Smith & Wesson Forum

Advertise With Us Search
Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Ammunition-Gunsmithing > Ammo

Ammo All Ammo Discussions Go Here


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 04-12-2025, 02:19 PM
papadave papadave is offline
Member
Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo  
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 68
Likes: 9
Liked 11 Times in 7 Posts
Default Federal 380 ammo

I have a question about Federal 380 ammo. What if any is the difference between Federal American Eagle and the target/practice loads?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 04-12-2025, 02:26 PM
GnarlsR2 GnarlsR2 is offline
Member
Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo  
Join Date: Nov 2024
Location: Arizona desert
Posts: 519
Likes: 211
Liked 640 Times in 306 Posts
Default

Shop products in American Eagle today | Federal Premium
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 04-12-2025, 03:19 PM
Alk8944's Avatar
Alk8944 Alk8944 is online now
US Veteran
Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo  
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sandy Utah
Posts: 9,851
Likes: 2,007
Liked 11,842 Times in 4,462 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by papadave View Post
I have a question about Federal 380 ammo. What if any is the difference between Federal American Eagle and the target/practice loads?
If by target/practice loads you mean the Federal Range /Training load, they have different weight bullets, and the Range/Training bullets are Lead free. Because of the bullet weight difference the Range/Training load is faster but has less energy.
__________________
Gunsmithing since 1961
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 04-12-2025, 05:55 PM
papadave papadave is offline
Member
Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo  
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 68
Likes: 9
Liked 11 Times in 7 Posts
Default 380 ammo

The stuff I was looking at is Federal American Eagle and Federal Range/Train/Practice. Both 95gr fmj 980 fps fmj.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 04-12-2025, 06:23 PM
SnidelyWhiplash SnidelyWhiplash is offline
Member
Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo  
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,165
Likes: 180
Liked 13,959 Times in 2,761 Posts
Default

I would think one has some flash suppressant added to more approximate duty ammo.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 04-13-2025, 09:47 AM
chief38's Avatar
chief38 chief38 is online now
Member
Federal 380 ammo  
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 19,254
Likes: 9,321
Liked 30,130 Times in 9,764 Posts
Default

Because of the times we live in, pretty much any FMJ round is called "range or practice" ammo regardless of the velocity or the ft. pounds of energy. HP ammo is known as "self defense" ammo.

I am a big proponent of hollow point ammo in 9mm, 38 spl, 357 mag, 44 mag, etc. however there are a few exceptions for me. While I do not carry a .380 acp, if I did, I'd use Federal or American Eagle FMJ. IMHO Federal is the most reliable and consistent vs other brands. The reason I'd carry FMJ is primarily because the JHP's in that caliber suffer from a lack of penetration. While the FMJ will never expand, at least it is capable of reaching vital organs because it will penetrate farther. They are also more reliable feeders than the JHP's especially in older guns that were never designed for hp's.

The other guns I'd only carry FMJ in are (IF I ever did cary one) pistols that were made 4,5,6 or more , decades ago. There are some 1911 pistols that will not reliably function with HP ammo. Federal American Eagle brand is for some reason 55 feet per second faster than the Federal version - don't ask why because I do not know. The AE is 890fps and the Fed is 835fps. So...... IMHO, one would be better off with the AE brand in this particular instance. While neither will expand, remember, it's already almost a 1/2 in diameter and will get the job done.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 04-13-2025, 10:41 AM
THE PILGRIM's Avatar
THE PILGRIM THE PILGRIM is offline
Member
Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo  
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: ALBUQUERQUE, NM
Posts: 14,746
Likes: 8,594
Liked 27,188 Times in 9,148 Posts
Default

Being a recent and minimal 380 Shooter, I have shot several ammo Brands in my LCP Max. That includes FMJ and Hollow Points, but no Lead Free.
Zero problems.
__________________
NRA LIFE MEMBER
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 04-13-2025, 02:57 PM
gerhard1 gerhard1 is online now
Member
Federal 380 ammo  
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Kansas
Posts: 642
Likes: 371
Liked 1,142 Times in 351 Posts
Default

The gun that I carry the most is my S&W Model 986 9mm revolver. It is loaded with Federal Hydra-Shoks, but I carry two or three moonclips of FMJ in my pockets should they be needed.
__________________
Let's be careful out there
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 04-13-2025, 03:11 PM
alwslate alwslate is offline
Member
Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo  
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Indiana
Posts: 7,310
Likes: 4,334
Liked 8,483 Times in 3,467 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by papadave View Post
The stuff I was looking at is Federal American Eagle and Federal Range/Train/Practice. Both 95gr fmj 980 fps fmj.
I would be greatly surprised if there is any difference between the two other than packaging. You could buy some of both and pull a bullet from each and look them over and weight the powder charges.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 04-13-2025, 03:23 PM
THE PILGRIM's Avatar
THE PILGRIM THE PILGRIM is offline
Member
Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo  
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: ALBUQUERQUE, NM
Posts: 14,746
Likes: 8,594
Liked 27,188 Times in 9,148 Posts
Default

Lately been shooting a fair amount of 9mm.
Mostly Cabelas House brand Herters. It’s most likely Win White Box.
Zero problems in 4 different pistols.
Cabelas - Herters 22LR? ****!
Don’t go there!
__________________
NRA LIFE MEMBER
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 04-13-2025, 04:39 PM
ralph7's Avatar
ralph7 ralph7 is offline
Member
Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo  
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 4,484
Likes: 9,749
Liked 6,671 Times in 2,315 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by gerhard1 View Post
The gun that I carry the most is my S&W Model 986 9mm revolver. It is loaded with Federal Hydra-Shoks, but I carry two or three moonclips of FMJ in my pockets should they be needed.
Whatever floats your boat, but I can't imagine carrying even one loaded moonclip in a pocket because of the obtrusive bulge it would have to make.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 04-13-2025, 06:10 PM
GnarlsR2 GnarlsR2 is offline
Member
Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo  
Join Date: Nov 2024
Location: Arizona desert
Posts: 519
Likes: 211
Liked 640 Times in 306 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ralph7 View Post
the obtrusive bulge it would have to make.
Geezzz!! I hate it when that happens.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 04-14-2025, 10:50 AM
STORMINORMAN STORMINORMAN is offline
Member
Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo Federal 380 ammo  
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 2,413
Likes: 1,404
Liked 1,681 Times in 1,014 Posts
Default

Is THAT a moonclip, or...?

Cheers!
__________________
Sit Reloader Sentiret
Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
New Federal Ammo for Old 38s Norton 750 Ammo 26 05-16-2023 02:33 PM
Winchester Ranger L.E. Ammo & Federal Lake City XM855 5.56 62gr Green Penetrator Ammo 5532JWK Accessories/Misc - For Sale or Trade 2 03-24-2020 11:11 PM
M&P 15 Federal Ammo LadyShooter1 Ammo 2 03-25-2019 09:12 AM
Federal HST ammo for M&P 40? Cruiser55n Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols 12 05-18-2017 02:07 PM
Federal ammo soonersfan Smith & Wesson SD & Sigma Pistols 21 04-12-2012 03:05 AM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:14 AM.


© 2000-2025 smith-wessonforum.com All rights reserved worldwide.
Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)