Check ShootingTheBull410 channel on YouTube. He did a comprehensive test of most 380 ammo out of short barrel pistols.

 

I just go with ball ammo in my 380s. Mostly 100gr Sig ammo.

 

380 is a tough one for both reliable penetration and expansion. Often you can have one or the other, occasionally both, but both consistently is more of a challenge. That being the case, always pick penetration over expansion. Hornady XTPs, Remington Golden Sabers, or Winchester JHP generally give good penetration and, sometimes, they expand. When they do expand they also tend to still penetrate enough to be worth while.

I dropped it as an option for me personally years ago. if I had to use one today it would either be FMJ or one of the above loads if I could get it.

 

Hornady Critical Defense... 90 grain with good expansion and some penetration. I switched to it because I got tired of the +P Underwood with 90-grain Speer Gold Dots in my tiny Kahr P-380... like .357 Magnum in a 2" snubbie. I couldn't get as close to the center of the target as I can with the standard pressure loads.

 

I'm carrying it also, check lucky gunner labs, critical defence does well in 380 and above

 

I have not purchased any .380 ammo in over a decade -

If I needed some I would look and see what is available - then pick a name brand like Federal, Speer Buffalo bore - underwood

Pick one that is in stock - loaded hot and at decent price -

Make sure it functions in your gun -

Call it good.

 

I have not purchased any .380 ammo in over a decade -

If I needed some I would look and see what is available - then pick a name brand like Federal, Speer Buffalo bore - underwood

Pick one that is in stock - loaded hot and at decent price -

Make sure it functions in your gun -

Call it good.

So you've researched the gel tests and some of the underperformance of the big brand JHP's in .380 Auto? Of course you have!

This stock advice you gave doesn't always work so well in .380 ACP. I can't understand recommendations to "just pick a name brand" when there is plenty of testing out there to say many of their JHP ammo don't perform in .380. But yes, it does have to do both, perform and be reliable too.

Personally, I use one of the ammo using the XTP bullet when I carry my P380.

 

I can't help you other than to say that hollow point bullet design has come a long way in recent years so keep researching.
The last .380 I had was a Colt Government Mk IV .380 many years ago. It was a nice pistol but the ammo cost twice as much as 9mm. It didn't stay in my collection very long because of that.

 

I carry federal flat nose 95gr in my LCP

 

Ball ammo.

Or ball ammo.

Or you might even use ball ammo.

And of course, there's always ball ammo.

 

I'm okay with FMJ in 380 if I have to, but JHP wise I'd go with Critical Defense, XTP, Gold Dot or V-Crown.

 

I carry Hornady XTP in mine, either the Hornady Custom or .380 American Gunner. There are other loadings using the XTP bullet, too, but I have the Hornady. As someone said, it's supposed to expand some but still penetrate enough to meet the established standards. ShootingtheBull or Ammoquest did dozens of tests, and he used a tiny pocket-sized pistol, not one with a longer barrel.

The old Hydra-Shoks did well, too, in .380.

There are also separate videos on each brand.

I'm no expert but his tests seemed thorough to me. He shot five rounds of each through bare gel and another five through denim. He used standard pressure rounds as there is no standard in .380 for +P, and most truly pocket sized pistols approve only standard pressure.

After he did his wrap-up, he later tested some newer rounds and liked them at first, but I think in the end he went back to his top choices as shown in this video, after people experienced some problems with the boutique rounds. You might find this helpful or at least interesting. .380 seems to be a tricky caliber for getting both adequate expansion and penetration. Some of the results were surprising to me.

This wrap-up has been posted in other threads but here it is again for anyone interested:

 

This wrap-up has been posted in other threads but here it is again for anyone interested:

Based on this video (which I viewed a few years ago), I carry Precision One 925 fps 90 GRAIN HP/XTP in my Glock 42. In the video's testing, Precision One was the best of the best, even better than the Hornady stuff. Great penetration with good expansion.

 

I used to believe in FP in the .380, then tested some Fiochi loads with 90 gr XTP's in my LCPc.
At 21 feet they passed thru three water filled milk jugs and penetrated but would not exit a fourth with perfect expansion.
Hardly a GT worthy experiment nor scientific, but it convinced me that the .380 is a viable round and deserved HP's.

 

I dont’t often carry a .380, but when i do i load with rem golden sabers, 102 gr. Why? First,
i bought a case pre pandemic and next its one of the heaviest .380 rds. It ought to penetrate and might even expand.
EDITED. I added this from 11 years ago. Rem may have replaced this rd with a belted rd Intended to keep the projectile together.

 

I dont’t often carry a .380, but when i do i load with rem golden sabers, 102 gr. Why? First,
i bought a case pre pandemic and next its one of the heaviest .380 rds. It ought to penetrate and might even expand.

I use Rem Golden Sabers in 9 mm & .40.

But all you have to do is a simple search under Rem Gold Sabers .380 Auto to see the test results. Indicates these don't open up & over penetrate in .380. I am not good at copying & pasting a link from my phone or I'd link here.​

 

Update: I just ran across an article on the new (for 2020) Federal 380 ACP Hydra-Shok Deep. Apparently the FBI adopted this for their 380 backup guns.

An Official Journal Of The NRA | New for 2020: Federal Hydra-Shok Deep in .380 ACP

Federal has introduced a .380 ACP load to its Hydra-Shok Deep lineup, the first cartridge for the chambering to consistently meet FBI protocol recommendations for penetration—12 inches minimum—through bare gel and through heavy clothing.

www.shootingillustrated.com

Here is another article. Ammo review: Federal’s .380 ACP and .38 Special Hydra-Shok Deep

 

 

I carry Critical Defense in an LCP and G42. Not sure 380 is the best but better than nothing.

 

I have a ballistics background.

Shooting the bull channel mentioned above is the definition of hot garbage data going in = hot garbage data coming out. Completely DISREGARD ANY “info” from this worthless channel.

Generaly speaking, without typing for an hour, Speer Gold Dot, Hornady Critical Defense, and the new Federal Deep are going to be top performers in .380 hollow point.

A hot .380 FMJ (like Italian Fiochi) is also perfectly acceptable and it punches above its weight due to tumbling. Some agencies only approve FMJ ammo in .380 as it has acceptable performance.

The shaped ammo with flutes (lehigh extreme defender , extreme penetrator) are also excellent if they are reliable in your gun.

 

I have a ballistics background.

Shooting the bull channel mentioned above is the definition of hot garbage data going in = hot garbage data coming out. Completely DISREGARD ANY “info” from this worthless channel.

Generaly speaking, without typing for an hour, Speer Gold Dot, Hornady Critical Defense, and the new Federal Deep are going to be top performers in .380 hollow point.

A hot .380 FMJ (like Italian Fiochi) is also perfectly acceptable and it punches above its weight due to tumbling. Some agencies only approve FMJ ammo in .380 as it has acceptable performance.

So please quote or link to the tests you rely on that are better and compares as many ammos.

 

Another vote for Hornady XTP in my Glock 42.

 

Primarily Hornady Critical Defense in my G42/LCP. As good as anything else out there. But I do have other brands and types. Good luck in your choice.

 

People will tell you all kinds of things on this subject. For me, anytime I am carrying .380 acp for defensive purposes, it will be stoked with Federal Hydra-Shoks . My Sig 232 puts them just exactly where I want them every single time. That is all.

 

If I was limited to 380 (Thankfully I'm not) I'd pick a bullet that penetrates at least 12'' and expands.
Handgun Self-Defense Ammunition - Ballistic Testing Data
Hornady 90 gr. FTX Critical Defense 13.2'' / .52
Sig 90 gr. V-Crown 12.8'' / .51

In that same test Federal Hydra-Shok 90 gr. didn't expand and penetrated 25'' (overpenetration)
If a HP that doesn't expand can penetrate over 25'' I'd imagine FMJ capable of the same.

Disclaimer:
There is no point for anyone to try to rationalize 380 FMJ to me.
I don't carry 380; if I did I'd ensure that I got HP ammo that penetrates at least 12'' and expands.

 

If I was limited to 380 (Thankfully I'm not) I'd pick a bullet that penetrates at least 12'' and expands.
Handgun Self-Defense Ammunition - Ballistic Testing Data
Hornady 90 gr. FTX Critical Defense 13.2'' / .52
Sig 90 gr. V-Crown 12.8'' / .51

In that same test Federal Hydra-Shok 90 gr. didn't expand and penetrated 25'' (overpenetration)
If a HP that doesn't expand can penetrate over 25'' I'd imagine FMJ capable of the same.

Disclaimer:
There is no point for anyone to try to rationalize 380 FMJ to me.
I don't carry 380; if I did I'd ensure that I got HP ammo that penetrates at least 12'' and expands.

Lucky gunner uses clear ballastics as its test medium. It is not the same as ordinance gel that the FBI uses. Clear ballistics gel allows for more penetration.

 

I'll stick with hard cast flat nose and understand it will likely pass through.

 

With the cost of Sig 100gr ridiculously high, I've bought flat nosed 100gr Ammo Inc ammo which I like.

 

Personally, I prefer truncated cone FMJ when it comes to .380. You may get over penetration, but you’ll at least get sufficient penetration. Of the JHPs, I’d trust the 90gr. Hornady Critical Defense FTX the most because it tends to actually expand, but sufficient penetration still strikes me as an iffy prospect.

 

All the .380 FMJs will penetrate sufficiently, and more. There’s no issue on that.

 

Some good info here…

Federal .380 ACP 99gr HST in Clear Ballistics Gel.

Test Gun: Ruger LCP Barrel length: 2.75 inches. Ammunition: Federal .380 ACP 99gr HST. Test media: 10% Clear Ballistics Gel. Distance: 10 feet. Chronograph: Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph G2. Five shot velocity average: 967fps Gel Temperature 70 degrees...

www.glocktalk.com

 

Here is an excellent article on the subject

.380 ACP Ammunition Comparison

Revised/Updated May 28, 2017 Small pistols encourage concealed carry. Many armed citizens carry a .380 ACP pistol for personal defense or as a second or backup gun. The .380 cartridge was invented …

www.marksmanshipmatters.com

 

Just read it. Very informative. Would be interesting to see an updated study with more XTP included and the newer Hydra-Shock Deep .380 ACP. Thanks for sending this. Was not aware it was out there. Very informative.