The 380 ACP is a sneaky little round. For years I shot only 9mm and 45ACP. For the most part, I only picked up my 9mm cases. I hated picking up those puny .380s by mistake and always cursed my bad luck at finding so many. Then, Browning decided to make The Perfect Firearm...John Moses Browning’s classic firearm chambered in John Moses Browning’s cartridge. Thus, the Browning 1911-380 was born. As a 1911 fanboy my interest was piqued. I obsessed over this combination until discovering the RIA Baby Rock, 1911-M1. Naturally, loading what I shoot, I had a sudden need for 380ACP cases and small .355/.356 projectiles to load them. Members of this forum contributed the .380 ACP cases that I required, and Bullets.com going out of business sale provided 1000s of suitable bullets...Sierra 95gr Flat Points (8105), Berry’s 100gr CPRN and 100gr HBRN. Next thing I knew I had 2 Bersas, 2 Kimber Micro 380s, 2 Springfield 911s, and the Baby Rock.
However, it was the Everglades Ammo 95gr JHP that drove the Kimber and Springfield purchases, as that is such a nice projectile. Who’d have guessed that a $100 bullet order would end up costing me nearly $2,000?
I’ve loaded these bullets with VV N320, HP-38, Universal, CFE-Pistol, VV 3N37, and recently VV N330 (since N320 is nearly impossible to find).
Yep...that sneaky little .380ACP nearly took over my shooting life. Thankfully, I have a new .40 S&W that I’m anxious to finish breaking in...once a range...any range...opens up again.