completely through a large-ish human torso.

Since it is a .380 and you seem to be going with ball ammo, I'd shop around, get whatever is cheapest and carry it.

I wish that I could put that in my PPK. Now that's an SD load!

Even though its dated technology my today's standards but my dad still like using Winchester Silvertips. He says it is the only ammo that ran great through his PPK/S. I know it aint an FMJ but just saying.

I'm actually fine with Gold Dot, Critical Defense, and Fed HS, BUT I wouldn't mind mixing it up a bit with some FMJ.
If the Golden Sabers could just get to 850-875fps, I'd use them....as I think the weight would help with penetration if they expand, and if they don't, I have a nice, jagged FMJ.

I'll probably use the Fed someone suggested or the flat nosed WWB if they are reliable.  I was worried the cheap target stuff would be much more inconsistent with lower quality primers, etc.

Are the foreign makers like Fiochi and S&B on par with Federal and Win?


––Note:
In the g19 I carry cheap 147gr fed HS white box and 147gr Win Ranger; in the Shield I carry 124gr HST.

Oops!

I misread the title!

In most cases, yes. I tend to stay away from the steel cased stuff like Wolf, Herters, and MFS, but that's only because my guns don't like it. YMMV.