Spanish .380 ACP 95-gr. JSP...

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. A good while back I got some Spanish-made, non-corrosive JSP's. I fired some in a CZ-83 and the stuff seemed "hot," but none was checked out for speed or expansion.

From a Bersa w/3.5" bbl, ten-shots resulted in the following figures:

Empresa Nacional
Santa Barbara 95-gr. JSP: Ave. Vel = 1029 (ES: 50, SD: 20)

From the slightly-longer SIG-Sauer P230 w/3.62" bbl:

Empresa Nacional Santa
Barbara JSP: Ave. Vel = 1079 (ES: 78, SD: 34)

I shot this ammo into water and into wet pack (super-saturated newsprint) and could not recover any bullets as they penetrated too much; I don't think they expanded a tall.

This stuff feels "hotter." It's in the +P velocity range, but there's no +P or high-pressure warnings on the ammo at all.

I don't think I'd shoot much of this in aluminum-frame pistols. I think it'd be fine for folks having Makarovs chambered in .380 rather than 9x18mm Mak.

Best.

 

[Ivy Mike]

For those of you wishing to fire hotter ammo out of your .380 chambered Maks. Might I recomend an upgrade to a stronger recoil spring. I found an extra powe spring to be a worthwhile addition to mine. Hotter loads seem to beat the gun up a little more than I'd like, and the stiffer spring will really help with reliability and excessive recoil.

Just my opinion.
Mike

 

[horge]

Good sir,

I'd be surprised if Empresa Nacional subscribes to SAAMI, so it's quite likely they exceeded the latter's standard pressure safety limits, crossing over into a so-called "+P" or "+P+"

Thanks for the data.

 

[Tropical Z]

I wish i knew the stats on their 124 gr SP 9mm.I bet that shoots pretty nice.

 

[Byron]

Mr. Camp, Is there any sources for the Spanish ammunition at the present or is there another brand of ammunition availble that gives the ballistics you quoted. I feel the caliber is better in penetration than expansion. my 380 is a Browning BDA. Thanks, Byron

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. I'm not really sure, but will check around. A friend told me he'd found some "cheap .380" and he bought the stuff with me paying for mine later so I'm not really sure where he got it or if it's still available. I'll check and report back.

Best.

 

[Baron Holbach4]

Mr. Camp, the hot Spanish .380 ammo should pose
no problem with the all-steel CZ83; at least,
this is how I interpret your comments about
.380s with aluminum frames should
only see limited firing with the hotter ammo.

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. That's what I'm assuming. I'll shoot the bulk of it in a CZ83 unless it appears to be causing undue wear.

Best.

 

[Tropical Z]

The site below is selling this Spanish stuff right now in 9x19 and .380

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=119938

 

[kokapelli]

I would like to ask the same questions about some Dynamit Nobel 380 JHP ammo I purchased. It was supposed to be German military surplus ammo and is packed in 250 round water proof khaki battle packs. It feels very hot out of my Bersa and my Kel-Tec P-3AT. Does anyone have any info on this ammo?