Best CCW 380 HP ammo for Ruger LCP Max

jason.h · August 8, 2023, 02:18 PM

Howdy All,

Getting my CCW and picked up a Ruger LCP Max, looking for HP ammo Recommendations, are there any loads that work well in your guys experience with the Ruger? Or perhaps some that are prone to jamming in the Ruger?

I was looking at the ballistic gel tests Lucker gunner did:
https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/sel...-tests/#380ACP
But the gun used had a 3.25" barrel as apposed to the ruger 2.75" barrel.
Anyone know if someone has done similar tests with the shorter barrel?

Thanks,

wild cat mccane · August 8, 2023, 02:48 PM

Federal DEEP is probably the best 380 there is.

It will expand and go as deep as any old style non HST/Ranger/Gold Dot/Saber 9mm. Fully expanded, 13-14".

If someone says use FMJ, that's okay. However, no FMJ has the thick copper of DEEP (DEEP is clearly a true copper jacket). The skiving is not cuts but cuts and folds. The tip is folded copper with no lead attached. The base is a pyramid. Pyramid is bonded.

It's like the perfect combo of FMJ, all copper DPX, and bonded JHP. All performance done without some stupid level of velocity.

If you can get it, I don't think anything beats it in theory or on my looking around. Otherwise extrama Foicchi Hornady has been my prior carry after Shooting the Bull tests.

Shadow9mm · August 8, 2023, 04:13 PM

Federal deep, or hornady critical defense would be my 2 picks. 380 has a habbit of under penetrating with hollow points. These 2 bullets got the expansion to penetration ratio just right.

**Aguila Blanca** · August 8, 2023, 07:53 PM

Most of the major ammunition companies a few years ago introduced "short barrel" ammunition, designed and engineered specifically to develop maximum muzzle velocity, expansion, and penetration when fired from short barrels.

I would look first at those.

https://www.ammoland.com/2020/04/short-barrel-ammo/

https://www.athlonoutdoors.com/artic...handgun-loads/

seanc · August 9, 2023, 03:42 PM

.380 XTP from Precision One performs through 4 layers of denim and still expanded in gel and had 13.53" of penetration expanding to about .40", all through a 2.84" barrel.

https://youtu.be/wOwCXXpEP50

Until I see actual gel testing for other cartridges showing better performance, I'm sticking with the XTP for my LCP II.

Forte S+W · August 9, 2023, 04:02 PM

I've stuck with the original gold standard for reliable .380 ACP JHPs, which surprisingly isn't Gold Dots, but rather XTPs.

Nowadays, there are a lot more options, but I've been carrying XTPs since 2016, so that's become my go-to for JHPs. Unlike some of the newer stuff like Federal Punch and Hydrashok DEEP, Hornady XTP bullets are used by a number of brands, so they're more widely available.

Mosin44az · August 11, 2023, 09:03 PM

Hornady Critical Defense works in mine. I will note that my Max took 280 rounds until it actually started functioning reliably.

Fla_dogman · August 15, 2023, 08:36 PM

I'm kinda sold on the underwood ultimate defense until something better comes along. I'm not familiar with the federal deep you guys mentioned.

Sent from my moto g power using Tapatalk

riggins_83 · August 15, 2023, 08:52 PM

Many popular brands tend to fall short on penetration. I prefer the Precision One load with Hornady XTP (Not to be confused with critical defense).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNtPHYwcDts

wild cat mccane · August 17, 2023, 10:34 AM

All XTP bullets are the same. FTX is the plugged "Flex Tip" version in Critical Defense. If it helps, Hornady's levels are "American Gunner" is the lowest, "Hornady" is second, and "Custom" is their highest..but FTX rounds don't cross between. This used to be true before Hornady sent a tearful message that they were pulling nickel cases because of their price...but kept prices the same. Lame.

DEEP is really new. Not new, but not a lot was available when it came out. Only one seller on ammoseek right now. It's v2 of hydrashock with the post. Those were not always great in tests.

I liked the shooting the bull series, but I didn't find anything wrong with Fiocchi. One thing that rubs me the wrong way on Precision One...they sell a lot of junk rounds as a reloading company. To be fair, Sig that values their ammo at gold pricing, also sells factory seconds.

Just remember on super hot WonderWood ammo that they don't advertise, velocity increases drag at a 4:1 rate. Why a super sonic jet on earth can't just go light speed to go light speed, it has to go light speed plus 4xtimes to over come all the new resistance in drag. That increased drag is confused as "energy has to go somewhere, so it's going into the target" in gun forums. Simply not true. The energy in increased velocity on small handgun calibers is just going into drag. The hydroclastic damage is from rifle level velocity. Increase speed on an already borderline 380, then rapidly increase the rate of pedal expansion and you've go under penetration like you see in the massively expanded Cor-Bon bullets or Gold Dot.

I think shooting the bull made causal that Precision One is the best...but against all XTP, they all fell within "good" because they are the same bullet. Meh.

If you pic up a DEEP round, you're going to see it's like all copper rounds that expand the best, but go to shallow. But then there is the basically FMJ spire in the middle that is way lower than the original post in Hydroshok...bees knees.

HST is the biggest disappointment because in 9mm, it rocks the world of even 10mm/357 rounds for penetration and expansion. Just doesn't expand in tests.

I have boxes of all (underwood, original hydroshok, gold dot, hornady)...I think with all options, I am 100% good with my like of anything XTP or DEEP. My only second would be Golden Saber.

*replace Hydra with Hydro or whatever it is

IDbound · August 18, 2023, 01:30 PM

I recently came across something called G9 Defense manufactured up here in Northern Idaho. It is a redesigned Underwood bullet made to penetrate even better. These 70 gr. all copper bullets move along at a rated 1120 FPS.

Shadow9mm · August 21, 2023, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IDbound

I recently came across something called G9 Defense manufactured up here in Northern Idaho. It is a redesigned Underwood bullet made to penetrate even better. These 70 gr. all copper bullets move along at a rated 1120 FPS.

Penetrate better how? The critical defense is right in the fbi window of 12 to 18in from what i have seen. And their extreme penetrators will pass through 32in of gel block in testing.

wild cat mccane · August 21, 2023, 03:45 PM

All FMJ from all calibers (.380-10mm) can fall in 32" of gel because of drag. I wouldn't say that is a good thing.

If the fluting actually works, kinda curious that it could fall that far since it falls exactly into the least frictional FMJ bullet profile.

August 8, 2023, 02:18 PM	#1
jason.h Member Join Date: January 20, 2016 Posts: 44	Best CCW 380 HP ammo for Ruger LCP Max Howdy All, Getting my CCW and picked up a Ruger LCP Max, looking for HP ammo Recommendations, are there any loads that work well in your guys experience with the Ruger? Or perhaps some that are prone to jamming in the Ruger? I was looking at the ballistic gel tests Lucker gunner did: https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/sel...-tests/#380ACP But the gun used had a 3.25" barrel as apposed to the ruger 2.75" barrel. Anyone know if someone has done similar tests with the shorter barrel? Thanks,

August 8, 2023, 02:48 PM	#2
wild cat mccane Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 3,855	Federal DEEP is probably the best 380 there is. It will expand and go as deep as any old style non HST/Ranger/Gold Dot/Saber 9mm. Fully expanded, 13-14". If someone says use FMJ, that's okay. However, no FMJ has the thick copper of DEEP (DEEP is clearly a true copper jacket). The skiving is not cuts but cuts and folds. The tip is folded copper with no lead attached. The base is a pyramid. Pyramid is bonded. It's like the perfect combo of FMJ, all copper DPX, and bonded JHP. All performance done without some stupid level of velocity. If you can get it, I don't think anything beats it in theory or on my looking around. Otherwise extrama Foicchi Hornady has been my prior carry after Shooting the Bull tests. __________________ My wife is a pulmonologist (respiratory Dr) and epidemiologist. If you have any questions on COVID, please reach out to me in PM.

August 8, 2023, 07:53 PM	#4
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 19,039	Most of the major ammunition companies a few years ago introduced "short barrel" ammunition, designed and engineered specifically to develop maximum muzzle velocity, expansion, and penetration when fired from short barrels. I would look first at those. https://www.ammoland.com/2020/04/short-barrel-ammo/ https://www.athlonoutdoors.com/artic...handgun-loads/ __________________ NRA Life Member / Certified Instructor NRA Chief RSO / CMP RSO 1911 Certified Armorer Jeepaholic

August 9, 2023, 04:02 PM	#6
Forte S+W Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 2019 Posts: 822	I've stuck with the original gold standard for reliable .380 ACP JHPs, which surprisingly isn't Gold Dots, but rather XTPs. Nowadays, there are a lot more options, but I've been carrying XTPs since 2016, so that's become my go-to for JHPs. Unlike some of the newer stuff like Federal Punch and Hydrashok DEEP, Hornady XTP bullets are used by a number of brands, so they're more widely available. __________________ Conspiracy theorists are the greatest political spin-doctors of all time. Only they can make the absolute worst political blunders sound like spectacular feats of ingenuity.

August 15, 2023, 08:52 PM	#9
riggins_83 Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2009 Location: Wherever I may roam Posts: 1,515	Many popular brands tend to fall short on penetration. I prefer the Precision One load with Hornady XTP (Not to be confused with critical defense). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNtPHYwcDts __________________ l've heard police work is dangerous. Yes, that's why l carry a big gun. Couldn't it go off accidentally? l used to have that problem. What did you do about it? l just think about baseball. -Leslie Nielsen

August 8, 2023, 04:13 PM	#3
Shadow9mm Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 4,597	Federal deep, or hornady critical defense would be my 2 picks. 380 has a habbit of under penetrating with hollow points. These 2 bullets got the expansion to penetration ratio just right. __________________ I don't believe in "range fodder" that is why I reload.

August 9, 2023, 03:42 PM	#5
seanc Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 1998 Posts: 624	.380 XTP from Precision One performs through 4 layers of denim and still expanded in gel and had 13.53" of penetration expanding to about .40", all through a 2.84" barrel. https://youtu.be/wOwCXXpEP50 Until I see actual gel testing for other cartridges showing better performance, I'm sticking with the XTP for my LCP II.

August 11, 2023, 09:03 PM	#7
Mosin44az Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2006 Posts: 2,626	Hornady Critical Defense works in mine. I will note that my Max took 280 rounds until it actually started functioning reliably.

August 15, 2023, 08:36 PM	#8
Fla_dogman Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2015 Posts: 276	I'm kinda sold on the underwood ultimate defense until something better comes along. I'm not familiar with the federal deep you guys mentioned. Sent from my moto g power using Tapatalk

August 17, 2023, 10:34 AM	#10
wild cat mccane Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 3,855	All XTP bullets are the same. FTX is the plugged "Flex Tip" version in Critical Defense. If it helps, Hornady's levels are "American Gunner" is the lowest, "Hornady" is second, and "Custom" is their highest..but FTX rounds don't cross between. This used to be true before Hornady sent a tearful message that they were pulling nickel cases because of their price...but kept prices the same. Lame. DEEP is really new. Not new, but not a lot was available when it came out. Only one seller on ammoseek right now. It's v2 of hydrashock with the post. Those were not always great in tests. I liked the shooting the bull series, but I didn't find anything wrong with Fiocchi. One thing that rubs me the wrong way on Precision One...they sell a lot of junk rounds as a reloading company. To be fair, Sig that values their ammo at gold pricing, also sells factory seconds. Just remember on super hot WonderWood ammo that they don't advertise, velocity increases drag at a 4:1 rate. Why a super sonic jet on earth can't just go light speed to go light speed, it has to go light speed plus 4xtimes to over come all the new resistance in drag. That increased drag is confused as "energy has to go somewhere, so it's going into the target" in gun forums. Simply not true. The energy in increased velocity on small handgun calibers is just going into drag. The hydroclastic damage is from rifle level velocity. Increase speed on an already borderline 380, then rapidly increase the rate of pedal expansion and you've go under penetration like you see in the massively expanded Cor-Bon bullets or Gold Dot. I think shooting the bull made causal that Precision One is the best...but against all XTP, they all fell within "good" because they are the same bullet. Meh. If you pic up a DEEP round, you're going to see it's like all copper rounds that expand the best, but go to shallow. But then there is the basically FMJ spire in the middle that is way lower than the original post in Hydroshok...bees knees. HST is the biggest disappointment because in 9mm, it rocks the world of even 10mm/357 rounds for penetration and expansion. Just doesn't expand in tests. I have boxes of all (underwood, original hydroshok, gold dot, hornady)...I think with all options, I am 100% good with my like of anything XTP or DEEP. My only second would be Golden Saber. replace Hydra with Hydro or whatever it is __________________ My wife is a pulmonologist (respiratory Dr) and epidemiologist. If you have any questions on COVID, please reach out to me in PM. Last edited by wild cat mccane; August 17, 2023 at 10:47 AM.*

August 18, 2023, 01:30 PM	#11
IDbound Member Join Date: February 28, 2010 Posts: 56	I recently came across something called G9 Defense manufactured up here in Northern Idaho. It is a redesigned Underwood bullet made to penetrate even better. These 70 gr. all copper bullets move along at a rated 1120 FPS.

August 21, 2023, 03:45 PM	#13
wild cat mccane Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 3,855	All FMJ from all calibers (.380-10mm) can fall in 32" of gel because of drag. I wouldn't say that is a good thing. If the fluting actually works, kinda curious that it could fall that far since it falls exactly into the least frictional FMJ bullet profile. __________________ My wife is a pulmonologist (respiratory Dr) and epidemiologist. If you have any questions on COVID, please reach out to me in PM. Last edited by wild cat mccane; August 21, 2023 at 03:58 PM.