{"id":322,"date":"2019-08-03T17:29:24","date_gmt":"2019-08-03T17:29:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ammoforsale.com\/ammo-club\/?p=322"},"modified":"2019-08-23T17:31:12","modified_gmt":"2019-08-23T17:31:12","slug":"whats-the-best-380-acp-ammo-for-self-defense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ammoforsale.com\/ammo-club\/whats-the-best-380-acp-ammo-for-self-defense\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s the Best .380 ACP Ammo for Self-Defense?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When, and if, the time comes for you to defend yourself, your family, and your property, you want to make sure that the choice of ammunition for your handgun was the right one. Life or death situations are the absolute worst time to have your ammo of choice fail or not perform the way that it is intended to. If you own a .380 pistol as your self-defense firearm, the round that you choose will be significant for performance and achieving the intended results, especially when it comes to self-defense.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Thanks to the advances in ammunition technology and the demand for the higher performance when it comes to firearms and ammunition, the choices for self-defense rounds can be overwhelming. While there are many great options on the market today, knowledge of what factors and attributes to look for can help, or at least, narrow down the decisions. Now, we\u2019ll go into depth about the important factors to consider when choosing the best .380 self-defense ammo.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

.380 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP)<\/b><\/h2>\n

This ammunition round was first introduced by Colt back in 1908, to use in its new Colt Model 1908, which was a compact, hammerless semi-automatic pistol. The design was intended to produce more accuracy while only sacrificing marginal power. From being the bullet used in the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand that started WWI to now being a very popular choice for concealed carry, self-defense rounds, the .380 ACP has a rich history of strong performance. Due to its reliability and functional design, the .380 ACP has withstood the test of time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Compared to other self-defense choices out there, the .380 ACP has some advantages and disadvantages, just like any other round. It is a compact, lightweight option that is great for concealed carry and is used in self-defense, law enforcement, hunting, and military purposes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When being compared next to the performance of larger caliber rounds, the stopping power and accuracy may be lacking a bit, but not as much as the firearm community gossip would lead you to believe. Everyone has a preference and opinion on what makes the best round for any given purpose. For self-defense, the .380 ACP can get the job done and get it done well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Below we will discuss the important factors and information to focus on when making your choice of best .380 defense ammo.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Terminal Ballistics<\/b><\/h2>\n

This refers to what happens when a bullet (projectile) hits its target. The study of how a projectile behaves and what happens at impact are essentially the only factors that truly matter when comparing rounds for self-defense. The science and engineering behind firearms and ammunition are extremely technical and precise because even the slightest design changes can lead to amplified results, either good or bad.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are several factors that need to be taken into account when looking at the differences between .380 for self-defense, including velocity and weight, accuracy, penetration, and expansion.<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. \n

    Velocity and Weight<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    While most handgun bullets travel less than 1,600 feet per second (fps), the average .380 ACP round clocks in around 1,000 fps due to the smaller size of the round itself and weights. Self-defense rounds tend to weigh exactly the same as training ammo you\u2019d use. If you shoot 90-grain hollow points for self-defense, you\u2019ll want to use 90-grain FMJ loads for training. The thought behind this is that you want your training loads to mimic the feel\/recoil of what you\u2019d use for self-defense.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The weight of the bullet is measured in grains (gr) and refers to the weight of the projectile. The common grain weights for .380 ACP rounds are between 85 and 95 gr. While velocity and grain play roles in the accuracy and impact energy of the bullet, neither should be the primary focus for choosing a self-defense round.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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    1. \n

      Accuracy<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      The next point of discussion isn\u2019t necessarily about the physics and technology of the bullet; it\u2019s about the performance of the shooter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      While cheap ammo can and does make a difference in performance and accuracy, even in the most expensive of guns, the proficiency of the shooter is important. It doesn\u2019t matter what type of self-defense round you have chambered because if you can\u2019t hit your intended target, it doesn\u2019t matter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      Bullet placement is a very important aspect of self-defense that is somewhat independent of the type of bullet being used. A well-placed practice range bullet may stop a threat better than a poorly shot self-defense round.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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      1. \n

        Penetration<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        When it comes to determining the \u201cstopping\u201d power of a self-defense round, penetration is one of the two most important aspects of a round. According to FBI and various law-enforcement agencies, for a bullet to be effective at stopping a threat, the bullet must achieve a consistent penetration depth of at least 12 inches.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        The flip side to that is anything over 18-inches can cause \u201cover-penetration.\u201d In these cases, the bullet might pass completely through your target. Upon exit, that bullet could injure or kill a bystander you don\u2019t mean to hit.<\/span><\/p>\n

        Two great rounds that performed exceptionally well during 3rd party testing for penetration were:<\/span><\/p>\n