I can't for the life of me find any testing of Buffalo Bore .380 ammunition in ballistic gelatin or any other similar substance.  Does anybody have a link for BB .380 testing?

Yep, that was a test I ran a while ago when BB was using Gold Dots. I don't buy BB anymore since they switched bullets without telling their customers. When Gold Dots become available again, I'll be using Double Tap instead.

You're right - actually, both until and when as I have lots of Double Tap with Gold Dots from last year, and GD haven't yet re-appeared. Gadz, I sure hope I don't have to set up a reloading bench just to keep my love of GDs satisfied  
 
The owner of BB talked about his business problems regarding keeping GD in stock on a thread over in the Seecamp forum. He didn't seem to understand/care that some customers would notice/object to his decision to switch bullets. Although people who ordered direct from BB got the shaft, those who ordered through big outfits such as Midway got a refund.
 
So, decide for yourself - is selection of bullet important for a SD weapon? Do you mind if a manufacturer ships you something different from what you ordered, and then doesn't offer to make it right? Call me silly, but these things matter to me.

I got an email reply from Tim at Buffalo Bore.  It's clear that he wanted to keep loading 380s with Gold Dots but Speer couldn't meet their own needs when the ammo crunch hit.  Anyway, here Tim's (Buffalo Bore) reply:
 
"For years we made that load with the GD bullet, but when this ammo buying  
frenzy started, Speer could no longer keep up with their own bullet needs,  
let alone mine, so they quit shipping that GD bullet to me. Since then we've  
been using the Sierra bullet. It works very well.
 
 If your box says GD on the box, it is likely an older box with the GD  
bullet.
 
Tim"
 
I may go to the new Hornady FTP "Critical Defense" round.  It sounds like they'll expand in just about anything.  Has anyone here tried them?

I don't remember what their claimed velocity was for the Gold Dot, but the GD's main claim to fame is its apparent reliability in expansion with less tendency to plug up the center. I always saw beautifully symmetrical full expansion no matter what I shot it into.
 
Here are some numbers I ran last year compairing actual measured velocity from several weapons, including the BB GD in my chrome P3AT, from 12 feet if I remember correctly. Click on it a few times to make it big enough to read.

Click image to enlarge

 
And, a pic of what they used to look like (3 different brands of GD .380). Notice that DT seals their primers - I like that...

Click image to enlarge

Quote:

 
Hello,
 
My experience is that the expansion can be somewhat spotty, I shot loads in to water/wetpack with a friends P3AT and got consistant expansion with the Gold Dot, but about 2/3 were fragmenting and losing a petal or two causing the the bullet to tumble.  I tried the same loads in the Walther PK380 and all expanded rather nicely.  I looked at the bullets in the chamber and sure enough the P3AT was putting nice smilies into the mouth of the Gold Dot HP and the Walther wasn't.  Anyone else experience anything similar?
 
Thanks