Just bought what I expect to be best 380 ammo

[amd6547]

I sometimes carry a Beretta 84F, which does have a longer barrel.
In the factory loads, I have liked the old Hydrashok load.
But my carry load is the Underwood +P XTP load.
The combination of the Beretta and the Underwood XTP is surprisingly accurate at 25yds...

[jman841]

Originally Posted by wild cat mccane

"test gun barrel lengths were from common, compact handguns ranging from 2 ¾ to 3 ½ inches. "

https://www.federalpremium.com/news/...shok-deep.html

LCP is 2 3/4"

Look at the ballistics information on the product description page.

"Test Barrel Length In 3.75"

https://www.federalpremium.com/handg...-P380HSD1.html

[wild cat mccane]

gotcha!

I wouldn't worry about that part as that's the standard Federal display of "ballistic energy."

I think we're going to see this round kicking hard in in the gel tests.

[jman841]

Looking forward to it! Ammo selection for hollow points in .380 is probably the most critical of all the pistol calibers.

Now, if only I could get my LCP 2 to function 100% reliably. Need to take it to the range and test a few different ammo types to see if the issue is cheap range ammo, or if it's an issue with the gun.

[Sgt127]

I carry a Remington RM380 as a BUG at work and, in my pocket at home. I carry the Buffalo Bore Hardcast (regular pressure).

I’m all about penetration. A flat point hardcast that feeds reliably is good for me.

[wild cat mccane]

For sure, hardcast will likely shatter before normal copper wrapped FMJ deforms (if it ever does).

All copper rounds regardless of construction will be harder than anything else. I think you can find Lehigh Xtreme all copper rounds going through ballistic glass in 380 in standard pressure.

[HighValleyRanch]

The video I saw showed the LeHigh .380 penetrating 30 inches in ballistics gel!

[Shadow9mm]

I watched their product video, it seems about the same as most 380s. If I were to carry 380, it would be with lehigh extreme defenders.

[jimku]

Originally Posted by Shadow9mm

I watched their product video, it seems about the same as most 380s. If I were to carry 380, it would be with lehigh extreme defenders.

I do. And I do. Underwood Xtreme Defender and Xtreme Penetrator, alternating them in my magazine.

[TunnelRat]

Originally Posted by jimku

I do. And I do. Underwood Xtreme Defender and Xtreme Penetrator, alternating them in my magazine.

May I ask why you alternate them? I’ve known people that do this and I have never understood alternating bullet types in a pistol.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[wild cat mccane]

ANY FMJ from 380-10mm will goes 20-33" in gel. Each round has overlap with less powerful. This means a 380 FMJ could go deeper than a 10mm FMJ or the same depth. Heck, LuckyGunner has Federal HST 99gr HOLLOW POINT reaching 31" in their test. The act of weight and velocity all come to an end at some point.

It's not that Lehigh is special. What makes the Lehigh more of a consideration for thought is all copper is harder than FMJ copper wrapped.

Also, this is why I'm very against spending money on hardcast and thinking you're getting a better outdoor bullet than standard FMJ that has a harder copper shell.

I'm sure people have hunted successfully with hardcast, but I'm not sure they could ever say a box of target grade FMJ wouldn't have done the exact same thing.


But darn it, still waiting on the DEEP to come to my doorstep

[Shadow9mm]

Originally Posted by TunnelRat

May I ask why you alternate them? I’ve known people that do this and I have never understood alternating bullet types in a pistol.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have seen people alternate rounds. Generally the reason used is better penetration through barriers with ball ammo vs HP. I think it is partially a old tradition dating back to when hollow point ammunition had issues making it through barriers.

[TX Nimrod]

I guess with all the thread’s focus on POI and terminal performance no one cares about reliable functioning of their SD ammo choice in their pistol. Just because FMJ practice ammo functions fine doesn’t mean that the more critical SD ammo will. Everyone needs to run a box or three of their SD ammo through their pistol yearly, otherwise how will they know they don’t have a single shot SD pistol?



.

[Shadow9mm]

Originally Posted by wild cat mccane

ANY FMJ from 380-10mm will goes 20-33" in gel. Each round has overlap with less powerful. This means a 380 FMJ could go deeper than a 10mm FMJ or the same depth. Heck, LuckyGunner has Federal HST 99gr HOLLOW POINT reaching 31" in their test. The act of weight and velocity all come to an end at some point.

It's not that Lehigh is special. What makes the Lehigh more of a consideration for thought is all copper is harder than FMJ copper wrapped.

Also, this is why I'm very against spending money on hardcast and thinking you're getting a better outdoor bullet than standard FMJ that has a harder copper shell.

I'm sure people have hunted successfully with hardcast, but I'm not sure they could ever say a box of target grade FMJ wouldn't have done the exact same thing.


But darn it, still waiting on the DEEP to come to my doorstep

yes the lehigh is special. it is able to create cavitation without expanding thus preserving its penetration. I watched some of the "deep" testing, 13in. If you are looking at FBI standards you are just over the minimum of 12 , 1in past, and 6in short of max.

[wild cat mccane]

Penetrator vs Defend. Sure.

SGAmmo delivery tomorrow! Yeah! Post pics up then

[GarandTd]

Being that every individual firearm can potentially respond to ammunition differently, I think function testing is necessary. I think experienced shooters know this and anyone that takes SD seriously is going to test their ammunition. Considering the variances from one gun to the next, I don't see how a thread about functionality is going to be very useful, but there are always exceptions.

[Shadow9mm]

Originally Posted by GarandTd

Being that every individual firearm can potentially respond to ammunition differently, I think function testing is necessary. I think experienced shooters know this and anyone that takes SD seriously is going to test their ammunition. Considering the variances from one gun to the next, I don't see how a thread about functionality is going to be very useful, but there are always exceptions.

yes this should be a given. you have to shoot some in each gun you plan to use it in to make sure it is going to run properly

[wild cat mccane]

Didn't grab others (yet) to show comparison pics (XTP, Gold Dot, Lehigh Penetrator, Hydro Shok, PUNCH, etc).

Almost forgot Federal has a $5 rebate per box on these. I paid $24 per box.

If it feeds, just looking at it...it looks like it should do what is claimed. The 99gr weight has me looking forward to gel tests too. The folds/pinches on the copper are significant.

I think it has all the right elements to peak interest in this 380 option without the smaller expansion of XTP, which I currently carry.

Will post comparison pics later.

[jman841]

Very cool. Curious to see how this does in Gel tests and against "The Meat Target"

[jman841]

Just picked up some federal punch at Bass Pro today, didn't see the price until I got to the register. $12.99 a box +5% off for veterans.

Couldn't believe it, I only got 2 boxes but might go grab some more, incredible price and looks like an excellent bullet.

[wild cat mccane]

Be careful on PUNCH given what it is.

PUNCH is suppose to be a discount version of HST. Strangely it costs the same in 9mm as HST. HST in 380 hasn't been great as it doesn't expand at 99gr. That they made PUNCH 85gr...85gr tends to expand too much.

If PUNCH came out as 95gr., my doubts would be gone. I'm betting it's going to be big expansion at 8 inch penetration.

[jman841]

Originally Posted by wild cat mccane

Be careful on PUNCH given what it is.

PUNCH is suppose to be a discount version of HST. Strangely it costs the same in 9mm as HST. HST in 380 hasn't been great as it doesn't expand at 99gr. That they made PUNCH 85gr...85gr tends to expand too much.

If PUNCH came out as 95gr., my doubts would be gone. I'm betting it's going to be big expansion at 8 inch penetration.

Sorry, I forgot to specify, I picked it up in 9mm.

For 9mm I think it will be a great round, It's 124 Gr in 9mm which is my preferred bullet weight for a defensive bullet.

[dgang]

For the most powerful .380 ammunition from a pocket pistol without going into the +P pressures ( I know, no such thing ) hard to beat Double Tap 95gr H.P. Just under 1000 fps, opens up nicely from a Ruger LCP.