.380 ACP Self Defense Ammo for Walther PPK/S

[glock56534]

I am having trouble finding good .380 Auto CCW ammo that will feed reliably into my PPK/S. What is happening is that when it feeds, it will move up the feed ramp and jam in the gap just after the feed ramp. It feeds round-nosed ammo just fine, but when I use hollow points or JHP, it jams up from time to time. I know that the gun was not designed to feed hollow points, but with the summer months coming, I would like to find a good CCW round that will be reliable.

Does anyone have any suggestions on some good CCW ammo that will feed properly and reliably? If not, anyone have any other suggestions for me?

 

[Moonclip]

Guns are kind of individual but I ran 50 rounds of Winchester silvertip hollow poimt in a ppk/s recently w/o problems.

The gun was a Manurhin version produced in the mid 1980's.

Remington standard version hollowpoints in the auto pistol calibers are known for having a rounded profile that is more likel to feed in guns that don't like other jhp designs.

 

[rcmodel]

Try the Remington 88 gr. JHP (R380AI) loads.

They have almost a FMJ-RN bullet profile and will feed well in almost anything.

EDIT: I agree the Silver-Tip is another one worth trying.
It slipped my mind until Moonclip just mentioned it.

rcmodel

 

[romma]

Corbon Powerball expanding ball ammo

 

[Newton]

Easy - Corbon DPX.

 

[harbingerm]

Corbon or Federal in my Interarms PPK/s. Runs fine.

 

[glock56534]

---Easy - Corbon DPX.---

I have been using Corbon DPX, and have been experiencing problems. When I take a full mag and load the first round, either the first round gets jammed (and bends the copper bullet), or the second round feeds forward a little bit while its under the first round so I cannot remove the mag (which also causes the second round to jam if the first round is successful).

I'm using a newly manufactured Walther (made by S&W) and have put about 500 rounds through it. It cycles round-nosed bullets just fine, but as soon as I put the Corbon DPX or other hollow points in there, it starts to act up on me.

 

[woad_yurt]

Pow'RBalls should feed. They have a ball in the bullet hollow. Looks like a FMJ in profile.

 

[misterwhipple]

Corbon JHP gave me hell. I figure it was my grip more than the hot load, but I got misfeeds every other round.

Federal Premium Low-Recoil Hydra-Shok has worked really well so far, but I've only shot 30 of the the widely-recommended 200 test rounds.

 

[sm]

Fiocchi Hardball is one of my favorites for .380ACP.

Then again I ain't got a problem running Fiochhi hardball in 25 ACP, 32ACP, 9mm or 45ACP either...

Come to think of it, I happen to like hardball period.

Oh not because the guns won't run with hollow point, I just happen to have tasks and needs where hardball is best.

 

[roscoe]

Check out the new Buffalo Bore 100 grain hardcast loads. 20 inches of penetration - zoikes!

 

[Robert Hairless]

CorBon developed its .380 on and for the Walther PPK/S. Worked fine in mine.

 

[Ivy Mike]

Winchester Supreme T series fed reliably in my Makarov and never had trouble with penetration.

I should know, I shot one through the walls of a house I lived in.

 

[51Cards]

Is the gun new?

Mine was working perfectly, then started FTFing once in a while. Replaced the recoil spring --- problem gone.

I suspect a combination of things: accumulated gunk from shooting, ammo (Blazer), and a tired hand. But it always did the same thing, when it was doing it (which was not often, but increasing) --- partial feed into the chamber. A good whack would feed it. So did a new 20# Wolff spring, and a new 24# spring.

It shoots everything. Federal Hydras have run perfectly. DPX is a little snappy.

 

[glock56534]

----Is this gun new?----

Yes, I purchased the gun brand new, and it now has around 500 rounds through it and its still jamming fairly often. I have been oiling the thing like crazy, but cleaning it after every session of shooting.

I am weary of carrying this gun, fearing that it will jam on me in time of need.

 

[putteral]

I use either 90gr XTP'S or 102gr Golden Sabres in my Interarms PPK/S with no jamming what so ever.

 

[rcmodel]

If after 500 rounds it won't reliably feed Remington 102's or Winny Silver-Tip, I'd send it back to Walther and tell them to fix it.

It should work.

My early PPK/S American would feed empty cases if it had too!
And yours should too.

rcmodel

 

[harbingerm]

Uh, rc, I think it needs to go back to Smith & Wesson, not Walther.

My old Interarms PPK/s reliably feeds anything I use, too, but it's pretty much a safe queen these days. No point in carrying something that large and heavy in .380 anymore. MUCH smaller .380 pistols out there these days. The Kahr PM9 gets primary pocket duty and I'd much rather have 7 rds of 9mm +P than 8 rounds of .380. I only keep it because of the James Bond coolness and it really is a beautifully made pistol.

 

[rcmodel]

Nope, it needs to go back to Walther.

By Telephone: 1-800-372-6454 (USA)
413-781-8300 (International)
Mon-Fri 8:00AM-8:00PM Eastern Time

By Fax: 1-413-747-3317

By EMail: [email protected]

By Mail: Walther America
2100 Roosevelt Avenue
Springfield, MA 01104


S&W owns them, but the Walther America department sell's them & fixes them.

rcmodel

 

[mnw42]

My Colt 1908 will feed the XTPs and WW FMJ-FP ammo with no problem. American Eagle powder-puff loads is another matter.

That being said, 99% of the Walthers I've seen are reliable and not very picky. Sorry to hear you have one of the 1%

 

[Kindrox]

In the two PPKs I have had, both ran Hydrashock without a hickup ever.

However I am no longer very happy with Hydrashocks. I tried them in a Bersa and the Hydrashocks felt light in recoil, and some had trouble cycling the slide. Fiocci ball had no issue

My Bersa experiance was with only one box, but I read other places that others experianced Hydrashocks that seemed "underloaded" for CCW ammo.

 

[harbingerm]

My mistake, rc. I thought S&W were actually manufacturing them these days.

 

[searcher451]

I've had excellent luck with Speer Gold Dot personal defense ammo in my S&W PPK/S in .380. Both the gun and the ammo have performed flawlessly.

S&W, by the way, both makes and services the PPK/S these days.

 

[romeo212000]

Golden Sabres work pretty well for me out of my Kel-Tec.

 

[argusx10]

PPK Jams

Might try polishing the feed ramp. Use the eraser end on a pencil and a small piece of 600 grit sandpaper. This eliminated the same problem with my s & w PPK.