Ammo selection for Ruger LCP

[Landor]

Corbon-DPX in mine also. Some will swear by FMJ for penetration.

[boostjunkie1]

Corbon-DPX in mine also. Some will swear by FMJ for penetration.

 Same here! All of the reports that I have read have stated that the DPX were the all around best round for the .380 personal defense ammo. Good Velocities and Devastating destruction with there copper pedal design. I remember reading that when shot into Ballistics Gel the Corbon DPX expanded to a .70cal and penetrated almost to the FBI standards as far as inches go. They also passed the denim test. I shot a raccoon in the head with one at 20' and WOW  !!!!! Messy! jb This was out of a Bersa .380 Thunder....

[tombogan03884]

Same here! All of the reports that I have read have stated that the DPX were the all around best round for the .380 personal defense ammo. Good Velocities and Devastating destruction with there copper pedal design. I remember reading that when shot into Ballistics Gel the Corbon DPX expanded to a .70cal and penetrated almost to the FBI standards as far as inches go. They also passed the denim test. I shot a raccoon in the head with one at 20' and WOW  !!!!! Messy! jb This was out of a Bersa .380 Thunder....

Thats nice, but as they say, "45 doesn't shrink."

[Michael Bane]

I gotta say my LCP is pretty close to a "permanent partner," my summer gun of choice. I even asked Ruger to sell me a couple of extra mags.

SilverTips were my go-to .380s before the Cor-Bons, and I still wouldn't feel undergunned with 'em.

I would also like to point out that the one and only time I pointed a .380 (a Colt Mustang) at a large major-caliber dude's head, he didn't make even a single wise-ass crack about "mouseguns." He just asked what he needed to do over the next few seconds that would allow him to continue breathing. Nor did I have any doubt that a SilverTip in the roof of said miscreant's mouth would solve all his general and my very specific problem(s). Since that incident, I've been much less concerned about the whole mousegun argument.

Michael B

PS: You didn't hear it from me, but "Hornady."

[PegLeg45]

I would also like to point out that the one and only time I pointed a .380 (a Colt Mustang) at a large major-caliber dude's head, he didn't make even a single wise-ass crack about "mouseguns." He just asked what he needed to do over the next few seconds that would allow him to continue breathing. Nor did I have any doubt that a SilverTip in the roof of said miscreant's mouth would solve all his general and my very specific problem(s). Since that incident, I've been much less concerned about the whole mousegun argument.

Michael B

I must say, that having been on the receiving end of a pointed, loaded gun (he was a dope-head and I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and unarmed), I didn't care what size it was either. The term 'mousegun' never entered into my thoughts at the time. All I knew was it was a loaded gun and I was facing the 'business end'. Luckily, I talked him into putting it down.

I have carried Cor-Bon (it is my go-to ammo) in a Colt .380 mini-gov't model and did not feel under-gunned. But I would have rather had my .45.
I am looking at the LCP, so I'm glad to see that you give it a thumbs up.

[Sponsor]

[ericire12]

I gotta say my LCP is pretty close to a "permanent partner," my summer gun of choice. I even asked Ruger to sell me a couple of extra mags.

SilverTips were my go-to .380s before the Cor-Bons, and I still wouldn't feel undergunned with 'em.

I would also like to point out that the one and only time I pointed a .380 (a Colt Mustang) at a large major-caliber dude's head, he didn't make even a single wise-ass crack about "mouseguns." He just asked what he needed to do over the next few seconds that would allow him to continue breathing. Nor did I have any doubt that a SilverTip in the roof of said miscreant's mouth would solve all his general and my very specific problem(s). Since that incident, I've been much less concerned about the whole mousegun argument.

Michael B

PS: You didn't hear it from me, but "Hornady."

Thats great!





When it comes to ammo selection, lets not forget about weight retention, people.

[dgang]

 run Buffalo Bore's 100gr. lead @ 1150 fps and 90 gr. Gold Dot HP through my Sig 232 with a 3.7" barrel. The Ruger has a shorter barrel but the velocity should still be better than all the other ammo out there.
Good shootin' to ya. dgang

[Fatman]

run Buffalo Bore's 100gr. lead @ 1150 fps and 90 gr. Gold Dot HP through my Sig 232 with a 3.7" barrel. The Ruger has a shorter barrel but the velocity should still be better than all the other ammo out there.
Good shootin' to ya. dgang

I'm looking at my LCP manual as I type this - "No .380 Auto manufactured in accordance with NATO, U.S., SAAMI, or CIP standards is known to be beyond the design limits or not known to function in these pistols."  I'm verbatim posting that statement in context with Buffalo Bore .380 ammo for a simple reason. SAAMI has NO +P standard listed for .380 ammo, and Buffalo Bore advertises their .380 loads as +P.  Being as how they (BB) don't include any pressure info on the loads, I'd be interested to find out if they exceed the SAAMI spec, or if BB is loading to the pressure limit and calling it +P for marketing reasons. Anyone with more insight here?

[dgang]

To Fatman : I realize that SAAMI does not recognize a +P loading for the .380 ACP. However they state that 21500 psi is the max pressure allowed. According to the owner of BB his loads meet Saami pressure. After firing a few rounds through my Chrony I found the velocity is as stated and there was no indication of over pressure on the casings. dgang

[Fatman]

Hornady's TAP FPD in .380 is being sold on Cabela's website.  Is that it?

Yeah, I saw that in my search too, BAC. Since Hornady doesn't have TAP .380 listed on their own site, and Cabela's does have it listed, I'd say it's probable. Question is, is it a pre-order item that Hornady is planning on debuting through Cabela's or is it in stock?

dgang - Thanks for the info. I see your SIG has the same silly chamber loaded port as the LCP, that's where I was concerned about a cartridge swelling. I've an email into BB for a bit, asking pretty much what I put above.  I noted BB isn't a SAAMI member, and neither is Magtech. Magtech is equally as confusing as here http://www.magtechammunition.com/sitepages/pid103.php?productId=470&ltemplate=details&templateId=14&pageId=103&search=details  they state under "Quality" they meet SAAMI for this 380 +P round, but a note near the bottom says +P is loaded to a higher pressure... bleh.