380 ammo choices

[blazedawg87]

So picked up a LCP Max yesterday, got to looking at reviews and test with HP rounds and one thing seemed to be a constant occurrence; little to no expansion.

Now that bears the question, out of the short barrel of the LCP, would you be better off running FMJ for reliability and cost? If the HP doesnt do what its designed to do then why pay the premium for it?

The hardest thing seems to be people using set distance and denim thickness but thats getting nit picky.

So people of the interwebs, what do you carry in your pocket rocket?! (dont say semen)

 

[fattboyzz]

Hornady critical defense zombie max.

 

[palmettomoon]

So picked up a LCP Max yesterday, got to looking at reviews and test with HP rounds and one thing seemed to be a constant occurrence; little to no expansion.

Now that bears the question, out of the short barrel of the LCP, would you be better off running FMJ for reliability and cost? If the HP doesnt do what its designed to do then why pay the premium for it?

The hardest thing seems to be people using set distance and denim thickness but thats getting nit picky.

So people of the interwebs, what do you carry in your pocket rocket?! (dont say semen)

Speer Gold Dot Hollowpoint and Federal Hydra-Shok ammunition showed good, controlled expansion and 98% weight retention without over penetration in testing with ballistic gelatin at the range a few years ago. I carry Hydra Shoks in the Sig P238 (same pistol used as a "test gun.")

 

[fattboyzz]

Alot of the decent expanders in 380 are not available.

 

[sourdough44]

I go for reliable cycling as 1st priority. Of course I have the usually HP options loaded up much of the time. I don’t mind the FMJ either, simple RN. I even have some light copper bullets from Lehigh Defense loaded up.

I’m thinking gang-banger type’s don’t worry much about ammo selection, use what you have.

 

[blazedawg87]

I was thinking go the FMJ route and run a flat nose bullet.

 

[Hayata]

Hornady Critical Defense 90gr.

 

[Ixraypeople]

Underwood extreme penetrator

 

[EMC45]

FMJ Ball

 

[GAgunLAWbooklet]

I carry 95 gr. or 100 gr. Full metal jacket in my tiny .380.


I want the reliability of feeding a "round nose" bullet shape, combined with the cheap price, which lets me practice with it whenever I feel the need. I don't hesitate to pop off rounds when I only paid $.25 a shot for them instead of $1.50 a shot.


Now, if I were carrying a 380 that was medium sized with a 4 inch barrel, like a Beretta 85 Cheetah, I might go with a premium hollowpoint because lucky gunner did a test in 2019 and found that out of a Glock model 42 several good hollowpoint loads would reliably penetrate 12 inches into gelatin and the bullets will expand to about 55 caliber.

But I don't know if I could expect to get that from a barrel that's only 2.7 inches.