The Most Powerful .380acp Ammo You Can Buy - Ballistic Gel Test

Published on April 13, 2021
Duration: 35:02

This ballistic gel test evaluates the performance of powerful .380 ACP rounds through a four-layer denim barrier. Many high-energy rounds struggled to expand, with some over-penetrating. The Underwood +P (90gr XTP) showed promising expansion in organic gel but varied in synthetic gel, highlighting material differences. Fragmentation-based rounds like G2 RIP and Liberty Civil Defense also demonstrated unique wound channel potential.

Quick Summary

Many high-energy .380 ACP rounds fail to expand through denim barriers, leading to over-penetration. The Underwood +P 90gr XTP showed good expansion in organic gel, while fragmentation rounds like G2 RIP and Liberty Civil Defense offer alternative wound channel potential.

Chapters

  1. 00:28Introduction & Test Setup
  2. 01:29Ammunition Selection
  3. 08:12Hornady Critical Defense Baseline
  4. 12:54Underwood +P Performance
  5. 15:05Buffalo Bore +P Test
  6. 17:52Norma MHP Test
  7. 20:06G2 Research RIP & Liberty Civil Defense
  8. 27:29Final Assessment & Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best .380 ACP ammo for self-defense based on ballistic gel tests?

Based on tests with denim barriers, many high-energy .380 ACP rounds struggle to expand. The Underwood +P 90gr XTP showed good expansion in organic gel, while fragmentation rounds like G2 RIP and Liberty Civil Defense offer alternative wound channel potential.

How does denim affect .380 ACP bullet expansion in ballistic gel tests?

Denim acts as a significant barrier, often plugging the hollow point of .380 ACP bullets. This prevents proper expansion, leading to over-penetration and reduced effectiveness for defensive ammunition.

What is the difference between synthetic and organic ballistic gel in testing?

Organic gel, like Knox, is often considered more representative of FBI specifications and can yield different results than synthetic gel. Some .380 ACP rounds that expanded in organic gel failed to do so in synthetic gel, highlighting material impact.

Which .380 ACP rounds fragment instead of expanding?

The G2 Research RIP and Liberty Civil Defense rounds are designed to fragment upon impact. This creates multiple wound channels rather than relying on traditional hollow-point expansion for terminal ballistics.

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