Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: HuntandFish on January 31, 2013, 05:16:02 PM

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Title: LCP .380
Post by: HuntandFish on January 31, 2013, 05:16:02 PM

Just picked one of these up "for" the wife. Going to be mainly my ultra concealed rig. My question is what do you all load this mini thing up with for self defense rounds?

Also I am going to order a few 10 round mags for it, any real point to grab a few 15rounders or are they a strictly range only type of thing? I am hope the 10 rounders will lengthen up the grip a bit for my large hands?

Thanks,
H&F

Title: Re: LCP .380
Post by: NW-GSP on January 31, 2013, 05:24:35 PM

I have only used the mag it came with but I am a pretty good shot with it. Really long trigger pull but it is a shtf gun.

Title: Re: LCP .380
Post by: atc250r18 on January 31, 2013, 06:25:58 PM

I load our's with critical defense....if was to do it over i would have got a revolver for the wife.  She has trouble cycling the slide with her dainty hands.

It's a great summertime shorts pocket gun for when shtf.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

Title: Re: LCP .380
Post by: HuntandFish on January 31, 2013, 10:14:05 PM

I picked up a box of critical defense that I am going to try out. Seems to be the go-to for this gun.

Summertime is exactly why I bought this pistol! Just so small and light I will have to remember its in my pocket before jumping in the water :chuckle:

Thank for the input!
H&F

Title: Re: LCP .380
Post by: hillbilli on February 01, 2013, 02:19:15 AM

I carry ball in it, as so many of the .380 hp loads have really poor penetration.. some like 6" or less in gel. go to brassfetcher or someplace and check published gelatin penetration tests... I can shoot minute of face size groups one handed at 7yds, and keep them on a sheet of paper two handed at 20yds. not bad for a 9oz gun..

Title: Re: LCP .380
Post by: Fisherdave10 on February 01, 2013, 05:51:20 PM

I load up with 90gr Gold dots.

In the tests I've seen, they get 10+" penetration.  Critical Defense gets about the same penetration, but the past reports of questionable primers keep me away from it.  .380 FMJ gets 16+" in the same test, which is excessive outside of the woods.

I like my LCP though.  It's very accurate for a pocket pistol, especially after polishing some of the internal parts.  Conceal-ability can't be beat.

Title: Re: LCP .380
Post by: hoytem on February 01, 2013, 06:28:17 PM

fiochii 90 jhp, everyone on the internet says they won't feed. Work fine for me.

Title: Re: LCP .380
Post by: splitshot on February 01, 2013, 06:43:47 PM

what are the specs on this gun.  sounds like a keeper.  mike w

Title: Re: LCP .380
Post by: yote on February 01, 2013, 07:15:57 PM

Here are the specs for the gun. There's a similar model - Kel-Tec P3AT

http://www.ruger.com/products/lcp/models.html (http://www.ruger.com/products/lcp/models.html)

http://www.americanrifleman.org/ArticlePage.aspx?id=1582&cid=1 (http://www.americanrifleman.org/ArticlePage.aspx?id=1582&cid=1)

Title: Re: LCP .380
Post by: liljozie495 on February 01, 2013, 07:30:57 PM

My wife has this little pocket rocket, we run hornady custom 90gr XTP.... Shoots like a gem out of it, super log trigger pull on these unlike my s&w 38 special.... And also at the range we run most any full metal jacket bullets and they all group well 2 handed at 15 yards or so

Title: Re: LCP .380
Post by: GEARHEAD on February 02, 2013, 06:40:19 AM

I use Hornady Critical Defense, but i also load with ball. i stagger the load for the best of both worlds, hp-ball-hp ball, etc etc. 

Title: Re: LCP .380
Post by: HuntandFish on February 02, 2013, 07:21:54 PM

Gearhead- I like the every other ball ammo. I think it's prudent given the week ballistics of the gun!

I got a chance to shoot this thing a little today and I like it :)

I thought I would have trouble with the small frame moving around in my hands between shots, but that proved not to be the case. The long trigger pull will take a little bit to get used to. But all in all I am excited about having a carry gun I can use no matter what the scenario, I am a .45 guy but something is better than nothing!

Thanks!
H&F

Title: Re: LCP .380
Post by: C-Money on February 04, 2013, 07:20:33 AM

I am using BVAC Hps in my 380.

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/AMM-317 (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/AMM-317)

Title: Re: LCP .380
Post by: scree on February 04, 2013, 09:47:34 AM

I use Speer Gold Dots. I have not heard about the Hornaday primer issue, but good to know.  Tests show that the Gold Dots do have very good penetration for the round.  I love the way that little gun carries.

Title: Re: LCP .380
Post by: turkeyfeather on February 04, 2013, 10:12:13 AM

I go with the Hornaday Zombie max (same as critical defense). I like the gun. It does have a long pull, but you can't beat its size for lightweight clothing.

Title: Re: LCP .380
Post by: Huntboy on February 04, 2013, 10:45:36 AM

Quote from: turkeyfeather on February 04, 2013, 10:12:13 AM

. I like the gun. It does have a long pull, but you can't beat its size for lightweight clothing.

 :yeah: