+P ammo for my BDA .380 ?
- Thread starter Konko
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Shawn Dodson
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Just stick with factory Hornady XTP. It's the best general purpose bullet for .380.
Speer just released it's .380 HydraShok Deep It's designed for light and heavy clothing only but it performs well.
Speer just released it's .380 HydraShok Deep It's designed for light and heavy clothing only but it performs well.
I would not use +P in your 380 BDA.
I have a Beretta Model 84 which is basically the same pistol. With standard ammunition, over time the slide peens the frame over where the slide impacts the frame under recoil.
It takes a while, but the pistol will become more difficult to disassemble as the peening interferes with the removal of the guide rod.
The peening can be removed with a small half round file but it will come back again.
My pistol started having disassembly issues at around 1500 rounds and I have had to clean up the area after every 500 rounds or so since.
Nice looking pistol though. I need to keep eye out for one to go with my Model 84.
I have a Beretta Model 84 which is basically the same pistol. With standard ammunition, over time the slide peens the frame over where the slide impacts the frame under recoil.
It takes a while, but the pistol will become more difficult to disassemble as the peening interferes with the removal of the guide rod.
The peening can be removed with a small half round file but it will come back again.
My pistol started having disassembly issues at around 1500 rounds and I have had to clean up the area after every 500 rounds or so since.
Nice looking pistol though. I need to keep eye out for one to go with my Model 84.
NIGHTLORD40K
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I think somebody makes a buffer for that....lemme see if I can find a link.
Electricmo
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I don’t believe there is a .380 +P ammo manufacturer. I could be wrong though. Show me. http://shootingthebull.net/blog/why-i-wont-use-or-test-380-acp-p-or-any-p-ammo/
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
Hmmm,. no joy on a quick google search, though I did find several posts on various forums describing how folks made them from 1911 and M92 buffers.
Something Ill have to look into, since I have an older, though seldom shot 84.
I wouldnt recommend shooting anything claiming to be hot .380 out of a BDA.
Nice gun, Konko, and welcome to THR.
If you find the link, I'd be interested to see it.
I tried making a buffer from a 1911 polymer buffer but it was after the problem showed up. The repaired surfaces on the frame would just rip the buffer apart in a 100 or so rounds.
Oh, well, thanks for trying.
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
With the recent glut of Italian police trade-ins flooding the market, Id be surprised if somebody didnt see the potential and start making one. Know anybody with an injection molding machine?
dogtown tom
Member
There is not a SAMMI spec for .380+P.
That hasn't stopped companies from marketing their ammunition as .380+P..........and it could be identical in pressure and performance to standard SAMMI spec .380.
SteadyD
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Precision one loads a +p 380 round. The Beretta Pico and the Kahr CW 380 are both rated to handle +p 380, per the manual for the former, and per customer service for the latter.
Smokepole14
Member
I agree, stick with the hornady xtp and you’ll get good results. I’m not sure if they even make +p in 380. Maybe buffalo bore has it I’m not sure though all their stuff is loaded hot.
amd6547
Member
I carry Underwood +P XTP in my Beretta 84F, and have shot about 150rds. The 84F shoots it like it’s made for it, and it’s one of the most accurate rounds I’ve shot in my pistol.
It’s not something I will shoot hundreds of rounds of, but for carry, you bet.
It’s not something I will shoot hundreds of rounds of, but for carry, you bet.
Electricmo
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I don’t know how companies are getting away with producing +p .380 when there is no spec for it.
GooseGestapo
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Easy, MARKETING!
Just load to upper limit of SAAMI specs. Less than 1/1000 shooters/purchasers own chronographs.
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tubeshooter
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When I think about it - most .380 offerings are either too small or too nice to shoot overly hot ammo like that through. I wouldn't do the OPs gun or, say, a Sig 232 that way.
I would not trust a Bersa to hold up to a steady diet of them either, although at least that is more easily replaced.
The only .380 I would think about running hot like that with no worries would be an all-steel Makarov. YMMV.
I would not trust a Bersa to hold up to a steady diet of them either, although at least that is more easily replaced.
The only .380 I would think about running hot like that with no worries would be an all-steel Makarov. YMMV.
BearBrimstone
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Personally, I rarely use +p ammunition at all. If I want more power I just go to a stronger caliber. It’s not that I’m afraid it’ll damage my gun. I just never saw the point when I could just buy another gun with more power and the added bonus of owning another gun. That said, I would be worried about 380 +p damaging something since it has no official specs.
huntsman
Member
I’ve got 60 rounds of Buffalo Bore +P Stashed for my BDA, shot 20 through it for test.
If something were to happen that I couldn’t (legally)carry a 9mm or.40 My plan is to load both the BDA and LCP with +P and soldier on.
If something were to happen that I couldn’t (legally)carry a 9mm or.40 My plan is to load both the BDA and LCP with +P and soldier on.
unclenunzie
Contributing Member
The barrel lengths of these former police sidearm pistols make using "+P" 380 unnecessary, imo. If I decided to use it say from Buffalo Bore or Underwood It would go in my all-steel CZ-83. Not in my Aluminum frame 84.
Ernie Bass
member
My favorite 380 Defense ammo is PrecisonOne Plus P and have shot about 500 rds of it out of a Beretta Pico . Which is the only 380 gun I will shoot hot ammo out of except I will shoot some out of the Kahr P380. Both these guns are rated for Plus P or hot ammo. . Before the shortage I could get 250 rds of XTP Plus P for about $139.00. Thankfully I bought some for storage and have about 500 rds left.
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