.380 +p?

[MCgunner]

Buffalo Bore is offering what they call +P .380 loads that push almost 300 ft lbs. Now, excuse me if I am uninformed, but I'm unaware of a +P designation by SAAMI for .380 ACP. I'd be afraid to shoot this stuff in one of the little LCP type (or P3AT type, was the first) .380s. Has anyone shot this stuff? I'd rather carry a pocket 9, myself, not that much bigger and rather easy to pocket. AND, mine holds 11 rounds.

I just saw this "+P" stuff. Wonder if you have to sign a waiver to purchase this stuff? The price might reflect the price of keeping a legal staff on hand.


http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=29

 

[outerlimit]

I wouldn't worry too much about shooting it in the little pocket guns, but it's probably really meant for something like a Sig 232.

 

[Zerodefect]

I try to shoot the hottest ammo I can find in the micro 380's.

They cycle more reliably with hot ammo.

 

[ghostoftheprairie]

I don't have the manual with me, but I am pretty sure my BG380 manual said +p was OK...

 

[MCgunner]

But, see, point is, there's no such thing as +P .380, not according to all the SAAMI charts I've googled up. They could be running 50K CUP pressure in those things. Who knows?

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Buffalo Bore is offering what they call +P .380 loads that push almost 300 ft lbs.

Out of a two-inch barrel with a one-finger grip? I'll pass.

 

[MCgunner]

I think that's out of a 4" barrel, but still.... Yeah, I reckon it'd kick like a Smith 340 in an LCP, though, even if it didn't blow it up.

 

[huntsman]

Has anyone shot this stuff?

yes in my BDA which I think is the BB test gun. For my LCP, NO because of their warning in the manual, but BB is now offering the standard loadings as well.

 

[snooperman]

With that type of ammo, I too would rather carry a small 9mm as well..and

Do. The KelTec P11.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Its hotter than Corbon but how much is hype and how much is fact. I just stay away from those offerings.

 

[Aiko492]

I have shot the BB 100 gr +P hardcast plenty out of my Sig P238. It is the only SD round I would carry in a .380.

 

[1KPerDay]

I try to shoot the hottest ammo I can find in the micro 380's.

They cycle more reliably with hot ammo.

My LCP doesn't...

 

[wnycollector]

The BB 100gr +P loading is my carry ammo in my Beretta 84B. It's very controllable and accurate in a "full sized" .380. The BB load/Beretta 84 combo produces more energy (~294 vs ~225) than my comparably sized S&W M36 loaded with the Remington flavor of the FBI load (158gr +P LSWCHP). An added bonus is that I get an extra 9 shots vs my snub before I need to reload.

 

[ssyoumans]

Out of my 2.75" Sig P238:
BB 90gr +P JHP 1172fps, 275 ft-lbs
Corbon 90gr +P JHP 1045fps for 218ft-lbs
Speer 90gr Gold Dot 1002fps for 201ft-lbs
Hornady Critical Defense 90gr 917fps for 168ft-lbs

I keep my P238 loaded with it, haven't decided if the LCP can handle it yet (and I haven't tested reliability of it in a LCP) so for now the LCP has Gold Dots and Corbons.

I don't think it will blow up an LCP but it would probably put some heavy wear and strain on one. Guess I just haven't wanted to be the person to fire 3 boxes of the stuff thru the LCP to test reliability.

 

[kokapelli]

Jeff at GunBlast shoots Buffalo Bore along with other brands of ammo in almost every pocket 380 he has tested and the Buffalo Bore ammo is significantly faster than any of the other brands with the same weight bullet.

This link is for his test of the Taurus pocket TCP 380 pistol and has a comparison of Buffalo Bore with a few other brands.

http://gunblast.com/Taurus-PT738.htm

 

[06]

For my Sig 232 I load it hot with Barnes XTPs. It does not like cast but hard shells do fine.

 

[shootingthebreeze]

My Kahr P380 is straight .380; +P not allowed.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Fact is their is still no SAAMI recognized 380+P and they set the standards for the ammo and firearms manufacturing industry. Have since the 1926.. So he can claim what he wants but their is no official industry 380+P .




The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI) is an association of the nation's leading manufacturers of firearms, ammunition and components. SAAMI was founded in 1926 at the request of the federal government and tasked with:

Creating and publishing industry standards for safety, interchangeability, reliability and quality
Coordinating technical data
Promoting safe and responsible firearms use



I don't believe he is a member .

 

[m2steven]

I've shot about 100 rounds of the Buffalo Bore +P for 380, mostly in my Sig P238. Also shot it out of my Micro Eagle and a few from my Bersa.

This stuff is great ammunition and pretty much turns your 380 into a real handgun. I think Buffalo Bore has done a great job loading this cartridge. It's super hot but I've not had any pistol want to break from shooting it. It's accurate, hits hard, and does not really hurt more than the regular stuff, but you can really tell the difference.

 

[shootingthebreeze]

If you handgun manual says don't shoot +P then don't.

 

[MCgunner]

If you handgun manual says don't shoot +P then don't.

Again, there is no such animal as a recognized +P load in .380, so why would a manual say not to shoot it when it doesn't officially exist?

It is just MHO that if you want a 9x19, buy a 9x19. They're made quite small, smaller and lighter than Bersa Thunders. Though I do carry +P (pressure is officially set by SAAMI) .38 special, heck, I don't truy to turn the .38 into a .357 magnum, either. I have .357s for that.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Again, there is no such animal as a recognized +P load in .380, so why would a manual say not to shoot it when it doesn't officially exist?

A lot of company s use the same warnings and safety instructions in all manuals Cheaper than redoing a manual for every pistol.
So some where is another model. That they sale .Where they say don't use +P .

My main question is .If your pistol is damaged using BB ammo and his loads are outside SAAMI specs . If manufacture is a member does he really have to honor your warranty. If you break with a home reload their no warranty If he's not a member should they warranty his hot loads . This not only directed at BB but any other little company that pushes the limit on loadings.

 

[shootingthebreeze]

McGunner go ahead and use +P and also shorten your .380's life.

Until manufacturers make certified .380 that can take +P then don't use +P.

I'm all about gun safety. If a handgun is rated to fire .38 and .357 then it's built to take the load. I follow what the manufacturer says-and if they say don't fire +P loads then there is a reason.

 

[huntsman]

Again, there is no such animal as a recognized +P load in .380, so why would a manual say not to shoot it when it doesn't officially exist?

It is just MHO that if you want a 9x19, buy a 9x19. They're made quite small, smaller and lighter than Bersa Thunders. Though I do carry +P (pressure is officially set by SAAMI) .38 special, heck, I don't truy to turn the .38 into a .357 magnum, either. I have .357s for that.

just another .380acp bashing thread, EH

 

[m2steven]

+P 380 ammo exists in spite of the fact that some standards body has yet to develop THEIR standard. +P ammo of any type is just overloaded ammo. If you look at Buffalo Bore's data on their "+P" stuff you'll see a consistent large difference in energy delivered to the bullet. If you don't want to call it +P until SAAMI decides to call it +P then fine. Until then you can use good "+P" ammo which will deliver 50+ ft/lbs of energy over standard loadings of 380 cartridges.

Kind of like pretending you don't exist until you see yourself in a mirror.