380 FMJ Help Me Decide

[Harry58]

I have read a lot of the posts on 380 ammo for SD. Does it matter which 95 gr FMJ to use for a short barrel(BG380)? I am looking at the Rem R380AP(or L380AP) & the Win Q4206.

[pete950]

The winchester with the flat nose.

Pete

[Harry58]

The Win USA380VP has a flat nose, but I can't find velocity data on it. The Win Q4206 (955 ft/s)may be the same load not in a value pack?

[T-mans-son]

Winchester is my choice as it is reliable in both P3at and My new Bodyguard BG380. Altho remington and pmc function just fine also. Be sure to try some of each to insure proper and reliable function. The lil pocket 380's can be kind of finneky.

[alwslate]

I own six 380s, five 1934 Berettas and one 1955 Browning. I have done
quite a bit of chronographing with Rem., Win., Fed. and CCI FMJ ammo.
Also did some penetration testing in pine and wet newsprint. The load
with the highest velocity in one gun may not be the fastest in another
gun. Win. flat nose however is the slowest load in all of my guns. I
know that many people praise the Win's but I did have one hang up
on the flat in one gun but don't remember which. After all of my own
testing my preference for carry is Rem. first, Fed. second. I have also
tested several import brands but haven't seen any that better Rem-UMC in my opinion.

[ajpelz]

Originally Posted by pete950

The winchester with the flat nose.

Pete

If I carry FMJ, this is it.

[enfield]

I carry Remington Express FMJ. - R380AP.

I'd stay away from target ammo due to reliability issues.

[walnutred]

I carry the Winchester bulk flat point ammo. Recently I ordered 1000, 100gn TC cast bullets and hope to have a suitable cast load for plinking and target practice soon.

[Sebring Pop]

Winchester flat point has my vote.

[Erich]

Hmm. Me, I checked for reliability and accuracy from my gun, and then factored in velocity. Wound up going with Double Tap's 95-grain ball which does 985 fps from my LCP. Sellier & Bellot's 92-grain ball would be my second choice from my gun: velocity is pretty much the same - these two loads were markedly faster than any of about ten others from my gun - but the accuracy wasn't as good as with the DT. The Winchester flat-point looks cool and I use it in photos because of that, but the velocities were profoundly lower from my gun and I don't really see how the bullet shape is going to be a big factor from this combo.



Whatever floats your boat, though!

[old tanker]

Originally Posted by walnutred

I carry the Winchester bulk flat point ammo. Recently I ordered 1000, 100gn TC cast bullets and hope to have a suitable cast load for plinking and target practice soon.

The mould was in a pile of reloading stuff I bought, was a lucky find. 100 grain truncated cone, over 4.2 grains of Unique works nice in a Kel-Tec, a Llama Mk III and a Walther PPK. Runs around 1080 fps and good accuracy without leading. You might want to back off half a grain to start. Yes, I know Unique is dirty and smokes, but it works very well in .45 ACP and I load LOTS of that.

[Harry58]

Thanks guys. I shot 100 rounds of Rem 95 gr FMJ without any feeding issues. One misfire, which I ejected & examined. . .it looked like a light strike. Reloaded it in the next mag, & it went bang. I've got some WWB 95 gr FMJ on order, so I will try that when it comes in. I don't have a chrono, so I am a bit concerned with the low velocities some report on the WWB. Anyone chrono this load out of a BG380?

The Am Eagle 95 gr FMJ actually has a published velocity of 980 ft/s, a bit higher than the Rem or Win load. . . but you never know unless you measure it.

[Harry58]

A follow up question: The Double Tap & Buffalo Bore rounds are impressive, but I don't think that the BG380 would hold up very well to these. What is your opinion?

[Erich]

Well, it has a locked breech. And I'd imagine that S&W has warranted the gun to work w/ anything w/i SAAMI specs.

Call S&W if you have questions, I guess, since none of us are going to be able to give you an informed answer. I doubt S&W would be able to, either, but there's a chance that they might have some info that they've not released to the public about how their gun isn't reliable with some SAAMI spec ammo, but I doubt it.

To be honest, though, I wouldn't tell you to carry anything without trying it in your gun. My buddy's P3AT wouldn't work with the Double Tap; my LCP loves it. You're going to have to spend a few bucks to find out how it works in your gun.

[Harry58]

Thanks Erich, you know much more than I on the subject. I am fairly conservative when it comes to hot loads, & maybe a bit skeptical about their pressure loading. My 1st priority is always safety. If it seems to good to be true, then it probably is.

S&W probably won't tell me anymore than to use SAAMI loads. IMHO, I am just not convinced that DT & BB always play by the rules.

[Erich]

Harry, if it troubles you in the slightest, I'd say that you shouldn't use it. And here's why: I don't really think that you'd get all that much of a benefit from the hotter stuff.

I've worked on several cases involving shootings with .380 ball - of all types - and I've never seen one in which it failed to adequately penetrate. (I've seen one overpenetration shooting with it, but that bullet appears to have gone through the first guy's leg before going on to hit the second guy - it might not be reasonable to necessarily expect a leg to stop any bullet.) Based on what I've seen, I think that any ball ammo that runs well and is accurate from your gun will probably do the job just fine for you.

FWIW, your thread got me looking over my results with the Winchester flat-nose 95-gr FMJs from my LCP: they did right at 900 fps (very respectable compared to similar loads - though only about 90% what the DT does - but . . . who cares, really?) and had a deviation of only 11 fps.

[kenjen]

erich, just wondering what is your opinion on fragmenting bullets

[Erich]

I'd not use them out of concern that they would not adequately penetrate.

[Harry58]

Erich, Thanks for your insight. I have a high respect & value for your opinion. I wasn't accusing DT & BB of any ill intent. I just don't know enough about their process & quality control to make a reasonable judgement if their ammo is safe to shoot in my BG380. If they run close to the line with SAAMI pressure specs, then it would be good to know their std deviation, etc.

[Erich]

I wasn't accusing DT & BB of any ill intent.

I never thought that you were, amigo! Hey, the main thing is to pick ammo that you feel comfortable will work effectively from your gun - you are very wise to research it before spending the big bucks that a box of this stuff runs nowadays.

[doc3118]

buffalo bore +P flat nose,,@1100 fps and 221 ft lbs,,case closed,(check to see if your weapon is capable of high pressure loads first)

[Harry58]

doc,
I don't think it is a good idea to shoot loads that don't meet SAAMI specs in my BG380.

[bufford]

Guess I'll have to check flat tips... I have had really good luck with Federals for plinking, but I carry powerballs in my Llama 380

[Charlie8d]

Originally Posted by MOONDAWG

....I'd go with reliability then accuracy over speed any day.

Carry what shoots the best in your particular gun.

I agree ! I shoot only brass loads. With steel case [ Wolf ammo ] that once in awhile fail to eject makes me worry !!