Best self defense ammunition for CW380?

[texas72]

I'm the proud new owner of a slightly used cw380. I have fired around 150 Perfecta fmj's at the range with no problems(thanks Frog Lube). Now I'm looking for a self defense round, as this will be my EDC. I've watched Ammo Quest, and I'm pretty much sold on some kind of XTP loading. Looking for any other experiences or opinions. Thanks in advance.

[Alfonse]

I bought Remington HTP because it was inexpensive. That let me buy a bunch for practice. Feeling free to practice with it is a big factor for me. Lots of folks use Hornady critical defense and you will get quite a few opinions on "best."

[zredwire]

I run Underwood Xtreme Penetrators in mine without a problem. I know some people have problems with them but I have not.

[getsome]

Welcome aboard there texas72, glad the cw380 is working for you....As for the "Best" ammo for .380 that's a good question....Most any modern JHP that will feed reliably 100% of the time will do the job....With .380 penetration is what you are looking for and some folks will even load every other round in the magazine with a FMJ so that if you are attacked by a 350 lb monster wearing a thick jacket you will still be sure to get a round into the kill zone.....

There have been many ammo tests done and much argument over .380 being powerful enough for CCW or should you step up to 9mm bla bla bla but the bottom line is a well placed shot with a .380 loaded with good ammo will definitely mess up a bad guys day if you do your part.....In several tests with all the best modern .380 JHP bullets the surprise winner was the old school Federal 95 gn Hydra Shok bullet because they reliably penetrated 10 inches of ballistic gelatin and still expanded up to almost .40 but it may be hard to find them as they have been replaced by Federal Guard Dog brand but you still might be able to find some Hydra Shok ammo on the internet....

Whatever brand you pick just be sure to shoot a couple hundred at the range to be sure they will feed and so you will get used to the higher recoil of the good stuff and see where the bullets group at 5 to 7 yards which is the distance most self defense situations involving a handgun occur....Again welcome to the site and let us know if you have any questions.....Lots of real nice, knowledgeable folks here will be more than happy to help you out.....

[Bobshouse]

Best self defense in a 380? Round nose, 100 grain jacketed. The only other I would consider would possibly be the new Ruger ARX.

[texas72]

Best self defense in a 380? Round nose, 100 grain jacketed. The only other I would consider would possibly be the new Ruger ARX.

I'm going to wait a few years for some real world data on the ARX.

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[texas72]

Welcome aboard there texas72, glad the cw380 is working for you....As for the "Best" ammo for .380 that's a good question....Most any modern JHP that will feed reliably 100% of the time will do the job....With .380 penetration is what you are looking for and some folks will even load every other round in the magazine with a FMJ so that if you are attacked by a 350 lb monster wearing a thick jacket you will still be sure to get a round into the kill zone.....

There have been many ammo tests done and much argument over .380 being powerful enough for CCW or should you step up to 9mm bla bla bla but the bottom line is a well placed shot with a .380 loaded with good ammo will definitely mess up a bad guys day if you do your part.....In several tests with all the best modern .380 JHP bullets the surprise winner was the old school Federal 95 gn Hydra Shok bullet because they reliably penetrated 10 inches of ballistic gelatin and still expanded up to almost .40 but it may be hard to find them as they have been replaced by Federal Guard Dog brand but you still might be able to find some Hydro Shok ammo on the internet....

Whatever brand you pick just be sure to shoot a couple hundred at the range to be sure they will feed and so you will get used to the higher recoil of the good stuff and see where the bullets group at 5 to 7 yards which is the distance most self defense situations involving a handgun occur....Again welcome to the site and let us know if you have any questions.....Lots of real nice, knowledgeable folks here will be more than happy to help you out.....

Thank you for your input. HydroShocks are still available and fairly cheap in .380 acp. I agree that a well placed shot is key, when possible.

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[jocko]

I'm the proud new owner of a slightly used cw380. I have fired around 150 Perfecta fmj's at the range with no problems(thanks Frog Lube). Now I'm looking for a self defense round, as this will be my EDC. I've watched Ammo Quest, and I'm pretty much sold on some kind of XTP loading. Looking for any other experiences or opinions. Thanks in advance.

best defense round is ONE that goes bang eery time. some guns and even the little kahr 38 can sometimes be ammo sensitive. Find a good round that feeds pefect and goes bang and just stick with it.l Theyt are damn near all the same in what they do, but they all may not work well in ur 380. I tend to pay little attention to the maRketing adjetives theyt put on the name of their ammo. 99.995% of all of us will never shoot our guns in harms way either. Not sure how many different ways these ammo makers can reinvent the wheel either. Best round is worthless if it doesn't go bang in your gun, and the best round is worthless if u don't hit what ur aiming/pointing at either...

[Ronni3_J]

I run Underwood Xtreme Penetrators in mine without a problem. I know some people have problems with them but I have not.

Was actually going to get a few boxes for mine. Hope mine likes them

[texas72]

Was actually going to get a few boxes for mine. Hope mine likes them

I've been checking into their Extreme Defender. It looks promising.

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[kwh]

Lucky Gunner also has recent ballistic gel/denim tests in .380,but in the slightly longer Glock barrel. I use XTP from which ever manufacturer I can find in my Kahr CW380. Good test results in shorter barrel, XTP is made to penetrate while also giving some expansion. It has been feed reliable for me. Better over penetration with no expansion than under penetration.

[timboy]

I use Hornady Critical Defense in all of my carry guns,after doing some profesional lab testing with an old fellow at the gun club(shooting old hard back books..lol) I found the Hornady in .380 penetrated better and expanded better than ball or standard hollow point.

[Ronni3_J]

Lucky Gunner also has recent ballistic gel/denim tests in .380,but in the slightly longer Glock barrel. I use XTP from which ever manufacturer I can find in my Kahr CW380. Good test results in shorter barrel, XTP is made to penetrate while also giving some expansion. It has been feed reliable for me. Better over penetration with no expansion than under penetration.

I'm currently using Freedom Munitions .380 XTP (new not reloads). Put 100 threw my CW380 no issues whatsoever


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[jocko]

I am testing a new wound called the super peetrator, it is shaped like a dick and also expands upon contact. Just sayin uggsy and I have been working on this for the past two years. It takes alot of "testing" to see if it works as designed.

[muggsy]

Of the hollow points the Hornady XTP seems to perform the best. Most others fall far short of 12' penetration. In the 380 I prefer to use ball ammo as it will penetrate deep enough to reach vital organs and it feeds reliably. Flat nose ball ammo doesn't feed reliably in my P380. Check out this website. It's run by one of our own members. Check out ammo tests.

http://mousegunaddict.blogspot.com/