If you are ever invited to a cookout at Mr. Harrell’s home. There will be several caveats. First, the meat will have holes. Second, the ribs may be shattered. Third, the fruit salad may be obliterated. Enjoy.
Scott, you can do it yourself. The usual way to take an elephant with such a rifle is a head shot. In the worst case, it is a frontal head shot. All you have to do is to build a target that simulates an elephant's head. You have got everything to do that. The base of the elephant's trunk (a lot of muscles) can be represented by a 6" thick slab of Clear Ballistics gel. Then the skull: 6 of your .75" pine boards with the 1" spacers would do, with an *important* twist: the 6-board box must be turned 45°, so that the bullet impacts the boards at a 45° angle. I would place the 6" slab of gel tightly against the box (the first board), so that both the slab and the box are at a 45° angle to the bullet's path. Then the setup would end with a 12" block (in the usual position, of course), representing the brain. If the bullet can go straight through this setup, all the way, it is certainly adequate for elephant hunting. The total penetration length is some 34". With this setup you could test big bore revolvers as well.
.380 is a convenient gun to have, but not necessarily the most effective. But it fills the role of rule #1 in gun fights, have a gun. Preferably a rifle and 10 of your friends with rifles. The gas station down the street kinda frowns upon me bringing 10 friends with rifles in the store just for a beer and a slim jim.... so my .380 fits the situation well.
Paul Harrell videos are always a treat, because even though the topics are the same as other channels, with Paul we have the privilege of watching even mundane topics from the perspective of an expert, which always makes for great entertainment. We can trust that even the little pieces of information we are getting are things that we can take to heart. Not having to weigh out the BS from the facts like you have to do with most channels, makes a Paul Harrell video always a pleasant experience.
Than you don't truly love the art/hobby/lifestyle if you don't like hearing the basic facts over and over again. I been into guns for 25 years, yet if someone "informed" me of mundane things daily such as "a .38 special will chamber in a .357 magnum revolver", I would be totally fine with it.
Places to go things to do, it is a tool not an obsession. Besides I've the right and evidence to make the observation of mundane. It could have been special... good luck and may god bless
I first started carrying .380 ACP in the late 70's and have been off an on till lately. Now I carry one every day as total concealment is important to me.
Once again Paul Harrell demonstrates his fantastic firearms education ability. One of the best firearms content creators on TH-cam right now. I'm early so there aren't tons of comments yet, but I'm curious about how many people will comment saying .380 is a horrible self defense caliber anyway. I challenge them to stand in front of someone armed with a .380 and let themselves be shot with it. Then we can ask them "How'd we do?" and wait for their answer. *(I'm being a wise ass and am in now way serious about this type of comment in any way shape or form.)*
Dsdcain I have a Beretta 950 .25acp, and there’s a standing offer (and reply) to anyone who thinks that caliber is a joke: $10,000 for every round that “bounces” off you...lol!
I wouldn't want to get shot with a pellet gun. Doesn't mean its an appropriate carry caliber. It just means people usually try to avoid getting shot by anything. Shoot a rubber band at me im probably going to try and duck it.
HST has pretty mediocre penetration in 380, I wouldn't carry it myself. I would suggest Underwood xtreme penetrator or defender, they are both similar designs and do quite well in the testing I've found. They are expensive and have a odd shape so you want to test them in your gun, they run well in the ones I've tried myself but you never know.
Check out Shootingthebull410, he did some very good videos on 380acp and 9mm ammo out of a pocket gun. The Lehigh bullet was eventually his top pick but a few loads using the Hornady XTP did well too. The key with getting enough penetration in 380 is having a bullet that doesn't expand too much. There just isn't enough energy to make a bullet expand well and penetrate deep in the 380. That's why I think it's worth the extra money for underwood ammo in that caliber, in 9mm or larger I don't think it's as important because conventional jhps do well.
I think the .380 demonstrations are especially valuable; your ammunition choice in this caliber is critical. Thank you for the rigorous testing and please make more videos about the .380 in the future!
I feel like a Paul Harrell crack addict. I wake up Thursday and I check for a new vid. Get showered for work then check for a new vid. Take first break at work and check for a new vid. At this point if I don't see a new vid I start to feel a slight sense on anxiety. Take lunch and check for a new vid. If still no new vid then i start to get a mild case of the shakes. Take afternoon break at work and check for a new vid. Shakes get worse. Start getting desperate. Sneak in extra peeks at phone to check for new vids. Start watching past Paul Harrell vids trying to fill the void. Leave work and check for new vid. If no new vid I tell myself "It's ok. Paul has a life too plus he gave you two vids last time so technically the math works out." Get home and check for a new vid. If no new vid I throw myself down on the floor kicking and screaming like a toddler. Then notification comes through. A tear fills my eye and I think "I love Thursdays!"
I recall Clint Smith saying something to the effect that pistols put holes in people, rifles put holes through people, and shotguns, with the proper load at the proper distance, will physically remove part of a person's anatomy and throw it on the floor.
Shotguns have some serious limitations (range, how will you carry ammo effectively, armor penetration, etc.), but when used as intended they are the most devastating firearm out there.
Thank you Paul.I am 50 yrs old and have literally been shooting since I was a kid( my first 22 lr at 10). Yet I learn something every time I watch one of your videos. I especially appreciate your " real world" demonstrations over pure theory.Many assumptions of mine have been either reinforced or shown to be incorrect,either way the info is invaluable.Thanks again.
Paul Harrell and Hickok45: the best two firearms education video creators on the net. Always very informative videos without all the macho bs seen on most other firearms related videos. Would like both those guys along on a shooting session on my range anytime. About .380 ammo selection: I feed my Ruger LCP whatever ammo feeds reliably every time every pull of the trigger. Since it is strictly a self-defense handgun with situations less than 7 yards or so; matters not to me 'degree of expansion' or tissue damage or what have you: the most important aspect to me is every round fires every pull of the trigger. Great video!
Thank you very much. Finally a "great" trust worthy video of the Federal HST 99 grain 380 round in a short and or longer barrel. HST in all my pistols.
He really needs a college class. This dude really is a firearm professor. And he isn't boring. It also seems like ball would be better and cheaper for 380.
It is odd that I came here to gush about what a great creator Paul is, regardless of the fact that I haven't owned a firearm in a couple of decades. Not being a "gun-nut", I felt that my comment would be more powerful to the non gun-owner crowd. Well, imagine my surprise that there are hundreds of others that feel exactly the same about Paul, whether they own guns or not. I guess facts and honesty are popular now. Who would have thought? I don't really know that much about guns, and I'm guessing that the "you be the judge" thing is probably a meme with his viewers, but sometimes it's just the honest conclusion. As for personal protection, some like this or that caliber (and the ever popular revolver VS auto debate), but what I didn't know is that if I like a .380 auto for concealed carry, the ammo makes a big difference, and what the "best" ammo is, depends on the barrel length too. I do now, and it is fascinating. Even with a scientific or technology lens, and completely discounting guns, Paul presents a no-nonsense bunch of facts without being clownish or hyperbolic or having a stick up his ass. As I watch more and more of his videos, I am ever more impressed with his methodology and simple presentation. Clearly this man is a wealth of information on the subject of guns in general, and he must spend LOTS of hours researching the minutia and details. Oddly, I find myself clicking on his videos first when I look at my long-ass sub list each day. [I have waaay too much time on my hands] Paul, The "I do wear safety glasses", "I'm what you would call a professional" and "don't try this at home" lines are hilarious. You can just feel the boredom and annoyance with that BS drip from your speech (unconsciously) as it would from any of us. I'm sure that you get the obligatory "you didn't show the chrono numbers on the video" comments also. Tubers will be tubers Paul, just keep making videos man, you truly have a gift for it and you underestimate the impact they have with real people from all walks of life.
Because it fit my hand the best so far, I have a Browning 1911-380 with a 4.25" barrel. It is narrow and easy to conceal, but big enough to be comfortable.
Thank you! That was informative and relevant to the man with a Bersa Thunder 380 (bought as a first firearm from a friend at church who needed money to buy a sail boat).
I have two 380's (1-2.75" and 1-3.5") that I carry in differant situations. Use the HST 99gr in both because of the results Paul just illustrated. I've carried 380's for 35 years either as a back up or concealed light carry. Is it the optimum defensive round, no. Can I effectively place rounds on target and more importantly actually carry it all the time. Damn skippy! Ammo selection in lighter calibers is critical, 380, 38spl ect... Proficiency is very important as well. Actually having your side arm on your person when the SHTF as apposed to leaving it behind. That makes any other arguement void.
Thanks Paul, great presentation on .380 Amazingly you managed to not repeat things you’ve already covered in previous videos.......reason # 899,999 that your presentations are awesome!
Easy, a lots of people think 380 isn't good enough or just don't like small calibers... has nothing to do with stupid politics, libtards or cowards draft doggers from the right.
My SIG P230 in .380 is comfortable to carry and very accurate within standard confrontational ranges and beyond. I don't like the heel mag release, but it never releases accidentally. I wish it was a bit smaller, but it is more concealable and lighter than my current full-sized auto and wheel ownings. I have also never found an auto more reliable with EVERY type of ammo every loaded into her. Also, *"I like this gun!"* She really is beautiful to behold and a joy to the hand. I may one day find an auto-9 that I like and trust to the same extent (I'm not a striker-fired guy, so that limits things), but until then, my .380 will be paired with Hornady Critical Defense (my current flavor) or some other wunderkind round and A LOT of prayer that she be allowed to remain holstered except for practice and for fun. If the need every arises to use her, however; I will certainly be more likely to fail than the pistol. Regardless of your caliber; quality equipment, quality ammo, and quality training create your best chance of survival.
My mother keeps a 380 highpoint by her bed, my brother has gone on that the high point sucks and she guna get hurt and the 380 is to weak & she is guna get hurt ect ect. She shoots it twice a year and other than that its on her night stand I clean &oil it when she comes to shoot with me shes had it for years and we have never a non user malfunction with it ( my mother tends to short stroke her first round after firing more than a mag) Point is she handles the 380 comfortably and the highpoint cost her 180 $ bullets put in the right spot dont matter how big
A hipoint is big, heavy, ugly, and unpleasant to shoot...but it will go bang when you need it to. I tend to steer my customers clear of hipoints if they are able to afford to spend more money, but sometimes they can't...and in those cases I'll show them the hipoint.
I’m glad I started supporting this guy on Patreon; he puts a lot of time, money, and knowledge into these very educational videos, and I want him to be able to continue his work.
Federal HST comes out like a champ again. I only use Federal HST or Hornady Critical Defense in my carry guns. Both rounds are amazing. Both are nickle plated with sealed primers (sweat and rain resistant comes in handy for carry guns).
in my 9mm i CC i load 124gr +p speer gold dot, but i just recently bought a s&w shield in .40 (i CC both guns daily) and i had federal punch in it for about a week just as a stopgap, but i found a great deal on 165gr HST and that’s what i’m going to carry now on. HST and gold dot are always top performers and have a long, long track record of effectiveness.
@@acid6urnsI really like critical duty for mine. I got some federal punch for .75 cents a round. I shot a water bottle and it stayed in the 1l bottle. It also was only 40% expanded. I have 1 mag left and went back to critical duty for everything else. Punch may not over penetrate but if I’m going that route it better flower. Else why not just carry frangible at that point.
Shot an elk two years ago. Walked up on the elk and it was still breathing and wheezing (double lung shot). Trying to do the ethical thing, I shot the thing in the forehead with my .380 lcp chambered with hornady critical defense. Bullet cleaned house all the way through and came out its neck. 380 is all I need for self defense.
That's what I was thinking. The .380 ain't no joke. So many people thinks it's a little wimp bullet and folks say it doesn't put someone down. I bet a solid copper bullet in 380 + p will do a hella va job. I carry more often now the flat slim polymer keltec model 3AT and two 10 round mags. When I dont mind possible obvious carry its formerly glock 23 moving to the glock 19. On my 24 acres It 10mm. Formerly glock 20sf, now 10mm importer Springfield xd. Long live Paul.
I went to a gun show where you have to clear your CCW before entering. It was a hot summer day, so I was carrying a Ruger LCP. The guy that safety checked my weapon asked why I was carrying a "girl gun." I asked if he would let me shoot him with it, since it is only a girl gun, it definitely wouldn't hurt a big tough man like him. He wouldn't let me, so apparently he is afraid of "girl" guns. He is so afraid of them, he won't even carry one! Joking aside, I advocate carrying as big a caliber and sidearm as you can handle, but I also advocate not harassing responsible gun owners for carrying whatever they choose.
@@TangoPapaWhiskey It's hard to believe that someone who was charged with the responsibility of checking CCWs at a gun show would make such an ignorant remark.
I'm three years late to this party, but your post about the Hornady Critical Defense helps me make a decision about what carry ammo to use for my new Kimber Micro. The Kimber is real finicky about the ammo but it does like Hornady CD. BTW: My old first generation LCP cycles any ammo I put through it.
Love Paul Harrell's videos. Entertaining and informative, with no superfluous graphics or noise, just compelling scientific trials and demonstrations presented with the unbiased math. Even Mr. Harrell's commentary is appreciated as it comes from an informed perspective no matter how dry the delivery. I may not have any interest in 380 ACP, however, this expo was enlightening as to how utterly ineffective it is for cricket control.
When I was trained, way back in the 1970's, the feelings were that you needed at least 1,000 fps muzzle velocity for any kind of defense handgun. This all of my .380's have been of the European Full Frame Service pistol design. These guns have about a 4 inch barrel or very close to it. Say 3.85 or 3.9 inches at least. And they DO give a solid 1,000+ fps.
My every day carry gun for work is a kel tec p3at loaded with federal hydra shok. Even when full of grit and soaking wet the little Kel tec always works. The hyrda shok will expand out of the small guns as well
Today the temperatures reached 110+ where I live so I carried a Ruger LCP loaded with Federal HST in a front pocket. Gun choice changes with weather and clothing but, I like the HST as my #1 choice in most cases.
This is one of the most interesting and revealing videos Paul has done, in my estimation. It really drives home the differences in ammunition and their dependence on bullet weight and velocity. I don't have a .380 but it would be interesting to see the results from some solid copper "hyper ammo" like Barnes TAC-XP. It's supposed to be high velocity and since it doesn't have a jacket it shouldn't fragment. Also, it's supposed to be a reliably opening bullet without the tendency to plug up like the Fiocci bullets did in this test (that was very enlightening).
I have tested a lot of .380 ammo in my LCP, and was surprised that the best overall performer is the basic Win White Box JHP, much better than anything that is hyper ammo or of new design.
I shoot through 4 layers of denim into water jugs and then shoot 2x4's lined up to see what hard barriers do to the bullet. They may not be as realistic as Paul's tests, but they do give me a point of comparison as to what the bullet could potentially do if the conditions were perfect (no bone hits etc).
Gun Sam _Revolver Aficionado_ Watching your video I agree. The cost and availability along with it's performance makes the Winchester Classic hollow point a good choice. With that said, if one has an extra few dollars the HST 99 grain is nice.
Some guns are just cheap dates. My dad carries WWB hollow points in his .40. I made a meat target similar to Paul’s to test them and they seemed to expand and penetrate well.
XTP is a good round in .45 Auto or when loaded into a .357 magnum, but in .38 special or .380, they only serve to gain a little accuracy and to look nice! Way overpriced as handloading bullets too. XTP or FMJ bullets from Hornady run $28 per box of 100 in .45 auto, but Speer bullets run $16 for the same damn thing.
Again I use Speer Gold Dot 90 Grain .380 hollow point ammunition... What's good for the goose is good for the gander, plus the fact that I can get that widely available locally and that's all I carry in every single carry gun I own...
Paul, I only recently encountered your videos. I wish I had seen them 7+ years ago. You are a master. Thank you for your knowledge and skills. In the medical community, we often make dark jokes about the way nice people die of horrible diseases and suffer. Assholes love forever. Pancreatic cancer is not good. I wish that you may go gently into that good night p, despite the poem, you are a good man, and I wish you comfort and peace.
Great info, I carry a 380 Bersa from time to time and I have questioned it's ability to get the job done. After seeing this I feel a lot better and plan on running several different kinds of ammo to see what works best for me. Thanks Paul!
Great Video! Ammo selection is a constantly developing topic due to an ever changing combination of variables, especially with 380. So your video is well appreciated, as always.
This is why I carry Underwood Extreme Defense in my Bodyguard .380 . All hollow point ammo has either a lack of penetration or lack of expansion in a gun this small. The extreme defense usually gets about 13 to 14 inches of penetration in gel and does about the same damage as a hollow point. Paul tested the Extreme Penetrator in .380 and it did well. I would love to see a test of the Underwood Extreme Defense.
That would be fantastic Extreme Defender vs Extreme Penetrator, maybe a few calibres but certainly 380. Why not offer to send Paul a box of each to test?
jhvuv n ik65s2 The 380 Xtreme penetrator was rated for 1100 fps, but Paul's mean velocity was ~104 fps short of that because of the small barrel. I want to see a test that achieves the rated velocity before coming to any judgments.
Shot a charging 150lb boar with a glock 42 with HST and damn near took a whole mag with a +2 extension. I was fishing on a friend's ranch and out of nowhere i heard a grunt from behind while i was sitting in a chair my back facing woods. I whipped around and barely had time to pull out my gun and i put one right between the eyes at about 7 yards. It bucked that off like nothing and kept going. I sidestepped his charge and put several rounds right behind his front leg (that's where the vitals are) and it acted like i had shot it with a shotgun slug. After it dropped, i said why the hell did the headshot not work? It had went in perfectly and deflected down through the chin. Of course i took the hog and cut him up for the freezer and found all the bullets lodged in the back ribs just as the meat target showed. I've since switched from a glock 42 to a glock 29 and have had ZERO issues dropping large 250lb feral hogs in the EXACT situation I've just described.
williwonti well i suppose it got the job done at the end of the day and it's what i had on me. I did carry it everywhere all the time but now i very seldomly carry my G42 after that and mostly carry my G29. When i have the option to, i carry my G20 for CC and primary woods gun. Size and weight constraints don't bother me in the slightest with the exception of blazing summers and even then, i have a ruger LC9s in a similar size, weight and capacity but bigger round.
Fudmottin 500 acre cattle ranch here in central texas where hogs are a daily issue. Just out of courtesy, i lend my hog traps to ranchers because they just decimate grazing land and all kinds of other animals and populate like no tomorrow. This particular ranch is a cantaloupe farm half the year and the pigs i get here are the best I've found anywhere. The other side of the property is a pistachio orchard so they eat pretty well.
I really look forward to your videos Paul. You are extremely knowledgeable and explain things in terms that are simple to understand. They are always thorough. Thanks for all of your hard work and professionalism.
I have owned, carried and shot many handguns in my 50 plus years. In my experience, 380's have had the highest malfunction rate than all other centerfire auto's. With hp's and ball ammo. That is the reason I pass on this caliber for defense. I don't think this caliber is underpowered like some do. I do think ball ammo is best for defense in the 380. I don't believe the hp's give sufficient penetration in most situations. Just my two cents on this subject.
I think the video shows that you REALLY have to test your ammo in your chosen gun to see how it performs if you want to run a .380. Sadly I don't feel like doing a bunch of meat target tests.
p51mustang24. I really don't understand the recent rage over all the 380 subcompact guns for defense. I would pick an airweigjt 38 snubby over any of them any day. I have had much better luck with reliability out of them than any 380. I gave 380's a chance when I wad younger.From cheap ones to expensive ones. None had the reliability I needed to trust them as a defensive handgun.
p51mustang24. I did have a Taurus 380 a few years ago. The old all metal model that was a lot like a Beretta. It was a nice gun. Accurate and never failed me with any ammo I tried. But I had a hard time justifying carrying such a large 380. It was as big and heavy as most 9mm's. I ended up trading it for heavily carried Colt officer model at a gun show. Course that was back when Colts in worn condition weren't worth gold like now. Lol. It was smaller than the Taurus. Only held 6 shots compared to thirteen. But even then I couldn't believe I traded a Taurus for a Colt. And a 380 for a 45.
i don't think the .380 subcompacts are worth the hype they get either, as 9mm's have become TINY recently, and there are only a few sitautions where you would need to get something even smaller than the little subcompact 9's. The advantage to the .380's over the .38 snubby's is just capacity, probably 6--8 rounds in the .380 vs 5 in the snubby. While the difference between 13 and 15 might not be a big deal, the difference between 5 and 7 is! In either case you are sacrifices rounds for concealability though. 90% of defensive gun uses have no shots fired, and of the last 10% how many need more than 5 rounds? IDK, but you can make a case that 5 is plenty. Sure feel better with a glock 26 though, but even that can be tricky to pack on my 32" waist in the warmer months, need a shoulder holster for that, but that means I need to plan out what shirt I wear etc. So yeah, Ideally I'd have a glock 26, glock 43, Keltech pf-9, snubby .38 and a subcompact 380 of your choosing. Choices are good.
From a few years of hand loading, I've found Hornady's claim on the XTP bullet of expanding from 600 to 1600 FPS. Not entirely accurate. I've found, no matter which caliber, XTP's will expand through water with no less than 800 to 850 FPS. Even then, it's not 100%. If you can push The XTP round faster, do so.
If you are a fan of long format videos, you should check out C&Rsenal. They are currently working through all small arms of World War One right now in collaboration with the Great War, but will eventually cover a more broad range of firearms.
I like my Sig P238 .380 2.75” barrel with Federal HST for summer carry. I switch to a Sig 1911 Compact 9mm 3.3” barrel with Federal HST for the other 8 months of the year. From the dozens of ammo videos I have watched on TH-cam , I have switched to Federal HST completely. Thanks Paul for again confirming my choices and also thanks for your informative videos!
I'm neither left nor right. it's a false paradigm. Both are/were very smart people that explain the complicated to the hoi polloi in such a way that anyone can understand and he does it without condescension.
jhvuv n ik65s2 Sagan outshines Tyson on entertainment as well--he created the _Cosmos_ series. Sagan was calling out the dangers of Agent Orange while Monsanto was still trying to convince the public that it was safe. I'm sure Sagan would be looking at Monsanto's GMOs with a healthy degree of skepticism. Neil Degrasse Tyson is a shill for the corporate establishment.
Every time i consider buying a gun, I find a few vids by you covering the subject from angles i find very informative and germane to my final decision. Thank you for this and many other vids.
I realize it is completely psychological, but I just cannot wrap my head around the .380 for personal protection. Seems the older I get, the larger the diameter of the bullet I carry. Watching Paul's videos of .45s smashing through the "meat target" - even at 25 yards rather than his standard 7 - I've "been the judge" and have judged the 45 to be tough to beat based on Paul's vids.
I have several PPK’s, a Ruger LCP, and a Sig P238 in .380. I have more 9mm pistols than I want to think about as well, but it seems like there’s always a .45 1911 on my waist. I have several, and ordered another last night. Even my wife prefers .45 acp. I try to carry the largest pistol I can, and can accommodate any size/weight 1911 with ease. The single stack 1911 is actually much more comfortable than a compact double stack 9mm, so that’s a factor as well.
While I agree with not using a 380, sometimes if it’s hot and depending on what you are wearing a 45 is just hard to conceal. I carry a lc9s pro and feel confident it will get the job done if needed.
+northof50now I think the biggest issues for people with .380 fall into a couple of reasons. It's on the fence of performance, sometimes it's enough and other times it's just shy of being enough. As a result, people get that whole "I can trust it" thing going on or they go with "just use FMJ!". But people forget a few good things about a .380 ACP... You can get a .380 ACP gun to be smaller than a single stack sub compact 9x19 firearm, .380 ACP is somewhat barrel length specific, but from a 2.75 inch barrel up to a 3.25 inch barrel, the .380 ACP has better terminal ballistics than a 9x19. When you compare it to 9x19 loads, even those optimized for short barrel performance often fail to get proper expansion, have a greater potential to over penetrate, and produce more recoil. Much like a .38 Special in a snub nose, you got to go +P to get expansion and that adds to cost, felt recoil, and potential for over penetration. Where the .380 ACP is more like a .38 with a wadcutter in the fact it can produce less recoil(depending on the gun design), gets good performance, and doesnt hurt the wallet as bad. Typically with the .380 ACP if you load it with an XTP bullet it will get consistent expansion and penetration from a 2.75 to a 3.5 inch barrel. And while plenty of companies load the XTP not all are the same. .380 ACP isnt my first choice of a defensive round but it most certainly isnt my last choice either. For me however, it's a very middle of the road option in general. Cost of ammo while higher than 9x19 is not significantly more expensive to break the bank, most .380's will hold 7 or 8 + 1, and plenty of 12 and 15 round double stacks exist as well. But, it comes down to each their own in that arena. Nothing wrong with going bigger so long as you know your limitations and the limitations of what you carry. Prime example... I carry a very unpopular opinion that something like .50 AE is actually pretty good for self defense while others say it's utterly pointless. Whats funny is if you look at the bullet weight, compare it to a 12 gauge 1oz slug from a 2 3/4 inch shell, they're moving about the same speed, have a similar bullet weight, primary difference aside from diameter is one is from a 6 inch handgun and the other often an 18.25 inch barrel long gun. I hear all the time how a 12 gauge slug is acceptable for home defense but a .50 AE would be overkill, but the ballistics about the two rounds dont lie. Not suggest we all carry .50 AE handguns but I can understand the logic of going bigger in a handgun.
Tabula Raza LOL! The Yankee Marshal addressed the 300lb crackhead problem in his .380 video. He said he could easily outrun such a creature, but didn’t address penetrating blubber. I saw an episode of “Cops” several years ago, and a big husky guy was shot in the upper right FRONT shoulder area with a .25 acp. The bullet was clearly visible under the first few layers of skin on his BACK, but the shooter was probably using FMJ. The guy was was screaming and crying in agony, although he was standing.
+Doe John Makarov while a bit more powerful is far more lacking on JHP options. Hornady dropped their XTP load which was one of if not the best Makarov load on the market. Now you've got Silver Bear JHP's which are decent but not super consistent, PPU JHP's which are not consistent at all and IF you can get expansion it's very minor, Monarch has a JHP that I've never gotten to expand at all, Hornady still offers the FTX load with their Critical Defense but it under penetrates horribly much like the .380 load, and lastly Speer has made Makarov rounds but they dont personally load them so you'll either have to do it yourself or find somebody who does. So... it's very lacking in the JHP world right now as a whole. Definitely a good round though for the size.
If you are ever invited to a cookout at Mr. Harrell’s home. There will be several caveats. First, the meat will have holes. Second, the ribs may be shattered. Third, the fruit salad may be obliterated. Enjoy.
Terry Grossmann fruit salad would only be obliterated if yankee showed up.
And the t-shirts he has in his lawn sale are riddled with bullet holes.
and the bbq sauce will be stopped by the 3rd layer of fleece. 😉😋
LOL!
Awesome
I love this guy. He's like the Bob Ross of guns.
Except he doesn't have any happy accidental discharges.
hahaha
yesss
Happy little meat targets
*I hope not. Bob Ross died at 52.*
I always look forward to these videos. Great work.
Your last video on the BHA Model 89 is also great. If you could show that it is good for elephant hunting as well, that would be fascinating.
georgejohnsmith Thank you. Haha maybe Paul could build me an extra large meat target.
Scott, you can do it yourself. The usual way to take an elephant with such a rifle is a head shot. In the worst case, it is a frontal head shot. All you have to do is to build a target that simulates an elephant's head. You have got everything to do that. The base of the elephant's trunk (a lot of muscles) can be represented by a 6" thick slab of Clear Ballistics gel. Then the skull: 6 of your .75" pine boards with the 1" spacers would do, with an *important* twist: the 6-board box must be turned 45°, so that the bullet impacts the boards at a 45° angle. I would place the 6" slab of gel tightly against the box (the first board), so that both the slab and the box are at a 45° angle to the bullet's path. Then the setup would end with a 12" block (in the usual position, of course), representing the brain. If the bullet can go straight through this setup, all the way, it is certainly adequate for elephant hunting. The total penetration length is some 34". With this setup you could test big bore revolvers as well.
georgejohnsmith after all that time building it, I'd hate to shoot the dang thing
@@KentuckyBallistics just don't shoot it with a slap round
.380 is a convenient gun to have, but not necessarily the most effective. But it fills the role of rule #1 in gun fights, have a gun. Preferably a rifle and 10 of your friends with rifles. The gas station down the street kinda frowns upon me bringing 10 friends with rifles in the store just for a beer and a slim jim.... so my .380 fits the situation well.
Funny, the gas station down the road from me often has ten guys with rifles already there.
@@keithgraham9547 I like that gas station already 🙂
If there’s 10 guys with rifles at the gas station they are probably cops. Lol.
Where are you living guys? In the top of a Hill? In Chechennia? Ha ha
@@reiniergarcia Murder Mountain, Ca
Let’s nominate this guy for an Emmy!
Mr FNH I'm with that. F*** Deniro.
D G I agree. Paul is a much more deserving person.
only liberals qualify for an emmy
gunfighterzero Only liberals watch the Emmy’s is more like it. Lol.
Mr FNH... They are actors, Paul Harrell is what you would call a professional.
Paul Harrell videos are always a treat, because even though the topics are the same as other channels, with Paul we have the privilege of watching even mundane topics from the perspective of an expert, which always makes for great entertainment. We can trust that even the little pieces of information we are getting are things that we can take to heart. Not having to weigh out the BS from the facts like you have to do with most channels, makes a Paul Harrell video always a pleasant experience.
Mundane and over done is mundane and over done I dont care who does it
Than you don't truly love the art/hobby/lifestyle if you don't like hearing the basic facts over and over again. I been into guns for 25 years, yet if someone "informed" me of mundane things daily such as "a .38 special will chamber in a .357 magnum revolver", I would be totally fine with it.
Places to go things to do, it is a tool not an obsession. Besides I've the right and evidence to make the observation of mundane. It could have been special... good luck and may god bless
@@GunSam Your channel ain't too bad itself. Factual, straightforward, and to the point, no BS to wade through like a lot of other gun channels.
@@wizardofahhhs759 Thank you.
I've carried a .380acp for 20yrs. This series is extremely important to me
I first started carrying .380 ACP in the late 70's and have been off an on till lately. Now I carry one every day as total concealment is important to me.
Once again Paul Harrell demonstrates his fantastic firearms education ability. One of the best firearms content creators on TH-cam right now.
I'm early so there aren't tons of comments yet, but I'm curious about how many people will comment saying .380 is a horrible self defense caliber anyway. I challenge them to stand in front of someone armed with a .380 and let themselves be shot with it. Then we can ask them "How'd we do?" and wait for their answer. *(I'm being a wise ass and am in now way serious about this type of comment in any way shape or form.)*
Dsdcain
I have a Beretta 950 .25acp, and there’s a standing offer (and reply) to anyone who thinks that caliber is a joke: $10,000 for every round that “bounces” off you...lol!
The “you don’t want to be shot with one” is a pretty lousy argument to base the decision of, ‘Is this adequate, optimal?’
I wouldn't want to get shot with a pellet gun. Doesn't mean its an appropriate carry caliber. It just means people usually try to avoid getting shot by anything. Shoot a rubber band at me im probably going to try and duck it.
Brandon - I agree. You read stuff like this all the time. I wouldn't want to crap in my pants either. Doesn't make that a good defensive tactic.
great comment
Changing my .380 to federal hst because of this video.
Thank you
HST has pretty mediocre penetration in 380, I wouldn't carry it myself. I would suggest Underwood xtreme penetrator or defender, they are both similar designs and do quite well in the testing I've found. They are expensive and have a odd shape so you want to test them in your gun, they run well in the ones I've tried myself but you never know.
I am currently using barnes tac xpd in my p238.
Check out Shootingthebull410, he did some very good videos on 380acp and 9mm ammo out of a pocket gun. The Lehigh bullet was eventually his top pick but a few loads using the Hornady XTP did well too. The key with getting enough penetration in 380 is having a bullet that doesn't expand too much. There just isn't enough energy to make a bullet expand well and penetrate deep in the 380. That's why I think it's worth the extra money for underwood ammo in that caliber, in 9mm or larger I don't think it's as important because conventional jhps do well.
Daniel W Same here...hornady critical defense for my wife’s Springfield 911, and HST 124gr. for my 9mm Glocks
Precision One XTP
Is it bad that i respond quicker to a paul harrell video quicker than my wife asking me a question?
No. They're always asking mundane question to hear themselves speak.
Nah, your priorities are in order.
Paul also has a gun in hand.
It's bad you said quicker twice
its his jaw line
Bear with cricket noise you hear in the background.
Victor Cordovez I wasn't prepared for it, food and a laptop were involved and that's about all I know
lmao
I must say I've never heard a bear make cricket noises before.
Behr*
I never mind the cricket noises except when they all suddenly stop...
I think the .380 demonstrations are especially valuable; your ammunition choice in this caliber is critical. Thank you for the rigorous testing and please make more videos about the .380 in the future!
I feel like a Paul Harrell crack addict.
I wake up Thursday and I check for a new vid.
Get showered for work then check for a new vid.
Take first break at work and check for a new vid. At this point if I don't see a new vid I start to feel a slight sense on anxiety.
Take lunch and check for a new vid. If still no new vid then i start to get a mild case of the shakes.
Take afternoon break at work and check for a new vid. Shakes get worse. Start getting desperate.
Sneak in extra peeks at phone to check for new vids. Start watching past Paul Harrell vids trying to fill the void.
Leave work and check for new vid. If no new vid I tell myself "It's ok. Paul has a life too plus he gave you two vids last time so technically the math works out."
Get home and check for a new vid. If no new vid I throw myself down on the floor kicking and screaming like a toddler. Then notification comes through. A tear fills my eye and I think "I love Thursdays!"
Gregory Graham 😊
I hate this comment for it's too relatable
My wife carries a 380 for protection. I really appreciate these demonstrations.
I recall Clint Smith saying something to the effect that pistols put holes in people, rifles put holes through people, and shotguns, with the proper load at the proper distance, will physically remove part of a person's anatomy and throw it on the floor.
Galen, There us no denying a shotgun within its load's intention is a highly lethal weapon.
Roy Harrell absolutely.
Shotguns have some serious limitations (range, how will you carry ammo effectively, armor penetration, etc.), but when used as intended they are the most devastating firearm out there.
That's an awesome saying from Clint.
Oh crap looks like I'm about to be that guy....
It's a gross generalisation and you know it!
Thank you Paul.I am 50 yrs old and have literally been shooting since I was a kid( my first 22 lr at 10). Yet I learn something every time I watch one of your videos. I especially appreciate your " real world" demonstrations over pure theory.Many assumptions of mine have been either reinforced or shown to be incorrect,either way the info is invaluable.Thanks again.
Excellent comment.
Paul Harrell and Hickok45: the best two firearms education video creators on the net. Always very informative videos without all the macho bs seen on most other firearms related videos. Would like both those guys along on a shooting session on my range anytime. About .380 ammo selection: I feed my Ruger LCP whatever ammo feeds reliably every time every pull of the trigger. Since it is strictly a self-defense handgun with situations less than 7 yards or so; matters not to me 'degree of expansion' or tissue damage or what have you: the most important aspect to me is every round fires every pull of the trigger. Great video!
Best gun channel on TH-cam period. I have been carrying 380 p238 for 4 years everyday. I’m good w it because it just fits me like a wallet or watch.
Thank you very much. Finally a "great" trust worthy video of the Federal HST 99 grain 380 round in a short and or longer barrel. HST in all my pistols.
Finally a commercial that is not 5 minutes long. As always hit the like button before watching the video because they are always great.
My wife and I carry only Federal HST in our S&W EZs. Thank you for confirming our choice.
He really needs a college class. This dude really is a firearm professor. And he isn't boring. It also seems like ball would be better and cheaper for 380.
It is odd that I came here to gush about what a great creator Paul is, regardless of the fact that I haven't owned a firearm in a couple of decades. Not being a "gun-nut", I felt that my comment would be more powerful to the non gun-owner crowd. Well, imagine my surprise that there are hundreds of others that feel exactly the same about Paul, whether they own guns or not. I guess facts and honesty are popular now. Who would have thought?
I don't really know that much about guns, and I'm guessing that the "you be the judge" thing is probably a meme with his viewers, but sometimes it's just the honest conclusion. As for personal protection, some like this or that caliber (and the ever popular revolver VS auto debate), but what I didn't know is that if I like a .380 auto for concealed carry, the ammo makes a big difference, and what the "best" ammo is, depends on the barrel length too. I do now, and it is fascinating.
Even with a scientific or technology lens, and completely discounting guns, Paul presents a no-nonsense bunch of facts without being clownish or hyperbolic or having a stick up his ass. As I watch more and more of his videos, I am ever more impressed with his methodology and simple presentation. Clearly this man is a wealth of information on the subject of guns in general, and he must spend LOTS of hours researching the minutia and details. Oddly, I find myself clicking on his videos first when I look at my long-ass sub list each day. [I have waaay too much time on my hands]
Paul, The "I do wear safety glasses", "I'm what you would call a professional" and "don't try this at home" lines are hilarious. You can just feel the boredom and annoyance with that BS drip from your speech (unconsciously) as it would from any of us. I'm sure that you get the obligatory "you didn't show the chrono numbers on the video" comments also. Tubers will be tubers Paul, just keep making videos man, you truly have a gift for it and you underestimate the impact they have with real people from all walks of life.
Thanks. I'm just glad people are getting some info they can use.
Impressive commentary, well said.
Because it fit my hand the best so far, I have a Browning 1911-380 with a 4.25" barrel. It is narrow and easy to conceal, but big enough to be comfortable.
Thank you! That was informative and relevant to the man with a Bersa Thunder 380 (bought as a first firearm from a friend at church who needed money to buy a sail boat).
Nice pistol
Nice gun
Cheap sailboat
Bersa Thunder 380 is my carry gun for days I can't really conceal my 92FS. It is a great little gun.
I have two 380's (1-2.75" and 1-3.5") that I carry in differant situations. Use the HST 99gr in both because of the results Paul just illustrated. I've carried 380's for 35 years either as a back up or concealed light carry. Is it the optimum defensive round, no. Can I effectively place rounds on target and more importantly actually carry it all the time. Damn skippy! Ammo selection in lighter calibers is critical, 380, 38spl ect... Proficiency is very important as well. Actually having your side arm on your person when the SHTF as apposed to leaving it behind. That makes any other arguement void.
It's got the sectional density of a 22lr. I'd take the faster 22 rounds personally.
Thanks for making the 380 ammunition selection video.
When he reaches for the gun/ammo pack in his jacket, i smile a little every time :)
Thanks Paul, great presentation on .380 Amazingly you managed to not repeat things you’ve already covered in previous videos.......reason # 899,999 that your presentations are awesome!
Well this started out to be a bad day. New Paul Harrell video and the day has better already.
Who in the HELL is down voting this righteously awesome informational video?
Libtard gun grabbers.
Easy, a lots of people think 380 isn't good enough or just don't like small calibers... has nothing to do with stupid politics, libtards or cowards draft doggers from the right.
Nothing like a good Paul Harrell video. I even watch the ones I'm not really interested in. Great video's !
My SIG P230 in .380 is comfortable to carry and very accurate within standard confrontational ranges and beyond. I don't like the heel mag release, but it never releases accidentally. I wish it was a bit smaller, but it is more concealable and lighter than my current full-sized auto and wheel ownings. I have also never found an auto more reliable with EVERY type of ammo every loaded into her. Also, *"I like this gun!"* She really is beautiful to behold and a joy to the hand.
I may one day find an auto-9 that I like and trust to the same extent (I'm not a striker-fired guy, so that limits things), but until then, my .380 will be paired with Hornady Critical Defense (my current flavor) or some other wunderkind round and A LOT of prayer that she be allowed to remain holstered except for practice and for fun. If the need every arises to use her, however; I will certainly be more likely to fail than the pistol.
Regardless of your caliber; quality equipment, quality ammo, and quality training create your best chance of survival.
My mother keeps a 380 highpoint by her bed, my brother has gone on that the high point sucks and she guna get hurt and the 380 is to weak & she is guna get hurt ect ect.
She shoots it twice a year and other than that its on her night stand I clean &oil it when she comes to shoot with me shes had it for years and we have never a non user malfunction with it ( my mother tends to short stroke her first round after firing more than a mag)
Point is she handles the 380 comfortably and the highpoint cost her 180 $
bullets put in the right spot dont matter how big
A hipoint is big, heavy, ugly, and unpleasant to shoot...but it will go bang when you need it to. I tend to steer my customers clear of hipoints if they are able to afford to spend more money, but sometimes they can't...and in those cases I'll show them the hipoint.
If Hipoint were nearly as bad as so many people insist, they'd have gone out of business long ago.
I’m glad I started supporting this guy on Patreon; he puts a lot of time, money, and knowledge into these very educational videos, and I want him to be able to continue his work.
Extremely helpful video, I'm looking to make the 80x Cheetah my first firearm and it has a 3.9 inch barrel
Thank you for making every Thursday awesome Paul!
really like your videos....no BS and a certain amount of humor.....PLUS excellent common sense info!! Keep it up :)
Federal HST comes out like a champ again. I only use Federal HST or Hornady Critical Defense in my carry guns. Both rounds are amazing. Both are nickle plated with sealed primers (sweat and rain resistant comes in handy for carry guns).
in my 9mm i CC i load 124gr +p speer gold dot, but i just recently bought a s&w shield in .40 (i CC both guns daily) and i had federal punch in it for about a week just as a stopgap, but i found a great deal on 165gr HST and that’s what i’m going to carry now on. HST and gold dot are always top performers and have a long, long track record of effectiveness.
@@acid6urnsI really like critical duty for mine. I got some federal punch for .75 cents a round. I shot a water bottle and it stayed in the 1l bottle. It also was only 40% expanded. I have 1 mag left and went back to critical duty for everything else. Punch may not over penetrate but if I’m going that route it better flower. Else why not just carry frangible at that point.
buying hst ammo from now on. your videos are more informative than any "gun guy" i ever met
Shot an elk two years ago. Walked up on the elk and it was still breathing and wheezing (double lung shot). Trying to do the ethical thing, I shot the thing in the forehead with my .380 lcp chambered with hornady critical defense. Bullet cleaned house all the way through and came out its neck. 380 is all I need for self defense.
That's what I was thinking. The .380 ain't no joke. So many people thinks it's a little wimp bullet and folks say it doesn't put someone down. I bet a solid copper bullet in 380 + p will do a hella va job. I carry more often now the flat slim polymer keltec model 3AT and two 10 round mags. When I dont mind possible obvious carry its formerly glock 23 moving to the glock 19. On my 24 acres It 10mm. Formerly glock 20sf, now 10mm importer Springfield xd. Long live Paul.
I went to a gun show where you have to clear your CCW before entering. It was a hot summer day, so I was carrying a Ruger LCP. The guy that safety checked my weapon asked why I was carrying a "girl gun." I asked if he would let me shoot him with it, since it is only a girl gun, it definitely wouldn't hurt a big tough man like him. He wouldn't let me, so apparently he is afraid of "girl" guns. He is so afraid of them, he won't even carry one! Joking aside, I advocate carrying as big a caliber and sidearm as you can handle, but I also advocate not harassing responsible gun owners for carrying whatever they choose.
@@TangoPapaWhiskey It's hard to believe that someone who was charged with the responsibility of checking CCWs at a gun show would make such an ignorant remark.
@@neuvocastezero1838 yeah total dick at the door
I'm three years late to this party, but your post about the Hornady Critical Defense helps me make a decision about what carry ammo to use for my new Kimber Micro. The Kimber is real finicky about the ammo but it does like Hornady CD. BTW: My old first generation LCP cycles any ammo I put through it.
Love Paul Harrell's videos. Entertaining and informative, with no superfluous graphics or noise, just compelling scientific trials and demonstrations presented with the unbiased math.
Even Mr. Harrell's commentary is appreciated as it comes from an informed perspective no matter how dry the delivery.
I may not have any interest in 380 ACP, however, this expo was enlightening as to how utterly ineffective it is for cricket control.
Ty Paul. Love the 380 test,as my always on me backup is an MnP bodyguard. Your test always give me great confidence about my learnt knowledge.
I like the hsts. I conceal carry 380 during the hot months
I really like these 380 ACP Meat target test,keep them coming !
I would like to see a Meat test on the Federal 380 Hydrashok Low recoil load.
RIP Paul. Excellent video as always.
I carry an LCP II Custom and I love it, so this was helpful!!
When I was trained, way back in the 1970's, the feelings were that you needed at least 1,000 fps muzzle velocity for any kind of defense handgun.
This all of my .380's have been of the European Full Frame Service pistol design. These guns have about a 4 inch barrel or very close to it. Say 3.85 or 3.9 inches at least.
And they DO give a solid 1,000+ fps.
I'm a simple man. I see Paul Harrell, I click Paul Harrell.
My every day carry gun for work is a kel tec p3at loaded with federal hydra shok. Even when full of grit and soaking wet the little Kel tec always works. The hyrda shok will expand out of the small guns as well
Today the temperatures reached 110+ where I live so I carried a Ruger LCP loaded with Federal HST in a front pocket.
Gun choice changes with weather and clothing but, I like the HST as my #1 choice in most cases.
Woohoo....paul put up a new video!!
Thank you for another great video paul.
Best channel hands down on TH-cam. Thanks Paul!!
This is one of the most interesting and revealing videos Paul has done, in my estimation. It really drives home the differences in ammunition and their dependence on bullet weight and velocity. I don't have a .380 but it would be interesting to see the results from some solid copper "hyper ammo" like Barnes TAC-XP. It's supposed to be high velocity and since it doesn't have a jacket it shouldn't fragment. Also, it's supposed to be a reliably opening bullet without the tendency to plug up like the Fiocci bullets did in this test (that was very enlightening).
Who doesn't love Paul? Brilliant.
I'm right down the road from you Paul Harrell visiting family in Summerville.
Grab a bunch of ribs and watermelons, just in case! You never know....
Damn it boy, go get an autograph! His email is public and responds in good time usually!
Take soda bottles also.
Shawn R or would that be... soda jugs
I suggest you begin stalking him immediately.
This guy would make an excellent teacher, college professor or shop teacher.
I don't even like .380 but your content is so rich!
I really appreciate you taking the time to impart this knowledge to us! Thanks, Paul!
I have tested a lot of .380 ammo in my LCP, and was surprised that the best overall performer is the basic Win White Box JHP, much better than anything that is hyper ammo or of new design.
I shoot through 4 layers of denim into water jugs and then shoot 2x4's lined up to see what hard barriers do to the bullet. They may not be as realistic as Paul's tests, but they do give me a point of comparison as to what the bullet could potentially do if the conditions were perfect (no bone hits etc).
Gun Sam _Revolver Aficionado_ Watching your video I agree. The cost and availability along with it's performance makes the Winchester Classic hollow point a good choice. With that said, if one has an extra few dollars the HST 99 grain is nice.
Some guns are just cheap dates. My dad carries WWB hollow points in his .40. I made a meat target similar to Paul’s to test them and they seemed to expand and penetrate well.
See Ive found the exact opposite, better accuracy and performance from the newer ammo ie CD etc so I am thinking a lot of confirmation bias
XTP is a good round in .45 Auto or when loaded into a .357 magnum, but in .38 special or .380, they only serve to gain a little accuracy and to look nice! Way overpriced as handloading bullets too. XTP or FMJ bullets from Hornady run $28 per box of 100 in .45 auto, but Speer bullets run $16 for the same damn thing.
They way you do your demonstrations is by far the best I have seen. Thanks for what you do.
Again I use Speer Gold Dot 90 Grain .380 hollow point ammunition... What's good for the goose is good for the gander, plus the fact that I can get that widely available locally and that's all I carry in every single carry gun I own...
Dragon Talon TSi AWD I strongly agree!! Speer Gold Dot in allll my guns. Period! They are just consistent.
Paul, I only recently encountered your videos. I wish I had seen them 7+ years ago. You are a master. Thank you for your knowledge and skills. In the medical community, we often make dark jokes about the way nice people die of horrible diseases and suffer. Assholes love forever. Pancreatic cancer is not good. I wish that you may go gently into that good night p, despite the poem, you are a good man, and I wish you comfort and peace.
"Pork chop pectorals" alone is worth a thumbs up 🤣
We always called them....😀
Great info, I carry a 380 Bersa from time to time and I have questioned it's ability to get the job done. After seeing this I feel a lot better and plan on running several different kinds of ammo to see what works best for me. Thanks Paul!
Great Video! Ammo selection is a constantly developing topic due to an ever changing combination of variables, especially with 380. So your video is well appreciated, as always.
every time I watch your videos I get hungry great video as always
This is why I carry Underwood Extreme Defense in my Bodyguard .380 . All hollow point
ammo has either a lack of penetration or lack of expansion in a gun this small. The extreme
defense usually gets about 13 to 14 inches of penetration in gel and does about the same damage as a hollow point. Paul tested the Extreme Penetrator in .380 and it did well. I would love to see a test of the Underwood Extreme Defense.
Especially out of a longer barrel!
That would be fantastic Extreme Defender vs Extreme Penetrator, maybe a few calibres but certainly 380.
Why not offer to send Paul a box of each to test?
jhvuv n ik65s2 That’s why we need to see the results from a longer barrel.
jhvuv n ik65s2 The 380 Xtreme penetrator was rated for 1100 fps, but Paul's mean velocity was ~104 fps short of that because of the small barrel. I want to see a test that achieves the rated velocity before coming to any judgments.
And hotter loading like the Underwood ammo...
This is by far the best ammo/gun review I've ever watched, and trust me I seen alot. Well done sir! Well done.
Shot a charging 150lb boar with a glock 42 with HST and damn near took a whole mag with a +2 extension. I was fishing on a friend's ranch and out of nowhere i heard a grunt from behind while i was sitting in a chair my back facing woods. I whipped around and barely had time to pull out my gun and i put one right between the eyes at about 7 yards. It bucked that off like nothing and kept going. I sidestepped his charge and put several rounds right behind his front leg (that's where the vitals are) and it acted like i had shot it with a shotgun slug. After it dropped, i said why the hell did the headshot not work? It had went in perfectly and deflected down through the chin. Of course i took the hog and cut him up for the freezer and found all the bullets lodged in the back ribs just as the meat target showed. I've since switched from a glock 42 to a glock 29 and have had ZERO issues dropping large 250lb feral hogs in the EXACT situation I've just described.
But you had that 42 on you. How often do you leave the 29 off your body?
Where the heck are you fishing that you keep attracting feral hogs?
williwonti well i suppose it got the job done at the end of the day and it's what i had on me. I did carry it everywhere all the time but now i very seldomly carry my G42 after that and mostly carry my G29. When i have the option to, i carry my G20 for CC and primary woods gun. Size and weight constraints don't bother me in the slightest with the exception of blazing summers and even then, i have a ruger LC9s in a similar size, weight and capacity but bigger round.
True, you can usually carry a 9 like that. .380 is probably good enough for most 2 legged critter situations tho.
Fudmottin 500 acre cattle ranch here in central texas where hogs are a daily issue. Just out of courtesy, i lend my hog traps to ranchers because they just decimate grazing land and all kinds of other animals and populate like no tomorrow. This particular ranch is a cantaloupe farm half the year and the pigs i get here are the best I've found anywhere. The other side of the property is a pistachio orchard so they eat pretty well.
4 years later and the high tech fleece bullet stop still gets me.
"Meat Target" T-shirts!
I really look forward to your videos Paul. You are extremely knowledgeable and explain things in terms that are simple to understand. They are always thorough. Thanks for all of your hard work and professionalism.
Maybe Paul could have young David Hogg on as a guest *expert* one day. That kid sure does seem to know a lot!
Been watching your videos for a long time and you’re always my go to for my firearm decisions. Thanks for your good work.
I have owned, carried and shot many handguns in my 50 plus years. In my experience, 380's have had the highest malfunction rate than all other centerfire auto's. With hp's and ball ammo. That is the reason I pass on this caliber for defense. I don't think this caliber is underpowered like some do. I do think ball ammo is best for defense in the 380. I don't believe the hp's give sufficient penetration in most situations. Just my two cents on this subject.
I think the video shows that you REALLY have to test your ammo in your chosen gun to see how it performs if you want to run a .380. Sadly I don't feel like doing a bunch of meat target tests.
p51mustang24. I really don't understand the recent rage over all the 380 subcompact guns for defense. I would pick an airweigjt 38 snubby over any of them any day. I have had much better luck with reliability out of them than any 380. I gave 380's a chance when I wad younger.From cheap ones to expensive ones. None had the reliability I needed to trust them as a defensive handgun.
p51mustang24. I did have a Taurus 380 a few years ago. The old all metal model that was a lot like a Beretta. It was a nice gun. Accurate and never failed me with any ammo I tried. But I had a hard time justifying carrying such a large 380. It was as big and heavy as most 9mm's. I ended up trading it for heavily carried Colt officer model at a gun show. Course that was back when Colts in worn condition weren't worth gold like now. Lol. It was smaller than the Taurus. Only held 6 shots compared to thirteen. But even then I couldn't believe I traded a Taurus for a Colt. And a 380 for a 45.
i don't think the .380 subcompacts are worth the hype they get either, as 9mm's have become TINY recently, and there are only a few sitautions where you would need to get something even smaller than the little subcompact 9's.
The advantage to the .380's over the .38 snubby's is just capacity, probably 6--8 rounds in the .380 vs 5 in the snubby.
While the difference between 13 and 15 might not be a big deal, the difference between 5 and 7 is! In either case you are sacrifices rounds for concealability though. 90% of defensive gun uses have no shots fired, and of the last 10% how many need more than 5 rounds? IDK, but you can make a case that 5 is plenty.
Sure feel better with a glock 26 though, but even that can be tricky to pack on my 32" waist in the warmer months, need a shoulder holster for that, but that means I need to plan out what shirt I wear etc.
So yeah, Ideally I'd have a glock 26, glock 43, Keltech pf-9, snubby .38 and a subcompact 380 of your choosing. Choices are good.
@John Beige I agree.
Thank you for always showing the projectiles after they are fired at the targets. It really helps.
"Barrel length is something to take into consideration " ........thats what she said
Shes a loose woman.
That`s funny, I don`t care who you are.......
sorry I never had that complaint. But I think you might of heard that several times.
Who let the 12 year old in?
She said who you gonna please with that.??
ME
RIP Paul
That Was Great 👍🏼 Thanks Paul This is Why I Carry a 1911 5” inch Gvt Model Colt in 45acp 😊😊😊
Very informative video and again, nice to see a Beretta 34 in action!
From a few years of hand loading, I've found Hornady's claim on the XTP bullet of expanding from 600 to 1600 FPS. Not entirely accurate. I've found, no matter which caliber, XTP's will expand through water with no less than 800 to 850 FPS. Even then, it's not 100%. If you can push The XTP round faster, do so.
Next to In Range and Forgotten Weapons, Paul's channel rounds out the only gun channels I enjoy on TH-cam. Thanks for the quality videos Paul.
Al Bundy what about c&rsenal?
If you are a fan of long format videos, you should check out C&Rsenal. They are currently working through all small arms of World War One right now in collaboration with the Great War, but will eventually cover a more broad range of firearms.
I've looked, not a fan. The videos are well done but not my favorite.
Al Bundy That’s fine, C&Rsenal is not for everyone.
C&Rsenal is pretty good, if you like older guns. th-cam.com/channels/lq1dvO44aNovUUy0SiSDOQ.html
I cant believe how much info you have in each of your videos
How about Hornady's Critical Defense & Sig Elite in 380 in the next video?
I like my Sig P238 .380 2.75” barrel with Federal HST for summer carry.
I switch to a Sig 1911 Compact 9mm 3.3” barrel with Federal HST for the other 8 months of the year.
From the dozens of ammo videos I have watched on TH-cam , I have switched to Federal HST completely.
Thanks Paul for again confirming my choices and also thanks for your informative videos!
He's the Carl Sagan/Neil Degrass Tyson of gun shows.
I'm neither left nor right. it's a false paradigm. Both are/were very smart people that explain the complicated to the hoi polloi in such a way that anyone can understand and he does it without condescension.
Carl Sagan is way better than Neil Degrasse Tyson.
jhvuv n ik65s2 Sagan outshines Tyson on entertainment as well--he created the _Cosmos_ series. Sagan was calling out the dangers of Agent Orange while Monsanto was still trying to convince the public that it was safe. I'm sure Sagan would be looking at Monsanto's GMOs with a healthy degree of skepticism. Neil Degrasse Tyson is a shill for the corporate establishment.
Every time i consider buying a gun, I find a few vids by you covering the subject from angles i find very informative and germane to my final decision.
Thank you for this and many other vids.
Extreme defender all the way
Well spoken educator with good sense of humor. Thank you Paul.
I realize it is completely psychological, but I just cannot wrap my head around the .380 for personal protection. Seems the older I get, the larger the diameter of the bullet I carry. Watching Paul's videos of .45s smashing through the "meat target" - even at 25 yards rather than his standard 7 - I've "been the judge" and have judged the 45 to be tough to beat based on Paul's vids.
Maybe you should consider sawed off shotgun? ;)
Ha...at the rate I'm going...it may end up there :-)
I have several PPK’s, a Ruger LCP, and a Sig P238 in .380. I have more 9mm pistols than I want to think about as well, but it seems like there’s always a .45 1911 on my waist. I have several, and ordered another last night. Even my wife prefers .45 acp. I try to carry the largest pistol I can, and can accommodate any size/weight 1911 with ease. The single stack 1911 is actually much more comfortable than a compact double stack 9mm, so that’s a factor as well.
While I agree with not using a 380, sometimes if it’s hot and depending on what you are wearing a 45 is just hard to conceal. I carry a lc9s pro and feel confident it will get the job done if needed.
+northof50now I think the biggest issues for people with .380 fall into a couple of reasons. It's on the fence of performance, sometimes it's enough and other times it's just shy of being enough. As a result, people get that whole "I can trust it" thing going on or they go with "just use FMJ!".
But people forget a few good things about a .380 ACP... You can get a .380 ACP gun to be smaller than a single stack sub compact 9x19 firearm, .380 ACP is somewhat barrel length specific, but from a 2.75 inch barrel up to a 3.25 inch barrel, the .380 ACP has better terminal ballistics than a 9x19. When you compare it to 9x19 loads, even those optimized for short barrel performance often fail to get proper expansion, have a greater potential to over penetrate, and produce more recoil. Much like a .38 Special in a snub nose, you got to go +P to get expansion and that adds to cost, felt recoil, and potential for over penetration. Where the .380 ACP is more like a .38 with a wadcutter in the fact it can produce less recoil(depending on the gun design), gets good performance, and doesnt hurt the wallet as bad.
Typically with the .380 ACP if you load it with an XTP bullet it will get consistent expansion and penetration from a 2.75 to a 3.5 inch barrel. And while plenty of companies load the XTP not all are the same. .380 ACP isnt my first choice of a defensive round but it most certainly isnt my last choice either. For me however, it's a very middle of the road option in general. Cost of ammo while higher than 9x19 is not significantly more expensive to break the bank, most .380's will hold 7 or 8 + 1, and plenty of 12 and 15 round double stacks exist as well. But, it comes down to each their own in that arena. Nothing wrong with going bigger so long as you know your limitations and the limitations of what you carry.
Prime example... I carry a very unpopular opinion that something like .50 AE is actually pretty good for self defense while others say it's utterly pointless. Whats funny is if you look at the bullet weight, compare it to a 12 gauge 1oz slug from a 2 3/4 inch shell, they're moving about the same speed, have a similar bullet weight, primary difference aside from diameter is one is from a 6 inch handgun and the other often an 18.25 inch barrel long gun. I hear all the time how a 12 gauge slug is acceptable for home defense but a .50 AE would be overkill, but the ballistics about the two rounds dont lie. Not suggest we all carry .50 AE handguns but I can understand the logic of going bigger in a handgun.
My favorite and the most unique firearms channel. Thank you Paul. You do a great job.
Paul, how about a couple penetration tests assuming a 300 pound opponent! Might demand a whole new look at what's enough 'to do the job'
Tabula Raza
LOL! The Yankee Marshal addressed the 300lb crackhead problem in his .380 video. He said he could easily outrun such a creature, but didn’t address penetrating blubber. I saw an episode of “Cops” several years ago, and a big husky guy was shot in the upper right FRONT shoulder area with a .25 acp. The bullet was clearly visible under the first few layers of skin on his BACK, but the shooter was probably using FMJ. The guy was was screaming and crying in agony, although he was standing.
Clint Smith says shoot until the threat is over.... Or.. Empty... Reload and shoot some more.
Eight 25/32/380 gotta get their attention.
Great video. I would like to have seen the Remington Green & White JHP hit the meat target.
Finally!
Deadpool do you mean "Finally again"?
Far and away, the best gun channel on You Tube! Thank you, Paul, for the information you present.
Although Fiocchi is nice ammo, it is just range fodder.
Would you stand in front of one?
@@nealfoster2529 Not me!
You're channel is the only one I'm subscribed to! Very good and solid info. The federal HST looks very promising! Thanks for the video.
How about Makarov ammunition?
It pretty much just has 50-100 fps more
+Doe John Makarov while a bit more powerful is far more lacking on JHP options. Hornady dropped their XTP load which was one of if not the best Makarov load on the market. Now you've got Silver Bear JHP's which are decent but not super consistent, PPU JHP's which are not consistent at all and IF you can get expansion it's very minor, Monarch has a JHP that I've never gotten to expand at all, Hornady still offers the FTX load with their Critical Defense but it under penetrates horribly much like the .380 load, and lastly Speer has made Makarov rounds but they dont personally load them so you'll either have to do it yourself or find somebody who does.
So... it's very lacking in the JHP world right now as a whole. Definitely a good round though for the size.
I have requested this before, and would love to see Paul test out some 9x18.
Thank you for such an even comparison. Most channels use different loads in each gun so no true comparison can be made.