.380
 

Who makes the best ammo for a .380?

found this on the inter web:
So what .380 rounds are acceptable for self-defense?

Again, you have to think “barrel length” first, then go looking for the right ammo …

ShootingTheBull.net did an extensive test of over 30 different types of ammo with his 2.8″ barrel pocket pistol.

His conclusion?

With his 2.8″ barrel testing, he found 5 out of the 30 loads tested met the standards. Every ammo load using the Hornady XTP JHP (jacketed hollow point) made it into the “winners circle”. Surprisingly, Federal Hydra-shoks did pretty well (even though they’re older bullet technology). The overall winner he chose was the Precision One .380 ACP 90 grain XTP.

I always like what the good Colonel Jeff Cooper said about the .380 and other such rounds. "Do not shoot anyone with one of these. If they find out about it, they are likely to get upset, and you will be standing there unarmed."

I'd run FMJ or better yet, flat nose FMJ in .380 rather than JHP.

Plenty of gangsters in the 1930s carried a Colt 1903 in .380 ACP. General Patton carried one.

I agree with this and get the longest barrel. I really like the 1903 for carry. I have one with Ceracoat.

Also

BBTI - Ballistics by the Inch :: .380 Auto Results
BBTI - Ballistics by the Inch :: .380 Auto Results (2010)

I like the Buffalo Bore 95 grain FMJ

In the James Bond books, Ian Flemmimg had James Bond starting out with a .25 Colt. When he finally qualified to meet the official amorer (Q) he asked what Bond had been using as a sidearm. Bond showed him his shoulder holstered .25 with some pride. The armorer looked at it with the same distain that Bond's first tailor showed when he wore his off the rack suit for his first sitting for a Saville Row bespoke suit. The armorer reported poked at the Colt .25 and said, as did the Saville Row trailer, "We can do better than that." He returned with a Walther PPK in .380, although later on it isn't clear whether Bond's PPK is.380 or 9 mm. Either way, don't let your amorer catch you with something that embarrasses you both.

And don't forget that there are plenty of dead folks with a .22 cal hole in them. If the only gun that you consider good enough to carry is a .45 1911, but it's a heavy pain in the rear to carry, so you don't carry it, then it's not nearly as good as a small, comfy 380 that you would stick in your pocket (in an appropriate pocket holster, of course).

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1482633307.jpg


https://www.underwoodammo.com/380-acp-p-90-grain-xtreme-penetrator/

That looks pretty good!

A surprising # of people are killed by .22s every year. In close quarters, a .380 with modern loads can hit hard. Do I carry one? No, I carry a 9mm.

The 380 with you is better than the 475 Boomenlouder left at home 'cause it is too heavy, hard to conceal in light clothing, etc.

That said, the only 2 380s I've had were range toys and I only fed them FMJ loads.

I must be the only one in the world that liked my Colt Mustang .380 and wish I never sold it.

You're not the only one.

SIG liked it so much they copied it and sell them like hotcakes.

Kimber saw what SIG was doing and copied them.

Meanwhile, Colt stopped making the Mustang and hasn't yet figured out how to turn a profit in a year when gun sales have been skyrocketing.

Amazing isn't it? If they produced anything halfway decent with one of the most legendary names in firearms stamped on the side, it would sell like crazy. Think if they came out with a new version of the snake series of revolvers? A new Python would be a "quick take my money" scenario for me.....

Yes, another one I shouldn't have sold, eight inch SS 357 Python.

I qualified for my CWP in Florida with a 1903 Colt .32. I carry a 1908 Colt .380. I haven't found anybody who would volunteer to stand in front of either of them yet. I DO recommend shooting ball ammo in both for protection. Better penetration

Colt 1908
 

Good point, but the .380 version was a 1908, not a 1903. Actually, there were 2 Colt 1908 pistols, the Hammerless model and the .25 cal. Vest Pocket model.

I've seen 380 ball, go through double glazing and then enter brick wall 30 meters behind it.
It went deep enough, trust me, to do the trick.

And let's face it, i send my 380 with the most pointable purty Sig you can find.
I don't really have to aim it, just draw, point and snap 2 off
First one in DA will be an inch off, the other one will be bullseye at 10 meter.

My wife carries a Glock 380 which is small, compact and easy to conceal while I carry a Kimber Solo in 9mm. Using an IWB holster, the Kimber pretty much disappears under an untucked shirt or a light jacket! I tend to use Hornady critical defense ammo for serious social work.

If anyone wants a Sig 238, local shop offered a German made one to me yesterday for $550+tax/phone call... about $100 off their marked price which is pretty reasonable.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1482677041.jpg


The 45 is not bad either :D

I bought a Ruger .380 yesterday as a CC tool.
At under $250, it is a steal.
Don’t buy a Ruger LCP .380 without reading this!

To my minds eye, an ideal CC piece, small, under 12 oz (loaded)....the smooth shape was a deal maker. The only thing I didn' t like is the lack of a safety.......that'll take some getting used to.

Disagree. The 1908 is the Colt Pocket vest. The M1908 is a variant of the 1903 produced in .380 ACP

Also, comparing the pocket pistols in .380 to the 1903 in .380 is a bit off. The 1903 has a 4" barrel, providing much more velocity, especially with P+ ammo.

I like my browning 5" 1922 in .380!

There is an article on a person who converted a Browning 1922 to .32NAA, by reaming the chamber to the .32NAA cartridge. I would love to do this to a cheap standard 1903 in .32ACP! Might have to file the magazine well a little bit, since the .380 magazines need a little more room. Or maybe use a .380 frame with a .32 slide and barrel.

I has a very long, heavy trigger pull as the safety. I carry a similar pistol (Keltec P3AT) in its original rug, to keep the trigger covered. If you're doing pocket carry, get a cheap Uncle Mike's fabric holster.

And how many people in this forum , who carry ....have really shot someone ?

I hope none of us! Except former military in combat.

You put modern day P+ ammo in a 100+ year old pistol?????:eek:

No. 80 year old pistol....It was built around 1939. I have a modern barrel in it for carry, as the original barrel lost most of its rifling.

Colt nomenclature
 

You need to do some studying up on Colt names and models. While the 1908 Hammerless is a relative of the 1903 Hammerless, it is a separate model. There are significant dimension differences (a 380 mag won't work in a .32 gun), etc. Don't feel bad, lots of people make the same mistake!

Merry Christmas!

There are a lot of 1903's

Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32 ACP
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...right_side.jpg
This one did come out in 380 Acp as the 1908 Pocket Hammerless, overal pistol has the same dimensions.


Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammer in .380 ACP
http://www.coltautos.com/images/1903h_30064a.jpg

FN Model 1903 9×20mmSR Browning Long
http://14544-presscdn-0-64.pagely.ne...odel_19031.jpg

Colts, Colts, Colts!!!!
 

Very nice, the 1903 Pocket Hammer is not .380 but 38 ACP! Thanks for sharing with us!

I have a 938 for my CCH, absolutely love it.

there was a 38 acp as well? learn something every day !

I was waiting for somebody to catch that.

My Colts. 1908 vest pocket .25 (pretty useless gun) M1908 .380, Woodsman match target .22, 1903 .32, 1911 .45

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1482693873.jpg

My Mother's Fathers Navy Officer Colt in .38, which is now mine.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1482694697.JPG

As a Navy Seal friend of mine always says, "Nobody wants to get shot, especially if they don't have a gun..."

I will say, the ballistics of the appropriate .38 for the gun above are not confidence inspiring.

I know a little about shootin'...
In my good armory...
I own three .380s...
Carry one all the time...
'Nuff said.

None of us have.

I have, however, shot a fair number of animals that are either about our size (deer) to somewhat smaller than our size (coyotes), plus assorted other game, both larger and smaller. I base my assessments on the several hundred coyotes I've shot and have seen shot first hand, and dozens of deer sized game.

I've shot coyotes with everything from the lowly .22, to the .357 mag, to the .44 mag, and on up to heavily loaded .45 Colts (substantially more powerful than off the shelf .44 mag...). I've shot deer and antelope with the .357 mag, .44 mag, and the .45 Colt. I've learned a few things about killing things over what are now four decades of this kind of activity. (First and foremost would be "bring a rifle", but that's not what we are talking about here.)

Most applicable to the defensive arms under discussion in this thread, I've learned there is a good deal of difference between "dead" and "stopped". "Dead" can mean I'm chasing the god damned thing for miles. Yes, .22's kill - I've killed a fair number of coyotes with them (mainly from rifles, actually). .357's kill as well (I've used handguns exclusively in this caliber). Use anything within this range you like, as long as you like your exercise and are good at tracking wounded animals that have run away. Sometimes a long ways away, before they die.

So, what if it's not some animal that's going to run off and try to hide? What if it's a two legged animal that has a knife, or his own gun? I don't care if he dies when I shoot him, if it takes him more than a nano second to do so - even five seconds is way, way too long. No, I don't care if he dies, eventually - I just want him to stop doing whatever it was that made me want to shoot him. Immediately, if not sooner...

As such, my defensive calibers all start with a "four". There is always a way to carry at least a compact 1911, or my little five shot Charter Arms Bulldog in .44 Special.

A few years ago, one of our members shot and injured a man who stormed his law office, I don't recall the reasons. He is no longer active here unfortunately, but he was fully convinced that having a concealed handgun saved his life that day.