Is .380 normally this expensive?

[Hokkmike]

I paid $23 for a box of 50 FMJ and $25 for the other one.

I paid $17 for a box of 25 personal defense.

I got 4 boxes of 20 critical defense frangible for $76. That comes out to $18 something a box.

 

[TennJed]

One of the reasons I talked my wife into looking into a 9mm.

One of the reasons I took up reloading.

380 is super cheap to reload. My favorite plinkng round

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

One of the reasons I took up reloading.

380 is super cheap to reload. My favorite plinkng round

Plus you can load it mild or load it hot - and load any bullet you can find in the right diameter and what you prefer.

VooDoo

 

[jimbo555]

Lgs. had fiocchi 95gr.fmj for 17.00 box of 50 today.

 

[hartcreek]

There is no reason to buy .380. Ther was a classified here just a few days ago where one of our own is selling range brass and he is getting .380 brass 1 bucket out every four.

If I didntn have a few thousand already reloaded I would have bought some more...his prices were that cheep.

 

[9 fingers]

I paid about $14 per box for PRVI Partizan, which is decent ammo, from Targersports.com maybe 8 months ago. Got 1,000 rounds and free shipping. But they have been out of it mostly since then.
9 fingers

 

[Mitlov]

There is no reason to buy .380. Ther was a classified here just a few days ago where one of our own is selling range brass and he is getting .380 brass 1 bucket out every four.

If I didntn have a few thousand already reloaded I would have bought some more...his prices were that cheep.

Reloading is great if it works for you, but it doesn't work for everybody. I'm short on time (I work long hours), and I have two young kids in the house (I can secure my firearms, but securing an entire reloading operation is a bit trickier). I've had this same conversation with shooters at the trap/skeet range I go to. Personally, I pay a bit more for factory ammo and make lots of friends at the range when I give away the spent hulls

 

[RussB]

My local Walmart has Winchester 100 rd packs for $38.97

 

[torqem]

Monarck (Serbian) 9mm ball for sub 25c a shot, by the 50 rd box at Sports Academy. 380 ball is the way to go, since the jhp's don't expand and if they did, they wouldn't penetrate well enough. 30c a shot oughta buy plenty of it, if you look around a bit. If it won't, look on Ebay and craigslist for $40 worth of used Lee loading press, dies, powder dipper and scale. Sell whatever dies you don't need and get some in 380. Used dies in 380 are pretty hard to find. Lee dies work just fine, and since they toss in a shellholder, run about half as much as RCBS, Dillon, or Lyman dies.

 

[welshdude]

When first purchasing pistols for our CCWs my wife picked an Intratec Protec 25 and I picked a KT P11. As total neophytes we got lucky w/t P11. Not so much w/t .25. Problems from the jump and ammo is much more expensive than target quality 9mm.

So, when looking for a CCW replacement for her we started looking at micro 380s. The Kahr CW380 is the same dimentions as the IT .25. 5x3.5x.75. Actually, to be specific the Kahr is 4.96" in length. P3AT, Ruger LCP, IO Hellcat, Micro Desert Eagle, NAA Guardian, M.A. Protector 2, Taurus TCP, ect. were all considered. Until I priced the ammo. Dealbreaker.

Our P11 is 5.56x4.0x.96. A Kahr CM9 is 5.42x3.9x0.88. Both in 9mm. They weigh a few ounces more. They're more difficult to conceal for sure. The Kahr has 4 less rounds than the P11 and is about 200.00 more. Our P11 has been flawless for over 400 rounds w/2 cleanings and 1 fluff and buff.

My point is this: Why would anyone, other than obviously superior concealment get a 380 instead of a micro 9mm? There aren't any double-stack .380s that I'm aware of and anyone would agree 9mm is a much more effective SD round. With respect to the fact that round placement is more important than dimentions one has more latitude w/a 9, yes?

So, we're now on the hunt for a well priced, used P11. Like the one we've got. Saw one on Armslist for 230.00 and missed it by one phone call. There's a feature article in Concealed Carry magazine extolling the virtues of the lowly P11 as well. P11s are like those old Raleigh 3 speed bicycles. They're not pretty, but will get one from point A to B w/a minimum of fussiness. Better late than never, but I've come to the realization that a few extra ounces and a 9lb DAO trigger pull w/9mm JHPs lends to a confident CCP holder.