Can the 380 Really be a “Super Stopper?
Russ Chastain 05.10.17
I recently received a press release claiming that a new round with a nasty-looking copper bullet “turns the 380 ACP into Major Fight Stopper.”
Naturally, I have my doubts.
The ammo is from G2 Research, which is already known for creating ammo with unusual bullet designs, including the RIP (Radically Invasive Projectile) (see range test here).
G2’s Civic Duty line of ammo includes 380 ACP, 9mm Luger, and 45 ACP; it’s the company’s claims for the 380 ammo that caught my eye, especially when they said their ammo “turns the 380 ACP into a serious fight stopper.”
G2 Research’s new high-efficiency 380 ACP Civic Duty self-defense round changes the game. The pure copper, 69-grain, light weight low recoil, specialized CNC-machined bullet moves at 1,250 FPS, then on impact instantly expands into six (6) big flesh-cutting copper petals almost one (1) inch in diameter — transforming the 380 into a truly fast fight stopper.
Hmmmm. 69 grains ain’t much bullet…
The 380 is seen by many as the red-headed stepchild of the full power 9mm, even though, at self-defense ranges, the 380 performs comparably to the 9mm. Generally, the 380’s lighter bullet and 100-250 fps velocity drop (depending on the loads) has been the major stumbling point for many. Well, not anymore!
Well, I suppose I differ from the crowd in that I personally consider the 9mm Luger a bit underpowered, and can’t imagine relying on a 380, aka 9mm kurz (kurz = short), for self-defense. But if you have a 380 and need to stoke it with mean ammo, this new round might be for you.
The all-new Civic Duty 380 ACP round creates 9mm stopping power in a smaller, lower-recoil package, with the added benefit that its design:
– reduces the possibility of through and through shots that can harm bystanders;
– increases the chance that all the bullet energy stays inside the target; and
– lower recoil allows for faster, more accurate followup shots (if necessary!)
These bullets look nasty, and the description makes them sound even meaner:
The sharp, flesh-cutting bullet petals cause more impact pain and create large temporary and permanent wound channels, all of which adds to its fight-stopping capabilities.
Manufacturer Specs
- Caliber: 380 ACP
- Bullet weight: 69 grains
- Velocity: 1,250 fps
- MSRP: $40.99 box of 20
They’d better be good at more than $2 per round! But no matter what you think of the 380, I sure as heck don’t want to be hit by one of these.
What do you think? 69-grain man-stopper, or gimmick?
