Is ball ammo light loaded?

[bg226]

I was picking up some .380 ball and was told from the gunshop that ball ammunition is light loaded compared to JHP loadings. I use ball in .380 for protection and I am concerned. Is ball ammo truly light loaded or is this a gunshop myth?

 

[1SOW]

I can't speak for .380, but in 9mm 115gr Win White Box, Value Pak, Rem 250 Paks, etc. are fairly light--"Range Ammo". When you go up to a heavier bullet, say 124gr in 9mm, or hollow points they are faster, but that varies a lot with the cartridge company.

 

[average_shooter]

It may be that the hollow points just need more velocity in order to ensure expansion, so they tend to get loaded a little hotter than FMJ counterparts. Since FMJ doesn't expand pushing it fast enough to do so is unnecessary.

Also, just because your FMJ might be loaded lighter than HP it doesn't make it any less lethal really. Don't think the FMJ is is just going to bounce off what or who ever you shoot with it.

 

[MICHAEL T]

380 ball from KelTec in the mid 800's from a KelTec 16 to 17 inches in Jell 380 ball has been known to shoot clean thru people



http://goldenloki.com/ammo/gel/380acp/gel380acp.htm

 

[JTQ]

It depends on the manufacturer.

Most of my experience is with .45 ACP. In .45 ACP you can find some ball ammo hotter than standard pressure .45 ACP HP rounds (at least advertised as so). However, I haven't seen any +P ball ammo, while you can get plenty of HP rounds rated at +P.

 

[huntsman]

I was picking up some .380 ball and was told from the gunshop that ball ammunition is light loaded compared to JHP loadings. I use ball in .380 for protection and I am concerned. Is ball ammo truly light loaded or is this a gunshop myth?

Was the ball ammo the cheap plinking stuff? I don't have a chrono but I do believe the cheap promo .380acp is weaker than the BB (ball) and Corbon (hp) I shoot.

For me the challenge is to find a .380 cartridge that is better than the promo stuff but cheaper than the high end SD stuff, so far I'm lucky if I find any .380 but none of what I really want.

 

[bg226]

Was the ball ammo the cheap plinking stuff?

WWB .380 Ball.