Ammo Quest .380: Federal HST tested in ballistic gel
137.7 هزار بار بازدید -
9 سال پیش
-
Thirty-sixth in a series of
Thirty-sixth in a series of a quest to find the overall best ammunition for modern micro-compact 380 ACP pistols (such as the Taurus TCP 738, the Ruger LCP, Sig P238, Beretta Pico, Kel-Tec P3AT or S&W Bodyguard or any other popular 380 micro-pistol using a barrel length of around 2.8").
This is yet another "bonus" episode. While I have already published the "Final" video summary of the quest, there are new rounds (or rounds I've finally been able to get my hands on) that make it worth re-opening the quest.
In this installment, I am testing the Federal Premium HST jacketed hollowpoint ammunition in .380 ACP (Federal part #P380HST1S)
The ammo claims on the box to "optimize the .380 auto, particularly in micro guns", and that it has "extreme bullet expansion for caliber." And the performance in bare gel was woefully inadequate in terms of penetration; it penetrated an average of 8.4". Remember, the minimum we're looking for is 12.00" or more.
In denim, the results were better, but still not quite what we wanted. Three bullets expanded, and averaged 10.75". Two bullets didn't properly expand, but partially did, and traveled 12.00" and 12.25". Overall, the denim performance was more promising than the bare, but was still insufficient.
All in all, there was under-penetration on 8 of the 10 rounds fired, the bare gel performance was gross underpenetration, and the denim performance exhibited inconsistent penetration.
I wish Federal would have oriented the round more towards deep penetration, rather than going for large expansion. As it is, this isn't a round I will be recommending.
Note: I'm not making any claims for these videos other than that these are the results I achieved, in my own testing, from the stated pistol. I have no intention to make a blanket endorsement or indictment of any product, only to review and report what I found in a given instance. Obviously it is incumbent upon each individual to conduct their own research and make up their own mind about which defensive ammunition is best for their own purposes, in their own firearms. Also keep in mind that individual firearms can be persnickety; my TCP may feed a particular round consistently whereas your TCP might jam on those rounds, so -- please conduct your own testing before trusting any particular ammo.
Finally -- note that the purpose of this testing is not to try to establish that a .380 is "just as good" as pistols in the major calibers (9mm, 10mm, 357 Mag, 357 Sig, .40, .45, etc). Of course it isn't and never will be; those other cartridges all contain much more power than the .380 does. What I'm trying to establish is: are there any rounds out there for the .380 that can reliably deliver the penetration (with expansion) that has been documented and proven necessary in order for the bullet to be able to reach the vital organs of an attacker and deliver an incapacitating hit? That's all. You would always be better armed with a bigger caliber. But the question I'm exploring here is: if you've already chosen to carry a .380 micro-pistol (for whatever your personal reasons), what ammo will make it most effective?
*** NEW ***
For those who don't understand why the 12" penetration distance is so important, please see my blog entries on the subject:
http://shootingthebull.net/blog/bulle...
http://shootingthebull.net/blog/bulle...
http://shootingthebull.net/blog/more-...
http://shootingthebull.net/blog/what-...
Subscribe to the channel here to see the rest of the episodes in this series, as well as other ammo tests and equipment reviews. And check out the blog at www.shootingthebull.net.
This is yet another "bonus" episode. While I have already published the "Final" video summary of the quest, there are new rounds (or rounds I've finally been able to get my hands on) that make it worth re-opening the quest.
In this installment, I am testing the Federal Premium HST jacketed hollowpoint ammunition in .380 ACP (Federal part #P380HST1S)
The ammo claims on the box to "optimize the .380 auto, particularly in micro guns", and that it has "extreme bullet expansion for caliber." And the performance in bare gel was woefully inadequate in terms of penetration; it penetrated an average of 8.4". Remember, the minimum we're looking for is 12.00" or more.
In denim, the results were better, but still not quite what we wanted. Three bullets expanded, and averaged 10.75". Two bullets didn't properly expand, but partially did, and traveled 12.00" and 12.25". Overall, the denim performance was more promising than the bare, but was still insufficient.
All in all, there was under-penetration on 8 of the 10 rounds fired, the bare gel performance was gross underpenetration, and the denim performance exhibited inconsistent penetration.
I wish Federal would have oriented the round more towards deep penetration, rather than going for large expansion. As it is, this isn't a round I will be recommending.
Note: I'm not making any claims for these videos other than that these are the results I achieved, in my own testing, from the stated pistol. I have no intention to make a blanket endorsement or indictment of any product, only to review and report what I found in a given instance. Obviously it is incumbent upon each individual to conduct their own research and make up their own mind about which defensive ammunition is best for their own purposes, in their own firearms. Also keep in mind that individual firearms can be persnickety; my TCP may feed a particular round consistently whereas your TCP might jam on those rounds, so -- please conduct your own testing before trusting any particular ammo.
Finally -- note that the purpose of this testing is not to try to establish that a .380 is "just as good" as pistols in the major calibers (9mm, 10mm, 357 Mag, 357 Sig, .40, .45, etc). Of course it isn't and never will be; those other cartridges all contain much more power than the .380 does. What I'm trying to establish is: are there any rounds out there for the .380 that can reliably deliver the penetration (with expansion) that has been documented and proven necessary in order for the bullet to be able to reach the vital organs of an attacker and deliver an incapacitating hit? That's all. You would always be better armed with a bigger caliber. But the question I'm exploring here is: if you've already chosen to carry a .380 micro-pistol (for whatever your personal reasons), what ammo will make it most effective?
*** NEW ***
For those who don't understand why the 12" penetration distance is so important, please see my blog entries on the subject:
http://shootingthebull.net/blog/bulle...
http://shootingthebull.net/blog/bulle...
http://shootingthebull.net/blog/more-...
http://shootingthebull.net/blog/what-...
Subscribe to the channel here to see the rest of the episodes in this series, as well as other ammo tests and equipment reviews. And check out the blog at www.shootingthebull.net.
9 سال پیش
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