Ammo Question

TPAW · July 5, 2013, 10:52 AM

What ammo is recommended for self defense in .380 caliber? It will be used in a Ruger LCP, and Bersa Thunda.

Thank you.

wnycollector · July 5, 2013, 11:09 AM

Here is a great website that has tested lots of .380 SD ammo.

Personally I carry WWB 95gr FMJ flat nose ammo in my LCP.

Brian48 · July 5, 2013, 01:40 PM

Don't carry a .380 any more, but when I did, I stuck with hardball as well. I noticed the Remington/UMC is slightly hotter than some of the other name brands, but my preference was WWB as well due to the truncated cone design of the bullet.

ShelbyV8 · July 7, 2013, 11:48 PM

Corbon DPX 380

Water-Man · July 8, 2013, 01:00 AM

Buffalo Bore 100gr.+P HCFN.

Mosin44az · July 8, 2013, 01:29 AM

Neither the LCP nor the Bersa is a finicky gun in my experience.

My LCP has run several different brands of JHP, including Aguila and Magtech.

As for what works best on a criminal, I haven't checked, I buy what's available and will run in my guns, at least these days.

Generally the modern bullet designs should work well, so much effort has been put into them: Speer Gold Dot, Winchester PDX, Hornady Critical Defense and Critical Duty (more penetration)....

I have actually had problems with Cor Bon functioning in several guns in recent years, even my LCP.

Erikbal · July 8, 2013, 03:21 PM

I carry Hornady XTP hp's in my BG .380.

Tomac · July 8, 2013, 06:50 PM

Another vote for Buffalo Bore. Shot placement and sufficient penetration are paramount, all else is secondary. Better a non-expanding bullet w/sufficient penetration than an expanding bullet that doesn't reach the vitals.
Tomac

gregdry · July 8, 2013, 08:02 PM

Corbon DPX or Hornady Critical Defense.

ClydeFrog · July 8, 2013, 11:06 PM

I do not own any .380acp pistols at this time but, from what I have seen & read, there are a few top rated .380acp loads;
Buffalo Bore JHP, Hornady Critical Defense, MagSafe, PowRball, Corbon DPX, Glaser Safety Slug(silver), Winchester Silvertip HP.

CF
www.shopcorbon.com www.magsafeonline.com www.sgammo.com www.grafs.com www.buffalobore.com www.midwayusa.com

Sheikyourbootie · July 9, 2013, 12:42 AM

I tested critical defense versus Buffalo Bore Barnes in .380 and there is no way I'll use critical defense after seeing the bullet disintegrate upon contact with bone. I use wwb fmj for the flat nose and to maximize penetration...or I use the Barnes bullet as loaded by Buffalo Bore.

Old Stony · July 11, 2013, 05:37 AM

I'm a big proponent of using commonly available ammo for a sd weapon to minimize the slime trails the lawyers leave after a shooting. Using any designed to do maximum damage just amounts to more slime.
That said, I only use .380 ball when I choose to carry that caliber.
The hollowpoints are iffy at best at the velocities the .380 generates and can sometimes even be stopped or diverted from their intended target by things that might not be suspect. The best you can hope for with a .380 is to get enough penetration to do the intended job.

July 5, 2013, 10:52 AM	#1
TPAW Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2005 Posts: 2,860	Ammo Question What ammo is recommended for self defense in .380 caliber? It will be used in a Ruger LCP, and Bersa Thunda. Thank you.

July 5, 2013, 01:40 PM	#3
Brian48 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2001 Location: Boston, People's Republic of MA Posts: 1,616	Don't carry a .380 any more, but when I did, I stuck with hardball as well. I noticed the Remington/UMC is slightly hotter than some of the other name brands, but my preference was WWB as well due to the truncated cone design of the bullet. __________________ Proud to have served.

July 8, 2013, 03:21 PM	#7
Erikbal Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2012 Location: Olean, NY Posts: 375	Re: Ammo Question I carry Hornady XTP hp's in my BG .380.

July 8, 2013, 06:50 PM	#8
Tomac Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2001 Location: Caldwell, Idaho Posts: 511	Another vote for Buffalo Bore. Shot placement and sufficient penetration are paramount, all else is secondary. Better a non-expanding bullet w/sufficient penetration than an expanding bullet that doesn't reach the vitals. Tomac __________________ "His Universe, His rules." - Tomac

July 8, 2013, 11:06 PM	#10
ClydeFrog Junior member Join Date: May 1, 2010 Posts: 5,797	.380acp.... I do not own any .380acp pistols at this time but, from what I have seen & read, there are a few top rated .380acp loads; Buffalo Bore JHP, Hornady Critical Defense, MagSafe, PowRball, Corbon DPX, Glaser Safety Slug(silver), Winchester Silvertip HP. CF www.shopcorbon.com www.magsafeonline.com www.sgammo.com www.grafs.com www.buffalobore.com www.midwayusa.com

July 5, 2013, 11:09 AM	#2
wnycollector Senior Member Join Date: April 22, 2007 Posts: 1,996	Here is a great website that has tested lots of .380 SD ammo. Personally I carry WWB 95gr FMJ flat nose ammo in my LCP.

July 7, 2013, 11:48 PM	#4
ShelbyV8 Senior Member Join Date: July 19, 2005 Location: Killeen, TX Posts: 373	Corbon DPX 380

July 8, 2013, 01:00 AM	#5
Water-Man Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2008 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 2,126	Buffalo Bore 100gr.+P HCFN.

July 8, 2013, 01:29 AM	#6
Mosin44az Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2006 Posts: 2,585	Neither the LCP nor the Bersa is a finicky gun in my experience. My LCP has run several different brands of JHP, including Aguila and Magtech. As for what works best on a criminal, I haven't checked, I buy what's available and will run in my guns, at least these days. Generally the modern bullet designs should work well, so much effort has been put into them: Speer Gold Dot, Winchester PDX, Hornady Critical Defense and Critical Duty (more penetration).... I have actually had problems with Cor Bon functioning in several guns in recent years, even my LCP.

July 8, 2013, 08:02 PM	#9
gregdry Member Join Date: June 11, 2008 Posts: 52	Corbon DPX or Hornady Critical Defense.

July 9, 2013, 12:42 AM	#11
Sheikyourbootie Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2010 Posts: 379	I tested critical defense versus Buffalo Bore Barnes in .380 and there is no way I'll use critical defense after seeing the bullet disintegrate upon contact with bone. I use wwb fmj for the flat nose and to maximize penetration...or I use the Barnes bullet as loaded by Buffalo Bore.

July 11, 2013, 05:37 AM	#12
Old Stony Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2013 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,705	I'm a big proponent of using commonly available ammo for a sd weapon to minimize the slime trails the lawyers leave after a shooting. Using any designed to do maximum damage just amounts to more slime. That said, I only use .380 ball when I choose to carry that caliber. The hollowpoints are iffy at best at the velocities the .380 generates and can sometimes even be stopped or diverted from their intended target by things that might not be suspect. The best you can hope for with a .380 is to get enough penetration to do the intended job.