dodgegirl.mg
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Where is the best place to get cheap ammo for my Bodyguard? Why the heck is .380 so much?
.380 Ammo
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Ballistic147
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I've been ordering Privi Partizan 380 from SGAmmo. I think it was $13.95 per box and their shipping is about as cheap as anywhere.
Doug M.
Member
It is not all that cheap to make, and there is not enough of a market to support the folks who want it. Quality defensive ammo (google Doctor Roberts Ammo testing and you should find his recommendations) in any caliber is not cheap, but it is priceless if needed. IIRC, only one .380 HP has done adequately in testing, and it is the only one approved by LAPD for .380 BUG/off-duty carry.
If the G42 is soft enough shooting, I may get one for my wife to try, and if so, I'll buy 1000 round cases of it from Black Hills Ammo. Buy once, cry once.
If the G42 is soft enough shooting, I may get one for my wife to try, and if so, I'll buy 1000 round cases of it from Black Hills Ammo. Buy once, cry once.
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
Easy fix, just take the Shield back from your husband, and practice racking the slide until you get proficient. It will save you 50% on ammo. 
I like my .380, but limit practice because of cost. The 9mm is the way to go if you want to shoot a self-defense caliber often, while being frugal.
I like my .380, but limit practice because of cost. The 9mm is the way to go if you want to shoot a self-defense caliber often, while being frugal.
GunBot is a good website for finding ammo deals. Check it out. GunBot 380acp pistol ammo
Check out your local wal-mart. You can find their house brand perfecta (fiocci) for a decent price and I have no problems running them through my bg380 for target practice. I believe I paid $14 and some change for a box.
If any of you live between Houston and Beaumont Texas, I have a reloader that I buy 1,000 rounds for $200.00-$220.00, depending on how he feels. Only one needing to be struck twice out of 2,000 rounds.
Send me a private message, he does not advertise. He does sell 100 round bags (This was a test bag - $23.00 and he did not know me), but that is 1 1/4 days at the range, for my wife.
Send me a private message, he does not advertise. He does sell 100 round bags (This was a test bag - $23.00 and he did not know me), but that is 1 1/4 days at the range, for my wife.
Protected One
Member
Your wife (like mine) will probably love it. She shot my M60...too much recoil, then my Bodyguard 380...too much recoil, then my Shield 9mm...too much recoil. So we bought her a Glock 42 because I was confident the dual recoil spring would solve the problem. She shot it. Ahhhhh...problem solved!
scooter123
Member
You obviously dont reload for the 380, if you did you would know that the 380 is the LEAST EXPENSIVE of all the common calibers to reload for. The bullets are lighter and thus cost less because lead does cost per pound purchased. The powder costs less because you use less of it. While cases are more expensive up front in the long run they are cheaper because the 380 operates at a much lower pressure than the 9mm and can be reloaded for many more cycles. Using either a Berry's or Extreme plated bullet I can reload 380 range loads for about 12 cents per round. For Self Defense loads it's a bit more expensive because the reduced expansion Hornady 90 grain XTP costs 17 cents per bullet so my cost is 22 cents per round.
Another advantage to loading you own can be the difference between a reliable pistol or a jam-o-matic. My Sig P290 is one of thoss, it requires ammunition that is at the very top of the load table or even a bit +P to function reliably. If you have a pistol that is fussy about bullet profile, overall length, or power factor reloading will not only be inexpensive it can also make the difference a pistol you can rely on or one you shove in the back of the safe.
With weaker ammo my P290 will produce just about every type of ejection failure you can think of, even flipping the case a full rotation in air above the ejection port and falling on top of the round that failed to strip out of hte case due to a short slide cycle. End result of that particular failure had me scratching my head for about 3 weeks straight. Then I decided to watch the ejection cycle instead of the target and saw this actually happen.
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martybee
Member
I am with you, as of today; My Wife has fired 5,475 rounds through her BG380 and at 5,400, she had to double tap one round, of the 5,400 and they all where reloads. I can safely say, for every 2000 rounds - She may have a double tap, or I have been lucky.
harleygeorge
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Ammo
Go to AmmoMan.com Free shipping on everything over $99.00
Orders will usually ship same day, if in early enough. Excellent service, and great selection.
Go to AmmoMan.com Free shipping on everything over $99.00
Orders will usually ship same day, if in early enough. Excellent service, and great selection.
OP
dodgegirl.mg
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My husband has a friend at work who is going to do reloads for me. I have to buy the dies for him because he doesn't have a .380 but he buys his stuff in bulk because he shoots a lot.
OP
dodgegirl.mg
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Now what about a good defense ammo?
Ballistic147
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From the tests I've read Hornady Critical Defense it supposed to be one of the best. Just make sure it feeds properly in your gun.
oldfart64
Member
you should also watch shooting thebull410 on youtube, there are a number of them that neet fbi standards (all with xtp bullets). Also, try for a store that will ship to store for free and avoid any shipping charges, then even if it a few cents a round more, it will wind up being less money, for me, that means hornady american gunner (same as hornady custom and always less money), when it is on sale from Cabelas for $15.99 for 25. That is about as inexpensive as you are going to get for quality self defense ammo for a 3" barrel pistol. As for range ammo, I can usually get herters also from Cabelas for about $12.00 for 50. both of those feed perfectly in my G42. (over 2000 rounds and no failures at all.)
Maccabeus
Member
Consider Golden Saber. It is a heavier round: 102 grain.
I've suggested this in another thread, but here you go. With .380, many argue about expansion with JHP vs. sticking with FMJ for sufficient penetration. Some even go so far as to alternate FMJ and JHP ammo in one mag to cover both bases.
Of the various youtube reviews, I had found mixed results with the GS round with one reviewer even saying it had "inconsistent expansion". So there is your solution: Buy the GS round, load that one type of ammo, sometimes getting penetration, sometimes getting expansion and hope that the higher bullet weight will also give you sufficient penetration when it does expand.
I found that it shoots well through my Bodyguard380.
An ammo tester, "Shooting The Bull", has conducted extensive tests of .380 self-defense ammo using FBI procedures. Precision One, Fiocchi, and HPR HP rounds all did well. You can see the results here: Final Results of the .380 ACP Ammo Quest | Shooting The Bull
Be sure to watch the video.
I suggest selecting a couple of the winners, and running at least 100 rounds of each through your Bodyguard. Then choose the one that is the most accurate and reliable.
