Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Informal 380 testing

I did some informal 380 testing this weekend to compare bullet
performance in my hand loads.This was not ment to simulate what
it does in a bad guy but a commparison of bullets in the same media.I filled folgers plastic coffee containers with shreaded
paper packed tight filled with water and let sit over night.
Sorry I did not take pics.
the distance was 7yds with 4 containers back to back.
I loaded 90 gr gold dots to just a bit over 1000 fps.on my crony.The Gold dots penitrated to the back of the second cont.
and had very uniform expantion looked like they were cookie cutter even.The expanded to .447 .448 .448 .450 and they stayed intact.this is prety much what I expected.
For grins and giggles I decieded to test My wifes target loads
I make her.These consist of a 95gr Montana Gold brass jacketed hollow point loaded to 975fps.I did not expect any expantion from these bullets as they are usually just target fodder bullets.My expantion results were as follows,.455 .458 .463 .465.468. I tested several more to see if it was a fluke and they all expanded mor than the glod dots
penitration was as good if not better but they all had jacket and core seperation with the jacket stopping about an inch before the bullet.The jackets were compleatly intact and pealed back very evenly in a star and were very sharp on the pedals.Some of you hand loaders might want to test these out your self and compare results.Its nice to know that my target loads would probabaly do well in a pinch.Oh and the test gun was a Sig 238.

What was your powder and load?
I know , I will never hold another reloader to his load..
just for reference.

One of the gun rags had an article recently on some pretty hot handloads for the 380. Got the little round right onto the heels of 9mm performance. I am seriously considering an LCP or similar for my own carry piece if I can get a good trade deal at a gun show for my other handgun.

Ok,This load depending on which book you use is at or over max.
The Gold dot load was w231 3.8 grs .975 AOL win brass wsp primmers.No pressure signs in my pistol.
The Montana Gold was 3.6 w231 .975 win brass and primmers.
There was roughly only 30fps or so difference in velocity.

This is good info - thanks for sharing.

FWIW, I used my NAA guardian (up until the time I sold it) then my wife's Bersa thunder, with 90gr JHP's and 3.0gr bullseye as my standard reload.

I used it for the purpose of doing the ol' Bada-bing on sick and injured goats on the farm.

None of them required a second shot. Range varied from point blank to 3 yards.

Never dug out a bullet, but the goats all seemed to die rather smartly.

Thanks for sharing.
My current favorite is 3.5 grains of Titegroup in Blazer cases, behind 90 gr Hornady XTP J Hp's
A nice smart load out of the Walterh PK

ColsPaul, Who is Walter H?

Who cares about max or a bit over for a few rounds to be carried in the gun? I would test fire for function and then, if I NEEDED to use them and they destroyed my $250.00 LCP or P3AT, so WHAT?

thanks a ton for the DATA! Now, to go and find that LCP etc. and see about some trading.....

He's a fat old guy with fat typin'