Answer is simple. Stagger your rounds. I'm not going to suggest specific brands because I don't know what your gun likes.

 

Buffalo bore makes a hard cast +p.380

 

Buffalo bore makes a hard cast +p.380

+P could be a terrible idea depending on the gun. Make sure your gun is rated for it before you buy.

 

A generic answer is one that works with your handgun and you are fairly accurate with.

I have a PPK/s and Kel-Tec P3AT. Both are great at arms length, but I tend to be more accurate with the PPK/s if there is any distance (out to 25 yrds).

If you are not fairly accurate, then any type of ammo will work for misses.

 

I don't currently have a .380 but I think I would lean towards something like the Winchester flat-nosed FMJ load for SD in a .380, assuming your gun will feed them reliably.

Buffalo bore makes a hard cast +p.380

This seems kind of pointless. Non-expanding bullets in standard pressure .380 loads will already easily exceed FBI penetration criteria. They don't need extra velocity to penetrate even more. It would be different if this was a JHP where the extra velocity might give it better penetration along with the expansion.

 

Stagger 'em.

 

Have no Hornady Critical Def. in .380 but i hear it's a nice round...

 

+p a no go in a lot of 380's including my p238.

Staggering sure is a good hedge on that bet.

I thought there was 380 critical defense. Is this different stuff?

http://m.hornady.com/store/380-Auto-90-gr-Critical-Defense/

 

+p a no go in a lot of 380's including my p238.

Staggering sure is a good hedge on that bet.

I thought there was 380 critical defense. Is this different stuff?

http://m.hornady.com/store/380-Auto-90-gr-Critical-Defense/

There is,..I said i didn't have any...

 

Speer Gold Dot

 

+1 Robo! Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel hollow points. All my LEO buddies recommend this ammo for almost all concealed carry handguns. After the report about the Gold Dot exceeding all of the FBIs extensive tests, it made even more sense.

 

Speer Gold Dot

Going to be testing them in both 9 & 45 for a future review article. I have 60 rds. of the 9 and i got 40 of the 45 for my Bud who's helping us with this...prob. tuen out to be a 4 hr. range trip...

 

Going to be testing them in both 9 & 45 for a future review article. I have 60 rds. of the 9 and i got 40 of the 45 for my Bud who's helping us with this...prob. tuen out to be a 4 hr. range trip...

Sounds like fun to me!

 

After the report about the Gold Dot exceeding all of the FBIs extensive tests, it made even more sense.

Have you got a link to this testing? While Gold Dots are outstanding performers in larger calibers, the only gel tests of the .380 Gold Dots I have seen show them to expand reliably but consistently fail to achieve minimum penetration depths of 12" specified by the FBI.

 

The primary problem with this class of handgun is lack of adequate penetration on a human target. Light projectile weight plus low velocity equal an inability to penetrate to the vital organs in MOST SD situations.
If you have no other choice but to carry a 380 carry only the highest velocity FMJ rounds you can find.
Just common sense and reality.

 

Have you got a link to this testing? While Gold Dots are outstanding performers in larger calibers, the only gel tests of the .380 Gold Dots I have seen show them to expand reliably but consistently fail to achieve minimum penetration depths of 12" specified by the FBI.

The .380 is going to have trouble expanding AND penetrating 12+". Just not enough mass. The Gold Dot has an excellent reputation for feeding like ball, expanding consistently (but not explosively), penetrating respectably, and maintaining 100% weight. You can get more penetration or more exxpansion, but it is unlikely you will get a better balance.

When we made the switch from Winchester Silvertips to Gold Dots we were (and continue to be) very satisfied. One of our guys had to put a 2000# bull. .45 ACP 230 gr GD fully penetrated the HUGE head, bored about 6" into the mud, expanded to about .70" and actually gained a couple of grains in weight (pieces of bone imbedded in the core). Performance has been nothing but outstanding in all calibers. I just wish Speer would make a run of 10mm Gold Dot 180 gr @1200-1300 fps. I would buy a couple of cases of it.

 

I'd like to see the tables between the God Dot & their "lawman" series, just to see the difference...

Back in the day when I was "still in uniform" we did lots of testing on Melons, and dressed up "Dummies" with 5.56 rounds......

 

I don't have a link the FBI report unfortunately, IIRC they didn't test .380, but the other rounds using the same technology thoroughly impressed me. Also, from what I remember I've only seen and used Lawman that was TMJ. I'm not aware of any Lawman SD rounds. I try and shoot Lawman 124 grain 9mm TMJ to practice with since I carry Gold Dot 124 grain +p in my G19.

I agree with Robo, they need to make 10mm, it might make me finally buy that G20. At least Speer is making Gold Dot rifle rounds now!

 

The primary problem with this class of handgun is lack of adequate penetration on a human target. Light projectile weight plus low velocity equal an inability to penetrate to the vital organs in MOST SD situations.....

This is not an accurate statement. "Some" situations...true. "Most" situations....false.

 

This is not an accurate statement. "Some" situations...true. "Most" situations....false.

Wrong! I have personally witnessed five shootings where the 380 was the primary weapon used and all five did not penetrate deep enough to get to the vitals. So this 100% lack of penetration in my personal experience. I have investigated several others and about 75% of them lacked the penetration necessary to get to the vitals.
VERY FEW shooting situations in the real world involve a stationary target with full frontal presentation!!!
I used the word 'most' because ALL the data I have, actual shootings and testing, show that less than 50% show adequate penetration, especially when you use expanding bullets.
Don't take my word for it, do your own research.

 

.380ACP Caliber: (9mm Short, 9x17mm, 9mm Kurz)
One Shot Stopping Success: 51-70% (Actual)
Self Defense Rating: Good
Recommended Cartridges:

Cor-Bon +P JHP 90 grains 70%
Federal "Hydra-Shok" JHP 90 grains 69%
Federal JHP 90 grains 69%
Winchester "Silvertip" JHP 85grains 61%
CCI JHP 88grains 58%
Remington JHP 88 grains 57%

The .380ACP, or "three eighty auto", represents a higher level of self protection insurance when compared to smaller calibers.

Penetration of the .380ACP ranges from 8 to 10 inches.

 

I guess 51-70 percent statistically trumps "most."

 

As a generality, it appears as though two distinct schools of thought exist: cartridge performance preference based on real world shooting data ("one shot stop" statistics) and cartridge performance preference based on bullet penetration data derived from shooting into ballistic gelatin, which has the characteristics of soft human tissue.

Law enforcement agencies periodically participate in workshops intended to evaluate performance of various calibers and brands of ammunition. Procedures follow the FBI Wound Ballistic Testing Protocol, a series of tests designed to evaluate bullet penetration, retained weight and expansion in settings that simulate real world conditions. Shooting events include bare ballistic gelatin, and gelatin protected by barriers such as heavy clothing, steel, wallboard, plywood and auto glass.

Much of the "penetration" information presented for various calibers in the following summaries is based on data derived from the foregoing sources. It is extremely generalized, however, because tests involve a considerable range of ammunition brands and types as well as handgun makes and models.

 

Most 380 pistols function very reliably with round nose FMJ ammo. I see no need for hollow points with a round that has 2/3 the energy of a 22 wmr fired from a rifle. I just want a round that the pistol will eat and goes bang every time.

 

I guess 51-70 percent statistically trumps "most."

Wrong again! We were talking about penetration to the vitals. The post which are refering to proved MY point. 8 to 10 inches is not adequate penetration by any standard for a self defense round. This is why the actual stop % are so low.