Is FMJ for Pocket Guns Any Good? .380 ACP VS .32 ACP - Federal American Eagle Ballistic Gel Test
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- Опубликовано: 8 фев 2025
- Testing the Federal American Eagle full metal jacket (FMJ) target ammunition as a defensive ammo for my Ruger LCP in .380 ACP and my Kel-Tec P32 in .32 ACP. Always appreciative of any channel help :) www.patreon.co...
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Filmed December 15th 2024. I know I will get some people commenting to try foreign ammo, so I did pick up some Sellier and Bellot (Czech Republic) .380 ACP and .32 ACP FMJ ammo to do this same test with. Rated velocities are as follows - .380 ACP 92 gr FMJ 955 FPS (as compared to the 95 gr American Eagle rated at 980 FPS). The .32 ACP is a 73 gr FMJ rated at 1,043 FPS (as compared to the 71 gr American Eagle rated at 900 FPS).
S&B is my favorite ammo in 380, 9mm, 45acp and 10mm. It’s good ammo and seems to be better priced by the case. Never had any problems with it.
@@winnon992 I've never had any trouble with it on the range, but I've seen a lot of online complaints about its HP projectiles not expanding worth a damn.
Thank you for that, I bought a bunch of ppu and s&b 32s some time ago. They definitely feel hotter than the American stuff
@@jacobackley502 European ammo is hotter. It’s loaded to CIP standards where US is loaded to SAAMI. I believe they use a different formula but in the end it’s hotter. Fiocchi used to be like that until they opened a U.S. plant and now what I’ve shot it’s US standards.
@@jacobackley502 I've got some PPU that seems to work fine. By that I mean it goes bang every time.
I have been loving this series involving the 32 acp and other pocket guns! Keep it coming!
Whenever I talk about my LCP running fine with FMJ ammo but not so much with hollow points, I often get a lot of people telling me that they "never had a malfunction" with an LCP with hollow point ammo. While that might be true, it just doesn't add up to me. People who are very familiar with firearms often share similar experiences of when a pistol gets smaller and smaller, reliability goes down with hollow point ammo, it's just a thing that exists and that's why testing your carry ammo is so important.
The "never had" comment crowd kind of irks me as I could go out, buy a new pistol and shoot 7 rounds of hollow point ammo through it and never shoot it again and fully be inside of a "never had a malfunction with a hollow point" crowd.
I have been making videos for a long time and have conversed with a LOT of people and the common theme that has always stood out to me is that my fellow RUclipsr gun channels often comment to me similar experiences across the board when it comes to semi automatic pistol reliability, not just with LCP's, all the while random people who are just viewers tell me they have "never had a malfunction in a semi automatic firearm ever". I just find the contrast pretty dramatic with people who put themselves out there VS ones who do not. Another thing that is fully true, is that Guntubers are running a huge variety of HP ammo that the general public is not.
I am not here to start any trouble, I just would find it super odd for a pistol like an LCP to run reliable 100% of the time with thousands of different hollow point rounds which are often hotter than FMJ rounds which can throw the pistol around a lot, cause limp wrist malfunctions with the pistols being so light, along with random hollow point nose designs. It just doesn't sound believable that people are shooting as many varieties of hollow points as I am, and never having an issue. I highly doubt the average never had crowd, has shot every brand and variety of hollow point .380 ACP ammo the way I have.
Now I do know it's possible to have a very reliable pistol no matter the ammo because the M&P 9 2.0 5" pistol that I got in March of 2021 legitimately has never had a single malfunction and I shoot mostly hollow point ammo for testing, but the reason it is so reliable makes perfect sense. That pistol along with Glock 17's &19's and Beretta 92's, Sig 226's and so on, all have a really wide feed ramp and they are in 9mm, which is the perfect combination for reliability. This 'never had a malfunction in an LCP' crowd, i'm sorry, i'm not buying into that. Thousands and thousands of every HP round variety that exists, through a pocket pistol with tighter tolerances than a duty sized 9mm pistol with 100% reliability over the course of several years.....i'm sorry, I just don't believe you.
They may also just have a unicorn that runs everything. But when larger cross section sample sizes are taken into consideration reliability issues definitely start to show with HP's. Heck even full size systems suffer from that like the 1911. A lot of the older models didn't feed JHP without work.
The really small guns are very dependent on the recoil spring strength which will vary a bit lot to lot so some guns will tend to be more sensitive than others. Remembering back to the KelTec P40 days where the VAST majority were sent back because they didn't run....but only a tiny fraction of 1% actually had anything that could be fixed and most of the problems were the very sharp recoil from the 40 S&W and how the gun fit (or didn't) in the shooters hand. A soft hand with light grip was sure to produce a malfunction but the gun needed very heavy recoil springing or it would beat itself to death in short order. There were people that could grip as hard as possible and still get malfunctions when the gun handed to someone else would run 100%. It's weird how something that works in an instant can be susceptible to subtle changes dramatic enough to mean it works or doesn't.
My LCP jams with ALL ammo. Worst gun i've ever had.
One reason why I’m a fan of Hornady Critical Defense for my pocket guns. In .380 I have not had a malfunction with it through an LCP or LCP MAX, and in .32acp I’ve not had a malfunction with it from a CZ VZ50
Preach it brother!
Thanks for a 380 test with a pocket pistol instead of the EZ.
I often pocket carry the same model LCP that I’ve had for years, over 400 rounds of FMJ & HP absent a single malfunction. These little guns make it easy to never go out unarmed.
I go out unarmed every day 😂
@@davidmann4533 Just don't advertise it.
@davidmann4533 are you a double amputee?
Well that's your choice. And your point being?
@@gelnat7100his point being the same as mine. I always have my LCP in my pocket; for years now. According to weather, clothing and activities I often have a 9mm or 45 too. But if activity or clothing make it too much then I just hope the LCP gets it done or I make it to the real big stuff that’s close by.
I've carried both as backup guns on duty. I carried gold dots in both and never had an issue with either loading and firing. I love 32 caliber because of the non existent recoil and the ease of carry on the tiny gun. Shot placement is key with these little guys and I bet you that anyone who tries it, will shoot better with the 32acp.
Course, I am a big fan of the 32 long and 32 H&R magnum as well.
Informational video as usual! Keep it up!
Great video Sam! I think you're one hundred percent right regarding the Ruger LCP .380 ammo. Fmj is the way to go. Hollow points may not feed and may not expand.
Thanks
At speeds in the mid 700s, FMJ is probably best like you said. Once you get below 900 fps, HP expansion is questionable. Was looking at luckygunner and they had alright expansion in 380 for various brands, but it was fired out of a Glock 42 and most speeds were >900 fps… the river has a shorter barrel and was only getting high 700s.
I own and carry the Kel-Tec P32, sometimes alone and sometimes as a backup to something else. It's loaded with two rounds of Fiocchi 60-grain JHP, one in the chamber and one at the top of the magazine. The remaining rounds in the seven-round magazine are Fiocchi FMJ. The ten-round magazine once offered by Kel-Tec is carried as a spare, fully loaded with the FMJ rounds.
I've had the gun since 2011. Every time I handle it, I'm still impressed with both what it is and what it started.
I have been carrying S&B 73g FMJ in my P32 which along with Fiocchi 73g FMJ sure seems hotter than the mainstream American FMJ stuff. I have ordered some Buffalo Bore 75G hard cast flat nosed +P to try. Underwood is another I would like to try. Thanks for your videos! I used to carry an LCP custom but it pinched my trigger finger badly, so I had to dump it.
I don't know if someone has commented this, but thank you for making these videos, specially on crappy cold weather like that. I know I'm not the only one who appreciates this. I hope you're enjoying the holidays.
Have a Happy New Year Sam
Thank you, same to you.
Loving the slo-mo camera shot where you've got test load and gun picture included... A must for all future videos Sam. This one went about how I expected. Hope you had a Merry Christmas
Great video. Ammo selection in 380 is probably more important than any other caliber. FMJs and Lehigh bullets are the ticket in a pocket 380. People with larger 380s like the Bersas, Berettas, and CZ83 can likely give some of the JHPs a whirl.
Sam, you have the best method of testing self defense rounds! I’ve been subscribed to your channel for several years since you were only shooting water jugs. I have a Diamondback db380 and a db9mm. I’ve settled on carrying Winchester white box flat nose fmjs and some form of XTPs in 380. I carry 115 grain Winchester white box hollow points in my db9 based on your videos and they don’t have as much recoil as some other rounds I’ve tested out of it. It can be a handful with more powerful rounds. I would like to see you compare the 380 flat nose fmjs against the typical round nose ones like in this test whenever you could find the time. Thanks and God bless you and your family!
Thanks. Yeah, that DB9 is the least shot pistol I have. Even though it's not rated for +P so I don't shoot +P, the recoil is like catching a hatchet in the palm. Way worse feeling than any .44 Magnum I have fired as the physical grip cannot be changed too much.
I call it my hand cannon or pocket rocket!😂 It is very accurate though! I actually shoot it more accurately than my G2C. I recently got a Glock 43x for Christmas. It’s definitely a shooter!
Anyone handled that new Diamondback SDR revolver yet?
Sam, the new way of showing slow motion ( showing the ammo box and firearm ) is very cool. Novel idea, IMO. Thanks, Sam.🫡👍😎🇺🇲
Thanks. I am debating going with this method VS text. This was one of a couple try-outs I have made this way.
Lots of people favor the P32 over P3AT because the ammo performs much the same and you get an extra round in the 32 plus it locks the slide open when empty.
Another .32acp video! Love it. I've been quite enjoying my Beretta 30X, but thinking I really need to pick up a Kel-Tec P32 as well.
I've got enough .380s for now and MOST comfortable with my Ruger Security 380.
Thanks for all you do!
Becoming a fan of 32 for self defense. Semi and revolver. Good info!
I had the same issue with a LCP years ago. I polished the feed ramp and after doing so, it functioned much better. Give it a try if you haven’t already
Excellent presentation as always. Ordered the Federal Hydra-Shok 68 gr "Deep" after watching your testing. For years, in my derringer and other 32's the Fiocchi 73g FMJ did the job.
I use FMJ in my 2.0 Bodyguard..no need for a hollow point round. At 10yds deadly accurate. At 15 and 20 not so much. Nice video.
Close to 80K subs Great Job !
Thanks. When I get to 100k, it's gonna be funny. A lot of people who do get there are like "I have worked so had and it took ME 2 YEARS, I can't believe it took so long". All while I started doing gun content in 2008.
@@GunSam Isn't the algorithm kind to us gun folks?
Ruger makes a factory 7 round LCP msgazine with an extended baseplate which allows 7 + 1 rounds. I have two LCPs with the extended mags and carry one in each pocket rather than a spare magazine due to my arthritis. Both of mine run well with some hollowpoints but flawlessly with round and flat nose ball. I can look at a hollowpoint and tell before I fire it if it will work. Those with rounded hollowpoint bullets work fine, and those that are more angular and long tend to jam.
I have that extended magazine but I don't use it when I compare .380 ACP to .32 ACP. I also took off the little pinky base plate on the original 6 round mag and put on the flat base plate to make the LCP and the P32 nearly identical so I can get a fair comparison though nearly identical grips.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, Sam!
Wouldn't want to get hit by either one. Thanks for the review.
Good test. Thanks Sam! I have not had any malfunctions in my Kel-Tec P-32 I have had 3 malfunctions in my Beretta Tomcat, but they were all in the first 50 rounds. None since. I use Fort Scott TUI as my carry ammo in my .32ACP pistols. It is as long as FMJ, so no rim lock issues. Plus I just ordered a box of the new Federal Hydra-shok Deep which wlll become my new carry ammo, assuming it feeds well.
Laugh all you want at Kel-Tek pocket pistols. I've used the .380-acp model for 15+ years. Never a failure. Not the best gun for shooting competitions. But for self defense situations, when you cannot carry something larger, it's perfect. Best to change out the flat bases on the magazines. Change to finger tab bases so you can get a better grip. The annoying thing to deal with is all spent cartridges are ejected straight up. Most semi autos eject up and to the right. Noticed this at a covered pistol range. The hulls would go straight up bounce off the ceiling to bop me on the head.
I love my pf 9 no problems as long as keep feed ramp clean
Same ive had mine for like 10 years. I trust it and never had a malfuntion
Well done. Thanks for the fmj penetration info with the p32 it helps a lot making in choices 👍🏽
I Carry the LCP in 380 and you're right about the recoil hurting. I have a grip accessory that add the tiniest bulk to the grip but makes a big difference in felt recoil. Don't get me wrong, it's still snappy but it hurts much less. Unfortunately I don't know who manufactured it as I purchased it used. Great video as always Sam!...
I like magazines that have a lil extension that keep that extra half a finger on grip.
One more comment on the Kel Tec 32 ACP - I switched to heavier springs and got jams with FMJ ammo. Had to switch back to factory springs to get reliable feeding with FMJ. Rim lock is always an issue so it helps to load the ammo correctly in the magazine and avoid limp wristing the pistol when firing, and of course to use FMJ ammo of the correct overall length.
Or just use European ammo like fiocchi. There is no rimlock with European 32acp. And it's hotter so it will work with the stronger springs
@@nelsonr1467 I have tried Fiocchi and still got jams with the stronger aftermarket springs. Works fine with the factory springs though so my guess is that the aftermarket springs are the problem causing jams.
Thanks. Good video. I now started using fmj in my LCP & save the hp for my G42.
Either one is better than a sharp stick when you need one. I do like them both. The lower recoil of the 32 is a selling point to me but your mileage will vary
Love this test! I am glad i settled for 32acp FMJ in our P32s!
GS. Always a good, interesting and relevant video. LCP hurts my hand and the way I must be holding it I tend to drop the mag. Thanks for sharing and take care.
Try that Kel Tec .32acp. I've had mine since they first started showing up maybe 22-23 years ago? Never a problem (unlike the P3AT) and recoil as stated in the video is much less in the .32. Don't ask me why Kel Tec can generally make their .32 work correctly out of the box and not their .380 but that's been my experience at least.
Reminds me of all of the times I've read from people, "I've never had a single issue from my .22's" or "I've never had a .22 round not fire".
I'm thinking, "how many rounds of .22 have you ever fired?! 50? 200?"
@@robwilson3749 Rob. Thanks. I appreciate your experience with the .32acp sound like a great option for an easy conceal self-defense gun. I am old so not likely to be buying many guns but that is one I would like to have. Thanks again and take care.
Tried the Hogue Hand-All grip sleeve?
@@exothermal.sprocket Thanks.
Another great video!
Nice test! Honestly even the penetration of .32 looks acceptable through the simulated clothing and bone test. I still don't want to get shot with it!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
I use FMJ for my 32 ACP for penetration and reliability. But I use Critical Defense for my 380 ACP because it is reliable and has some expansion and adequate penetration. The 380 has two camps - the FMJ camp which favors penetration and the JHP camp which favors expansion at the cost of penetration. Overall, the 380 ACP has been more reliable than the 32 ACP in my Ruger and Kel Tec.
Love the .32 comparison, I just saw a round called the .32 naa which is a .380 necked down to .32. This kinda helps understand what that round may be like. And (side note) that is an insane shooting speed at that distance with that little handgun and still hitting the target every time, nice!
Carried my Beretta 32acp Tomcat for years. Very confident in it. Rapid fire at 7yds very easy and accurate . Fiocchi FMJ 73 gr great accuracy. 380s and short barrel 9mms are to snappy and harder to control. I go with the gun I'm confident in and can shoot well.
Thanks for the relevant content!
🔫😎👍🏻
Dont ever underestimate the pocket pistol. I have 2 .380s and the P32.
I have the LCP and Bodyguard 380. The LCP jams constantly, but I figured out that you have to remove the extractor and clean behind it and it's good for maybe 50 rounds, then back to jamming. The Bodyguard on the other hand is much more reliable. I've put over 1400 rounds through it and it's only jammed about 5 times.
Polishing (a little) the feed ramp and chamber helps in pocket guns. Clears out any burrs and smooths out the surface area.
While I do not remove the extractor, I have noticed that general cleaning makes a difference. The most common malfunction I get is when I am running hollow points and haven't cleaned the pistol in awhile, and that is failure to feed. If you look at some of my older Hornady Critical Defense tests in the LCP, the ammo runs fine, but in my very latest test of it I failed to clean the pistol that had been fired recently, maybe 50 rounds through it. With a dirty LCP I got a couple failures to feed.
@GunSam pocket pistols require frequent cleaning and lubrication. Especially in 9mm.
Interesting. Keep it up, Sam. You’re selling me on a P32.😉
Mine's been terrific.
Another "32 caliber" cartridge I think could really work well in these pocket pistols is 30 Super Carry. Maybe the 50,000 psi max pressure on that little sucker could be difficult to deal with, but the projectile is lighter than 9mm stuff so recoil shouldn't be as high.
Thanks for this test.
I own both of these pistols so I learned something.
What do you know? I've been doing it right over the course of the last 10 years after all!
Thanks for the video.
I have owned a kel tec p32 for over 20 years and shot many ammo types through it. Zero malfunctions and for a mouse gun great accuracy. Zero complaintsm same goes with my LCP gen 1. For self defense FMJ is the way to go for both as they do not generate enough velocity for a jhp to expand.
Agree 200% on the LCP, mine is a complete turd with HST or golden sabre, jams all the time. I had great luck with the critical defense pre COVID (nickel case) but have had a handful of FTF with the current brass case CD. Your logic with the fmj makes some real sense. Worth considering.
FMJ is the way to go as they are more reliable in feeding. hollow points sometimes get hung up on the feed ramp. and the Ruger EC9S is 9mm and is just as small as these two pistols but with more ooomph! Good video by the way = way good video - thx
Happy New Year Sam! I hope you are feeling better and I hope those diseases are cured. Thank you for your channel!
I bought 250 rds of CCI Aluminum case FMJ to try through my P32 when I get it. Aluminum cases are significantly lighter than brass cases. I really notice the difference in my LCP MAX when loaded with 11 rounds.
Get a bodyguard 2.0 sent to you and you will be amazed at the difference in the 380 recoil.
Most pocket style arms don’t have enough velocity and umph to expand hp so fmj is your best bet
very true as I always carry FMJ for reliability
Good video. I've got a Kel-tec P32 and P3AT and have wanted to do your same penetrative test because I've had many discussions regarding .380 acp vs .32 acp. As far as your LCP feeding issue, I've done "fluff and buff" on both my Kel-tecs and the P3AT works flawlessly. Now due to "rim lock", the P32 doesn't reliably feed hollow points regardless of the "hacks" I've tried. Anyway, thanks for the video.
Not a fan of ball ammo for self defense but nice to see its lack of expansion and internal body damage shown. Have a great New Year Sam your videos are much appreciated. i own a few 380s and the Ruger Security 380 15 round is my choice as it has a longer barrel, holds more rounds, and has much better feed ramp. I dont love micro pistols but I know they have lots of fans for comfort. Just my 2 cents.
Thank you good advice nice video. Much appreciated
Thank you for the nice, informative video. Your results kind of what I thought they'd be. I was wondering if you could do a .380 video with the target covering more like the winter jacket you are wearing? That would be more like a cold weather defense situation, plus, I don't think anyone else has done that. Keep up the good work.
Excellent presentation!
Hollow point ammunition is not legal in all jurisdictions so this is quite an important test.👍🙏
Very interesting! I figured the .380 ball would go at least halfway through the second block. But I reviewed Lucky Gunner's tests and while non-expanded JHPs did often go super deep, they were then essentially flat points which, as you noted, penetrate more. They didn't test a FMJ but they tested the PowrBall which has a similar profile and they did not expand and went pretty much just like your FMJs went. Very interesting indeed.
I tend to use hotter Euro .32 ammo (when I carry a .32 ... love the caliber but usually can tote a .38 spl or 9x19mm or more). I have a very old PPK that essentially works like a DAO unless I use Geco or some such in it as the standard US stuff will cycle just enough to eject and feed but not to cock the hammer. So there is definitely a difference, but I doubt it's enough to send the bullet much deeper than what you are getting. If anything, it might tumble a wee bit more, I'm thinking.
In any case, I appreciate your test.
You have a very nice setup, there.
Regarding the P-32, I use the Keltec plus one magazine extrention (gives you one more finger on the grip) and upgrading to the wolf gun spring 13 pound recoil spring, it improves shootability and works with the Underwood +p extreme defender rounds.
Sam yep S&B .32 is the stuff! As You recall I,m a .32 advocate both in Pocket Pistols and j frame Revolvers. Our Great Grand Parents carried BOTH .32 Revolvers for Years. The reason? .32 is easy to fire accurately, less recoil and in Autos generally at least 1 more round. I had a theory for Years that the .32 acp would tumble. Well modern ballistics have proven me correct. I can SEE a revival of the .32 among Handgunners.
@@red9man2130 Back then penicillin wasn’t out yet. If you got shot with anything you might not die then but there was a good chance you’d die in a couple of weeks if shot. I think that made a lot of criminal element think twice when they saw any kind of gun pointed at them !
Comparing the performance experimentally in front of the camera taught me things I have no way of testing myself. Thank you for sharing your experimental data.
Some swear by revolvers and some swear at revolvers--so those two camps don't need to bother themselves with a comparison between a .38 Special snub nose revolver and a small .380 ACP such as the Ruger LCP in the test.
I'll have to check other videos but comparing an air weight .38 Special pocket revolver to that Ruger LCP .380 would be interesting. The LCP wins on size and weight. Recoil? I claim that it will be close. Power level? The .38 Special loses significant velocity in a two-inch barrel compared to a four-inch service revolver, so the kinetic energy will be close. More relevant are penetration and damage. Unless you go to +P .38 Special (are there alloy-framed snubbies rated for +P other than scandium?) the standard pressure .38 will have to be used. Or I could accept the .357 Magnum's recoil in some lightweight snub nose revolvers. Standard pressure .38 Special from an alloy framed snub nose revolver probably has the same felt recoil and terminal effect as the .380 from the Ruger LCP. Felt recoil is subjective.
But then we get to three real differences: cost (if you cannot afford the gun, you won't get it, and the snub nose revolvers can be $600 and more), practical accuracy (if you don't hit the target in the right place, it counts for little), and number of shots. Most .38 caliber pocket revolvers hold five shots--with an occasional six-shooter. The LCP holds seven shots. Wait--there's more. Carrying a second LCP magazine is less of a bother than a revolver speed loader or loose cartridges in the pocket and the LCP can be reloaded faster, meaning that the Ruger can stay in the fight more than the revolver. Practical accuracy is going to depend on the shooter.
There are many factors to consider. I didn't ignore the Kel Tec P-32 out of spite. There are reasons to carry a minimal pistol and even with underloaded American-made .32 ACP the Kel Tec P-32 has more muzzle energy than a .25 ACP or a .22 LR from a snub nose revolver or a .22LR auto that is as small as the P-32. The .32 has less felt recoil than the .380. There is a bias in the pistol instructor pool for police and military service pistols--different missions than a pistol carried all the time to ward off one or two attackers. Until 1892 the US Army required its revolvers to be regulated at the factory for a 100-yard zero and have sufficient power to drop a horse--in 1892 the US Army went to a "modern" .38 Long Colt revolver. The rest is history!
I have the same issue with my LCP. Hollows don't cycle, no matter the brand. The way I load mine is I keep a Hollow in the chamber and FMJ's in the mag.
First shot is the most important anyways, so might as well make it the most effective while keeping the 100% reliability with the FMJ's in the mag.
Just my opinion.
I was just talking to Dan the Wolfman (fellow RUclipsr) about that. He thinks staggering HP's and FMJ is a good idea, and I mentioned maybe even better is a HP then the rest FMJ, a good shot then a bunch of reliability after.
That's how I roll 'em, a Fiocchi 60-grain JHP in the chamber and at the top of the magazine, both followed by Fiocchi FMJ.
The ten-round magazine carried as a spare is loaded only with the FMJ ammunition.
I may buy a KelTec 32 pistol after watching this. Thanks.
Another great video, thank you
Ruger should make a 32 ACP LCP
I've got both pistols, and they're both shirt-pocket carry-able. They're great.
Since I live where it's usually warm, I carry a Kel-tec P3AT for my main EDC and I also always load it with FMJ. Besides being far more reliable than HPJ, with the small gun I feel like preparation is more important than expansion. In my full size 9mm I always use HPJ when carrying it. Also like the LCP, the P3AT is a rather painful gun to shoot. Have been thinking of replacing it with an LCP Max which I've heard isn't quite as bad but have not confirmed this myself. I have found that putting a light dab of white acrylic paint on the tip of the muzzle end sight really helps in aiming the small gun.
Carefull wit those scammers gunz. Their catfishers or golddiggers. Nice test though got that 380 and those rounds nice to see what they do besides just plinking with them.
I am cheap and mostly shoot fiocchi 380 fmj’s and their hps. Both have been pretty flawless in my Glock 42. I just picked up a lcp II in 22 and 380. Both are really finicky with ammo they with both run!
Cheers!
When I have had guns that had feeding issues with hollow points or ammunition like Extreme Defender, I have been able to fix the issue by polishing the feed ramp and removing any obstruction.
Sam single handedly makes Keltec & Walther sell more .32s & I wonder if S&W is still considering for their Bodyguard 2.0 since in the patents maybe ShotShow idk. India makes a lot of .32s. Slide velocity in small pistols really matters...I don't think the lcp works well for your hands Sam but if you haven't changed the recoil spring and magazine spring I'd do that. Most jhps are loaded a bit hotter, so it maybe just isn't a feed ramp and angle thing but slide velocity matching with mags...it's a tiny recoil spring new I wonder how short yours is now...
What is important about this caliber debate is proficiency and shot placement. If you can put a 32 where it needs to go, you are way better off than dumping a mag of 380 into the air. Either gun requires lots of practice to be able to use it effectively under pressure. I think sometimes Sam forgets that parts of his audience are not acomplished marksman. These kinds of pistols are great for everyday carry, and they solve the problem of program compliance.
I think the terminal ballistics is deceptive. While neither of the rounds is a good candidate for one shot stop, i think that a slightly misplaced 380 is more likely to slow an attacker down than a slightly misplaced 32.
It may be time for Sam to upgrade his 380.
Ruger LCP Max, 300 rounds of mostly Sig V crown 90gr JHP. No problems. That Sig V Crown is the carry for the Max.
My Bersa isn’t quite as small but I’ve never had a hollow point hang up. No FTF or FTE.
Solid pistols indeed.
I'd love to see you try out the lcp II or Max. I had similar issues with hollow points in my OG LCP. Occasional failures to feed with hollow points and never an issue with FMJ. But with the LCP Max I haven't had a single malfunction of any kind with any ammo so far. I know that's a sample size of one, but I've read a lot of other people with similar experience on forums. I really want to get my hands on a bodyguard 2.0. I've seen enough reviews from reputable reviewers saying it is a far more shootable gun than any of the lcp's.
Good test . Tells alot about the FMJ. Thanks
Thank you
@GunSam you welcome
I carry a P32 when I need extreme concealment. I have found the Euro made 32ACP is a bit hotter and has a beveled rim to help eliminate rim lock. The LCP recoil was to harsh for good control and practice was painful so I went to the P32. I do not trust either caliber with JHP in the very short barrels but your Deep Hydroshock might be a game changer..
Agreed. I wish the host ran the Euro spec ammo through those 2 guns to get velocity figures. I'm also curious what Euro spec .32 would be like through his 2 gel setups.
I avoided the LCP because of the recoil. My Sig P238 has low recoil, more like a .22, and is very accurate. The new BG 2.0 should be much better as well. Great video 👍
I’ve used JHP ammo in my G42 and Beretta Tomcat almost exclusively and don’t recall ever having a FTF with either.
M carbo extra power recoil spring will fix that in the LCP 380 for $10
And 10 more get you the stainless steel guide rod
I have the same 380 and I got this set up but I don't get to shoot it as much as you and you would definitely know if it works on the failures to eject in the failures to feed. I haven't got no jams yet and but the most powerful hollow points I did was like HST 99 grains, plus hydro shock deeps and critical defense with no jams yet.
I carry fmj ball in my Remington rm380 micro.
Would definitely like to see some G9 vs underwood xtreme defense 380 and any/all of the similar rounds in 32.
Good video 👍
Carrying one of these calibers may generate confidence in the one carrying it, but it must rank just above a sharp pointy stick.
A lot more evildoers have been killed, otherwise incapacitated, or driven off by even the .22LR than by a "sharp pointy stick" over the last 100+ years. A pencil meets the definition of "sharp pointy stick."
I'll stick to the real world instead of citing clichés.
Set the chronograph at the gel from now on. It’d be interesting to see did the 380 go through fiber board on the high side of its FPS and the 32 on the lower side of its average.
More good info
both similar performance.
I owned both of these. Both with FMJs. Remington 380 and PPU 32. The 32 wont go through a 2x4, (leaves a bump on the back) 380 will go through one 2x4 and imbed an inch into the second.
If I recall you were favorably impressed with the federal indoor range training you tested last year (or was it the year before?) In 380 for the LCP
I currently have a box of PMC bronze 32 Auto which is a 71 Grain rated at 900 and a box of Fiocchi that's a 73 grain rated at 1,000
So I'll be interested to see your S&B testing, although I don't actually have a 32 pistol at this point 🤣
I don't recall, but generally I would say, if you can get a low cost box of rounded nose HP's in calibers that are known to not expand, that's better than both settling with FMJ or high end HP's that will expand and under-penetrate. With stuff like a train+protect style of low cost hollow point, or something like Remington HTP or Federal Hi-Shok, you typically have sealed primers and bullets which make it more reliable in the long run than FMJ, but you still got good reliability and a tad more accurate and terminally effective round than an FMJ and more penetration than a high end hollow point.
@GunSam good to know
I do have a box of Sig Sauer 380 that could go in my easy 380 or my g42
Other than that I have Winchester flat tip FMJ, which seems to run fine in both of them
I have only ONCE out of countless rounds of .32 acp give me a rimlock. In that case I loaded the ammo wrong (did not make sure the previous round was all the way to the back of the magazine before putting in the next round). I have never had one rim-lock during firing that was properly loaded. Maybe I've just been lucky. Then again, IIRC .25 acp is semi-rimmed too and I've never had rimlock with those, either.
Crossing my fingers for a bodyguard 2.0 in .32 🤞
You'd better cross your fingers and your toes on that one.
Thank uou for the video. Pleaseschedule some Winchester brown box .380 95 grain flat fmj. It is a large meplat.
It looked to me like rounds two and three of the .380 forty yard went low and right, I couldn't tell about the last one. Definitely need to prove to yourself that your carry ammo works in your pistol, and not just one magazine full. Especially as the size of the gun goes down.
I load ball & critical defense alternating in my LCP. Figure if I have both and first shot doesn’t produce the desired effect the next round will provide a different effect.
Nice to see those little pistols work in the rain. What does Buffalo Bore have in 32 ACP, I wonder?
I was just looking earlier lol. Both loads they make are +P, no standard pressure and are both listed to be safe in all pistols. One is a hard cast, I think 75 gr if I recall, the other is a 60 gr TAC-XP. I think the TAC-XP is rated at 1,150 FPS, I don't remember what the hard cast velocity is.
@@GunSam I wonder what the penetration on the TAC-XP will be.
P32
Hollow points don't open reliably in subsonic calibers. FMJ feeds more reliably. The choice is clear.
It is clear. That's why for me it's been like, Remington JHP. Rounded nose, feed fine, yet imparts more damage than a FMJ despite not expanding. More accurate than a FMJ too.
@GunSam If they don't expand, go with FMJ. They might as well feed right if they can't expand.
I think the recoil difference would REALLY factor-in when shooting with one hand.
I use fmj flat nose in my LCP.
The feed ramp on my LCP had some weird wavy marks that I could only see in good light at a certain angle. Very hard to feel..but definitely there. Gun wouldn't eat FNFMJ or JHP at all. I worked it with emery cloth and polished. Eats anything now. Not sure if this has anything to do with your issues or not. Thanks for the videos