Who makes the hottest .380 ball?

[Cheapshooter]

If I carried a .380 every day you can be sure it won't be WW White box 88fmj for a number of reasons.

I do carry a 380 every day. It's loaded with Speer Gold Dot!

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Both the Keltec P3AT and the Ruger LCP are locked breech guns. The Beretta is a blowback operated gun. The locked breech guns can handle hotter ammunition than a blowback.

 

[Hal]

My only question here is - why?

What possible purpose would "hot" ball ammo serve in .380 acp?

"Hot" or not - all that extra (supposed) velocity is going to get you is extended range & a flatter trajectory.
It's not like it's going to get you any extra energy for expansion....

I believe you should examine the relationships of projectiles & how they behave more closely.

If your thinking more velocity will net you more penetration, then you are 100% looking down the wrong path.

Higher sectional density - ie - a heavier bullet - is what you want for deeper penetration.

& yes - 100% for sure, in winter I carry FMJ in my Ruger LCP.

 

[MP-44]

 

[Hal]

9mm or .380 - which I guess both are really.

Don't fret the responses......

This is after all an open forum & things posted here can and will show up in an internet search for something related.
If something takes your question a bit farther than you wanted - it might end up being just exactly what someone else on the internet is searching for.

Case in point -
https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=604890

I recalled having a "V" mark on my long gone 617 also & I was curious as to why.
The link there is from 9 years ago.

Chill and have some "Christmas Cheer" -

 

[American Man]

I've used +P in the LCP and P3AT. I was just letting him know he needs to check his manuals, if anything just to know what they say about using +P. One of them said not to use it at all while the other shouldn't get a steady diet. I just shoot standard power nowadays so I forgot which is which.

 

[Cheapshooter]

I've used +P in the LCP and P3AT. I was just letting him know he needs to check his manuals, if anything just to know what they say about using +P. One of them said not to use it at all while the other shouldn't get a steady diet. I just shoot standard power nowadays so I forgot which is which

Ruger says do not use +P in red, bold print in the LCP manual
I think Kel-Tec says it's OK
For the OP's Beretta, don't know. But as stated earlier....Why?
Standard pressure ammo is going to do anything as well as hyped up falsly titled +p.

 

[Geezerbiker]

IS Corbon still around? They used to make pretty hot ammo in most pistol cartridges. I remember buying some in .380 but that was a long time ago...

Tony

 

[TruthTellers]

If you want the highest velocity, I'd look at the Inceptor ammo that shoots a 60 grain bullet at 1200 fps.

 

[rodfac]

I'll start the response thread with Buffalo Bore's +P traveling at 1150 fps.

Holy cow! What length bbl. were they using for that velocity....and at what pressures? I've run some pretty hot handloads through my S&W Bodyguard380 and have yet to see 900+fps wink out on my chronograph.

It's my opinion that all ammunition manufacturers publish VERY optimistic muzzle velocities for their ammunition...and that covers all calibers too.

YMMv Rod

 

[wild cat mccane]

Corbon was bought by the Freedom Group (Remington). Corbon stock seems to come and go. Barnes (also Freedom Group bought) was/is the bullet in Corbon. Barnes is Freedom's big bullet name.

Corbon 80gr in 380 was the gold standard back in the day when it was just the P3AT.


Bullet is more important, not just in 380. Since the Hornady XTP was designed to penetrate more than expand. Hornady (maker of the XTP) states it's made with "controlled expansion." That is different than Federal/CCI (Vista Outdoors owns both) HST or Gold Dot which is set total expansion.

XTP seems to be a good bullet in 380. It expands to XTP's maximum expansion point and hits 12" in the 380 without high +P pressure.

 

[stinkeypete]

While I agree with most of what CheapShooter has said, my Berra Thunder is remarkably accurate with a surprisingly good trigger. While it’s not a bullseye gun, I could shoot it at Club League and not be close to last place.

I’m still working on perfecting a load, but the Winchester bullets are decided on.

 

[TBM900]

Thanks!!

I can "second" both S&B & Prvi Partisan

I carry PPU ball in the 380EZ and get excellent penetration
No need to waste money on boutique HP's as they simply do not penetrate far enough if they open
Penetration is far more important than expansion*











* (yes I said it... que the haters)

 

[Cheapshooter]

Penetration is far more important than expansion

Penetration is just one part of the equation.
Shot placement being the most critical.
Penetration without hitting "important stuff" can be much less effective than lesser penetration, but tearing up some goodies.

 

[TBM900]

Penetration is just one part of the equation.
Shot placement being the most critical.
Penetration without hitting "important stuff" can be much less effective than lesser penetration, but tearing up some goodies.

Cleary you've never seen my "3 P's" mantra

Practice
Placement
Penetration



In typical self-defense scenarios
Using common service caliber handguns
The 3 P's trump all of the common arguments

 

[wild cat mccane]

FMJ 380 really shouldn't perform worse than 9mm FMJ.

Indeed, gel tests show in the 20s".



I don't think anyone would recommend 9mm doing that.
Myself, I wouldn't say 380 FMJ is the way to go based on that.

 

[zoo]

Close up, .380 should do whatever you need keeping in mind the limitations of a light pistol load.

 

[gbclarkson]

I'll start the response thread with Buffalo Bore's +P traveling at 1150 fps.

Holy cow! What length bbl. were they using for that velocity....and at what pressures? I've run some pretty hot handloads through my S&W Bodyguard380 and have yet to see 900+fps wink out on my chronograph.

According to Buffalo Bore's website:

"Item 27A/20 is a 100gr. HARD cast bullet with a flat nose. It is traveling over 1,150 fps out of my 3.75 inch BDA (Browning Double Action)."

"➤ 1,160 fps -- BDA 3.75-inch barrel
➤ 1,149 fps -- Walther PPK 3.5-inch barrel
➤ 1,072 fps -- Colt Mustang Pocket Lite-2.75 inch barrel
➤ 1,061 fps -- Keltec"

 

[Cheapshooter]

Cleary you've never seen my "3 P's" mantra

Practice
Placement
Penetration



In typical self-defense scenarios
Using common service caliber handguns
The 3 P's trump all of the common arguments

Except for the fact that an assailant isn't going to be a piece of paper, stapled to a stationary stand. More likely a moving, jumping, running, slashing, stabbing, kicking, grabbing target.
That's when Murphy's law trumps all the training you have under your belt.
Not to say that practice isn't needed, or helpfull. But in the final result, luck has almost as much to do with hitting that tiny area of the spine that will immediately incapacitate a human as all the practice, and training.
Without that perfect hit to the CNS you are then hoping for one of the less sure ways that a human is incapacitated. Physical pain from being shot. In which a more destructive item passing through tissue would be helpful. Or mental shock from the fact they have been shot. Again, more tissue damage than a small hole poked through could be helpful. But maybe not. Mental shock, fainting, can be seriously effected by state of mind, adrenalin, or drugs.

 

[TBM900]

What is the point of the extra recoil, blast, flash, pressure, and cost needed to get an extra 100-200fps out of 380 ball, when a standard pressure ball will easily fully penetrate the torso of a fully clothed adult.

Take the extra cost and apply it to simply shooting more and that practice will trump any perceived advantage of the expensive boutique cartridge.

Practice
Placement
Penetration