Magtech First Defense .380

[farronwolf]

Went out today to look at the ballistics on the Magtech First Defense .380 rounds. First is the data that Magtech lists on their web site.

Muzzle velocity 1099 fps, muzzle energy 207 ft. lbs.

This is not what I got using my Bersa Thunder.

Muzzle velocity ranged from 962 to 992 fps, with an average of 981 in 7 rounds from the standard clip on the thunder. The speeds were 992, 989, 982, 962, 991, 977, 974 in that order.

That equates to an average muzzle energy for a 77 grain bullet of about 165 ft. lbs, some 21% less than what the manufacturers web site states.

I have never had any feed problems from these rounds, they have always been reliable.

They went through 3 two litre bottles of water and penetrated into the 4th where they could be retrieved. There was very little expansion of the head of the bullet. I am guessing that if I had taken the time to make a wet pack of paper I would have seen some expansion. Below is a picture of the two rounds that went into the water.

Based on this info, I think I will go and pick up some corbon dpx, and run some tests on them. From what I have seen by others they should be a bit closer to the manufacturers specs. If they are, they will definately become the round that will be in the clip in the future.


test1.jpg

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Ti Carry]

What are you using to calculate muzzle velocity?


Ti

[farronwolf]

A Chronograph.

[Kimo]

I'm hearing a lot about the 380 theses days. At one time it was considered a small round for self defense.
Is this because of new technology in the 380 rounds?

[ccw9mm]

I'm hearing a lot about the 380 theses days. At one time it was considered a small round for self defense.

Yep. It's still generally considered a small round, for self defense. I've got a KelTec P3AT 380ACP, as a backup. Am flogging it through tests, right now, along with a Kahr PM9 9mm. The Kahr is a bit better built, and it can handle rounds that will more than double the energy delivered by the 380.

Interesting, on the chronograph results of the Magtech. I've got several hundred rounds awaiting testing through my P3AT, to validate cycling reliability. Though, if a couple of the CorBon rounds do better (ie, JHP, Pow'rBall), then it may well end up CorBon for this gun.

Hm. Food for thought.

[Ti Carry]

A Chronograph.

Is that what Mag-Tec uses?

[farronwolf]

Is that what Mag-Tec uses?

I don't know what magtech uses. Maybe you can find it on their site, but I couldn't. Nor do they say what length barrel they use in their test.

[myusername]

IIRC I saw a wetpack test of these. I think on the Kel Tec forum site. They did not expand in that test either.

In one test some ammo expanded with the bersa but not the kel tec. I think it was b/c of the longer barrel. The corbon jhp was one of them.

I have pow'r ball in my bersa right now but I think I will switch to DPX or gold dot.

[gregarat]

From what I read the .380 just doesnt have enough power for a HP to expand. So I ditched the expantion idea, and went with the penitration of FMJ.

Although I never tryed powerball ammo. Is there any tests out there for their expantion?

[myusername]

This includes pow'r ball. It seems it needs the longer barrel to expand, like the corbon jhp.
http://ktrange.com/articles/a10/a10-14.html

This has the corbon dpx and the ranger t in .380. Using a short barrel gun
http://www.ktog.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaB...num=1149377730