JHP for Ruger LCP- what works for you?

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FL-NC

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Mrs. Fl-NC has a LCP as her CCW piece. I obtained some powerball rounds a while back, and the ones I tested functioned well in that gun. They are starting to get a little old and crusty, so it's time to replace them. I only want to hear about the JHP's that people have actually fired in their LCP that functioned well. Ideally, something that I could pick up at Walmart.
 
This is not intended for the OP. If they prefer HP's in their SD 380's, good on them. They are likely better informed than I am.

For anyone else, I am probably poorly informed, but I personally carry hot FMJ, just for penetration and because it always works well in all of my 380 pistols, but that's just me.
 
100 grain lead round nose handload @ 900 fps.

murf

p.s. don't listen to me!
 
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Yep, Critical Defense is my choice. Runs flawlessly, is accurate and shoots point of aim.
I can put 7 rounds in a playing card at 15 feet.
For a non JHP carry load I carry Ruger ARX. It is truly a game changer.
 
This brings me to another question- I obtained a partial box of that silly Hornady "zombie ammo" in 380. I was told that it is the same as critical defense, just in a ridiculous box with a green tip to market to a certain demographic. I know that zombies aren't really a thing. Reflexively, I want to throw it away or just expend it, but it IS a Hornady product, so I'm thinking it may be worth keeping. Thoughts?
 
You're asking, and I have had bad experiences with Hornady Critical Defense.
One hard primer, one bullet that failed to penetrate through a two liter bottle of water.
Others swear by them, but I quit buying them.
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Ymmv.
 
I think XTPs are the way to go in 380. They don't expand as well as some hollow points but they seem to penetrate very reliably. Hornady obviously loads them but so do a couple of other manufacturers. I use the American Gunner series and you can get them about anywhere for a reasonable price. They've been 100% reliable in my LCP so far.
 
My carry load which works well in my LCP is Buffalo Bore JHP's. They aren't for lots of shooting in that gun, probably not recommended for longevity, but they do rock. They also make a FMJ load if your thoughts go in that direction.
 
My carry load which works well in my LCP is Buffalo Bore JHP's. They aren't for lots of shooting in that gun, probably not recommended for longevity, but they do rock. They also make a FMJ load if your thoughts go in that direction.
Careful with this one. My frame cracked at the rear pin and I had shot less than one box full at that point. Not blaming this ammo specifically; it may have cracked regardless. But they are noticeably hot and it's a tiny gun. Ruger replaced the frame on their dime and paid shipping both ways FYI.
 
To the OP, the only ammo that hasn't worked in my gen 1 LCP was American eagle FMJ flat point. All defense ammo I've tried (probably a dozen or more types) and other FMJ has functioned fine.
 
In my original post recall gen-1 LCP I recall no trouble with hornady critical defense, but switched over to gold dots and they were also fine. In my LCP II which I do carry for light duty sometimes, I settled on the Fiocchi loading of XTP.
 
My wife has the Federal 99gr HST "micro" in Gen 1 LCP it's been accurate and 100% reliable for her. I use it in my Rock Island Baby Rock also same results. Gel tests for it look favorable too.
 
For my LCP, I have prefer to carry FMJ. Not sure that the short barrel is really going to provide controlled expansion. Thus I will take penetration and reliability.
 
My pair of LCP's have mostly fed and fired Remington Golden Sabre and Speer Gold Dot. I burned up some Winchester T-Series in at least the first LCP I bought because I'd bought some boxes of it at a LE distributor, but I think I might only have a 50rd box of it left. I also ran some occasional other JHP & Ball loads which surfaced in the "range qual ammo" box (but it was all major American major factory ammo). I think it might've included some other Federal and Winchester loads.
 
Can't say you'll see it in Walmart, but more gun stores seem to be carrying Inceptor ammo, that's the copper/polymer bullet with the flutes cut in the nose of the bullet. It's my preferred .380 ammo, I don't trust hollow points in .380. They either won't expand or when they do not penetrate. With non-expanding ammo, the results are repeatable once they hit soft tissue.
 
All I carry in my LCP is the Federal 99gr HST Micro-Pistol. It feeds and fires. The testing on the HST bullets always seems to say it’s one of the best bullets out there.
 
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