Piraticalbob
Member
In a practical sense, if Ruger were to recommend a particular brand/cartridge as best, you'd feel cheated or less than safe when the inevitable happened and the ammo was discontinued. 
Ruger's response to my question
- Thread starter tawcat
- Start date
- Status
Technosavant
Member
Charter Arms has one. I've seen it with my own eyes.
P90shooter
Member
Hey Taw just remember all gun are different. What you have been hearing about certain ammo through the LCP having FTF's or FTE's through some ones gun doesnt mean that it will be that way for you. The best way to find out is just to go out to the local gun store and pick up several boxes of ammo and rank them.
Now expect to spend some money to do this but you should be comfortable with what you plan to CCW or even Home protection. 3000+ rounds sounds like a fun break in period to me
Now expect to spend some money to do this but you should be comfortable with what you plan to CCW or even Home protection. 3000+ rounds sounds like a fun break in period to me
nwilliams
Member
Sorry I don't see anything wrong with Ruger's response to your question either. I think asking a gun manufacturer what brand of ammo to use for self defense is not going to get a straight answer response. I don't think a company is going to endorse a brand unless it benefits them to do so. There are I suppose legal implications as well to consider but in the end I think it just comes down to simple company policy and practice.
If you want suggestions on what type of ammo to use for SD then you are better posting a question on a gun forum such as this one
If you want suggestions on what type of ammo to use for SD then you are better posting a question on a gun forum such as this one
Frankly, I don't think Ruger is wanting to spend the money on an empirical test of all available ammo fired through the dozens of guns necessary to pick just which one is "The One." Especially when an ammo maker will just come out in another year and make a better one.
The situation is made more difficult by what parameter rates higher, like velocity vs footpounds of force, at what effective range, penetration vs expansion, etc. Ruger makes them to fire the general envelope of .380 as an overall application. Even the magazine article testers use the caveat that "that's what we choose for this pistol today." It really is like nailing jelly to the wall. You can do it, but it may not be there tomorrow.
Add to that, there is really a very small percentage difference in whatever available factor between the closest competitors in a class. And .380 has no +P, it's out of the performance window for a short gripped pocket auto.
As for internet posts, we lose 85% of the message because you can't see our friendly face, watch our gestures, or hear the way we pronounce and say words ("which is reel gud fer sum of us," the writer said, rubbing his palm on a three day old, tobacco-stained stubble.)
Please don't read in too much in our short responses - very few have the time to compose a nice return letter sneaking a look at work and all . . .
The situation is made more difficult by what parameter rates higher, like velocity vs footpounds of force, at what effective range, penetration vs expansion, etc. Ruger makes them to fire the general envelope of .380 as an overall application. Even the magazine article testers use the caveat that "that's what we choose for this pistol today." It really is like nailing jelly to the wall. You can do it, but it may not be there tomorrow.
Add to that, there is really a very small percentage difference in whatever available factor between the closest competitors in a class. And .380 has no +P, it's out of the performance window for a short gripped pocket auto.
As for internet posts, we lose 85% of the message because you can't see our friendly face, watch our gestures, or hear the way we pronounce and say words ("which is reel gud fer sum of us," the writer said, rubbing his palm on a three day old, tobacco-stained stubble.)
Please don't read in too much in our short responses - very few have the time to compose a nice return letter sneaking a look at work and all . . .
loosecannon
Member
I look forward to reading your comments.
I own and enjoy shooting .380's, but I definitely think that this round is a bit light for defense, mainly because its velocity level hinders hp performance. There may be no difference--performance wise--between bullet types in the 380, especially with a short barrel. My vote is for premium ammo that feeds best, and this may be a fmj rd.
loosecannon
I own and enjoy shooting .380's, but I definitely think that this round is a bit light for defense, mainly because its velocity level hinders hp performance. There may be no difference--performance wise--between bullet types in the 380, especially with a short barrel. My vote is for premium ammo that feeds best, and this may be a fmj rd.
loosecannon
tawcat
Member
Loosecannon: I have decided to buy a box of Buffalo Bore 95 gr FMJ-FN. I'll shoot these through and if it's 100% problem free, I'll choose this as my SD ammo. HP's scare me a bit. Being that the .380 is not the most powerful round, I want something that is going to drop a BG. And sorry, I have never had the philosophy of "shoot to wound." So whatever I carry needs to pack the punch to drop the BG.
JR47
Member
No manufacturer will test every type of ammunition available for their various guns. That's pretty silly to expect. You wouldn't want to absorb the cost of such testing into the price of each gun. It would have to be done annually, as new loads became available, or old loads were modified.
As you probably saw in the testing, not all JHP loads fail to expand, and not all FMJ loads penetrate through-and-through.
Look locally, and see what's available. Try them out first, before seeking out the "super-loads". As pointed out, you need reliability, then accuracy, and you'll need to use a load that you can shoot quickly, without too much muzzle flip and other distractions.
As you probably saw in the testing, not all JHP loads fail to expand, and not all FMJ loads penetrate through-and-through.
Look locally, and see what's available. Try them out first, before seeking out the "super-loads". As pointed out, you need reliability, then accuracy, and you'll need to use a load that you can shoot quickly, without too much muzzle flip and other distractions.
- Status
