Federal's Range and Target .380 is the fastest 95-grain ball load in its comparison set: 980 fps and 203 ft-lbs at the muzzle from a plain full metal jacket. Power factor is 93, still well under the 125 USPSA minor floor. It holds 900 fps and 171 ft-lbs at 50 yards, 838 fps and 148 ft-lbs at 100. From a 25-yard zero it sits 2.0 inches low at 50 yards and 14.2 inches low at 100.

Every comparison load is slower. Winchester USA 95-grain is 25 fps behind at 955 fps and 13 ft-lbs down at the muzzle, with about 4 percent less recoil energy in the same pistol. Aguila 95-grain is 35 fps behind with about 6 percent less recoil. Armscor 95-grain is 60 fps behind at 920 fps, 24 ft-lbs down, with about 11 percent less recoil. PMC Bronze 90-grain is the one that stays close on speed at 961 fps, but its lighter bullet gives it the softest recoil estimate in the set, about 15 percent under the Federal. None of that changes the hold at 7 to 15 yards.

This is the ball load to buy if you want practice ammo that comes closest to a 95-grain defensive hollow point. Winchester PDX1 Defender 95-grain JHP leaves at 1,000 fps, only 20 fps faster than the Federal, with 8 ft-lbs more at the muzzle and about 3 percent more recoil energy. If you are teaching a new shooter or your hands tire in a light .380, PMC Bronze 90-grain at 961 fps gives up little speed and cuts recoil energy by about 15 percent, and Armscor 95-grain is the softest of the 95-grain loads.