The 380 Auto holds a valuable place in society, primarily due to the easily concealable, compact pistols chambered for it. However, because of the cartridge's limited size, it suffers from reduced power, making most existing 380 Auto ammunition unreliable for self-defense against determined attackers.
After extensive testing of available 380 Auto ammo, we've found it lacking—especially when facing large, pain-insensitive, or drug-impaired threats.
Here's the problem:
- Modern frangible 380 ammo causes significant surface trauma but lacks deep penetration.
- Against a rational person, such trauma may incapacitate due to shock and pain, but not necessarily stop them.
- Against an irrational or drugged attacker, surface wounds may not deter them at all.
- Effective 380 ammo must penetrate deeply enough to reach the brain stem or spine for instant incapacitation.
To address this, we've developed several standard pressure 380 Auto loads designed for maximum effectiveness in life-threatening scenarios.
Item 27E/20
- 100gr. hard cast bullet with a flat nose
- Velocity: over 1,000 fps from a 3.75-inch Browning Double Action (BDA)
- Flash suppressed powder to prevent blinding in low light conditions
- Flat nose design enhances tissue and bone damage compared to round nose FMJ bullets
- Flat nose also improves straight-line penetration and depth
Below are real-world velocities recorded from personal 380 Auto pistols—not lab test barrels:
- 1,011 fps — BDA, 3.75-inch barrel
- 995 fps — Walther PPK, 3.5-inch barrel
- 910 fps — Colt Mustang Pocket Lite, 2.75-inch barrel
- 902 fps — Keltec
Expect 20+ inches of straight-line penetration in flesh and bone with this load. Concerns about over-penetration are outweighed by the need for reliable stopping power in critical situations.
