Best 380 Self-Defense Ammo: Small Package Protection

Many argue that the 380 Auto doesn't have enough knockdown power for self-defense. The same used to be said about the 9mm.

However, with recent bullet technology improvements, cartridges that were once underpowered can now be used for personal protection. I prefer to carry a 9mm Shield, but my wife would rather carry a 380 Kimber, so I began the search to find the best 380 self-defense ammo.

The following cartridges are recommended based on their ballistics, price, and reliability, though these three factors did not weigh equally my selections.

Best 380 Self-Defense Ammo

Best 380 Self-Defense Testing Procedure

To determine which is the best 380 ACP Self-Defense ammo, I took several brands with various bullets to the range to test accuracy, reliability, and affordability.

Some guns prefer certain types of ammunition over others. For example, a Ruger LCP will function better with a different brand and bullet type than a SIG Sauer P320, which in turn may prefer different ammo than a Glock 26.

That's why buying several different brands and bullet types to test is the best option. You might find that your handgun prefers Federal Hydra-Shok over Federal Punch – or that it can't fire either without malfunctioning, but runs Speer Gold Dot without fail.

I used a Kimber 380 Auto for testing purposes, so you might experience varying results.

During the ammo testing process, I consider many critical factors, including (but not limited to) the following:

• Was the round designed for self-defense
• Ballistic performance
• Price
• Performance at the range
• Accuracy

The best self-defense round must be designed for personal defense. Many excellent target shooting rounds on the market don’t make good self-defense rounds, so the ammo that made this list is exclusively designed for personal protection.

While I’m not a huge numbers guy, ballistic performance still matters. However, the rounds with the highest velocity and highest energy are not always the best.

Self-defense ammo is pricey. I don’t let the cost factor into my decision too much, but I understand we all want to get the most bang for our buck.

How well these rounds performed at the range is another important consideration I used when determining how to rank the following ammo. If it shot well and didn’t malfunction, it had a head start on the ammo that malfunctioned and jammed.

If you can’t hit the target, it doesn’t matter how well the bullet performs ballistically or if it never jams. So, I had to ensure these rounds were accurate by shooting a small target and punching tight groups.

My Top Picks for the Best 380 Self-Defense Ammo

Hornady Critical Defense 380 ACP 90 Grain JHP

Hornady 380 ACP Ammo - 25 Rounds of 90 Grain JHP Ammunition (Cases Not Nickel-Plated)

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$26.49

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Specs

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Flex Tip eXpanding (FTX) Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP)
• Bullet Weight: 90 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,000 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 200 ft-lbs

Why I Chose It

Hornady Critical Defense is trusted by many concealed carriers, myself included. Neither my wife nor I have ever had a malfunction while firing this ammo. That's not to say malfunctions aren't possible, but I can at the very least confirm they are rare.

I’ve found these rounds to be incredibly accurate and capable of very tight groupings. When I miss with this ammo, I know I did something wrong. It was not the ammo’s fault.

The ballistics are comparable to all other bullets of this weight, so you're not sacrificing anything ballistically when choosing to carry these rounds.

Its polymer tip sets this round's FTX apart from most other 380 ACP bullets. The polymer tip helps prevent the underlying nose cavity from clogging up with debris, and also aids with expansion as the bullet penetrates its target. Though it might not seem like much, its plastic tip helps this round stand above the rest.

If you still want to stick with the trusted Hornady brand – but aren't convinced that polymer-tipped bullets are for you – then check out Hornady American Gunner 380 ACP 90 Grain JHP. The bullet weight and ballistics are identical. The main difference is the bullet: an XTP JHP, which lacks a polymer tip.

The one downside to this ammo is the price. It’s some of the most expensive on the market because it’s some of the most technologically advanced self-defense ammo. It's not cheap ammo, but Hornady 380 ACP 90 Grain JHP is worth every penny when your loved one’s lives depend on it.

Fiocchi 380 ACP 90 Grain JHP

Fiocchi 380 ACP Ammo - 50 Rounds of 90 Grain JHP Ammunition

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$26.99

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Specs

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP)
• Bullet Weight: 90 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 975 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 190 ft-lbs

Why I Chose It

Fiocchi Defense Dynamics 380 ACP 90 grain JHP ammunition is inexpensive compared to self-defense rounds from ammo companies like Hornady, Federal, and Remington, so you can practice with it without breaking the bank.

Although easy on the wallet, this ammo still offer ballistics that you'd expect from more expensive 380 ACP pistol ammo at the same bullet weight. While Fiocchi is rarely the first ammo brand people think of, it's a common brand, and relatively popular for its budget-friendly ammo options. It’s often my go-to brand for the range despite being lesser known amongst American shooters.

I love that these rounds are loaded in the USA, so they should go boom when you pull the trigger.

The one downside is that Fiocchi is still a lesser-known ammo company in the U.S., so your buddies might look at you a bit strange when you tell them about your recent ammo purchases. I don’t mind the strange looks from time to time, especially when the ammo performs as well as Fiocchi Defense Dynamics 380 ACP 90 grain JHP.

Black Hills 380 ACP 60 Grain HoneyBadger

Black Hills 380 ACP Ammo - 20 Rounds of 60 Grain HoneyBadger Ammunition

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$32.99

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Specs

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: HoneyBadger
• Bullet Weight: 60 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,150 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 176 ft-lbs

Why I Chose It

Though Black Hills Ammunition is a small company compared to others on this list, like Federal and Hornady, it makes high-quality ammo, and I love its innovative bullet designs.

The lightweight projectile offers CCWers solid ballistics. The HoneyBadger bullet is designed to exhibit excellent penetration while inflicting devastating injuries to the bad guy's vitals.

The biggest drawback to these rounds is their price. Copper costs more than lead, and the solid copper HoneyBadger's price tag suffers for it. Black Hills also loads this ammo in smaller batches to ensure a higher quality standard, which is yet another reason why this ammo costs more than Speer Gold Dot, Remington HTP, Barnes TAC-XP, or Hornady Critical Defense.

Federal Punch 380 ACP 85 Grain JHP

Federal Punch 380 ACP Ammo - 20 Rounds of 85 Grain JHP Ammunition

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Specs

• Case: Nickel-Plated Brass
• Bullet Type: Jacketed Hollow Point
• Bullet Weight: 85 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,000 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 189 ft-lbs

Why I Chose It

Federal Premium Punch is a self-defense round crafted by a respected brand. I trust it to go bang every time I pull the trigger.

The 85 grain bullet has a muzzle velocity of 1,000 fps and packs enough punch to stop a threat in a defense situation (with correct shot placement). It’s a JHP designed for personal defense.

I’ve found that the nickel-plated brass case is smoother than traditional unplated brass alternatives. That reduces the potential for the spent case to jam or not eject properly. These rounds cycled very well through my wife’s Kimber. I didn’t encounter any problems with them at the range.

I prefer supporting companies that make their products in the U.S., even if they're more expensive. Because they're high-quality rounds, they're not cheap, so you won't want to take them target shooting.

Winchester Silvertip 380 ACP 85 Grain JHP

Winchester Silvertip 380 ACP Ammo - 20 Rounds of 85 Grain JHP Ammunition

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$18.99

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Specs

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP)
• Bullet Weight: 85 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,000 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 189 ft-lbs

Why I Chose It

For decades, Winchester SilverTip .380 ACP rounds have been trusted for self and home defense. Winchester is one of the premium ammo brands, and Winchester ammunition is inherently trustworthy.

Silvertip handgun ammo is designed to give you the power to defend your family and yourself. You're supporting the U.S. economy when you purchase these rounds, too, because they're made in the USA.

The biggest drawback is that these rounds' bullets are outdated. The Silvertip JHP is by no means ineffective at neutralizing a threat, althoguh bullets that penetrate and expand more reliably have been developed since the Silvertip's introduction several decades ago.

Is 380 Good for Self-Defense?

Yes, the 380 is good for self-defense, despite what some naysayers claim. The myth that bigger is always better has been disproven for a while, thanks to accurate ballistic measurements of various cartridges.

While more powerful cartridges such as the 9mm Luger and 45 ACP will exhibit more inches of penetration during ballistic gel tests, that shouldn't discredit the 380 ACP from entering the discussion of a viable concealed carry weapon (CCW).

The 380 ACP has less recoil than larger rounds, which helps to make follow-up shots more accurate. It's also less likely to over-penetrate, whcih helps keep bystanders safer during a defensive shooting. When it is loaded with a proper bullet for defense, such as the JHP, the 380 ACP delivers a wound channel that is more than adequate to stop a threat.

Parting Shots

When you use the best 380 self-defense ammo in your pocket pistol – which is Hornady Critical Defense 90 Grain JHP, in my opinion – you won't have to worry whether you have enough power to stop the threat.

Instead, you can focus on protecting your loved ones and yourself.

Written by

Wes Littlefield