[Josh Smith]

Hello,

I've been thinking about the .380's penetration.

In summer I think it's just acceptable around here.

In winter, I try to carry my 9mm as often as possible. However, I can't do that all the time.

I have a couple different types of ammo sitting around here for the .380. The first is what's currently in the gun - CCI Blazer HP that look an awful lot like Gold Dots without the "gold dot." The other is WWB WinClean

 

[Guest]

I would think ball ammo would be better considering all the clothing people wear in the winter and what with the .380hp's I've tested it just doesn't seem to have a good penetration to expansion ratio especially when fired through multiple layers of fabric.
YMMV
(edited to add) I would go with the wwb.

 

[Bob Reed]

Hello,

I vote for Solids when carring .32's & .380's.

Take Care,

 

[twoguns]

Mr. Josh,

Howdy sir. As much as I prefer a good JHP for personal defense, with the extra clothing winter always means, I have to vote with the others. If you carry a spare magazine, maybe a few JHPs up top in the reload mag might be ok, but more so if you think head shots might be appropriate at that stage of events. Otherwise my reload would probably be all WWB too.

But as you noted, especially with all the added clothing winter causes, I would suggest you use your 9mm as much as possible too.

twoguns

 

[Guest]

Jsoh, I'd go with FMJ, too. Though I'd suggest looking into getting a Kahr PM9 for a deep carry gun rather than using any .380. Costs a few more bucks, but you get a reliable and very packable 9x19mm platform.

 

[erich]

While I'd go with FMJ, the Winchester stuff is pretty anemic in my gun. (I use Magtech now.) My recent .380 FMJ chrono results are posted on this forum (as you probably know).

http://handgunsandammo.proboards36.com/index.cgi?board=calibers&action=display&thread=1169955946

 

[Guest]

Hollowpoints are notorious for plugging up with cloth when shot through heavy clothing and not expanding, so this discussion may very well be moot.

 

[Josh Smith]

Nevadaalan,

The reason I don't believe it's moot is because, in my mind at least, a bullet with a flat meplat would cause more damage than a plugged hollowpoint.

Josh <><

 

[Guest]

Nevadaalan,

The reason I don't believe it's moot is because, in my mind at least, a bullet with a flat meplat would cause more damage than a plugged hollowpoint.

Josh <><

Maybe I'm misreading this but isn't that Navadaalans' point?

 

[erich]

I think you're counting angels dancing on the heads of pins in arguing flat nose (all meplats are flat ) vs. clogged hp. You know how a nationally renowned pathologist working on a case of ours told me that he couldn't tell the difference between the wound channels left by .38s, 357s, 9mms, .40s or .45s - whether FMJ or JHP. You can bet your bippie there would be no discernable difference between the channels left by a .380 FMJ and a .380 clogged JHP, flat nose or no.

 

[pff]

The only reason I like the flatnose better than the normal ball is I think its slightly less likely to deflect on internal structures.

Regards,

Pat