I carry a 1911 .45 Auto frequently. Commander or Defender or Wilson Combat. I am 76 years old and am very comfortable with a .45 Auto cocked and locked. I do also sometimes carry a Ruger LC Max in .380 in an Alabama pocket holster when I need to be really covert. My interest in the .380 is what got me to looking at the fluted bullet idea. The .380 produces such weany velocity that I think depending on hollow points to expand is probably a mistake. To help guarantee adequate penetration I switched to FMJ. Then I discovered the fluted bullets and am using them now instead.
If the ARC is the same as the Ruger ARX load that came out several years ago, I’ve actually done some (non scientific, admittedly) testing with them.
As I recall, their main claim was that they would do good in flesh, but not overpenetrate through walls, due to their polymer/metal construction.
So, we set up a target of a 1 gallon water jug, backed by 2 pieces of drywall 4” apart. This was, we figured, an approximation of a round that didn’t get a “full thickness” hit on an assailant, and penetrated the body.
For control, we also used a Winchester flat nose 95gr FMJ and a Hornady XTP (also 95gr, iirc), which was considered the best .380jhp at the time.
Pistol used was a Sphinx AT380M.
They all blew up the water jug; really couldn’t tell the difference between them.
They all penetrated both sheets of drywall.
Both the FMJ and the ARX buried themselves in the hard packed dirt of the range, penetrating at least another 12” (the longest pistol cleaning rod we had with us); the fully expanded XTP (about .5”) was found laying on top of the ground about 10’ beyond the drywall, having bounced off the ground. Its exit through the second sheet showed it was probably yawing going by the a distinct oval shape.
So, yes, those fluted bullets will definitely penetrate like an FMJ. Their claims (if they still make them) of limited overpenetration through walls should be taken with a large grain of salt, however.
I would have thought that if the fluting/cavitation claims had any real weight, that the ARX’s jug would have shown much more dramatic damage; it really didn’t. All jugs were split on the sides from base to cap; the screw-on caps all were blown off, and the exiting side were fairly well shredded.
Not really scientific, but the results were something to be considered.
Think I have the rest of that box of ARX around here somewhere, come to think of it.
My most common carry .380, a Sig 238, is loaded with Winchester FN FMJ. I’ve been playing with a Performance Center Shield EZ .380 for a bit now, though…its longer barrel has me thinking that JHP’s will function decently while giving proper penetration, and I’m looking at Federal’s Punch or HST, Remington’s Golden Saber (107gr—a little more weight should give better penetration), and Hornady’s XTP as likely candidates.
!