.380 Ball for Self-Defense round

[fightingquaker13]

Considering a "self defense" situation is going to take place WELL (did I say WELLLLLLL) under 10 yards, a .380 with hollow points will do very well with even half decent shot placement.  

As far as penetrating clothing, I'd have plenty of confidence in a .380 HP penetrating anything North Face, or Columbia produces.  But I've seen some THICK leather biker jackets that may cause issues...  So again GO FOR THE HEAD SHOT, and dont be stingy about investing three or four rounds in the guy!  & as long as we're sticking with the .380 caliber.  My choice would be the same .380 Gold Dot JHP's Haz is using.

Badger I have two issues with your post. One is that a head shot  on a moving target under any conditions, let alone scared spitless is hard. Secondly, I think you are correct in assuming that if we have to shoot someone the distance will be measured in feet not yards. Given this is the case, when I draw from a cross draw IWB, my first shot will be when the muzzle is pointing at the BGs torso (not aimed at, pointed at, if we're talking bad breath distance).I will bring the weapon up to aim if I can but otherwise will point and click at center mass. Head shots are not on the menu.
FQ13

[ericire12]

Hmmm 16 or 17 inch penetration with ball.  I may start loading alternate JHP and ball in mine.

You would be decreasing energy from 181 (Cor Bon) to about 150-158 for those ball ammo rounds...... 17%

[Badgersmilk]

I'd give up a few inches penetration for the damage that Cor Bon's gonna do!

If, and that's a very likely IF, BG is in reaching distance I very much agree with the body shot being the only option (most likely anyway).  And stand behind not being stingy with the ammunition in any case.  Especially if I can get a little distance between me and him after the first shot.  Head / face shot time.

I carry an extra magazine at all times, with all my CC choices.  May as well use them.  

[1911 Junkie]

I'll still stick with my franglibles, the best of both worlds. I get bullet fragmentation causing tissue damage and the base of the bullet stays intact for penetration.

Prior to these I carried Cor Bon.

I don't know about the leather jackets. They didn't seem to have much trouble going through the mining belt I had my targets stapled to the other day.

[Badgersmilk]

Kel-tec being about the smallest, if not THE smallest available with "high capacity", does anybody have a picture of their .380 next to they're 9mm for size comparison? 

[Sponsor]

[david86440]

This is another good site with .380 ballistic testing through clothing.




http://www.brassfetcher.com/95gr%20Federal%20American%20Eagle%20FMJ%20and%2095gr%20Winchester%20'WWB'%20truncated%20cone%20(Heavy%20clothing%20test).html

Cartridge : .380ACP 95gr Federal American Eagle FMJ and 95gr Winchester 'WWB' truncated cone

Firearm : Kel-Tec P3AT with 2.75" barrel length

Block calibration : All depths corrected (From 7.6cm @ 574 ft/sec)

Test Weather Conditions : 45degF, 45% humidity and 5mph wind gusts. Diffuse sunlight.

All shots fired from 10' distance. Block was faced with 4 layers of heavy denim fabric to simulate the strain on the bullet from penetrating heavy winter clothing. In order to keep in sync with the photos of the bullets, the test results will start with 'shot 4'.

Shot 4 - 95gr Winchester 'WWB' truncated cone. Impacted at 776 ft/sec, penetrated to 16.0" and was recovered at the base of a second gelatin block placed ~ 4.0" away from the rear of the first block. Bullet was recovered undeformed, with no expansion apparent.

Shot 5 - 95gr Federal American Eagle FMJ. Impacted at 741 ft/sec, penetrated to 18.4" and was recovered undeformed with no expansion apparent. No yawing was apparent during the entire penetration track.

[ericire12]

Kel-tec being about the smallest, if not THE smallest available with "high capacity", does anybody have a picture of their .380 next to they're 9mm for size comparison?  

http://www.mouseguns.com/pocksize.htm

[Badgersmilk]

DANG!!!  GREAT FIND!!!

[david86440]

Here is a .380 LCP, .380 PPK/S, 9mm P89 comparison.

[Badgersmilk]

Kel-tec DOES make'em small!!!

REALLY, REALLY happy to see the gelitan results on the 7.62X39 154gr hollow points from the site you posted David!!!  I'd picked up 1200 rounds of it when it was still $4.10 a box!  Fired about 75 rounds just to verify smooth operation in my two guns, "hording" the rest.