ATTENTION:  Effective Sept 1, 2020, the BBTI Project is in "Archive Status."  No further tests will be conducted, but we will maintain this site and data for the use of the firearms community.  Thank you.

.380 ACP Results in fps (2008)

Click here for a Muzzle Energy graph for the tests in this caliber.

barrel length Cor Bon
90 gr.
JHP
Cor Bon
80 gr.
DPX
Federal
90 gr.
Hydra-Shok
JHP
low recoil
Pow'r Ball
70 gr.
Winchester
85 gr.
Silvertip
HP
Winchester
95 gr.
SXT
18" 1359 1329 1227 1563 1199 1048
17" 1350 1324 1198 1579 1137 1074
16" 1350 1322 1199 1593 1149 1090
15" 1290 1267 1124 1438 1112 1002
14" 1319 1283 1161 1532 1142 1072
13" 1306 1274 1172 1499 1132 1043
12" 1292 1255 1157 1512 1149 1019
11" 1283 1247 1160 1493 1125 1022
10" 1264 1253 1151 1481 1103 1008
9" 1275 1237 1139 1479 1107 1012
8" 1250 1214 1142 1410 1123 995
7" 1221 1195 1087 1419 1062 1010
6" 1205 1181 1070 1373 1072 1013
5" 1156 1136 1049 1353 1073 1003
4" 1091 1086 998 1241 1025 934
3" 1004 1027 922 1150 904 877
2" 926 983 854 1021 846 789

 

real*
world
weapon
Cor Bon
90 gr.
JHP
Cor Bon
80 gr.
DPX
Federal
90 gr.
Hydra-Shok
JHP
low recoil
Pow'r Ball
70 gr.
Winchester
85 gr.
Silvertip
HP
Winchester
95 gr.
SXT
Walther
PPK/S
3.35" barrel
n/a 1049 968 1181 973 956
Ruger
LCP
2.75" barrel
988 950 866 1082 875 845

* see also the 2010 tests of .380 auto

Other Resources

BBTI is not the end-all of ballistics testing, just one more component available for the common good.  In addition to extensive discussion about ballistics to be found at many gun forums, here are some other great resources pertaining to ballistics testing you should check out.  (And if you would like to recommend a site to list here, please send an email.)
  • BrassFetcher:  excellent resource, with an emphasis on bullet performance in ballistic gelatin
  • The Box O' Truth:  testing ammo penetration through various barriers
  • Terminal Ballistics Research:  Specializes in the research of cartridge & projectile performance, using hard data gathered from 20 years of hunting game.

Acknowledgements

We'd like to personally and specifically thank Pat Childs at Fin & Feather in Iowa City, as he not only helped get most of our ammunition and other supplies, he was the brilliant gunsmith who worked with us to make this insane project much more practical.  Without his help all of this would have been much more difficult and perhaps impossible.  Anyone who uses our data owes him a debt of gratitude.

And thanks to our spouses, who were not just tolerant but enthusiastically supportive of this rather nutty project.

Disclaimer

This project, and all of its results, is only our fault.  We (well, Jim K, mostly) paid for everything ourselves, and we did not receive any kind of sponsorship or remuneration from anyone.  We did all the work.  We used products we were either familiar with, or because they were what was available, and mentioning them by name does not constitute an endorsement of any kind.  Furthermore, the data is provided purely for entertainment purposes - to better facilitate arguments over what ammo or caliber or gun is "best."  How you use the data is entirely up to you.  And if you think you could do better, feel free to spend the money and do the work and publish your own results.  Or not.  Your choice.