What's everyone's recommendation for best carry ammo for the Ruger LCP MAX? Also what does everyone like for practice ammo?

I carry the Inceptor ARX in my LCP's, they also make a round nose with the same weight and ballistics for the range. A bit less recoil too.

My "Go to" .380 ACP ammo are the Lehigh Defense fluted solid copper bullets, loaded by the company that makes them or Underwood. They're found in 90, 68, and 65 grain options. In either state, they rely on a non-expanding design that penetrates sufficiently and causes good wound cavities. In my experience, they also function in even older designed pistols (such as the Walther PPk) extremely well.

https://www.selwayarmory.com/u...ender-box-of-20.html

https://lehighdefense.com/ld-a...tml?all_caliber=3368

quote:

Originally posted by pulicords:
My "Go to" .380 ACP ammo are the Lehigh Defense fluted solid copper bullets, loaded by the company that makes them or Underwood. They're found in 90, 68, and 65 grain options. In either state, they rely on a non-expanding design that penetrates sufficiently and causes good wound cavities. In my experience, they also function in even older designed pistols (such as the Walther PPk) extremely well.

My advice as well.

The problem with .380 is inadequate penetration with hollowpoint bullets. FMJ has more than adequate penetration (overpenetration) but is notoriously ineffective.

Discounting the exotics, I settled upon two different loads- Hornady's 90 grain XTP, or its doppelganger, Hornady's 90 grain XTP American Gunner. Honestly, I can find no difference between these two loads except price, with the American Gunner being less expensive, or, at least it was the last time I bought .380 ammo. Hornady's Critical Defense load suffers from inadequate penetration, as does Speer's .380 Gold Dot.

The other is a full metal jacket load- Black Hills' 100 grain fmj, which is slightly heavy for caliber and which destabilizes quickly in ballistic gel. The bullet tumbles end over end and creates a larger cavity than lighter fmj in .380, while giving adequate penetration and not overpenetration.

Whatever you choose, if it doesn't reach the vital organs in human torso shots, it's no good.

Black Hills .380 Auto 100 grain FMJ out of a Ruger LCP 2.75" barrel, 14.5 inches of penetration

An in-depth summary of available .380 ammo by Ammo Quest.

http://shootingthebull.net/blo...-380-acp-ammo-quest/

I carry either Buffalo Bore or Underwood +P equivalent.380 in my pistols. It’s been quite awhile since I have purchased any from either company so I’m not sure they’re still being offered. I guess I need to look em both up and get a fresh supply if they do.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

...I settled upon two different loads- Hornady's 90 grain XTP, or its doppelganger, Hornady's 90 grain XTP American Gunner...

Same here. Jimmy, you've got mail.

Mrs. Mike carries Hornady in her Body guard, and practices with 90gr fmj reloads

quote:

Originally posted by Sigmund:

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
...I settled upon two different loads- Hornady's 90 grain XTP, or its doppelganger, Hornady's 90 grain XTP American Gunner...

Same here.

Actually, you've misquoted me.

Another resource for testing can be found here:- https://www.luckygunner.com/la...ballistic-tests/#9mm. Just scroll up for 380acp results. Right at the top of the page is the methodology used.

The Fiocchi Hyperperformance (formerly Extrema) with the XTP bullet performed well in tests I saw years ago, and has run well in my P238. I use the Fiocchi FMJ at the range.

Hornady Critical Defense FTX (not XTP) rounds kept misfeeding in my P238.

If you go with fluted bullets, test them thoroughly. I couldn't get them to work in my P220 10mm. Kept getting hung on the feed ramp.

OP, you're going to have a tough time getting much to expand out of the LCP's short barrel. But, see if you can find some of Federal's HydraShok DEEP .380 ammunition. It seems to be performing well from a variety of barrel lengths. I carry it in my G42 and have been happy with performance.