380 ammo recommendations

[Megasaki]

Hey guys, what is the best 380 ammo choices for accuracy/ range work?

 

[ajeandy]

Anything /shrug

If you’re having accuracy issues it’s likely the gun/technique.

micro pistols like the lcp are hard to be accurate with.

The most accurate 380 I ever had was the glock 42

 

[Bigtanker]

Right now, anything you can find.

Each pistol is a little different and some like one brand of ammo more that others. But most .380's are not target pistols. What gun are you shooting?

 

[2A_Tom]

Get a 9mm. This from a guy that only carries a 45.

 

[EyeCarry]

Of all the 380 stuff I have fired, I was really surprised at the DRT ammo. Certainly don't want to use it for range ammo/target/practice stuff. Accurate though? I was surprised at how accurate it was for me.
Like others said above, whatever you can find right now, AND 380 guns tend to be harder, in general, to be accurate with.

 

[Megasaki]

OK. thanks guys. I didnt know if there were accuracy trends in particular brands/ bullet weights.

 

[Emerson Dambiggins]

OK. thanks guys. I didnt know if there were accuracy trends in particular brands/ bullet weights.

It might help us if we knew what gun are you using. As others mentioned, some guns tend to prefer one brand over others.

 

[Robert Richardson]

Get a 9mm. This from a guy that only carries a 45.

I thought 380 was just a fad.

 

[halfmileharry]

My P3AT loves MagTec hp. I think they are 90gr but I have to get off my butt to make sure.
S&W Bodyguard likes anything Hornady.
The new LCP I picked up a few months ago isn't picky.
Every gun is different and you will have to experiment and find what your gun prefers.

 

[cosermann]

As far as FMJ goes, Blazer Brass and Speer Lawman are good. Never had an issue with those.

If you're looking for some JHP that might both penetrate and expand adequately (not easy to do with the limited horsepower the 380 has to work with), take a look at some of these loads.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNtPHYwcDts&t=580s

(Video summary: XTP (loaded by Hornady/American Gunner, Fiocchi, etc.) or Federal HydraShok - and if they don't expand they still perform as well as FMJ, but with higher quality control.)

Since the above video was done, Federal has come out with a Hydrashok DEEP load in 380. Seems promising, but I haven't seen/heard much testing/use of it.

 

[Megasaki]

As far as FMJ goes, Blazer Brass and Speer Lawman are good. Never had an issue with those.

If you're looking for some JHP that might both penetrate and expand adequately (not easy to do with the limited horsepower the 380 has to work with), take a look at some of these loads.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNtPHYwcDts&t=580s

(Video summary: XTP (loaded by Hornady/American Gunner, Fiocchi, etc.) or Federal HydraShok - and if they don't expand they still perform as well as FMJ, but with higher quality control.)

Since the above video was done, Federal has come out with a Hydrashok DEEP load in 380. Seems promising, but I haven't seen/heard much testing/use of it.

thanks. I will pick some up.

 

[gmcttr]

Of course they are out of stock but Precision One is another manufacturer that loads .380 with the XTP. I picked up a 250 pack a few years ago.

 

[DadSmith]

thanks. I will pick some up.

My son and I were discussing this issue with the 380. Most are 3" barrels or less and the ability to expand just isn't there. We decided a RN bullet would be best in one because a HP just won't expand. Maybe a +p 380 HP might have a good chance for expansion, just make sure your firearm is capable of firing them.

https://www.underwoodammo.com/products/380-acp-p-90-grain-bonded-jacketed-hollow-point

[video=youtube_share;3h1Ml5h2ECY]https://youtu.be/3h1Ml5h2ECY[/video]

 

[bogus]

My son and I were discussing this issue with the 380. Most are 3" barrels or less and the ability to expand just isn't there. We decided a RN bullet would be best in one because a HP just won't expand. Maybe a +p 380 HP might have a good chance for expansion, just make sure your firearm is capable of firing them.

https://www.underwoodammo.com/products/380-acp-p-90-grain-bonded-jacketed-hollow-point

[video=youtube_share;3h1Ml5h2ECY]https://youtu.be/3h1Ml5h2ECY[/video]

I recently picked-up a different offering from Underwood that uses the Leghigh bullet. It seems to be the best of both worlds. Penetration of FMJ and permanent wound cavity of hollow-point. Also appears to be somewhat barrier blind. Not sure if this is a consistent finding out on the web but definitely an interesting point in MAC's review below.

https://youtu.be/-PDQcE-1T40

[video=youtube_share;-PDQcE-1T40]https://youtu.be/-PDQcE-1T40[/video]

 

[ajeandy]

I find all of these penetration tests pretty comical for 380...sure some go further than others...some expand more...etc...but it doesn't really matter. The main thing you want to do is hit your target, and hit them enough times to make them stop coming after you. I guarantee you that no one will line up to get shot by any caliber of gun, much less a .380. When I owned a glock 42 I considered getting these "best performers" like the Lehigh or the Underwood ammo, but it's just too overpriced to practice with and comfortably test. I ended up using Hornady "American Gunner" JHPs as my carry as it was their cheaper line of critical duty or defense, not sure. I think I paid less than $20 for a box of 20 at the time.

 

[WWalker]

https://soldiersystems.net/2020/07/10/federal-ammunition-introduces-new-hydra-shok-deep-380-auto/