# Best .380 Ammo [Tested] For many years, the .380 ACP wasn't a **hugely popular** cartridge for concealed carry or home defense, but times are changing. The problem with this is that with so many types of .380 ACP ammo on the market, how do you know which is the **best defensive ammunition** for you? Let's take a look at some of my favorite ammunition choices and break down the important facts of ammo selection. -- ppt/summary-list -- Current In-Stock .380 Ammo -------------------------- -- ppt/ammo-widget -- Best .380 ACP Ammo for Self-Defense ----------------------------------- While I won’t name one brand to rule them all, I can make some suggestions based on my personal research into an effective round for my **[Sig Sauer P238](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/sig-sauer-p238-gun-review/)**. For reference, this weapon sports a 2.7-inch barrel. ### 1. Hornady Critical Defense 90 Grain FTX - Editor's Pick Defense Ammo **Editor's Pick Defense Ammo: Hornady Critical Defense 90gr FTX .380 ACP** **Pros** - Good penetration - Reliable and wide expansion - Comes in boxes of 25 instead of 20 **Cons** - Can sometimes be difficult to find **Specs** - **Bullet type:** Polymer-tipped jacketed hollow point - **Casing:** Nickel-plated brass - **Bullet weight:** 90 gr - **Muzzle velocity:** 1000 fps Hornady's Critical Defense line makes use of polymer Flex Tip (FTX) that aids in expansion while also preventing the round from expanding too early upon contact. The result is a round that boasts a tested median penetration depth of **13.5 inches** while still delivering **nearly half-inch expansion**. Couple that with the fact that Hornady packages their ammo in boxes of 25 instead of 20, and you have a round that performs extremely well while maintaining great bang for your buck. What's your take on Hornady's defensive .380 round? Rate it below! \[ar\] ### 2. Sig Sauer 90 Grain V-Crown - Best Value Defense Ammo **Best Value Defense Ammo: Sig Sauer V-Crown 90gr JHP .380 ACP** **Pros** - Affordable - Excellent expansion - Easy to find **Cons** - Penetration is right and the FBI minimum standards **Specs** - **Bullet type:** Jacketed hollow point - **Casing:** Nickel-plated brass - **Bullet weight:** 90 gr - **Muzzle velocity:** 980 fps Testing done by Chris Baker at Lucky Gunner has shown this round to be effective in both penetration and expansion. It reaches right around the minimum 12-inch mark on average while also expanding to **half an inch** in size. **Sig's V-Crown** ammunition is well-built and surprisingly affordable. ### 3. Speer Gold Dot 90 Grain GDHP - Most Consistent Defensive Ammo **Most Consistent Defensive Ammo: Speer Gold Dot 90gr GDHP .380 ACP** **Pros** - Reliable expansion - Wide expansion diameter - Extremely consistent **Cons** - More expensive - May be harder to find **Specs** - **Bullet type:** Jacketed hollow point - **Casing:** Nickel-plated brass - **Bullet weight:** 90 gr - **Muzzle velocity:** 1040 fps Speer's Gold Dot line has been a mainstay in defensive ammo nationwide, regardless of caliber, for many years. Their 90gr Gold Dot offering is no exception. While these rounds fall *just* short of the FBI minimum penetration depth, they exhibit uniform and reliable expansion, which is tough to get in .380 ACP. Also, keep in mind that these tests are conducted through 4 layers of clothing, which is on the extreme end of what would be expected. ### 4. Hornady American Gunner 90 Grain XTP - Most Affordable Defense Ammo **Most Affordable Defense Ammo: Hornady American Gunner 90gr XTP .380 ACP** **Pros** - Affordable - Easy to find - Good penetration - Comes in boxes of 25 instead of 20 **Cons** - Expansion can be hit or miss depending on certain conditions **Specs** - **Bullet type:** Jacketed hollow point - **Casing:** Brass - **Bullet weight:** 90 gr - **Muzzle velocity:** 1000 fps The **Hornady American Gunner .380 ACP** features the XTP projectile and penetrates well. It offers controlled expansion to allow the round to expand gradually as it travels through the body. While it doesn't sport 100% reliability on expansion like the Hornady Critical Defense FTX, it definitely stays within the FBI penetration depth standards. The main draw here is that this ammo is **extremely affordable** and pretty common. Best .380 Ammo for Target Practice & Plinking ------------------------------------------------- ### 5. Sellier & Bellot 92 Grain FMJ - Editor's Pick Range Ammo **Editor's Pick Range Ammo: Sellier & Bellot 92gr FMJ .380 ACP** **Pros** - Good accuracy - Runs clean - Compact packaging - Reliable **Cons** - Slightly more expensive **Specs** - **Bullet type:** Full metal jacket - **Casing:** Brass - **Bullet weight:** 92 gr - **Muzzle velocity:** 955 fps Another favorite of the PPT team for range use is **Sellier & Bellot**. In our experience, this ammo shoots pretty clean and has given us good accuracy. Another small bonus is that Sellier & Bellot ammo packs their rounds in boxes smaller than many competitors, making packing your range bag and ammo storage a little bit easier. ### 6. Magtech 95 Grain FMJ - Best Plinking .380 Ammo **Best Plinking .380 Ammo: Magtech 95gr FMJ .380 ACP** **Pros** - Affordable - Solid accuracy - Reliable **Cons** - Not super clean, but not super dirty **Specs** - **Bullet type:** Full metal jacket - **Casing:** Brass - **Bullet weight:** 95 gr - **Muzzle velocity:** 951 fps Magtech makes a variety of ammo, all of which is known for solid performance-to-cost ratio. This FMJ ammo tends to be among the more accurate brands we shoot when it comes to general range plinking. It is right in the middle on the clean-to-dirty scale, which means you shouldn't run into any issues as long as the gun has a reasonable cleaning schedule. ### 7. Fiocchi 95 Grain FMJ - Easiest to Find **Easiest to Find: Fiocchi 95gr FMJ .380 ACP** **Pros** - Affordable - Reliable - Easy to find **Cons** - Runs dirty **Specs** - **Bullet type:** Full metal jacket - **Casing:** Brass - **Bullet weight:** 95 gr - **Muzzle velocity:** 960 fps I've never had a problem with Fiocchi**; every** **round** **has gone bang** as it should. However, it's some of the dirtiest ammo I've used. After 200 rounds of their 9mm, my slide starts to stick. After 300, I **need to clean** it if I want to keep things running smoothly. It is still one of the main brands I use for range ammo. ### 8. PMC Bronze 90 Grain FMJ - Best Budget Target Ammo **Best Budget Target Ammo: PMC Bronze 90gr FMJ .380 ACP** **Pros** - Readily available - Affordable - Reliable **Cons** - Average accuracy **Specs** - **Bullet type:** Full metal jacket - **Casing:** Brass - **Bullet weight:** 90 gr - **Muzzle velocity:** 961 fps If you are looking for reliable ammo that **runs relatively clean**, PMC Bronze is a great option. In the current market, PMC ammo has been fairly available while remaining competitively priced. This is great for those who are looking to plink with solid ammo at a solid price. How To Choose The Best .380 Ammo -------------------------------- ### Testing Procedures for Self-Defense Ammo The below pictures and data are from a super in-depth post from Lucky Gunner plus a few of our personal criteria. Here are some details of the test, which closely mimics FBI protocol: - **Shot 10 feet away** - **4 layers of fabric** in front of the ballistics gel to simulate a "worst case" scenario of clothing - **Ideal penetration of 12-18 inches**. More than 18 inches might go completely through the target and hit something beyond. While a 12-inch minimum protects against thicker targets and possibly hitting something like an arm first before the torso. - **5 shots for more data** - **Shorter barreled gun**. Most tests are run with a full-size pistol, but Lucky Gunner used a Glock 42, which has a 3.25-inch barrel. Their thought was most people carrying a handgun most likely have a compact-sized one. So, for those of you with a longer barrel, the penetration and velocities might be slightly higher. Self-defense is only one portion of this article, and our section on range ammo focuses more on the criteria of **reliability, cost-effectiveness, and accuracy**. Final Thoughts -------------- The .380 round is one some choose for self-defense or just for some fun on the range. Regardless of what you use it for, the right ammo will only help you reach your goals. We've listed out some of our favorite .380 ammo brands to get you started and hopefully set you down the right path. **What's your favorite .380 ammo brand? Tell us in the comments below. Don't have one yet? Check out our article on the [Best .380 Pistols: Pocket Rockets](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/best-380-pistols/)** **for some recommendations.** Latest Updates -------------- - **April 24, 2024:** *Updated the product categories as well as added supplemental information to each product.* - **February 2, 2024**: *Updated list with new recommendations, added current California ammo ruling*.