P-3AT owners rejoice!

[flyandscuba]

Pow'R ball ammo now available in .380 ACP

70gr 1250fps 243 ft/lbs.

I found this on the Cor-bon site tonight:

http://www.corbon.com/catalog/index.php?file=catalog&uid=12665&action=catalog_productinfo&prod_pcategory=119719&pi_id=119721&clist=0

I promptly ordered a couple of boxes...

[MurrayNevada]

Do they offer any ballistic gelatin results?  I'd be curious to see what kind of penetration one could expect from this 70gr bullet.

[flyandscuba]

Evan Marshall plans to do a gelatin test with the .380 PB on July 2nd.  The results will be discussed on www.stoppingpower.net/forums

The regular 90gr Cor-bon bullet offered penetration of greater than 16.5" (it exited the gelatin block).

[MurrayNevada]

The 90gr Cor-Bon is what I carry in my P3-AT.  Was it a bare gelatin block that it passed through?  Must not have expanded at all.  

[GeorgeH]

Hi Fly:

Evan doesn't like the Rohrbaugh. While he writes books with Sadow, it is interesting that his opinion of exotics is far, far less favorable than Sadow's.

[flyandscuba]

Yeah, I take his results with a cautous mindset.  It will be interesting to see what he thinks about the PB load.

Murray, the bullet wasn't recovered -- like you, I suspect that it didn't expand.

My P-3AT is currently being carried with a prototype top end in a different caliber.  I've been sworn to secrecy, but so far I like the results.  As soon as I'm given permission, I'll post a range report.

[flyandscuba]

The average velocity of the .380 PB from a short barrel (NAA Guardian) was 1128 fps.  Not too shabby...

This will keep life in my P-3AT.

[R9SCarry]

243 ft/lbs

THAT is what impresses me!!!

[flyandscuba]

Well, I did a little experiment this evening.  I fired four .380 PB rounds into a "wet pack" to evaluate expansion of the PB from the P-3AT.

I was disappointed.  The copper jacket detached -- leaving only the lead core of the PB to penetrate 7-8" with minimal expansion.

Not a scientific evaluation for sure, but the 102 Golden Saber rounds fired into the same "test media" expand well.  I'll be carrying the Golden Sabers in my P-3AT...

[R9SCarry]

One thing tho fly - even if jacket detaches ... I'll betcha.... there will still be a ....... hmmm ..... what shall we say ......... ''uncomfortable'' wound channel ...... not exactly ''nice''.

Even shards of copper do it seems still inflict quite unpleasant damage.

Maybe in lower (smaller) cals ... PB is not necessarily that special.  Seems that way.

[flyandscuba]

It did have an "explosive" effect on the wetpack newspaper.  I had them super saturated with warm water close to body temperature -- not intended, but just happened.  The "wound cavity" was impressive in the first 4 inches (where the copper jacket literally exploded from the bullet).  The lead core continued for another 3 to 4 inches.

I'd feel comfortable carrying the .380 PB, but the performance of the Golden Saber looks better and more consistent.

I will say that someone else did a similar wetpack test while using the Bersa Thunder 380.  The longer barrel created more impressive results with the .380 PB

Here's a link to their "test": http://ktrange.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=1523

[R9SCarry]

fly ... good link thx.  His comment seems to make sense .. PB outa 3" bbl or longer.  His pic was useful ... saw the jackets shed there too.

[michael_t]

Think Ill keep my  CorBon 90 in my PPK/S  I just can t buy into a 70gr  to light for the 20+lbs your picking up . Just don t belive they will go deep enough in real life. My Mustang likes the Rem 102 the best

[R9SCarry]

Welcome Michael .. shucks ... you are one year younger than me!!