What is considered to be the best 380 auto self defense ammo? Its been a while since I bought any. I will be using in a Walther Interarms PPKS.

thanks for the help

I have heard and read good things about the Corbon DPX in .380acp.

StoppingPower.net Forums - Corbon .380 80 gr DPX

I carry Ranger SXT's in mine currently. I have actually tested the SXT's and Federal Hydra Shok's and have been impressed with the expasion of both in .380 ACP

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Thanks guys

Faulkner
I assume they cycle without any problems right? I have Glaser's in it now but they are old. One more question for ya. I am to understand some of these pistols have problems loading hollow points. At the price of the ammo I hate to shoot 100 rounds or so to see if they work. Is it reasonable to assume that if I cycle the round through the pistol by hand that would tell me if they will work? I don't think I ever tried hollow points in the pistol even though it is loaded with them. The pistol have been in "moth balls" for years. I would like to use it for cc.

Looks like we have the exact same pistol.

thanks again for the help

I like Speer Gold Dot in my Kel-Tec P3AT. You might find the "Perma-Gel Test Results" thread by Flop-shank pretty handy, some great info in there about .380 and other calibers.

Perma-Gel test results

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Fast is fine;accurate is final

I carry Corbon DPX in my .380.

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Misty

Unfortunately, I would not bank on any of your assumptions.

This is my second PPK, the first was stolen about 8 years ago and I bought this one as a replacement. I carry my PPK as a off duty and backup gun and therefore minimually have to shoot a qualifying session (50 rounds) at the range twice a year. I am confident that I have worked out any operational bugs with mine in the eight years or so I've had this PPK and ammo selection. One of the main reasons I really like my PPK is that it is very accurate, as blowbacks tend to be. It's also very easy to carry concealed.

Unfortunately, regardless of the current price of ammo, I would not assume it will feed hollowpoints short of a 50 round test run with whatever specific ammo and magazines you want to carry. I've had to weed out some finicky magazines. I have also had bad exeriances with any steel cased ammo working in my PPK's. Also, just because it will manually feed hollow points with a given magazine does not mean it will cycle them in a live fire.

In short, I don't want to discourage you from carrying your PPK/S as I really like mine and trust it 100%, but it has a track record to earn that trust. I would suggest that whatever ammo you decide to carry in it you run at least a box through it first. It may not seem like it, but it will be cheap insurance if you discover the gun don't like it.

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My friend, please, get a second job, ask Mama for a present, do whatever it takes to thoroughly test carry ammo in that gun.
How much is your life worth?

You might do a search in the ammo and or reloading section. We have had rather lengthy discussions here of the 380 and it's ammo.

Thanks guys. I didn't mean I wouldn't try a box or so to make sure they would feed but it sounds to me that these pistols may not be the way to go. I bought it because it was a Walther and thought it would be foolproof. I've had it about 25years but never put a lot of rounds through it, maybe 250 or so all ball ammo. Only problem I have had is if I don't hold it tight when fireing. Like you guys say I want it foolproof. No sense in carring a pistol that I can't rely on. Maybe its time for that S&W 638 I've had my eye on. Five shots that go off are better than 7 that won't.

How many round do you guys think have to fire to be reasonably assured they work properly and I can rely on the pistol. I know nothin is 100%, even a wheel gun, but how many should it take to rely on the pistol or again is it time for the 638?


Thanks agian

Just me personally...I run at LEAST 100 rounds through before I feel comfortable.

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bigcat

I hope we didn't scare you away from the PPK. Most of the comments would refer to ANY weapon, certainly any pistol. About the only handguns I think should run smooth right out of the box without being ammo picky are revolvers and Glocks, and even they need a box run through 'em just to make sure.

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Well I don't have that warm fuzzy feeling I had before. LOL I think the proof will be in the fireing of a couple of boxes of HP ammo though it.

If push comes to shove how does ball ammo do for SD? Ok I know it's not HP but does it have it's place for SD? I have a few boxes of ball on the way so I will see how it does but again last time I fired it it worked fine with ball.

Well, if it'll make you feel better, I'll admit that my spare PPK mag is always loaded with ball.

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There was a very lengthy detailed thread about the merits of .380 ball for defense use. One train of thought is increased penetration with ball vs hollow point. I'm not very good at using the search function but maybe you can find it.

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bigcat

Thanks guys

Yes that does make be feel a bit better. I have been told the .380 does have a penetrating problem with Hp.

I'll do a search and see if I can find that thread, thanks.

That thread was in the ammo forum. Some of us fall in the hollow point camp, some prefer hardball. In .380 my feeling is that it's a "six of one, half dozen of the other" proposition. I prefer Speer Gold Dot, but don't think my friends running hardball are at all mistaken. What it really comes down to is that the .380 sucks. Use more gun if you can.

Ok then ball isn't worthless. LOL I am considering a j frame but that won't happen for a while. I would like to be able to have shotshell loaded with HP while in the field. I do run into snakes once in a while and have been lucky to be able to back out a time or two. That won't happen forever.

IMHO, 200 problem free, bare minimum.

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NRA Pistol,PPITH,PPOTH&TASER

This long thread may be of interest:

.380 load (Calling Erich)

Erich

Thanks for the link. I just got done reading the entire thing. Sounds like ball really isn't a bad thing. I have a few boxes on the way. 380 is hard to come by these days in any configuration. May have to learn to reload.

thanks agian

Hi Thumbs,

There were sure a lot of people coming forward with information on that thread - I learned some interesting stuff.

cheers, erich

I don't know if this one has been posted yet, but it is kind of interesting work.

.380 Data - Completely Unscientific!

I was listening to guntalk a week ago and Tom was discussing the effectiveness of .380. .38 and 9mm defensive ammo with Ed Head from Gun Site. The long and short of it was with the modern loadings available these days they are all pretty much the same. I think the discussion starts at about the 16 minute mark.

guntalk's Podcast