P380 Ballistics Testing is Back

[Ljutic]

I've been taking a break on my ammo testing while I tried to figure out a way to do a decent job at terminal ballistics testing with the resources I had available. I was lucky enough to secure time at a private range over the last two months and have been testing with my P380. If you have one, you will probably be interested. I post everything to my blog so it's easier for me to share across multiple boards. Don't be overly concerned about clicking through on the links and videos as they are all Safe for Work Place or Home.

http://mousegunaddict.blogspot.com/2012/03/denim-and-gel-testing-380-ammo.html

and

http://mousegunaddict.blogspot.com/2012/02/more-db9-terminal-ballistics-tests.html

The second link actually includes 2 Remington loads from the P380 in addition to the DB9 testing.

Enjoy! :D

[Deano]

Very nice report. Thanks for posting these results. Plenty of people carry gold dot 380 rounds. Maybe not such a good idea in the dead of winter, eh. I frequently wear the equivalent of four layers of denim when it gets cold out.

[wyntrout]

Thanks for the post, Ljutic. Great work!

I carry the Buffalo Bore 90-grain +P Gold Dots in my P380. I have the BB FMJ FN for Winter wear penetration, though there's not much call for that here in Florida.

I have the Ranger T's as well and they are pretty mild after the BB, but seem capable.

Wynn:)

[Bill K]

Excellent post! Well done and well document results. Appreciated your comments. I really do enjoy and get a lot of useful information from ballistic reports such as yours. To bad that sim-gel couldn't be somewhat transparent like the FBI stuff.

I've been carrying a .380 (Kel-Tec P3AT) for many years and for winter carry would switch from hollow points to flat nose hard cast bullets. This past winter, which ended today as I think of it, I carried with Hornady CD. From my research if someone didn't want to change rounds, due to colder weather and heavier clothing, Hornady CD would make a decent all year round choice.

Thanks again...

[cesande]

Sure wish that Cor Bon DPX would have been in the mix....
But still good information here.

[Ljutic]

Thanks for the post, Ljutic. Great work!

I carry the Buffalo Bore 90-grain +P Gold Dots in my P380. I have the BB FMJ FN for Winter wear penetration, though there's not much call for that here in Florida.

I have the Ranger T's as well and they are pretty mild after the BB, but seem capable.

Wynn:)

I've got some DoubleTap FMJ and HPs that I want to test as I've found they are faster than most, but slower than the BB +P stuff. It is "standard" pressure so it's a nice compromise for those not wanting to risk the wear and tear of the BB stuff. Having shot some BB, it's some heady stuff and not really something I'd want to run 50 of for practice.

More tests coming. With plans to increase the block size and do some penetration tests between flat nose and round nose FMJ loads.

[Ljutic]

Sure wish that Cor Bon DPX would have been in the mix....
But still good information here.

Like the old Carpenter's song said, "We've only just begun".

The last two outings were just to get my feet wet and learn more about using the SIM-TEST media. My plan is to work my way through all the available 380 HPs. Being self funded, I've got to pace myself and pick up ammo when it's on sale or at least spread the shipping cost with other stuff I may be picking up at Midway or Ammo to Go.

I've got at least a dozen other 380s on hand waiting for me to test. I'm sure I'll get to the DPX eventually. Maybe a shoot off with all the copper HPs in the market right now, but $68 for a box of the DoubleTap copper HPs just turns me off doing that test.

[Ljutic]

To bad that sim-gel couldn't be somewhat transparent like the FBI stuff.

That's the trade off with using the SIM-TEST. You trade transparency for reusability, temperature insensitivity (within reason), and overall lower cost over time. The buy in isn't cheap as my first order of 60lbs. of SIM-TEST was $275 but I should be able to use it again and again.

Also, the Hornady CD is on my list to test. I actually have some on hand. I find it runs slower than most so I'm really interested to see how the 380 expansion compares to the 9mm expansion I captured a couple weeks ago.

[Ljutic]

Thanks for the positive comments everyone. I appreciate the feedback.

[cesande]

Spent more time on the blogs...
Just wanted to give more praise for your work.
I really do appreciate your work, it really validates that the 380 has come a long way!

[Bill K]

That's the trade off with using the SIM-TEST. You trade transparency for reusability, temperature insensitivity (within reason), and overall lower cost over time. The buy in isn't cheap as my first order of 60lbs. of SIM-TEST was $275 but I should be able to use it again and again.

Also, the Hornady CD is on my list to test. I actually have some on hand. I find it runs slower than most so I'm really interested to see how the 380 expansion compares to the 9mm expansion I captured a couple weeks ago.

I didn't realize SIM-TEST was reusable, I just assumed it was cheaper and perhaps more available. There is a guy on YouTube that has been doing testing using 4 layers of denim and SIM-TEST and talks about a BB shot calibration. Do you do any calibration of your SIM-TEST gel?

[jocko]

to add to the P380 good reports. today IU took my P380 out, serial # RA under 200, one of the first ones out. It had been back to kahr once and after that was OK but I just seemed to loose faith in it and ammo so damn high, it just basicallyset on the manetl shelf. Well this past week. I did the entire (again, Propper prepping thing and made sure every details was perfec tas I c ould make it. made sure I had no hang up in the recoil spring areas either. today took it out withg my PM9 and I had a box and half of PMCfmj ammo. about 70 rounds all total. It fired every round perfectly, not a hitch, nadda, then I emptied my defense magazine of 6 rounds of corbon powerball, again not a hitch. I have regained my confidence in my P380. I probalby won't carry it any more than I once did as my PM9 just does so well but I fully trust this little bugger now. mAybe leaving it sits for months with no activity taught it a lesson that if i misbehanve U SIT. It was agood gun today.

Shot 100 rounds of wwb out of the PM9 and yes boring, the fokker just goes bang, also emptied the defense magazine of corbon power ball with no issues.

I did stop by our local wal mart today and they just got in some Tul 9mm fmj ammo for $9.97. with my 10% discount it comes to $8.97, so I bought 5 boxes to test out in my PM9 and K9. I know it willdo OK in my G19, so if it acts up in the kahrs it just goes towards the G19. That isa bout 44 cheaper than wwb at wal mart which is my favorite for sure. Not sure of anything with the tul brand as it is steel cased, so I will reserve jedgement. Just sayin

[cesande]

Long live the P380 !

[Ljutic]

I didn't realize SIM-TEST was reusable, I just assumed it was cheaper and perhaps more available. There is a guy on YouTube that has been doing testing using 4 layers of denim and SIM-TEST and talks about a BB shot calibration. Do you do any calibration of your SIM-TEST gel?

http://mousegunaddict.blogspot.com/2012/03/sim-test-terminal-ballistics-test-media.html

In the blog post above, I walk through the prep of the SIM-TEST and my purchase of a Crosman BB gun so I could calibrate my gel. Long story short, the 625 fps BB gun would only do 500 fps so it's got to go back or be replaced by Crosman. It's always something.

Until I get that sorted out, I cast blocks in pairs so I can at least compare one ammo vs. another as I did with the Federal Hydra-Shok and the Winchester Ranger T.

[Ljutic]

Spent more time on the blogs...
Just wanted to give more praise for your work.
I really do appreciate your work, it really validates that the 380 has come a long way!

Thanks!

[Ljutic]

I did stop by our local wal mart today and they just got in some Tul 9mm fmj ammo for $9.97. with my 10% discount it comes to $8.97, so I bought 5 boxes to test out in my PM9 and K9.

A fellow Walmartian? I worked at the Bentonville home office for 17 years before "retiring" in 2007. I wish I could have kept my discount card even if just to use in the Sporting Goods and Automotive departments, but my age + years of service came up short. One of our local stores was selling off their RWS orange box 9mm for $9.97. Really good FMJ range ammo.

[East River Guide]

Really like the reports! Have you done any FMJ testing to see how the penetration differs?

[Ljutic]

Really like the reports! Have you done any FMJ testing to see how the penetration differs?

That was in the plan, but on hold for the moment while I reconstruct my 42" long ballistics box. If I can get it to hold together, testing .380 fmj should be a snap.