After seeing real world results, the scariest thing I thought was having a load of Hydra-Shock and having my gun taken from me.
Hard to imagine surviving getting hit with a Hydra-Shock
(Shoulda bought a 1911.)
🤣
Seriously though. I’m considering a new Beretta 84FS (for fun)...13 + 1 in .380. I’m interested in this too.
I have no personal knowledge but the hydra-shoks have a good reputation.
I would make certain whichever one you pick, it reliable.
Heavier bullets tend to penetrate deeper than lighter ones. Not that 5 grains will make all that much difference. I’d recommend that you get 100 of each cartridge (yes that’s expensive) and fire all of them through your pistol.
What you’re testing for is reliabilityand accuracy. Either load will be fine for self defense purposes, but reliability is of paramount importance.
If you get any failures to feed reliably don’t use that ammunition.
Make sense?
L
Either one is good.
Try each and see if either one causes any feeding problems in your weapon.
Decide from there
http://shootingthebull.net/blog/final-results-of-the-380-acp-ammo-quest/
The Hydra-Shok did well, too. I'm using Gold Dot in a Glock 42.
Hornady 90 gr. Critical Defense is what you want.
As others will point out it is very important to make sure that your gun will cycle them properly.
41 mag 210 gr at 1330 fps does fine
Take a look at CORBON ammo. 90gr JHP 1050 fps...220ftlbs from a 2.4 inch barrel.
That’s what I shoot in both my 380’s
Buy at least a box of each and see which your gun feeds most reliably and shoots most accurately. Five grains isn’t going to make a significant difference in terminal ballistics.
Hydra Shock is my .380 round, feeds in everything including a Colt 1908.
If I was going to carry a .380 for self defense, (which I wouldn’t, but to each his own) I’d have it loaded with some combination of these:
https://www.lehighdefense.com/collections/ammo/355-380-auto
(Cognizant of the arguments against carrying mixed ammo for SD, I still choose to do so. )
I would run at least a couple hundred rounds of FMJ ball ammo thru your gun to break it in before I started comparing the self defense rounds for feeding reliability. It will make a difference.
That being said the Hydra Shoks have a many supporters (me included) and I also like the Hornady XTP’s.
I have a Sig P238 since it’s very concealable.
Damned near invisible in my blue jean pocket.
Can either of these two .380 be fried thru a Markov 9MM?
One of my carry guns is a Walther PPK/S, my defense load for that is Hornady 90 gr. Critical Defense, and I carry in a bug bite ankle holster wien in slacks/dress pants. stays in place well, and has a seperate pocket for an additional mag
In my experience, the Federals feed more reliably.
Get a 9mm. Less recoil.