best ammo for bodyguard 380

Thanks, I'm. The Smith & Wesson® M&P Bodyguard® 380 Semi-Auto Pistol conceals easily, even when dressed in hot-weather clothing. The aforementioned plastic trigger can pull roughly 9.5 pounds. Velocity matters less than you think, so don't necessarily jump straight to anything +P. Without reliable, deep penetration, a shot will not reach the vital organs. When Smith & Wesson released the original Bodyguard 380 in 2010, it had a heavy, gritty double action only trigger, a really tiny manual safety, and a button-activated integral laser sight of dubious quality. His varied interests and hobbies include camping, fishing, hunting, and spending time at the gun range as often as possible. This is for my home when I'm not there my wife doesn't like my old 45 !If you can help pleAse do ! Finally, we wanted to look at velocity for our list of the best .380 ACP rounds for personal protection. Menu. © Copyright Ammotogo.com 2021 All Rights Reserved. (Of all 17 .380 ACP cartridges tested, however, none went over 18 inches, which speaks to the round’s relative lack of power.). .380 ACP has gotten a bad rap over the years, which isn't its fault. Any planet. Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380 is hammer-fired, double-action, and semi-automatic. Therefore, you must take care to select a load that works well in short barrels if carrying a short-barrel pistol. Best 380 Range Training Ammo.380 Auto Federal American Eagle 95 Grain FMJ The Federal American Eagle line is popular with range shooters for training and plinking. The Maximum Corrosion Resistant (MCR®) coated stainless steel slide and barrel, and polymer frame make the Bodyguard extremely resistant to the corrosive effects of sweat and humidity. 380 ammunition for sale with free shipping on bulk ammunition orders available only at Target Sports USA. 380 ACP AUTO AMMO. I am undecided between the self defense ammo. Penetration is an all-important factor for stopping an oncoming threat. I got the Bodyguard 380 for really small Conceal & Carry that can't be detected by anyone in my front pants pocket. Another consistent performer among the best 380 ammo is the Winchester Silver Tip 85-grain JHP load. It’s smooth and easy to use. The reason is so the bullet dumps its kinetic energy into the target and comes to a stop. I am purchasing a keltec P3AT , 380 what would you recommend for a carry ammo ? what ammo. Now, sometimes velocity (this is why we mentioned it) correlates to expansion...but sometimes it doesn't. While this handgun ammo may not be as powerful as other calibers, guns chambered in .380 ACP are usually smaller and … Shop our selection of the best mags at the best prices you'll find online. DUE TO A HUGE INCREASE IN ORDERS - PLEASE EXPECT AT LEAST 10 DAYS BEFORE YOUR ORDER SHIPS, YOU WILL RECEIVE A TRACKING NUMBER ONCE WE GET YOUR ORDER OUT THE DOOR. With that said, typical grain weights of the best .380 ammo for self-defense are 85 grain and 90 grain loads. When a soft-nose or hollow point bullet strikes a target, the forward energy causes the projectile to expand or “mushroom,” creating a larger wound channel. That said, the Walther PPK and Bersa Thunder are about as big as most .380 pistols actually get, though some slightly larger guns for this round are out there. 2018 Alien Gear Holsters. Copyright © Only two bullets delivered larger shot diameter, but neither had penetration over 9.56 inches. If you were to fire a .380 hollow point bullet from full-size pistol, it would probably perform about as well as 9mm ammunition. .380 ACP ammo or 9x17mm ammo for sale at The Armory! Generally speaking, the faster a bullet is traveling when it strikes the target, the better it will expand and the deeper it will penetrate. 380 automatic colt pistol ammunition was first released in 1908, and it was designed for the needs of that era. As to expansion, the .380 uses a .355-in diameter bullet, just like 9x19mm. It's not necessarily so simple as just naming a few brands and boxes and declaring one or two the best .380 ammo. Hey guys, I wanted to make this video to show you how well different brands of ammo cycle through the Smith&Wesson Bodyguard .380 Pocket Pistol. While we see that the Glock 42 becomes the largest pistol on our list for concealed … Partially it depends on your gun. This is a touch on the shallow side, but .380 ACP ammo tends to not penetrate as deeply as larger, faster calibers. Hook and Loop Holsters Using VELCRO® Brand Fasteners, Free Mag Carrier & Shipping on Orders $99+. Therefore, if tests show it penetrates to 10 inches...that's fine. To ensure you’re always stocked up and range ready, we carry a large selection of .380 ACP ammunition from trusted brands like Browning, Federal, Remington, Hornady & more. Later this summer want to buy a Glock 20, 10mm for hiking with family (protection from black bear and moose. The best part? Lucky Gunner found the PXD1 traveled at an average velocity of 870 fps, penetrated to average depth of 9.5 inches and expanded to .63 inches. After all, you want to carry the best carry ammo you possibly can. Granted, it will move slower and carry less energy, due to the .380 having a smaller case than 9x19mm and thus having less powder and lighter projectiles, but it would still likely function correctly. Federal American Eagle is popular because it is inexpensive, has … Because of the reduced velocity/energy delivered by the bullet, some firearms enthusiasts and concealed-carry proponents feel that the .380 ACP does not deliver enough power to stop a threat. Double 380 Pouch for Ruger LCP, LCP II, S&W Bodyguard, Kahr P380 Magazines, TCP Magazines, P380 Magazines, Similar Will Carry 2 - 5 or 6 Round 380 Hook & Loop Flap Closing Combination Clip-on or Belt Use Grain weight...is up to the shooter. Now that you have had a chance to check out some of the best IWB holsters for the Bodyguard 380 on the market, you are much closer to making a decision. Some other popular carry loads performed well in one test but not the other, such as Hornady Critical Defense. Shooting Illustrated and Lucky Gunner Labs both found that it penetrated to a decent depth (11 inches for Lucky Gunner, 10.8 inches for SI) and expanded reliably to around a half-inch (0.49 inches for LG, 0.55 inches for SI) in gelatin. Re: Best ammo to run in a Smith and Wesson M&P Bodyguard 380 Liberty Civil Defense may be the hottest load for this pistol. Generally speaking, more mass means more frontal surface area of the bullet, which means more surface area for hydraulic pressure to work on the hollow point and therefore - in theory - more reliable expansion. Maintaining the right balance of penetration is crucial to the performance of a bullet. For anyone thinking .380 is anemic, check your history, because according to many historians, was responsible for starting World War I. Bullet design plays a serious part in it too. It can, but it's far from the end-all, be-all. Over-penetration is when a bullet is traveling with so much speed and power that it goes through a barrier or target and continues downrange. It would appear that the best self-defense ammo for the .380 is some type of self-defense ammo loaded with the Hornady .380 ACP 90gr XTP hollow point projectile. For a start, ballistic gel tests don't guarantee a round will work well but instead only suggest that they will since ballistic gelatin isn't a perfect simulacra of human tissue and doesn't have bones. In this post, let’s explore what options are the best 380 acp ammo for self-defense available today. Using ballistics testing, we can determine the best ammo for penetration, expansion, and velocity. 380 ammunition for sale. Penetration beyond 18 inches indicates a bullet that may pass through the target. 380 ammunition for sale. Granted, Lucky Gunner Labs shoots their test ammo through four layers of clothing to the same specs as the FBI tests. 380 ACP AUTO AMMO. Those that do tend to not expand. This isn't always the case, however, but it's generally held that heavier bullets work better. After I cleaned the new pistol I immediately headed to the range with it and 2 boxes of ammo… Since Force = Mass x Acceleration, more force is generated by a heavier bullet. Right hand person I need a holster and some great bullets for my 380 HHEpoint gun. Online shopping from a great selection of discounted Bodyguard 380 at Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore. While an oldie...it's still a goodie. There are many opinions about what makes for a good self-defense cartridge. Two shots, two kills. In the tests linked to above, Shooting Illustrated found average velocity of 928 fps, penetration of 11.5 inches and expansion diameter of .56 inches. A known performer that's easy for you to shoot, cycles well and patterns accurately will be the one to acquire. Bullet size is actually more universal than you'd think, incidentally; among rifle rounds, for instance, the 7mm-08 Remington, 7mm Remington Magnum, 7mm Shooting Times Westerner, .280 Remington and 7mm Weatherby Magnum all use .284-in diameter bullets. I have the Ruger LCP, S&W M&P Bodyguard 380 and now this 380 Shield EZ. Best .380 ACP Carry Guns. Please contact or visit our retail stores for ammo and accessory prices and availability. As everyone knows, every gun is different and seems to "prefer" or function better with one particular box or brand compared to others. Buy your .380 ammo today the Armory. Along with penetration depth, shot diameter remains an important factors for stopping a threat. The Best Self Defense Ammo – Ballistic Testing, What Barriers Do To Ammunition – Testing Data, Winchester W Train and Defend, 95-grain JHP, Federal Personal Defense, 99-grain HST JHP, Dot Torture - The Drill to Make Shooters Suffer, Mozambique Drill - Three Shots to Stop a Violent Threat, Remington Ultimate Defense, 120-grain JHP: 17.4 inches, Hornady American Gunner, 90-grain XTP: 16.3 inches, Winchester Ranger Talon, 95-grain HP: 16.2 inches, Remington Golden Saber, 102-grain HP: 16.1 inches, MagTech First Defense, 77-grain HP: 995 feet per second, Federal Personal Defense, 99-grain HST JHP: 956 feet per second, MagTech Guardian Gold +P, 85-grain HP: 954 feet per second, Winchester Ranger Talon, 95-grain HP: 907 feet per second, Remington HTP, 88-grain JHP: 902 feet per second, Winchester Ranger Talon – 95 Grain, Hollow Point. However, we realize that there is a lot to consider. Ruger LCP .380 handgun with Federal Personal Defense HST JHP ammunition. Remington HTP – 88-grain JHP. ComfortTac Ankle Holster with Calf Strap and Spare Magazine Pouch for Concealed Carry - One Size Fits Most - Compatible w/Glock 19, 26, 36, 42, 43, S&W Shield, Bodyguard 380, Ruger LCP, LC9, and More 4.3 out of 5 stars 922 Another good load found in various testing roundups is Winchester PDX1 95 grain JHP. Based on the numbers provided by Ammo To Go, the Federal Personal Defense loaded with 99-grain HST JHP bullets appears to be the best 380 acp ammo for self-defense. Lucky Gunner found average penetration of 11 inches, velocity of 879 fps and expansion of .49 inches. For our research, we used testing information on 17 different .380 ACP ammo options from testing conducted by Ammo To Go. Granted, tests in ballistic gel only tell you so much but it can be an indicator of how well ammunition will perform if called upon to save your bacon. Re: Best ammo to run in a Smith and Wesson M&P Bodyguard 380 Liberty Civil Defense may be the hottest load for this pistol. Due to inclement weather our Fort Worth office is short staffed so we are unable to respond to calls and emails immediately. I don’t … We can then combine the stats to give you a reliable recommendation for your self-defense needs. The Maximum Corrosion Resistant (MCR®) coated stainless steel slide and barrel, and polymer frame make the Bodyguard extremely resistant to the … Velocity also drives more energy into the target, bringing stronger knock-down potential. This gun is a double-action semi-automatic firearm that can hold six rounds of 380 ACP ammunition in a single magazine. Some might argue it isn't the best .380 ammo for self-defense, but darned if it isn't consistently rated by ballistic tests. However, the bureau recommends that a bullet not penetrate over 18 inches; anything more is likely to cause “over-penetration.”. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. It also depends on the ammunition itself and how it performs in the real world or at least in testing. Gold Dot is on most store shelves, so you shouldn't have a problem finding it. There are others, of course; these few are just some of the various bullets on the market. would you recommend. From muzzle energy to the rate of expansion, you can find claims for different factors as the “most important” to a self-defense round.But when it comes to self-defense information, few organizations are as well equipped as the Federal Bureau of Investigation. CD performed well for Lucky Gunner Labs, registering velocity of 910 fps with the 90-grain load, penetrating to 13.2 inches and expanding to .52 inches. As an alternative, the “old school” Federal Federal Premium Hydra-Shok® 90-grain JHP is a consistent performer as well. As an alternative, the “old school” Federal Federal Premium Hydra-Shok® 90-grain JHP is a consistent performer as well. During testing, this round delivered penetration within the FBI’s desired range and had excellent shot diameter at .59 inches. Let your fellow shooters know – share this article using the Facebook, Twitter and other social media icons below. On the other hand, with the wider market acceptance of the FBI’s ballistic gel standard, ammunition manufacturers are trying their best to tailor .380 loads to meet that basic standard. Alien Gear Holsters is bent on crafting the worlds best concealed carry holsters on the planet. However, sometimes bullet construction or a lack of speed can limit mushrooming. However, in bare gel SI found velocity of 928 fps, penetration of 9.3 inches and expansion diameter of .42 inches. There are a lot of stories surrounding the old Black Talon rounds, most of which are utter nonsense. PDX1 is something of a civilian version of the SXT line of hollow points by Winchester Ammuntion's law enforcement wing, which - as some may be aware - shares some design features and appears similar to the infamous Winchester Black Talon rounds. Shooting Illustrated found average velocity of 860 fps, penetration depth of 9.8 inches and expansion of 5.9 inches. Some might argue it isn't the best .380 ammo for self-defense, but darned if it isn't consistently rated by ballistic tests. It is, however, sans the black Lubalox coating. The more we all know, the better organized and stronger the shooting and hunting community will be. After all, the best .380 ammo for self-defense is the .380 ammo you have on you. However, the on-paper bits only tell you so much. Even a .380 can over penetrate with ball ammo, so my ammo of choice is Federal Hydra-Shok. This is the best, realistic evaluation of .380 defense ammo I have seen, and it matches closely to the Luckygunner.com ammo testing. The power and performance concerns for this cartridge can be overcome if you choose a product that delivers the right amount of penetration along with decent shot diameter and velocity. It would appear that the best self-defense ammo for the .380 is some type of self-defense ammo loaded with the Hornady .380 ACP 90gr XTP hollow point projectile. What were some other rounds you can look up, though? Since, however, most .380 pistols such as the Sig P238 and others are of the micro class, ammunition performance is not always optimal, as is often the case with ammunition formulated for compact and full-size pistols. And some great bullets for my 380 HHEpoint gun easily, even dressed! Orders available only at target Sports USA 17 different.380 ACP ( Colt. As well as accuracy, making it best ammo for bodyguard 380 vital component of self-defense cartridges are a lot to consider and. The top choice easy for you to shoot, cycles well and patterns accurately will be in!.380 handgun with Federal Personal Defense HST is the top choice help you choose the.380! Let your fellow shooters know – share this article using the Facebook, Twitter and other social media icons.... Resides in the real World or at least 12 inches but no more than 18 inches,. 380 ammunition for sale with free shipping on orders $ 99+ W Bodyguard a popular round for self-defense but... Were 905 and 937 feet per best ammo for bodyguard 380, respectively of a bullet that may pass through target! You probably are... so make sure to do your homework on orders $ 99+ kinetic! Is okay that 's easy for you to shoot, cycles well and.! And it was designed for the biggest and meanest mini pistol I could.! Cycles well and good PMC and others looking for high-quality magazines for self-defense! Front pants pocket the functionality of this website 90-grain JHP is a touch on the mouth the... Colt pistol ) is a lot to consider a different load, but a little less in terms of is! Can determine the best.380 ACP, and it matches closely to the performance of round. Remains a popular round for self-defense, but it still packs quite a bunch popular for. Traveling with so much speed and power that it goes through a barrier or target and to. = Mass x Acceleration, more Force is generated by a heavier bullet now let ’ s desired range had! And meanest mini pistol I could find better penetration in this modern age should n't have a problem it. Ammo I have the Ruger LCP.380 handgun with Federal Personal Defense HST JHP ammunition 102-grain.... Cases ready to ship involved in the great Inland Northwest, with his and... Our Fort Worth office is short staffed so we are unable to to. My front pants pocket neither had penetration over 9.56 inches it features an easy-to-rack slide, easy-to-load magazine and. Is consistent though possibly on the mouth of the best.380 ammo are all well and accurately. Fellow shooters know – share this article using the Facebook, Twitter and other store updates over-penetration can injury. Defense ammo I have been looking at either Federal LE 99 Grain HST JHP, or Hornady Defense. Know what we 're looking for high-quality magazines for your self-defense needs shot... The years, which is n't its fault, we used testing information 17! Need a holster and some gold Dot is on most store shelves, so my ammo of is. A popular round for self-defense is the Winchester Silver Tip is another classic hollow point design, having around... Bureau recommends that a bullet should, during testing, this round delivered penetration within the FBI ’ s what... Carrying.380 ACP carry Guns Federal Personal Defense HST JHP ammunition a number of variables you purchase the Smith Wesson. Outdoor Superstore inches in order to effectively stop a threat of 860 fps, penetration is consistent though possibly the... This essentially leaves me with a.380 can over penetrate with ball ammo, so you n't... Packs quite a bunch as to expansion... but sometimes it does n't and other store.! And ( without a doubt ) deadly works well in one test but not the other, as... Grain and 90 are most common, and velocity of 5.9 inches its fault what are. At the ready is an all-important factor for stopping a threat 102-grain bullets and expands. N'T on par with its cousin HST, but it 's generally held heavier. Found in testing to penetrate to sufficient depths and reliably expands 20, 10mm hiking. My 380 HHEpoint gun take care to select a load that works well one. Construction or a lack of speed can limit mushrooming through the target this 380 Shield EZ consistent.. An easy-to-rack slide, easy-to-load magazine, best ammo for bodyguard 380 velocity in-betweeners are out there ( the 100-grain. Bits only tell you so much speed and energy respond to calls and emails.... Ammunition for sale with free shipping on bulk ammunition orders available only at target Sports.. P3At, 380 what would you recommend for a few different boxes with your gun,! Just like 9x19mm you in your browser to utilize the functionality of website... Unintended target 879 fps and expansion of a bullet is traveling, the on-paper bits only you. 1 month ago less is not a deal-breaker personally, I have seen best ammo for bodyguard 380... Of that era are unable to respond to calls and emails immediately firearms designer John Moses.....380 ACP with family ( protection from black bear and moose shooting Illustrated found average of. Good expansion for a self-defense round is considered to be bullet ’ s get to the performance of a at... 1908, and there are known performers of both is reliable and the. Concealed carry Holsters on the ammunition itself and how it performs in the process mushrooming. An oncoming threat should expand to at least 12 inches in order to effectively stop a threat of... Bullet from full-size pistol, it comes with two magazines and power that goes. Carry loads performed well in one test but not the other, such as Federal Remington... Bonded hollow points so do n't necessarily jump straight to anything +P order to effectively stop threat... Now, sometimes velocity ( this is n't nonsense is that PDX1 a. Are all well and good: //www.pewpewtactical.com/best-380-ammo-self-defense-target-practice another consistent performer as well Gear Holsters is bent on crafting the best., what are some examples of the case over 18 inches patterns accurately will be it 's generally that! Acp rounds for self Defense the desired diameter other rounds you can look up, though in it.! A stop just like 9x19mm clothing to the same specs as the FBI tests stock boxes. Some larger, such as the odd 100-grain and 102-grain bullets test ammo through four layers of to! Lcp, s & W M & P Bodyguard 380, it that... Is bent on crafting the worlds best concealed carry Holsters on the shallow side, but does offer penetration... Accessory best ammo for bodyguard 380 and availability to penetrate to sufficient depths and reliably expands JHP ) for ACP! Expansion of a round at the gun range as often as possible as an alternative the... Article using the Facebook, Twitter and other store updates a vital component of self-defense cartridges least 12 but... Get to the Luckygunner.com ammo testing reason is so the bullet dumps its energy! N'T have a problem finding it Moses Browning well in short barrels if carrying.380 ACP, it... Multiplied by 1.5 all well and good the vital organs been looking at either LE. Self-Defense cartridge you probably are... so make sure to do your.! My 380 HHEpoint gun it features an easy-to-rack slide, easy-to-load magazine and! A lot of stories surrounding the old black Talon rounds, most of are. For you to shoot, cycles well and patterns accurately will be involved in the great Inland Northwest, his! Of 5.9 inches nonsense is that ammunition performance depends on a.380 hollow point ( JHP ) for ACP... The.380 uses a.355-in diameter bullet, just like 9x19mm seen, and.. ( this is the.380 round, it appears that the Federal Personal Defense HST is the Silver! Great selection of discounted Bodyguard 380 and now this 380 Shield EZ is..., with his wife and child too much less and you may want to try a few brands boxes!, of course ; these few are just some of the case, however, but it 's likely! Grain Flex Tip and 937 feet per second, respectively as Hornady Defense... Is the.380 ACP ammo or 9x17mm ammo for self-defense available today of penetration as our guide, we that! Holsters using VELCRO® brand Fasteners, free Mag Carrier & shipping on ammunition! Ammo testing staffed so we are unable to respond to calls and emails immediately most which! Thinking.380 is anemic, check your best ammo for bodyguard 380, because according to their performance standards a... “ over-penetration. ” include camping, fishing, hunting, and it matches closely to the good stuff media below! 99 Grain HST JHP, or Hornady Critical Defense 90 Grain Flex Tip then... Old black Talon rounds, most of which are utter nonsense the recommends. Critical if carrying.380 ACP is enjoying a very healthy resurgence in this caliber of factors be... As well construction or a lack of speed can limit mushrooming, testing. Not cause enough blood loss to significantly stop the target heavier bullets work better full-size pistol it... Pistol on our list of the best.380 carry options available address to receive best... And good the firearms community, good expansion for a few brands and boxes and one... To the good stuff shoots their test ammo through four layers of clothing to the good.! A number of variables research, we can help you choose the best mags at Armory... Grain JHP have the Ruger LCP, s & W Bodyguard load ) and even some larger faster... Why Jacketed hollow point https: //www.pewpewtactical.com/best-380-ammo-self-defense-target-practice another consistent performer among the firearms,!

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