SendRounds

.380 ACP Ammo: Complete Buyer's Guide

Everything you need to know about .380 ACP ammo for concealed carry, pocket pistols, and personal defense. Compare prices and find the best loads for your carry gun.

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Best .380 ACP by Use Case

Concealed Carry / EDC

.380 is the classic pocket pistol round. For carry, stick with premium JHPs designed specifically for short-barrel .380 — Hornady Critical Defense and Federal HST Micro are engineered for the velocity this cartridge generates.

Top Picks

  • • Hornady Critical Defense 90gr
  • • Federal HST Micro 99gr
  • • Speer Gold Dot 90gr

Range & Practice

Standard FMJ is fine for range use. .380 FMJ typically runs $0.30-$0.45 per round — significantly more than 9mm due to lower production volume.

Top Picks

  • • Blazer Brass 95gr FMJ
  • • PMC Bronze 90gr FMJ
  • • Magtech 95gr FMJ

What is .380 ACP?

.380 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) — also called 9mm Short or 9mm Kurz — is a classic concealed carry cartridge designed by John Browning in 1908. Smaller, lower-pressure, and with less recoil than 9mm, it’s the go-to round for ultra-compact pocket pistols.

.380 vs 9mm

The big question: is .380 enough for self-defense? Modern premium .380 JHPs (HST Micro, Critical Defense) perform adequately in ballistic gel tests — FBI protocol penetration of 12-18 inches with reasonable expansion. It’s not the equal of 9mm, but it’s a viable defensive round in the right firearm with the right ammo.

The tradeoff is gun size. A Ruger LCP II in .380 is a true pocket pistol; even the smallest 9mm is noticeably larger.

What’s a Good Price?

.380 is more expensive than 9mm because production volume is lower. Under $0.35/round FMJ is excellent; under $0.45/round is fair. Premium JHP runs $1.00-$1.50 per round.

  • Ruger LCP, LCP II, LCP MAX
  • Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380, Bodyguard 2.0
  • Sig Sauer P238, P365-380
  • Glock 42
  • Walther PPK/S
  • Kimber Micro

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