My wife has a S&W Bodyguard and use Hornady Custom 90gr XTP for carry ammo and reloads for practice ammo. I don't know if that meets your cost criteria as my criteria was most effective and reliable carry load in a firearm that she is comfortable with and shoots well.
Learn the art of ******* reloading and don't shoot more rounds than you do today. You will be a rarity in reloading...someone that actually saved money by reloading....
Lots of reasonably priced FMJ ammo available for practice, Remington, CCI, Russian stuff. Check ammoseek.com. Do a search on SD ammo and settle on one you favor. Lots to choose from. I have Critical Defense in my LCP. Wife has reduced recoil in her S&W Bodyguard .38. Critical Duty in my SA XD9Sc truck gun.
In ballistic gelatin tests the .380 FMJ will shoot thru 24 + inches of ballistic gell. A hollow point, if it opens up, will only penetrate about 10 inches. If the HP doesn't open up as designed, then you have a FMJ, and 24 + inches of penetration. Remember the FBI states that anything under 12" of penetration is not acceptable, and anything much over 18" is not acceptable (over penetration). Below are two videos that every person that carries the .380 need to watch.
Well that 10 - 12 inches of penetration is obtained while shooting into ballistic gell. Ballistic gell is supposed to represent soft tissue in the body. However, last time I looked the body has bones in it also! 12" of penetration thru soft tissue is one thing, but to get 12" of penetration thru clothing, skin, bone, and soft tissue is another thing all together. Here's a good read on the subject.
I agree with soundguy, why would I want a bullet to penetrate more then 10-12 inches?? If it goes thru a person then I need to worry wants on the other side of them that could be hit.
Chuck
I was just reading about brno's new 7.5mm fk pistol.
They specifically were looking for 11.8" penetration into bg, and a 1.4" permanent wound cavity.
Physics tells us that if a projectile leaves its target, it defacto has not dropped 100% of its energy into that target. A projectile that remains inside its target has expended all its energy.
In a self defense setting, I'm not sure I want my carry gun shooting 'thru' people on most of my shots, especially body shots. The backdrop behind the bad guy is likely another person, if its one of those mass shootings.
I've been playing with some different lead profiles, as well as some semi jacketed soft/flat point in my 38/357 loads.
Really like what I am seeing. Good penetration and expansion thru test fabric. No clogged hp turn into fmj, and overpen
Check out both Walmart and Academy they both have good inexpensive ammo.
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