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380 AUTO Ammo

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We shot 19 different self-defense loads of 380 Auto ammo into ballistic gel

.380 ACP ammo is the comeback kid of handgun cartridges. The caliber is older than most people realize with a history dating back to 1908 when Colt was looking for a cartridge that was a compromise in power and size for their compact pocket automatic. The idea was to develop a round that could function is a blow back weapon, but still be somewhat powerful. The 380 is also known as the 9mm short or 9mm Kurz. The 380 acp was extremely popular in Europe, but somewhat faded when Americans kept their 38 special revolvers and 45 acp pistols.

Recently though the 380 ACP had made a major comeback with the explosion of concealed carry. 380 ACP ammunition has become the go to cartridge for numerous pocket pistols and is formidable when paired with a jacketed hollow point bullet for self defense. These small, semi-automatic pistols are often in 380 ammo to maintain their small size and lightweight nature.

Look for in-stock 380 ACP for sale with bullet weights typically in the 90 grain to 95 grain area with some specialty rounds much lighter or heavier. We also work to keep name-brand rounds in-stock at cheap prices from names you know and trust like Federal, Speer Gold Dot, and Hornady.

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1000rds - 380 ACP Tula 91gr. FMJ Ammo
☆☆☆☆☆ 1 Review(s)

$274.95

$0.28/ppr

14 In Stock
1000rds - .380 Auto PMC 90gr. FMJ Ammo Video
☆☆☆☆☆ 4 Review(s)

$359.00

$0.36/ppr

14 In Stock
1000rds – 380 Auto Winchester 95gr. FMJ Ammo

$359.95

$0.36/ppr

15 In Stock
50rds - 380 Auto Blazer Brass 95gr. FMJ Ammo

$18.45

$0.37/ppr

57 In Stock
1000rds - 380 Auto Federal American Eagle 95gr. FMJ Ammo Video
☆☆☆☆☆ 2 Review(s)

$379.95

$0.38/ppr

6 In Stock
20rds – 380 Auto PMC Gold Starfire 95gr. JHP Ammo

$15.00

$0.75/ppr

8 In Stock
200rds - 380 Auto Federal Personal Defense 99gr. HST JHP Ammo

$184.50

$0.92/ppr

37 In Stock

About This Data

Firearm Used Ruger LCPII

Barrel Length 2.75"

Distance to Target 10 Feet

Barrier 4-layer cloth

Ammo	5-shot average penetration depth	5-shot average diameter	5-shot average velocity
20rds – 380 Auto Barnes TAC-XPD 80gr. TAC-XP SCHP Ammo	8.12"	0.55"	885
20rds - 380 Auto Black Hills 90gr. Jacketed Hollow Point Ammo 500rds - 380 Auto Black Hills 90gr. JHP Ammo	15.84"	0.37"	876
20rds - .380 Auto Federal Hydra-Shok 90gr. HP Ammo 50rds - .380 Auto Federal LE Tactical Hydra-Shok 90gr. HP Ammo	14.88"	0.35"	875
20 Rounds – 380 Auto Federal Personal Defense 99 Grain HST JHP Ammo	12.26"	0.59"	956
25rds – 380 Auto Hornady American Gunner 90gr. XTP Ammo	16.3"	0.35"	884
25rds - .380 Auto Hornady Critical Defense 90gr. FTX Hollow Point Ammo 250rds - .380 Auto Hornady Critical Defense 90gr. FTX Hollow Point Ammo	12.9"	0.42"	897
20rds - .380 Auto MAGTECH 77gr. First Defense Solid Copper HP Ammo	13.22"	0.35"	995
20rds - .380 Auto Magtech Guardian Gold 85gr. +P HP Ammo	12.4"	0.47"	954
25rds - 380 Auto Remington Golden Saber 102gr. HP Ammo 500rds – Remington Golden Saber 102gr. JHP Ammo	16.1"	0.37"	871
Remington HTP 380 Auto 88 Grain JHP - 500 Rounds 50rds – 380 Auto Remington HTP 88gr. JHP Ammo	17.02"	0.35"	902
20rds - 380 Auto Remington Ultimate Defense 102gr. BJHP Ammo	17.4"	0.35"	896
20rds - 380 Auto Speer Gold Dot 90gr. JHP Ammo	11.58"	0.39"	831
50rds - .380 Auto Winchester Super-X 85gr. Silver Tip Hollow Point Ammo	12.6"	0.36"	879
20rds – 380 Auto Winchester Defender 95gr. PDX1 Bonded JHP Ammo	9.56"	0.62"	844
20rds - 380 Auto Winchester W Train and Defend 95gr. JHP Ammo 200rds - 380 Auto Winchester W Train and Defend 95gr. JHP Ammo	9.04"	0.6"	835
50rds – 380 Auto Speer LE Gold Dot 90gr. JHP Ammo 1000rds - 380 Auto Speer Gold Dot 90gr. Hollow Point Ammo	11.24"	0.44"	891
50rds - .380 Auto Winchester Ranger Talon 95gr. HP Ammo 500rds - .380 Auto Winchester Ranger Talon 95gr. HP Ammo	16.18"	0.35"	907
20rds - 380 ACP Sig-Sauer Elite Performance Ammunition 90gr. V-Crown JHP Ammo	14.36"	0.48"	887
20rds – 380 Auto Corbon 80gr. DPX Ammo	12.76"	0.47"	1091

Federal Ammo

Hornady Ammo

Winchester Ammo

Black Hills Ammunition

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More About 380 Auto Ammo

Here's a look at some of the most common questions our fellow shooters have about 380 ACP ammo.

What Does “ACP” Stand For?

“ACP” is a designation given to many different cartridges. Standing for “Automatic Colt Pistol,” this moniker is used by cartridges that were created by Colt’s Manufacturing Company, more commonly known simply as “Colt.” The cartridges, including the .25 ACP, .32 ACP, and .45 ACP, are all made specifically for Colt firearms. For marketing purposes, companies want their name on ammunition, so while the .38 ACP was created by the famous designer John Browning, he was working for Colt at the time so it took the “ACP” surname.

Want to learn more about ACP's place in the shooting world? Check out this article on our blog.

Are the .380 ACP and .38 Special Interchangeable?

There is a chance you would be able to fit the .380 ACP in a firearm made to fire .38 Special, but we definitely don't recommend it. These cartridges have slightly different dimensions for both bullet and neck diameter (the .38 Special is slightly wider), and the overall length is significant, as the .38 Special is over a half-inch longer. Also, the .380 ACP is designed for pistols, while the .38 Special is generally a revolver cartridge.

Why is the .380 ACP Less Common than Cartridges Like the .38 Special and 9mm Luger?

The .380 ACP is certainly not a exotic cartridge, but you are less likely to find it at the range than the .38 Special and 9mm Luger. There may be many reasons for this, but it really comes down to power. The .380 ACP rarely has muzzle energy over 215 foot-pounds unless it is “+P,” a high-pressure, cartridge. The .38 Special often exceeds 250 foot pounds, while the 9mm Luger is usually well above 300 foot-pounds.

Is the .380 ACP Reliable for Self Defense?

Yes. Despite the smaller stats, the .380 ACP is certainly capable of stopping a threat. In fact, many concealed-carry enthusiasts appreciate the small, compact nature of the .380 ACP, claiming it allows for convenient, discreet firearms that still carry a reliable number of rounds. If choosing rounds for self defense, look for expanding bullets such as jacketed hollow points. You might take a look at our 380 ACP gel test results below to get an idea of how each round performs relative to others under identical circumstances.

Why is .380 ACP More Expensive, Despite a Smaller Size?

If you compare the .380 ACP to other cartridges such as the 9mm Luger or .38 Special, you will often find that it is slightly more expensive, or at the very least the same price as these rounds despite having a smaller profile. Generally, smaller rounds, which require less material, are cheaper, but because other rounds are often produced at higher volumes, manufacturers (and hence distributors) can charge less for the cartridge. Many militaries across the world use 9x19 ammo in duty - so there's a ton of it produced annually all over the world. This is why you may find comparable .380 ACPs are as much as $.05 more per round than, say, the 9mm Luger.

380 AUTO Ammo

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