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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 stopping a determined attacker.
We’ve tested nearly all available 380 Auto ammo and found it lacking as a dependable means of self-defense—especially against 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.
- Failure to stop the attacker immediately could endanger you and your loved ones while waiting for them to bleed out.
To address this, we’ve developed several 380 Auto +P loads designed for maximum effectiveness in life-threatening scenarios.
This 380 Auto +P ammo outperforms all American-made 380 Auto ammo by 150 to 200 fps across all bullet weights we produce. This is a significant improvement for a typically underpowered cartridge.
- More powerful than standard 38 SPL ammo from most American manufacturers
- Provides seven shots in a compact 380 versus five in a bulkier 38 SPL J-frame revolver
- Faster reloads with flatter magazines compared to J-frame speed-loaders
Item 27B/20
- Same load as 27A but uses a 95gr. FMJ-FN (Full Metal Jacket - Flat Nose) bullet
- Designed for users who prefer jacketed bullets over hard cast
- Although lighter, it travels slightly slower due to increased barrel friction
- Offers nearly 20 inches of straight-line penetration in flesh and bone
Below are real-world velocities recorded from personal 380 Auto pistols—not lab test barrels:
- 1,145 fps — BDA, 3.75-inch barrel
- 1,120 fps — Walther PPK, 3.5-inch barrel
- 1,042 fps — Colt Mustang Pocket Lite, 2.75-inch barrel
- 1,019 fps — Keltec, 2.75-inch barrel
