I'm looking to get an idea what most people here feel is the best for a .380 in terms of stopping a bad guy.
I had an LCP at one point and sold it to get a PM9, there have been a few times where a smaller/lighter gun would have been nice so I'm thinking about picking up a Bodyguard (on sale at Gander Mountain right now).
My thoughts are to find a good SD round in FMJ, but want to see what the majority believe is best for these little pocket rockets.
I'd rather have a JHP. Everybody I know with a .380, including LEOs, use 102gr Gold Saber. All of my .380s (and I admit I only have 3 or 4) are loaded the same way.
Good stout FMJ loads, every time, all the time. I carry with a flat-nose full metal jacket load.
I'm not a huge fan of .380 ACP but have one on hand for when nothing else will conceal. I want to insure penetration above all. FMJ is the best way to accomplish penetration. No fiddling about with hollow-point bullets which won't effectively turn the .380 into some power house when it just isn't.
I keep the Federal HST in mine, and it's supposed to usually penetrate to about 10-11". I think that's pretty good, and I keep in mind that the cartridge got its "mouse gun" label with the FMJ rounds that were out when it was first created. I would rather have them open up and hopefully cause more damage. If you hit a vital area, which is needed regardless of caliber, I think it will do the job. If not, keep pulling the trigger until they stop. Since I have a Beretta Cheetah that holds 14 total, I doubt someone would continue an attack through all 14 shots. As with anything, make sure whatever you pick will reliably cycle.
Honestly I want flat nosed FMJ, but can't seem to get a hold of them. I use JHP in my bersa, frankly though it depends on the gun, on super short barrels I prefer FMJ, but in 3"+ barrels JHP are my preference.
I like the larger wound a JHP makes and feel that blood loss is essential to stopping an attack. I do not have the same needs as the FBI to shoot through doors and glass. I am also held liable for riccochets and over penetration. In a SD encounter I am not standing my ground for a gunfight so I do not need 12 inches of penetration. If it becomes hand to hand combat I will draw my knife.
Whenever I carry a .380 it's loaded with the "flat nosed FMJs". Reason being; the FN FMJ hit with more FPE and on average have a straighter and larger wound cavity over the standard round nose FMJ that can slip and curve in soft tissue. Not that I have done any personal testing on the subject, but when I was doing my research, that's what I gathered from several sources. I also liked the heaviest .380 round I could find and that ended up being the Buffalo Bore 100gr HC stuff... IMO, that stuff will do the job with ease.
Mine is loaded with the Hydra shocks, That little post in the middle is suposed to make them work better. Years ago when they first came out I saw a article in a gun mag where they were tested against plain HPs and they did expand better.
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