super vel

[dlay]

A friend gave me a half box of super vel 380 auto HP, was going to shoot few in Ruger lcp to see if they fed ok and load it with them. After thinking about this, I wonder if they are too much for the little plastic gun, what do you all think?

 

[CTG_COLLECTOR]

Super Vel ammo was considered to be loaded "hot" (higher pressure and velocity) for its time. It's up to you if you want to shoot it in your Ruger, but I definately WOULD NOT trust it for SD use. There's plenty of good modern ammo for SD use, though it may be hard to find it.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

A half box of ammo isn't going to make much a difference in practice or in brass. I would save them since they are old and no longer made.

I know .380 Auto ammo is scarce but .380 Auto brass isn't.

 

[dlay]

Was going to see if they would feed, then load for pocket carry, dont shoot lcp for fun, have much better fun guns to shoot than the lcp.

 

[CTG_COLLECTOR]

Was going to see if they would feed, then load for pocket carry, dont shoot lcp for fun, have much better fun guns to shoot than the lcp.

It's standard to run a minimum of 100-200 rounds of you carry ammo through you carry gun with zero malfunctions before considering that ammo as reliable.

Just curious as to why you want to carry ammo that's 30-40 years old when you don't know if every round will go "bang" and without extensive testing of said ammo?

I'm sure you value your life more than relying on 30+ year old ammo, especially in .380.

 

[alwslate]

I prefer 95 gr FMJ for SD use in the 380 but I still have part of a box
of Super Vel HPs that I bought back when they were in business. They
have been in the original box indoors since new and I have no doubt
that all will still go bang. I have Lapua 9mm ammo dated 59 and it
has been 100 % reliable in hundreds of rounds. I have US 5.56 ammo
from the 70s that is surefire as is .45 ball from the mid 50s. I also
have 8mm Mauser German ammo made in the mid 30s that is surefire.
Quality is what counts for longevity.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

It's standard to run a minimum of 100-200 rounds of you carry ammo through you carry gun with zero malfunctions before considering that ammo as reliable.

I know that's the standard but these days with SD ammo costing over a Dollar a round are people really running 200 rounds through their pistol before the carry that ammo? Who in the world can find that much ammo and if you do find it how can you afford it? You would have to buy 300 rounds at a cost of about $375. This is one of the reasons I carry a revolver.

 

[geoff40]

I would not shoot them in the Ruger. Plastic guns didn't really exist when the ammo was manufactured. A standard .380 is punishing enough in the diminutive Ruger or similar Keltec.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Gosh , I carried SuperVel in the '80's . It was THE round in the day , and IF it was still mfg ( and if I still cared to carry a .380 ) it would still be prime stuff today.

But alas it's 30 + yrs old , and you aren't personally aware of its storage conditions in the interm. And as mentioned you don't have enough rounds to do a reliability test. ( A seperate discussion about how much IS enough , but +/- 25 definately isn't. Save them in your ctg collection , or trade them to a collector.

 

[chief38]

Buffalo Bore makes some pretty hot .380 acp's and they are available. I've personally got no experience with those particular BB rounds, but you could give them a shot.

I've got a few Super Vel .38 Specials from my Dad but have never fired them. Figure they are somewhat of a collectors item now.

 

[Watchdog]

Personally, I'd keep the Super Vel ammo as a collector's item or a display item and load modern ammo for anything else.

That applies to any caliber, any gun.

 

[ironhead7544]

Personally, I'd keep the Super Vel ammo as a collector's item or a display item and load modern ammo for anything else.

That applies to any caliber, any gun.

+1 on this. Carry ammo should be replaced once a year. IMHO. Cheap insurance.

Also, keep some of the ammo from the same box as what you carry. Might need it for forensics.

 

[dlay]

Its no big deal, decided not to shoot it in lcp, not afraid it wont shoot, just may be more than the little plastic gun needs. I recently shot some world war II 45 auto in my ruger, it all shot. I dont carry the lcp that much, leave it in truck or on table etc. I will agree with archangle, carry a relvolver, can depend on them.