Use all copper bullets from Lehigh. Either their X-treme Penetrator or X-treme Defense. Check out the YouTube tests for them on various calibers, especially for .380 ACP, 9mm Para, and .45 ACP. These are not expanding bullets, but rely on hydraulic compression to damage tissue. They are devastating in ballistic gel and penetrate greatly. In a semi-auto, they feed like a FMJ. If you don't load your own, Underwood makes loaded ammo with these bullets. Also, the old tried and true SWC is a pretty darn good choice in 9mm and .45 ACP. Go heavy with the 9mm with a SWC and fast as you can. With a 2" barreled .38SPL, go with full wadcutters or, if you can find them, Federal HSTs (jacketed wadcutters with a HUGE hollow cavity). If handloaded, do them at 800 or so FPS. 3.6 gr. of Titegroup will do the trick and it will be quite controlable and devastating to the target. The huge cavity will open up to about 3/4 inch, but they will not over penetrate. The hollow cavity is so huge that it is not going to clog up and fail to expand. However, it is not going to penetrate deeply. As long as you hit the intended target, it will unlikely be a danger to anything behind the target. Also, keep in mind that this particular load will not penetrate much of a solid barrier. Generally speaking, most JHPs will not reliably expand under 900 FPS. Therefore, in my opinion, unless you are carrying a Lehigh type bullet or the specialized Federal HST in a snubbie, and if you are less than 900 FPS, give me a solid SWC. JMHO. YMMV.
