What load is recommended for 380 handguns? I read the sticky and see that a J frame is recommended over a small 380 or 32 but never the less what would you load a 380 with?
FMJ that fed reliably in my anemic .380 pistol.
Is it really necessary that you carry a .380 over a .38spl or 9mm? You can get a .38spl 5-shot revolver that weighs less than 15oz, it will be significantly more reliable than a .380, and it is significantly more effective than a .380. If you don’t like a revolver, then you can also go with a small 9mm. However, the .38spl will be the smallest and lightest.
The .380acp will never be as good as the .38spl or the 9mm. Since it is such a low pressure cartridge, and it has very little case capacity, it cannot be loaded with more advanced powders and longer(heavier) bullets to raise its performance with JHP. It is really a dead end caliber in my opinion with really no possibilities for technological advancement.
A modernized .380acp could likely be almost as effective as a 9mm. If someone were to beef up the case to handle 30k-35k psi, modern powders could be used like was done with the .45GAP. This would bring up the explosive pressure with less case capacity used, and then a longer and heavier bullet could be used. You could likely get a 125gr .357sig bullet up to 1000fps with such a design.
Until that day comes…take Doc’s advice and pass on the .380.
“Is it really necessary that you carry a .380 over a .38spl or 9mm?”
Maybe.
Today while attending an M&P armorer course the instructor noted that Chicago PD will be dropping approval for revolvers in the near future, and they are testing the new Bodyguard .380 for that role.
I see this more and more by many departments that can’t be bothered to teach revolver skills or keep armorers on hand for wheelguns.
(For the record, I think dropping the J frame from an approved BUG gun list is absolute crazy talk)
Anyway, some folks appear to be forced into such a position.
Were it me, I’d damn sure carry a .380 over no BUG at all.
Anyway, I’d be torn between the FMJs and the Gold Dot/Hornady loadings. I have seen these JHPs make it into the 11" range in various tests I have seen first hand, I’m comfortable with that amount of penetration, not ecstatic about it, but comfortable.