SPECIAL REPORT Best 380 Auto Ammo SUMMARY


At just 200 ft-lbs of energy, the 380 Auto should not be judged by today’s police-duty-load wound ballistics standards. Instead, it should be judged by the performance needed for off-duty and backup scenarios. With the 380 Auto, you cannot have it all. You must pick what you want, and then be sure those loads cycle your pistol.


MORE INFORMATION See individual companies.


The Hornady Critical Defense 90-grain FTX consistently penetrated in the 11- to 12-inch range. This is the deepest penetrating of all 380 Auto hollowpoints.


BEST 380 AUTO AMMO


EXCELLENT JHPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR OFF-DUTY. By Lt. Ed Sanow


atrol offi cers have carried a wide variety of 380 Auto pistols as backup guns. I started with the bulky Be- retta 84. Others carried the Sig P238 and more recently intro- duced the S&W Bodyguard or Ruger LCP. However, the pistol that brought the 380 Auto caliber to prominence was the Glock 42. It is easy to shoot accurately, and of course, works exactly like the Glock pistols carried in most duty pistols.


P 46 LAW and ORDER I January 2016


What exactly is the 380 Auto? How does it compare to police duty calibers like the 9mm? (This is certainly a FAQ since the recently Glock 43 in 9mm.) Ultimately, will the 380 Auto be effective in off-duty and backup scenarios?


380 Auto Versus 9mm


The 380 Auto is totally different from the 9mm. The 9mm case is similar and just 0.07 inches longer than the 380 Auto. How- ever, the 9mm operates at almost twice the chamber pressure: 35,000 psi versus 21,500 psi. The muzzle energy with 9mm ammo is also almost double: 350 ft-lbs versus 200 ft-lbs. With heavier bullets and higher velocities, the recoil from the


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