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44 Special
Posts: 9 New Member
I'm not crazy about the .380,however...,
44 Special
Posts: 9 New Member
I've never been crazy about the ,380 auto as a defensive caliber, however, I do carry one as a BUG on rare occasions.Therefore,took out my Kel Tec P3AT,and Ruger LCP to try out some ammo,for function& performance.I fired both weapons from 15 feet into one gallon water jugs,back to back,covered with old shirts.I must say I was in for a surprise.I used Speer Gold Dot JHP, Corbon JHP, Federal Hydra Shok, Hornady Critical Defense,and Buffalo Bore with the DPX bullet.
As per the attached photos you can see the only rounds that expanded reliably were the Buffalo Bore DPX load. All the other rounds penetrated like FMJ, doing very little damage to the jugs.I know this is not the most scientific test,but I only decided to do it after having shot some small critters (armadillo),and such ,only to have these premium rounds go right through the animal,and the animal running off.So,I started to rethink my choice of ammo in the micro .380 handguns.The Buffalo Bore performed consistently every time in clothed covered water jugs,as well,as on small critters.In the first photo,left to right:Buffalo Bore, 2nd photo (Gold Dot,Corbon,Hydra Shok, Hornady CD ),last photo Hornady CD before & after fired. The Buffalo Bore ,through my chrony clocked over 1100fps,with an average of 1110 from both pistols.The Buffalo Bore penetrated 12-14 inches having been found in the third jug.I fired a box of each brand,and these were always the same results,except most of the Gold Dot,Corbon,Hydra Shok,and especially the Hornady CD going through all the water jugs,and penetrating in phone books behind the 6th water jug .
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So,if you carry a .380,especially the short barreled models,you may want to try Buffalo Bore or Corbon DPX,as a defensive round,if they feed in your pistol.I was not able to get my hands on the Corbon DPX,but,it should perform close to the Buffalo Bore ,even though the velocity is a bit slower. I think most of these loads would obviously do a bit better out of a Walther,Bersa,or several of the longer barrel .380s ? I think I would try it out before carry. The .380 is the bare minimum in my book,but,the ammo is getting better all the time ! I did the same test with my S&W model 60 snub in .357,using popular .38 special+p,& .357 loads,and will post those later.
If I had more ammo,I would have tested more ! I started to try the Corbon PowRball in.380,but the plastic ball jammed going up the feed ramp of my LCP,so,I didn't do any shooting with that load.I hear it works well in some pistols,but,I got a bit turned off when it FTF on the first shot as I had ball for the first round in the chamber .
If anyone knows of any other .380 loads that they have had good function,& performance with,I would be interested. For now though,in my backup .380,I'm overly pleased with the Buffalo Bore even though they are a bit expensive ! Great load for these short barrel pocket pistols .
As per the attached photos you can see the only rounds that expanded reliably were the Buffalo Bore DPX load. All the other rounds penetrated like FMJ, doing very little damage to the jugs.I know this is not the most scientific test,but I only decided to do it after having shot some small critters (armadillo),and such ,only to have these premium rounds go right through the animal,and the animal running off.So,I started to rethink my choice of ammo in the micro .380 handguns.The Buffalo Bore performed consistently every time in clothed covered water jugs,as well,as on small critters.In the first photo,left to right:Buffalo Bore, 2nd photo (Gold Dot,Corbon,Hydra Shok, Hornady CD ),last photo Hornady CD before & after fired. The Buffalo Bore ,through my chrony clocked over 1100fps,with an average of 1110 from both pistols.The Buffalo Bore penetrated 12-14 inches having been found in the third jug.I fired a box of each brand,and these were always the same results,except most of the Gold Dot,Corbon,Hydra Shok,and especially the Hornady CD going through all the water jugs,and penetrating in phone books behind the 6th water jug .
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So,if you carry a .380,especially the short barreled models,you may want to try Buffalo Bore or Corbon DPX,as a defensive round,if they feed in your pistol.I was not able to get my hands on the Corbon DPX,but,it should perform close to the Buffalo Bore ,even though the velocity is a bit slower. I think most of these loads would obviously do a bit better out of a Walther,Bersa,or several of the longer barrel .380s ? I think I would try it out before carry. The .380 is the bare minimum in my book,but,the ammo is getting better all the time ! I did the same test with my S&W model 60 snub in .357,using popular .38 special+p,& .357 loads,and will post those later.
If I had more ammo,I would have tested more ! I started to try the Corbon PowRball in.380,but the plastic ball jammed going up the feed ramp of my LCP,so,I didn't do any shooting with that load.I hear it works well in some pistols,but,I got a bit turned off when it FTF on the first shot as I had ball for the first round in the chamber .
If anyone knows of any other .380 loads that they have had good function,& performance with,I would be interested. For now though,in my backup .380,I'm overly pleased with the Buffalo Bore even though they are a bit expensive ! Great load for these short barrel pocket pistols .
A successful law suit,is the one worn by a policeman . "Robert Frost"
Replies
Recoil is how you know primer ignition is complete.
His spleen, part of his liver, ruptured his diaphragm, and the surgeons had to repair his pancreas while leaving the bullet in him because it was very close to blood vessels and his spine. He has gone through an extensive recovery, and after a year now, he is just about back to normal.
As has been said, the 9mm is significantly more potent than a .380. One of the reasons the recoil feels so close is that blowback .380s kick relatively hard, for what they are. I still like my PPK because it points very well for me, and is accurate, despite a heavy DA pull and small sites. I haven't found a 9mm in that size range that I liked the feel of as much.
With a .380 or even 9mm Mak , I'll take penetration and hitting as many vital organs or major blood vessals as fate will have it instead of counting on the bullets turining into a petty perfect mushroom.
BTW , ya forgot Glaser Safety Slugs!
"Nothing is safe from stupid." - Zee
Your results with the .380 mirror the results I have gotten.
There is a place for the .380 and or the .22 lr; just depends on
the situation and the user and their recoil sensitivity.
expierence is with a short barreled revolver not a pistol, so the results should
probably be worse than with a pistol.
In any case the damage to things is considerably worse than what I get with a .380.
Tell me you can empty your 380 as fast as you can pull the trigger in to a dinner plate (or smaller) at 5 feet or less, and I'll tell you, you are highly likely to survive and win, if faced with a life or death gun battle. Can you shoot in an instant, accurately? Is your mind trained? Have you told your family what to do as danger is approaching, or just pulled a gun?
Carry the gun you'll carry everywhere. It's far more important than caliber. Then accuracy, it's vital, regardless of caliber. Then make sure your mind, and your family know what you're going to do, (in advance of) and in the event of, your encounter with evil.......
So, after all that long-winded pontificating, how many gunfights or other attacks have you survived with your two-fisted gunplay? Just wondering- - - - - -
Jerry
His was in .32 ACP. Before that, he killed people with a .25 Beretta.
I've never, nor have I met anyone that has experienced a deadly firearm confrontation that was not a police officer. I hope I never do. But I have spent 25 years experimenting, shooting, reading strategies from the best self defense experts in the business, and have come up with my recipe for my survival, in the event I find myself in a deadly situation. My point is, there are many things more important than caliber. My intent was to share "my" strategy to survive a deadly encounter. And "my" belief that caliber is very low on the importance of surviving a deadly encounter. A 22LR in the hands of an expert marksman is all you need.
I was not aware that posting opinions and strategies in this forum were contingent on personally experiencing a gun battle.
So this forum needs a certification program just for those who have experienced (and can prove) they personally were in a gun fight, so you can only view "survivor posts".
Please don't read any more of my posts. They cannot help you!
Then there was this mad-cow elk....well we all know or have heard how fast an elk can move....I wasn't taking any chances as she was giving me that "crazy look".....again, I seem to like being "over-gunned".....so this time I was carrying a .300 winmag......an M256 120mm is kinda awkward to carry by hand.....well she rushed me, and I had to put her down. You're right......caliber's not as important as shot placement......like Dodgeball.....only a hit counts.
Jerry
What you say about Mausers I will take as "Gospel", just as I would what Dan or Gene say about a potentially deadly situation involving conceiled weapons, but this man also has raised a good point that should be given consideration before being rejected as worthless. Just my opinion.
Jerry
No, wouldn't do it with a 45 ether!
If I had to.. I take it the neighbor's mongoose and honey badger are out on loan?
You are one of them.
NO, I hate snakes...