the new "AMT" 380 clone wetpack test

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July 31, 2010, 07:41:53 PM

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This shows the wetpack results with the new "AMT" 380 clone pistol on Feb 4, 2008.
flyandscuba shot the rounds while oldgranpa loaded ammo in the magazine. As stated elsewhere, there were no malfunctions with any of the ammo used!! Which is amazing considering this is a new OTB pistol with no prior cleaning or fluff&buff.
The barrel length is only 2.5" so as expected, penetration was low at only about 6" in the wetpack for the JHP rounds. The UMC FMJ went the full 10" and partly embeded in the 1/2" pine board backing. Win ValuPak flat nose FMJ went thru the wetpack and was not recovered.
Expansion of JHP was very good, as shown in the picture. Perhaps due to a very wet pack of newpapers that had soaked over 36hrs.
One interesting thing to note is there is very little difference between DoubleTap and Speer GoldDot ammo, both use the GoldDot 90gr bullet. In spite of claimed higher velocity the only thing DoubleTap has going for it is lower cost. And nether expand as well as GoldenSabr or Ranger T. DPX looks nice if you want to pay the high price for it.
When expansion is high, then penetration is going to be low. Therefore, fly and I both recommend using FMJ ammo for CCW carry in a short barrel pistol like this. And then you save some dollars and can practice with the same ammo that you carry.
Another thing to note is this pistol has "real" lands and grooves in the bore, unlike some other short barrel 380 pistols where you can barely see any rifling at all. Chrony tests are pending but will probably show lower velocity than the smoother bore 380's we've tested before. This could also account for lower penetration. But regardless, FMJ is best for carry in the "AMT".
Cheers,
og and fly

new AMT clone wetpack.JPG (80.44 KB, 466x599 - viewed 360 times.)

Great and informative work, gentlemen. Thank you very much!
I have always favored FMJ in my P3AT. Penetration and placement do the work.

Thanks guys - great job as always!

Bobo

Thanks once again, OG and Fly, for the work you do on our behalf.

I invite everyone's comments, opinion, on this subject of ammo performance with a small, short barrel pocket pistol.

I showed the wetpack results to my dealer where I bought the gun, telling him I was a little disappointed with the penetration results with JHP. A young sales assistant there who studies ammo performance looked at it and felt the results were very good. Using the 2/3 rule he pointed out that gelatin equivalent would be 9", which is what the Border Patrol uses as a minimum.
Then he reminded me of the FBI tests shown in the following excerpt...
which shows penetration in the same range I got using longer barrel pistols. He said what I should do for carry in alternate FMJ with some of the best JHP.

What do you think?

So I bought an Uncle Mikes Sidekick pocket holster from him, size 2, which fits the AMT nicely. Fully loaded it doesn't seem too heavy in my pocket.

og

FBI 380test data.JPG (60.83 KB, 729x656 - viewed 336 times.)

Quote from: oldgranpa on February 13, 2008, 09:41:27 AM

The FBI test on CCI/Speer 88-grain JHP back in 1991 looks to be way outside the normal range for .380ACP. Is it because it didn't seem to expand much and resembles FMJ? Are there any other tests that duplicate these same stats?

Note that this was the first test with the AMT, new, OTB, no cleaning, no fluff and buff. As received from the factory the bore can be expected to be a little rough and until the pistol is shot enough, velocity will be reduced slightly and wetpack penetration a bit lower.

So check the thread The AMT clone second chance test

http://usrange.org/smf/index.php?topic=3082.0

which shows that the little AMT is a worthy pocket pistol.

Cheers,
og