Bought a Sig P238 .. Now what to shoot

[Whitwabit]

Tried a couple of the 380's a few times at the range .. one the Body Guard just didn't seem to fit my hand .. Ruger LCP380 didn't feel right either .. So I ended up buying a Sig Sauer P238 HD .. its a couple of oz's heavier with the stainless steel frame and slide .. coming in at 20 oz empty .. put the Hogue rubber wrap around grips with the finger grips and I like the added width of them .. it has a 6 round magazine and I bought 2 - 7 round magazines to be able to carry 7+1 .. I will carry it cocked and locked ..

Bought it online at Bud's at a pretty good price just over 600 dollars ... weather is getting warmer so will be able to shoot out back again soon ..

So now what to shoot thru it to break it in .. Have never owned a .380 before so what ammo and brand does anyone recommend and reason if they have one ..

I carry a 40c and my carry ammo is Winchester 180 gr Defend JHP and I do use the train to train with .. I like the way it has expanded in both my 40c and my Beretta 9mm .. Was thinking about using that in .380 for the Sig P238 ..

Any suggestions ??

 

[bigwheelzip]

My P238 has eaten everything I've fed it for plinking. For SD, the Shooting the Bull 410 Ammo Quest for the .380 prompted me to choose the Fiocchi Extrema XTP.

 

[mcmaniac]

I saw an ad for Sig Sauer demo day at the gun range/store and went with my wife. There was a Sig Sauer trailer outside with reps and free range time to try any of their guns. The rental Sigs were free if you bought ammo.
The range had just sent their P938 out for its 10k round tune up, so the rep let me shoot his own personal carry P938 and they had a P238 in the rental case that my wife liked. She did not like the 938.
So we ended up with one of each. I have the SAS and hers is the Nitron with laser.
We shoot any range ammo with no issues ever, and use the Sig Sauer defense rounds for carry. Those seem to be well suited to the gun, very consistent and most accurate.
I have a Beretta Cheetah in .380, a Ruger LC9 and the Sig for IWB carry, and the Sig is the best of the bunch.

 

[Whitwabit]

My P238 has eaten everything I've fed it for plinking. For SD, the Shooting the Bull 410 Ammo Quest for the .380 prompted me to choose the Fiocchi Extrema XTP.

I have seen some of the Ammo Quest Videos ..

 

[gman51]

I can't comment on which ammo to try but if I was to own a 380 again it would be the Sig P238. It tames the recoil very well and really doesn't feel heavy, shoots very well, and it is darn good looking also IMO.

 

[Whitwabit]

I can't comment on which ammo to try but if I was to own a 380 again it would be the Sig P238. It tames the recoil very well and really doesn't feel heavy, shoots very well, and it is darn good looking also IMO.

I would have to agree .. but it also shot and felt very nice in my hand ..

 

[garddogg56]

So far it has eatten everything flawlessly EXCEPT aluminum shells I believe russian.

 

[Florida J Frame]

My Glock likes the Freedom Munitions 90 GR XTP. Load appears to be equal to the Hornady Custom with the same bullet. Came out to $15 per box of 50 so they are cheap enough to practice with.

 

[WVSig]

I like anything wit the Hornady XTP bullet. They tend to be 800-900 FPS in the mouse guns depending on the brand and they do well.

The American Gunner/Hornady Custom are great. get you about 15" with expansion in bare gelatin tests and 15" with limited expansion through 4 layers of denim.

The Fiocchi Extrema XTP seem to perform with similar results. That said I would never trust my life to any round manufactured by Freedom Munitions. Yes it is the XTP bullet but their loading is way to inconsistent to bet your life on IMHO. YMMV

 

[Whitwabit]

I like anything wit the Hornady XTP bullet. They tend to be 800-900 FPS in the mouse guns depending on the brand and they do well.

The American Gunner/Hornady Custom are great. get you about 15" with expansion in bare gelatin tests and 15" with limited expansion through 4 layers of denim.

The Fiocchi Extrema XTP seem to perform with similar results. That said I would never trust my life to any round manufactured by Freedom Munitions. Yes it is the XTP bullet but their loading is way to inconsistent to bet your life on IMHO. YMMV

Just watched the video on American Gunner/Hornady Custom and that's pretty impressive .. all within an inch and the expansion was very good ..

 

[WVSig]

Just watched the video on American Gunner/Hornady Custom and that's pretty impressive .. all within an inch and the expansion was very good ..

You can get the American Gunner for $15 for a box of 25. Midway has it at that price plus shipping. Sportsman's Guide had it at that price is with free shipping but it looks like they just jacked up the price.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/3...-90-grain-xtp-jacketed-hollow-point-box-of-25

Hornady Custom is at SGammo for $17.

25 round box - 380 Auto XTP Hollow point Hornady 90 grain ammo - 90102 | SGAmmo.com

Everything I understand about the 2 different types of ammo they are the same but packaged in different boxes for marketing purposes.

 

[Whitwabit]

Saw Underwood has a .380 round -

380 ACP +P 90 Grain XTP Jacketed Hollow Point

Technical Information •Caliber: 380 ACP
•Bullet Weight: 90 Grains
•Bullet Style: Hornady XTP Jacketed Hollow Point
•Case Type: Ducta-Bright 7a Nickel Plated Brass
Ballistics Information:
•Muzzle Velocity: 1200 fps
•Muzzle Energy: 288 ft. lbs.

Any one happen to shoot this round ??

 

[Florida J Frame]

I like anything wit the Hornady XTP bullet. They tend to be 800-900 FPS in the mouse guns depending on the brand and they do well.

The American Gunner/Hornady Custom are great. get you about 15" with expansion in bare gelatin tests and 15" with limited expansion through 4 layers of denim.

The Fiocchi Extrema XTP seem to perform with similar results. That said I would never trust my life to any round manufactured by Freedom Munitions. Yes it is the XTP bullet but their loading is way to inconsistent to bet your life on IMHO. YMMV

What are you basing your opinion of the FM load on?

 

[fdw]

Congrats and enjoy your gun, they are pretty cool. Sorta wish I had kept mine...

 

[Gamecock]

I'm happy with plain old Winchester White Box from Walmart.

 

[WVSig]

What are you basing your opinion of the FM load on?

The QC issues with their 9mm and 223 etc. All the chrono info I have seen on their ammo shows low voelicity. Mainly it is the poor QC.

 

[swsig]

I also like Fiocchi Extrema XTP for SD rounds for my wife's .380, a SIG P250 subcompact.

For target rounds, I've done some comparisons of the ubiquitous Remington 95g .380s FMJs with the new SIG 100g .380 FMJs. The SIGs emerged as the clear winners. I posted my results in the Ammo section of the forum. You can read it here:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/138775306-post14.html

 

[ScottN]

I like good, old Federal Hydrashok.