IMO...

by Byron, Friday, July 24, 2015, 06:29 (3414 days ago) @ Art

The limiting variable in .380 ACP performance as an effective anti-personal round is penetration. This limiting variable is greatly increased in the miniature pistols with very short barrels.

If one accepts the position that the FBI knows a little bit about bullet wounds, then one accepts that one needs about 12" of penetration in gel as an effective minimum.

So then by default, this leaves all the hollow point/expanding bullets fired from very short barreled .380 ACP pistols wanting and some greatly so.

The round that shines in these little guns in the Buffalo Bore +P 100 gr hard cast load. While it does not expand, it does penetrate like crazy and is a very effective round in the .380 ACP. Note that the expanding bullets actually limit the terminal ballistics of the round in that they reduce the critical penetration variable.

The flat point FMJ round referenced might fit the bill as well.

FYI: The Glaser Safety bullet is 20 year old technology and demonstrates around 5" of penetration in gel.

Byron