Picked up an AMT .380, evidently wont feed anything but FMJ ball ammo. It came with a couple of boxes of S&B 92gr FMJ. Is there anything special about S&B FMJ, or is it just more ball ammo? For what ever reason, it seems a bit more expensive than the others. Is this just marketing, or is it better ammo for some reason not obvious?
S&B .380
- Thread starter briankk
- Start date
- Status
Snowdog
Member
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2002
- Messages
- 4,608
I might feed Powerball and Glaser Safety Slugs as they share the same profile as FMJ. Maybe even Hornady Critical Defense, who knows. However I wouldn't necessarily feel under-gunned using FMJ, especially if I was proficient with the firearm.
Many say S&B and some other European corporations load the 9x17 to original specifications (some say due to less fear of litigation) which are somewhat hotter than American-manufactured FMJ .380acp. I believe Geco and RWS are typically lumped into the slightly hotter-than-American ammunition by most whereas other foreign ammunition such as PPU is not.
As for S&B, it is very good stuff. I've never had a complaint using it and I've used it off and on for at least 25 years.
Many say S&B and some other European corporations load the 9x17 to original specifications (some say due to less fear of litigation) which are somewhat hotter than American-manufactured FMJ .380acp. I believe Geco and RWS are typically lumped into the slightly hotter-than-American ammunition by most whereas other foreign ammunition such as PPU is not.
As for S&B, it is very good stuff. I've never had a complaint using it and I've used it off and on for at least 25 years.
Thanks for the answers, guys.
I got the gun from a fellow who carried and shot it for something like seven years, said it had never misfired once in that time.. Probably used S&B,
is why he sent a couple of boxes along with it.
Now I need to find some S&B for my .30 Tok...
I got the gun from a fellow who carried and shot it for something like seven years, said it had never misfired once in that time.. Probably used S&B,
is why he sent a couple of boxes along with it.
Now I need to find some S&B for my .30 Tok...
Rick in Iowa
Member
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2018
- Messages
- 69
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/6...-tokarev-85-grain-full-metal-jacket-box-of-50
Free shipping on orders over $99 at the moment.
Free shipping on orders over $99 at the moment.
edwardware
Member
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2010
- Messages
- 4,426
For what it's worth, I found that I could not load, or find a commercial alternative, to match the S&B .380 velocity. In an under- or marginally-powered caliber penetration is king, so I used it as carry ammo.
CapnMac
Member
The S&B FMJ is very uniform stuff. I've always found it very well priced, usually close or less-than WWB
The S&B JHP. is, IMO, workmanlike, but not particularly spectacular. But, that may reflect how US ammo makers approach the market, too--with constant experimentation and research (or, at least, marketing).
The S&B JHP. is, IMO, workmanlike, but not particularly spectacular. But, that may reflect how US ammo makers approach the market, too--with constant experimentation and research (or, at least, marketing).
Good idea, but I live in CA, where I evidently need to be an FFL to buy ammo. No biggie, justs wanted enough S&B 7.62x25 to shoot across an chrono, to show me how much PP to load behind my XTPs..
Umm.. no .380s...
I am not clear here. Are you saying that you have no interest in 380's or that you weren't able to find 380 ARX?
The first, no interest, is common and I am not going to argue the point.
If you are saying that you cannot find ARX in 380, it does exist, I have a box of in in my desk right now. My main reason for mentioning it in a S&B thread is simply that it may feed well, having a FMJ profile, and you might find it a more suitable self defense load than FMJ.
I also have several boxes of ARX bullets to use in loading practice ammo (I like to carry factory ammo, yet it can be expensive for practice; so I make my practice loads as close to my carry ammo as possible, including the same bullets.). By the way, the ARX bullets seem to be a bit harder to reload, they seen to have less give than other FMJ and JHPs.
Last edited:
Went to the ARX site, didn't find .380 listed out front.. Am able to control interest in .380, maybe especially AMT, doubt I'll be buying a lot of ammo for it.
Can't even imagine re-loading for it. Not just for the AMT, reloading .380 seems, ah, a bit tedious. Do yo you use regular size reloading gear?
I see now 9mm pistols about the size of the AMT, looks like more swat in similar size gun, perhaps .380 is obsolete?
Can't even imagine re-loading for it. Not just for the AMT, reloading .380 seems, ah, a bit tedious. Do yo you use regular size reloading gear?
I see now 9mm pistols about the size of the AMT, looks like more swat in similar size gun, perhaps .380 is obsolete?
Reloading 380 is just like anything else. I use a Lee Classic Turret press, a very popular model for many different calibers.
Sorry, didn't mean for that to come off as smart-ass as it sounds this morning.. Just have spent years loading larger components,
Probably not going to reload for 9mm Kurtz, don't think I'm going to keep the gun. Open for offers on .380 AMT,.. Trades?
Probably not going to reload for 9mm Kurtz, don't think I'm going to keep the gun. Open for offers on .380 AMT,.. Trades?
bassjam
Member
I had no idea S&B was so highly regarded. Or that it was loaded hot.
I bought 2k rounds of S&B .380 back when .380 ammo was super hard to find and I’ve put most of that through my LCP already. Maybe the higher velocity is why my LCP feels loose now.
I bought 2k rounds of S&B .380 back when .380 ammo was super hard to find and I’ve put most of that through my LCP already. Maybe the higher velocity is why my LCP feels loose now.
lonniemike
Member
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2004
- Messages
- 206
Not hot, not slow, S&B's 92grn @ 955fps is right about normal from what I can tell. Are there any Euro or USA makers that are way faster or slower? None that I know of!!! Actually BuffaloBore and Underwood come to mind. But their's come as+P rated 380 ammo. I just recieved some componets myself(a box of 100ARX), so tell me Hasaf what do you mean that they have less give. I made up dummies last night for fit n' function and saw no problems. Briank, loaded ammo is available. I have turned my 2 pound blow back380 OMC(AMT came from OMC) in for a 10 ounce micro380 with locked breech. I'm still waiting for a 9mm light in the pocket, the size of something like the TCP, LCP, or other in small and light. BestAll
That's great. I have just found that if the brass is at all questionable then I wont load ARX into it. While the brass may still work for FMJ or normal Hollow points it may not work with ARX. I have also found that the ARX just feels different going through the process.
If it's working well for you, that is great.
- Status
