Go Deep: Federal’s New .380 Cartridge Packs 12 Inches
What if the .380 ACP wasn’t a minimum defensive load, but the standard?
Ever since the .380 ACP became part of the concealed-carry landscape, it’s been considered the absolute bare minimum defensive handgun load. One of its major drawbacks was that the minimally-powered round generally couldn’t penetrate beyond the FBI-recommended 12-inch minimum through heavy clothing–meaning that it might not have the knockdown power a defensive shooter would need against a heavily clad attacker. Federal Premium Hydra-Shok Deep is here to change all that with a revamped bullet design that brings the 380 Auto cartridge to all-new heights—or in this case, depths.
“FBI protocol for handgun ammunition testing includes a series of rigorous scenarios. Bullets are shot through materials such as 10-percent ordinance gelatin, laminated automotive safety glass, plywood, wallboard and heavy clothing specified by the FBI,” said Federal Handgun Ammunition Product Manager Chris Laack. “While our larger caliber ammunition is designed to meet and exceed these requirements, the smaller 380 Auto is designed to offer the best possible blend of performance in a compact handgun platform.”
Testing done by Federal ammunition engineers in their Anoka, Minnesota facilities showed typical results of 13 to 13 ½ inches of penetration in bare gel and 13 ¼ to 14 inches through heavy clothing. Test gun barrel lengths were from common, compact handguns ranging from 2 ¾ to 3 ½ inches. The bullet and load are also fine-tuned to ensure delivery of consistent performance across all handgun platforms, including ones with longer barrels, to stay within that 13- to 14-inch goal range.
“It’s a completely new bullet design. We didn’t just take a 45 ACP, 40 S&W or 9mm Hydra-Shok Deep bullet and make it smaller,” said Laack. “During development, engineers looked at several design elements such as bullet weight, jacket, skiving, profile, and hollow point design elements to determine what modifications were necessary for the 380 Auto.
Hydra-Shok Deep 380 scores a blistering 1,000 feet per second at the muzzle and delivers full expansion in both the bare gel and heavy clothing tests when shot from a variety of common compact handguns. The MSRP is $26.99 per box, and is on its way to dealers at this time. FederalPremium.com.
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Midway shooters supply has it. I got some from them the first of aug.
Anybody have any in stock?
I doubt it. There is no common-caliber ammunition of any sort available at any of the distributors that we use.
Very cool! Wife has a .380 backup as does one of our sons… will be on the lookout for this!
Live in NJ, NO H P ALLOWED!
I USE CRITICAL DEFENCE
Barry, have looked at Black Hills ammunition Honey Badger in 380? Non-expanding bullet, good temporal cavity effects + good penetration. Best of all, not a hollow point for you good folks in NJ. best regards.
Also consider Fort Scott Munitions TUI ammo. It is a solid copper projectile that deliberately tumbles on impact (TUI). It’s not a hollo point!
Yes this Fort Scott ammunition looks to be the thing if hollow points not allowed!
Mr. Thomas,
HP ammo is permitted in NJ – there are strict restrictions for where you can possess it. You can legally possess it:
1) in your residence
2) in transport from place of purchase
3) to and from a range
This info is easily found online. I live in New Germany too – I’m familiar with the laws.
Going to get some to update my defenses.