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Disappointment at the range

COONASSCOONASS Member Posts: 2,068 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited May 2002 in Ask the Experts
Took the family to the hunting lease to shoot today. The kids had a ball shooting their 20 ga. and plucking with the 22. The disappointment came when the wife shot a two liter bottle full to the top with water. She was shooting her .380 auto with federal personal defense 90 gr. hydra-shock JHP it did absolutely nothing to the jug just a tiny 1/2" exit hole. Stunned I loaded her "range" ammo PMC 90 gr. FMJ they did the same..........Why didn't the hollow points blow a nice exit hole?????? The distance of both shots were 25 feet.... Is there a better round for her to shoot in the house for self protection?????????????

thanks coonass

"A man is known by the
company his mind keeps."
T.A. Aldrich
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Comments

  • BoltactionManBoltactionMan Member Posts: 2,048 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Coonass,

    The .380 has always been a little under powered to reliably expand hollowpoints. I would try your ammo in something a little more substantial to test the penetration, this will be more important than the expansion. That bullet has got to get through clothes and flesh to vital organs to do any good.

    KC
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  • daddodaddo Member Posts: 3,408
    edited November -1
    In a .38 - I wouldn't use anything under 125 grain bullet and if I had a heavy frame, I'd use a +p load. A flat point or hollow point will do well. Try different types and brands to get what you want.
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  • COONASSCOONASS Member Posts: 2,068 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    daddo........the 90 gr. was the heaviest I could find......I do not reload............I also DON'T want something that will pass through
    the intruder and have some pep left that might go into one of the childrens rooms........thanks coonass

    "A man is known by the
    company his mind keeps."
    T.A. Aldrich
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  • idsman75idsman75 Member Posts: 13,398 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Invest in some Glaser Safety Slugs--absolutely devastating damage with almost complete transfer of all energy to the target.

    SSG idsman75, U.S. ARMY
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  • COONASSCOONASS Member Posts: 2,068 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    idsman75..........never heard of them..where can I find them....
    will gun chain stores have them.......thanks jamie

    "A man is known by the
    company his mind keeps."
    T.A. Aldrich
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  • BayouCritterBayouCritter Member Posts: 76 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Coonass, if you are in S. Louisiana there is a vendor at the gun shows in this area who sales those safety type slugs. From what I have read, they do cause devastating wounds. As mentioned above, .380's are deadly, but they don't carry the punch of larger rounds. Personally, I would not judge what that round will do based on what it did to the jug. Too much difference in that and a body.
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  • erictheredericthered Member Posts: 244 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Your 380 packs about 200 ft lbs energy. A 9mm about 360, a 40 cal S&W about 4-500, a 357 around 500.
    A 22 rimfire long rifle bullet is in the 170 ft lb range so you really
    can see that your pistol is just not that powerful.

    Having said that, I have tested 380 against a 2x6 a few years ago, and it went thru without any problem. No matter what kind of ammo I used.

    Since that time, I have researched and this is what I have found
    about types of high expansion personal protection loads.

    Personal protection ammo is usually very light and very high velocity. It gives less kick when fired but really expands in
    a serious way.

    The best I have heard of for personal protection would be
    the RBCD Performance Plus Ammo. It is purported to expand to explosive
    dimensions and give its' energy up immediately. The films I have seen of it being compared with other shells puts its' impact in a similar catagory to much more powerful ammunition. It does not have a hollow point. Costs a lot though.
    Around 40.00 for a box of 20. Gun shows sell it or I could get you an
    address or phone number to find it.


    The Cor-Bon Beeline prefragmented self defense ammunition, is
    well spoken of by lots of people. It does not have a hollow point.

    Glaser gets good reports from a diversity of people also. It expands extremely rapidly.

    Those last two are easy enough to find. they are a little pricey, but since its only for personal defense, you don't have to run thru a lot.

    Hope that is a help.
    Eric



    thats'me
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  • k.stanonikk.stanonik Member Posts: 2,109 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have seen and heard a lot about silver tips being good for self defense. A LE friend used to cary it in his back up weapon and swears by it. take a look and see what you think.
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  • mballaimballai Member Posts: 1,280 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If my ruler is correct, it expanded a little bit. You should be testing expansion in gelatin or something similar. Expansion isn't the issue, penetration is the benchmark. If it doesn't get in to the vitals, expansion won't mean anything.

    Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead
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  • gravediggergravedigger Member Posts: 945 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Coonass,

    If you're near Lafayette, LA, Dave's Gun Shop on Kaliste Saloom has them. Us coonasses gotta stick together.

    -Marcus

    ****The gun manufacturers STOLE all my money!!!****
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