Carry ammo for LCP?

[kb4ns]

Tried searching the threads, but didn't see what I was looking for. Sorry if this has been adressed elsewhere.

So I finally got on Gunbroker and found an LCP for the misses. Got it transferred in and picked it up the other day. It's looking like she'll have to settle for whatever carry ammo I can find. Now I'm not all that familiar with the types of 380 ammo out there and their reliability (I'm more of a 45 through 9mm guy), nor am I real familiar with the LCPs. Is there any certain brand(s) or type(s) of 380 defense ammo I should avoid? Is there any brand or type that's known to not jive well with an LCP?

[TripleDigitRide]

In my humble opinion, I'd go with Cor-Bon 90 grain, or the Federal Hydro Shock 90 grain.

[TripleDigitRide]

Here's a pretty good link. Scroll down for .380 ammo.

Selection of best ammunition for a defensive handgun

[kb4ns]

Cool. Thanks. I know I have read about certain Kel-Tecs not liking certain Cor-Bon rounds and things like that. Wasn't sure if there was any brand that did not function well with LCPs.

[Guest bkelm18]

This may be opening a can of worms, but personally I feel .380 is a bit underpowered for hollowpoint and would stick to FMJ. Again that's just my opinion and I know many oppose it and many support it.

[deerslayer]

This may be opening a can of worms, but personally I feel .380 is a bit underpowered for hollowpoint and would stick to FMJ.

+1

[Garufa]

Since we're "going there" again...I currently have Prvi Partizan 94 gr FMJ's in mine, might get a wild hair and put some Fiocchi 95 gr FMJ's in it or some WWB FMJ's.

See a theme here?

[aquaman67]

I've been reading a lot about why not to carry hollow points in .380 and why FMJ is better, ect so I decided to test both types of ammo I had on hand, just to see.

I used old catalogs. They are hard cover, like books.

I was about 10 feet away. I loaded the rounds in the same mag and didn't move until all shots were fired.

First up was the Golden Saber.

The Hollow Point it made it to page 263. It expaned very nicely. The round looks like a little metal starfish.

Next up was the Speer Lawman.

It only made it to page 247. This confuses me as a lot of people on here say to carry FMJ and not hollow points because FMJ penetrates better.

Not this time it didn't.

[Guest bkelm18]

I've been reading a lot about why not to carry hollow points in .380 and why FMJ is better, ect so I decided to test both types of ammo I had on hand, just to see.

I used old catalogs. They are hard cover, like books.

I was about 10 feet away. I loaded the rounds in the same mag and didn't move until all shots were fired.

First up was the Golden Saber.

The Hollow Point it made it to page 263. It expaned very nicely. The round looks like a little metal starfish.

Next up was the Speer Lawman.

It only made it to page 247. This confuses me as a lot of people on here say to carry FMJ and not hollow points because FMJ penetrates better.

Not this time it didn't.

Well, obviously there were a lot of variables with this test. Not saying one is better than the other, but if I were to carry a .380, I'd trust my life to FMJ. YMMV.

[Guest sigmaguy]

I carry PMC Starfire 95gr in my LCP.

Starfire PMC Ammo's Gold Line Ammunition | PMC Ammunition: Precision Made Cartridges

[aquaman67]

Here is some updated ballistic info on .380's

http://www.brassfetcher.com/380ACP%20ammunition%20performance%20in%20ballistic%20gelatin.pdf

[VolunteerGuns]

Golden Sabres are what are in my P380. Great results. If you aren't opposed to a L O N G wait, Hornady Critical Defense is a good choice.

JUST MY ,

before someone goes into attack mode over my opinion:p

[VolunteerGuns]

.

Edited April 18, 2010 by adamween
double post

[frankmako]

i don't have a ruger, but i do have the kel tec p3at. i have a hydro shok in the pipe and fmj ball ammo in the mag.

[kb4ns]

Thanks for the info guys. I've known a few guys who staggered FMJ and HP rounds in their 380's. Guess that's the "best of both worlds" approach...

[RD3]

speer gold dot for my wife's, shoots very well in both an lcp and PK380

[Guest Gene83]

speer gold dot for my wife's, shoots very well in both an lcp and PK380

And it's also currently available online at Cabela's. An important consideration when you are choosing .380 ammo.

[Guest k9rsq]

While I can appreciate the concerns raised so far on penetration with an LCP, one of my concerns is collateral damage and consequently I am considering either the DRT frangible or the Cor Bon DPX rounds for the LCP, at least for the one in the pipe and the first couple in the mag. Has anyone any first hand experience on feeding issues with the Cor Bon DPX in the LCP .. or does anyone have any first hand validation of the advertised disintegration of the DRT frangible rounds in the .380 acp calibre?

--

John

[JAB]

I have Federal Hydra Shok in my P3AT and will continue using that as my carry ammo - assuming I can find any more. In the Brassfetcher tests, HS did not give the best expansion but expansion seems to have been consistent whether bare or lightly clothed gelatin was used. Further, the range of penetration depth was from 11.9 to 12.5 inches. As I am not in the FBI and probably won't be attempting to shoot through barriers with a pocket pistol, I consider the FBI's 12 inch rule to be more of a loose guideline than an absolute 'have to have'. Seriously - how many BGs are going to know the difference between having a 85-90 grain piece of metal inserted ten inches into their gut and having that same piece of metal twelve inches in? That said, it is nice that the Federal stuff pretty much meets the 12 inch 'requirement' while still giving some expansion.

I am so low on Hydra Shoks, however, that I am currently carrying the 'value pack' Remington UMC JHPs in my backup mag. I figure that the likelihood of needing a reload (or, more to the point, having a chance to reload) with pocket pistol isn't very high, anyway. I'm not sure that the design of the UMC hollowpoint will give any expansion at .380 velocities. My thought, however, is that if those expand a little then great - and if they don't then they will perform just as well as an FMJ.