Hot loads, what can you tell me about them?

[davidd]

I was looking at the kel tec 380's b/c it is very portable and offers adequate velocity and energy, but they are hard to find. The shop owner said he has a Seacamp 32 cal that will have the same ballistics with a hot load they have developed. I have reviewed teh ballistics at the Remington site and most 32 cals are around 130 ME and the 380 around 190 ME. The hot 32 cal reportedly brings ME up to 200 and I believe he can bring the 380 up to 250.

What's the story on these special hot loads. One store had them for $20, five rounds. Are these safe? Do you recommend them for someone who has a slightly lighter caliber such as the 32 or 380? I dismissed the 32 for being to light of a load but am rethinking based on the hot load ammunition i am learning about.

pls advise, and thank you.

 

[1911Tuner]

Hot Loads

Industry "Hot Loads" are held to a specified chamber pressure that exceeds industry standard by a small percentage. Often referred to as +P, the average pressure...while higher than the maximums set by the SAAMI when the cartridge was introduced...are still far below "Proof-Level" pressures, and below what many handloaders work up to.

It's a given that the higher the average working pressures are, the more wear and tear is imposed on the gun. No different than redlining the engine in your car. A limited amount of use with +P and +P+ for function testing and carry, while using the standard-pressure stuff for practice and general use won't likely hurt a thing unless there's something wrong with the gun.

Back "in the day" the owner's manuals that came with Smith & Wesson's alloy framed J-frame revolvers, aka "Airweight Snubbies" cautioned the owners not to use +P ammunition at all...and while it was absolutely true that you could shoot the little wheelguns loose in quick-time with the stuff...often within a hundred rounds...they would easily handle 5 or 10 rounds with no ill effects, and even if 5 rounds proved to be damaging, if the gun saved the owner's life, it served its purpose. In a kill-or-be-killed scenario, the last concern you'll have will be with the well-being of the gun. You can always buy another one.

 

[Ala Dan]

Tuner seems to have addressed the "HOT LOAD" issue, but I will tell you
that if your dealer has a Seecamp LWS-32; you had better jump on it, as
they are even more scarce than the KEL-TEC's~!