.380 ammo questions

[MikePGS]

I think i might be buying a Bersa Thunder .380 in the near future, and i was wondering what sort of ammo would be best to carry for self-defense. Also, what would be best to practice with? Would it be cheaper ammowise to get a 9? I'm actually debating on getting the bersa (which i can get for a really good deal), a Kel-Tec 3AT, or a Kel-Tec P-11. If anyone has any input or suggestions as to which of these would be best and why (i intend to CCW it) it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Soybomb]

9mm is absolutely cheaper, plus has way better ballistics. To me .380 has a place as a pocket gun. The bersa is not a pocket gun to most and if I were going to carry IWB, I'd get a 9mm. If you want a pocket gun I'd get the p3at and the p11 if you wanted it in your waist band.

That said I'd probably go with fmj rounds for carry in .380. Corbon's DPX seems to have pretty reliable expansion but penetration suffers accordingly as a result. Thats a choice you'll have to make.

 

[browningguy]

I have a Bersa .380 and like it a lot. It has been absolutely reliable, has very good sights, a very good trigger, and very well built. I prefer it over the tiny 9mm's due to the extra size and weight, it's very controllable and you can acually do some extended practicing with it.

I currently carry the Corbon 90 gr. JHP load in mine. It is mainly a backup gun but occassionally I carry it on it's own. With a IWB holster the gun is small enough to practically disappear, it's also very light, you almost forget you're carrying it.

But 9mm is cheaper ammo by a long shot.

 

[Steve C]

I carry Federal Hydra-shok or Remington Golden Sabers in my Walther PPK. They're reliable, accurate and have been more efective in street shooting studies than FMJ which is fine for practice. Make sure whatever your choice it functions well in your pistol.

 

[dogtown tom]

9mm is definitely cheaper than .380! For 9mm I buy CCI Blazer @ Academy for $4.86/50 or WWB @ WalMart for $12.88/100. The cheapest .380 at WalMart is WWB @ $20.88/100. At a gunshow here in Dallas I bought some Aguila .380 for $7.50/50. Last spring, I bought a 1,000 round case of Spanish police surplus Dynamit Noble .380 from SOG for around $115 delivered.

I would guess it has to do with demand rather than cost of materials. Try buying .32ACP and your looking at $15/50 or up @WalMart.

Twenty years ago .380's were the pocket auto caliber of choice, but now many 9mm's can be had in the same size. Most notably the Kahr's, but there are quite a few small 9mm's on the market.

Recoil is fierce out of a blowback operated pistol compared to a pistol using another system. Most .380's use blowback because it's simple and cheap. Most 9mm do not because it would require a very large/heavy recoil spring. Instead they use one of several methods to delay and minimize the "felt" recoil.

My next gun will be a Kahr MK9, but I'll probably pick up a KelTec 3AT at the same time.

I own two .380's, a Remington Model 51 and a Browning BDA. I used to own a Star SM Super .380, but sold it last spring. The recoil out of that eighty nine year old Remington pistol is SOFT!!! The Rem 51 use a delayed or hesitation lockup rather than straight blowback. My BDA while larger and heavier has quite a bit more felt recoil than the Rem 51.

 

[MikePGS]

Thanks everyone for the quick and informative replies... unfortunately, it makes my decision even harder

 

[ShootinDave]

My bersa is a picky eater. She loves Magtech 95grn FMJ..... so thats what I carry.

The JHP vs FMJ for 380 can be debated all day and night. From what I have read, i'll go with FMJ.

 

[CZ-100]

I carry FMJ in my P3AT

 

[SniperStraz]

I think the P-11 is plenty small for CC and the 9s are deffinately cheaper but if you must got with a .380, the best rounds probably come from Cor-Bon.

 

[MikePGS]

The gun shop i'm probably going to buy this from has a used bersa 380 that they will have on sale soon for 160. I was standing there when some guy around my age, possibly even younger (i'm 26) sold it, talking about how he needed the cash right now. The guy let me look at the pistol and it pretty much looked brand new, and had no visible scuffing or anything on it inside or out. He said they need to have it inspected, then will probably put it on sale friday. Its really the price thats intriguing me about it... Would it be better to get a bersa .380 for 160 or a Kel-Tec P-11 or P3AT for roughly 270 or so new? I've heard that the P-11's have a long trigger pull, though i do like the idea of a 9mm better than a .380. I know a hundred dollar difference isn't too much, but theres something about a deal like that that makes me want to jump all over it. Grrr i'm still conflicted, but thanks for the advice, and by all means, keep it coming.

 

[dogtown tom]

I think $270 is a bit high for a P3AT. Around here you can get them at retail for $239 or less.

$160 is a good price for a used Bersa.

Look on Gunbroker. You can get an idea of what the various models go for.

 

[Mac Attack]

I carry Corbon hollowpoints in my Colt Mustang.

 

[MikePGS]

I think $270 is a bit high for a P3AT. Around here you can get them at retail for $239 or less.

$160 is a good price for a used Bersa.

Look on Gunbroker. You can get an idea of what the various models go for.

Yeah i've looked online for them, but with all of the shipping and FFL transfer's it probably would wind up to be about the same price.