Two numbers define Hornady's American Gunner in .380: 1,000 fps and 200 ft-lbs from a 90-grain XTP, Hornady's jacketed hollow point, sold for personal defense in a reloadable brass case. Power factor is 90. Downrange it holds 912 fps and 166 ft-lbs at 50 yards, 1.9 inches low from a 25-yard zero, then 845 fps and 143 ft-lbs at 100 yards, 13.7 inches low. A .380 is a close-range pistol.

Underwood +P 90-grain loads the same XTP bullet at 1,200 fps, 200 fps and 88 ft-lbs more at the muzzle, and the gap holds downrange: at 50 yards the Underwood holds 215 ft-lbs to the American Gunner's 166 and drops 1.3 inches instead of 1.9, at about 36 percent more recoil energy in the same pistol. Hornady Critical Defense matches the American Gunner on every number, with the polymer-tipped FTX bullet and a nickel-plated case instead. Speer Gold Dot runs 40 fps faster with 16 ft-lbs more and about 7 percent more recoil. Winchester PDX1 Defender 95-grain carries 11 ft-lbs more with about 11 percent more recoil. Remington HTP 88-grain is 10 fps slower, and the American Gunner has about 7 percent more recoil.

Buy the American Gunner for the XTP bullet at standard pressure in a brass case you can reload, with recoil in the middle of its set. If your pistol is rated for +P, Underwood +P 90-grain gives the same bullet 88 ft-lbs more. For less recoil, Black Hills HoneyBadger 60-grain at 1,150 fps and 176 ft-lbs has about 44 percent less recoil energy. For practice, PMC Bronze 90-grain ball at 961 fps is the same weight with about 7 percent less recoil energy in the same pistol.