380 BUG

[Godsgunman]

Good morning all! I just picked me up a new Sig p290rs in 380 to use as a pocket/bug when I'm just meandering around the neighborhood walking the dog and don't really want to strap anything bigger on. Haven't gotten to shoot her yet but really like the night sights and like the dao trigger with snap caps. I've never been a big fan of the 380 round but got the Sig for a good price, $300. For those here who carry a 380, what ammo do you carry? I've seen the videos and all that debating fmj Vs HP for 380. Seems to me even in 380 fmj you still need to worry about over penetration. I'm OK with a HP that only penetrates 11 inches but still expands. I trust yalls opinion and wonder what and how you carry. Thanks!

 

[PWC]

Corbon; bought a long time ago and never had to use them. May be better out there now....

 

[SteadyD]

Federal Hydra Shoks and anything using the Hornady XTP Bullet have done well in tests on short barrel 380 pistols. You can watch them on YouTube. Search for 380 Ammo Quest.

 

[bannockburn]

I pretty much carry my SIG P238 these days when I want to use a .380. It's good to go with Federal Hydra-Shok 90 gr. HP and Speer Gold Dot 90 gr. HP ammo.

 

[AFK]

FMJ in winter and critical defense in summer for my P238.

 

[Stubert]

Hydra shok or Critical defense in my Colt Mustang.

 

[Sarge7402]

Congrats on the good deal. With regards to the 380 round, first see what's available in your area. Then buy a box of nation wide brand Remington, Winchester, Hornaday, Speer, etc in both hard ball and hollow point. See which will get you thru two magazines without a boubble. That would be the two types of ammo I'd put in my carry gun. I've got a small KelTec that doesn't like to fully extract unless I use Remington 103 grain hollow points or the sig hard ball of the same weight. My Walther - says if it fits in the magazine it works.

Good luck and let us know how things come out

 

[Great Scot]

Ruger ARX in either my RM380 or Ruger LCP. Feeds well, light recoil, and is supposed to be a good penetrator.

 

[bassjam]

I can't remember what's in my .380, but I do know I tested several types and I'm glad I did. I had a few jams with one type of ammo (I want to say it might have been Speer Gold Dots) and another I had a couple rounds that failed to go into full battery. This was with my LCP, after I had already broken it in with a few hundred rounds. It's always been 100% reliable with fmj rounds.

 

[GEM]

It is more important that you take it out and shoot it extensively and intensively to make sure it runs and you shoot it well. If it doesn't, the minor variances in bullet performance mean little. I am a fairly competent shooter with full sized guns but when I shoot the little guys - like a G42 or J frame, I find I need some practice tuneup to be up to speed.

For the record, I bought an early G42 and it was a horror show. Had to go back to the factory. That's why I wouldn't carry anything I haven't shot first. Try the different ammo as recoil can vary and be surprise if you practice with mild rounds and then load with more oomph.

 

[JTHunter]

For years, the only handgun I had was an Astra .380, so I got into reloading. I load both FMJs and HPs with a near max charge of W231. I also have some Glaser Safety slugs that are so old that I should probably shoot them off and get rid of them. I have also shot Corbon epoxy-filled frangible loads but didn't like the way they fed.

 

[Armored farmer]

Try everything first.
I poor performance with Hornady Critical Defense..380......
Others like them, but not me.
I would choose cheap fmjs first.

 

[scaatylobo]

Good morning all! I just picked me up a new Sig p290rs in 380 to use as a pocket/bug when I'm just meandering around the neighborhood walking the dog and don't really want to strap anything bigger on. Haven't gotten to shoot her yet but really like the night sights and like the dao trigger with snap caps. I've never been a big fan of the 380 round but got the Sig for a good price, $300. For those here who carry a 380, what ammo do you carry? I've seen the videos and all that debating fmj Vs HP for 380. Seems to me even in 380 fmj you still need to worry about over penetration. I'm OK with a HP that only penetrates 11 inches but still expands. I trust yalls opinion and wonder what and how you carry. Thanks!

NEVER EVER carry a gun you have not vetted = EVER.
And its NOT a "BUG" if that is all you have on you !.
A .380 is what I carry as a 3rd BUG,if I want a pocket pistol I can carry in hand while walking.

 

[jeepnik]

LIke everything else from Colts to Walthers I use my own hardcast reloads.

 

[1MoreFord]

Federal Hydra Shoks and anything using the Hornady XTP Bullet have done well in tests on short barrel 380 pistols. You can watch them on YouTube. Search for 380 Ammo Quest.

OP, here's your answer. Can't go wrong with either.

 

[murf]

an lcp II with fmjs for pocket carry.

murf

 

[MedWheeler]

scaatylobo writes:

A .380 is what I carry as a 3rd BUG,..

That would make it your fourth carried gun. You beat me; I don't think I've ever carried more than three.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you're looking for factory ammo Hornady Critical Defense ammo will do well IMO.

 

[Godsgunman]

Thanks for all the input. Looks like XTPs is where I'll start. Did get to do some real quick function shooting today while setting up for deer season this morning. Just 50 rounds of cheap tulammo, no feed problems. Wasn't shooting for accuracy just function as my main concern was setting up for archery season. So far so good, will have to update once I test some other ammo.

 

[Ks5shooter]

FMJ in winter and critical defense in summer for my P238.

Yep

 

[paulsj]

Good morning all! I just picked me up a new Sig p290rs in 380 to use as a pocket/bug when I'm just meandering around the neighborhood walking the dog and don't really want to strap anything bigger on. Haven't gotten to shoot her yet but really like the night sights and like the dao trigger with snap caps. I've never been a big fan of the 380 round but got the Sig for a good price, $300. For those here who carry a 380, what ammo do you carry? I've seen the videos and all that debating fmj Vs HP for 380. Seems to me even in 380 fmj you still need to worry about over penetration. I'm OK with a HP that only penetrates 11 inches but still expands. I trust yalls opinion and wonder what and how you carry. Thanks!

There is company out there called Underwood offering XTP loading at 1200fps. They have sale coming up. I think its well worth a look.

 

[dickydalton]

There is company out there called Underwood offering XTP loading at 1200fps. They have sale coming up. I think its well worth a look.

I have Underwood 100 grain flat nosed hard casts @ 1150 FPS in my LCP.

 

[Jim NE]

I use the Lehigh Defense Xtreme Penetrator in my LCP. From the reviews I've seen, they apparently don't (despite their name) over-penetrate, but will go through some material that HP 380 ammo often doesn't go through (reliably.) They've fed 100% in my gun so far, even with the funny shaped bullet. Kind of expensive, though.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

Walmart sells Winchester FMJ for about $19 per box of 50 rds. It has a flat point that crushes a larger diameter permanent cavity than a roundnose bullet. It's the FMJ load I carry in my Glock 42.

The Hornady factory loaded 90gr XTP cartridge is the best JHP load. When it expands the mushroom petals fragment off the bullet shank, allowing the bullet to penetrate about 11". It fragments even after going through four layers of heavy denim cloth.

Other JHPs, except HydraShok, expand but don't fragment like the XTP, and they underpenetrate. The lead post in the HydraShok bullet doesn't allow a cloth plug to be pushed to the bottom of the hollowpoint cavity, which inhibits or prevents expansion.

The higher velocities of Underwood and Buffalo Bore .380 ammo come at a cost - increased recoil. If you can't maintain a proper grip while firing a full magazine or it's painful to shoot then the higher velocity doesn't give you any advantage.

Good luck!

 

[dickydalton]

I use the Lehigh Defense Xtreme Penetrator in my LCP. From the reviews I've seen, they apparently don't (despite their name) over-penetrate, but will go through some material that HP 380 ammo often doesn't go through (reliably.) They've fed 100% in my gun so far, even with the funny shaped bullet. Kind of expensive, though.

They didn't feed good in my LCP, but i like a lot of Underwood's ammo. I don't reload the 380's.