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Old November 11, 2012, 02:35 PM   #1
Mrgunsngear
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Underwood Ammo 380 +P Ballistics Gel Test & Review





Like a lot of you, I carry a 380 pocket gun sometimes because it's convient and conceals well in most outfits. And like many of you, I view the 380ACP round as relatively underpowered but still much better than nothing. So, the search for a 380 round with relatively good performance has led me to the 90gr Speer Gold Dot rounds and I've trusted them for many years now.

Well, theres a new round out from Underwood Ammo that uses the tested bonded Gold Dot bullet but loads it to a higher pressure (22,900 cup) producing a pretty good increase in energy out of my test gun (Bodyguard 380) and that's nothing to sneeze at. In the calibrated ballistics gel (with 4 layers of denim) used in the video below it got 11'' of penetration, expanded to .48 inches, and had a retained weight of 89.5 grains (5.8g=89.5 grains).

I realize there's no SAMMI spec for "+p" 380ACP but this is certainly a hot round. With that said, be sure you have a firearm that can handle the chamber pressures caused by using this round––-if not, you may damage your firearm (and hand).

Underwood uses a 3.5'' PPK barrel for their advertised velocity but since most people who carry 380s use a pocket gun, I tested it in a 2.75'' barrel. Here's the chrono numbers:

Speer Gold Dot 90gr JHPs: 964fps, 186 ft/lbs energy
Underwood Gold Dot 90gr JHPs: 1086fps, 236 ft/lbs energy

Test video:

Underwood Ballistics Gel Test Video Link
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Old November 11, 2012, 03:25 PM   #2
jmortimer
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The .380 is coming along. Underwood is at the top along with Buffalo Bore in my book. I can't picture you with a .380 ACP. Thanks for the info.
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Old November 12, 2012, 08:41 AM   #3
Mrgunsngear
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Quote:
I can't picture you with a .380 ACP.
I occasionally carried a 25acp for a a few years as well but with the improvements in 380 pocket guns I've sold off all the smaller caliber guns. I generally carry a 9mm or 40S&W but I'm a believer in the 'the 380 in your pocket is better than the 45 in your glove box' mentality.
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Old November 12, 2012, 10:13 AM   #4
wnycollector
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Nice test and write-up. Underwood makes high quality ammo and very fair prices.
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Old November 13, 2012, 03:16 PM   #5
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Hello,

Do you know if Underwood owns CUP testing gear and performs their own tests, and if so, was their 9x18 test pressure data that you quoted earlier obtained by CUP testing?
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Old November 13, 2012, 06:42 PM   #6
Mrgunsngear
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Sorry I do not know that. The owner, Kevin Underwood, is very user-friendly though. If you shoot him an email he usually responds with 24 hours.
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Old November 13, 2012, 09:36 PM   #7
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plouffedaddy I sent you a PM.
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Old November 13, 2012, 10:26 PM   #8
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I did not get it.
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