Federal Punch 380 Auto 85gr JHP

Federal Punch 380 Auto 85gr is positioned as the affordable defensive option in the Federal lineup, delivering meaningful terminal performance at a price point below premium HST and Gold Dot loads. The skived JHP bullet design initiates reliable expansion through clothing, producing 12.1 inches of penetration and 0.545 inches of expansion in denim-barrier gel testing at 1,000 fps.

The 85gr bullet weight runs slightly faster than 90gr loads, and the nickel-plated case feeds reliably in pocket .380 pistols. Federal's quality control across the Punch line maintains consistent velocities and reliable ignition. The primary tradeoff versus HST is the absence of bonded construction, which means more jacket separation risk through hard barriers. For civilian self-defense scenarios where the most likely barrier is clothing, Punch delivers adequate performance.

At $0.55 to $0.75 per round, Federal Punch is the best option for shooters who want to function-test a realistic volume of defensive ammo without the expense of premium HST. Buying a box of 20 for carry and a box of 50 for function testing is financially practical in a way that HST sometimes is not.