The Elusive .380

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DAdams

DAdams

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Although I have a few boxes on hand manufactured by various vendors I thought just for the heck of it I would see if the elusive .380 was still elusive.
I really only want Speer Gold Dot, as I know it will run in my BERSA (eats anything) and Seecamp LWS.

Both these irons need some exercise.

Midway says it has some coming in around September 7th so I ordered two boxes just to float a trial balloon. Price was ok.

Hornady and CORBON were out there in October or November.
I think GS maybe was available, but I have plenty of the 102 gr already.

We shall see.
 
Yeah, I'm having trouble finding the stuff myself, especially at Cabelas (I know, I know -- not the best place, but for FMJ for practice, they have the best price I've found so far for PMC Bronze).
 
If you want I can keep an eye out as I make my checks around (have had some luck getting Prvi Partizan at reasonable prices). Let me know as it's not a usual purchase for me.

Thx!
 
If you want to feed the "Hoard Machine" you can find it on Gunbroker. I personally do not need it bad enough to make the hoarders feel like they have done the right thing.

I was in Cabelas about 3 months ago and watched a guy buy every box of .32 and .380 they had. When he was asked about shooting he replied that he did not even own a gun chambered in either of these. He was doing it to make some quick cash.
 
I ran into a 50-round box of Remington FMJ target ammo about three weeks ago at a WallyWorld in the eastern part of the state; it was the first .380 of any stripe that I've seen anywhere on anyone's shelf since last December and a hell of good surprise. Sadly, I've seen none since, though I always ask.
 
odd how all the 380ACP went away....for some reason a few years back I bought 1000rds of it....at the time I was "why" now I know
 
I asked my FFL the other day if there would ever be .380 on the shelf again. He said that actually he was supposed to be getting in 6 boxes of some kind of SD .380. I said, "what about the plinking stuff?" He said you're guess is as good as mine. It's really strange. He's reasonable on his prices and his shelves are fully stocked except this glaring hole where .380 used to live.
 
380acp

Three years ago I could find it at most of my 3 local gun shops. Ball and JHP. I don't recall the WalMarts in my area of FL ever stocking it.

At that time the only thing I couldn't readily find was the COR BON DPX.

Midway says they will have it (SGD) and are "accepting orders" albeit backorder.
At 18.49 plus about 4.50 per box shipping I will take it. Shoot 14 keep 26 back.
 
WLJ thanks for the heads up on the Privi. Has anyone run this?

I wouldn't have any trouble using it in the BT, which will ingest and spit out about anything. I have a couple of boxes of ball. What I am seeking specifically is the SGD, for the Seecamp, which is a bit persnickity and runs it the best mechanically and accuracy wise.
 
DAdams said:
WLJ thanks for the heads up on the Privi. Has anyone run this?

I wouldn't have any trouble using it in the BT, which will ingest and spit out about anything. I have a couple of boxes of ball. What I am seeking specifically is the SGD, for the Seecamp, which is a bit persnickity and runs it the best mechanically and accuracy wise.
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My Bersa eats it with no complaints. It's a bit on the dirty side, but it works.
 
I was in Cabelas about 3 months ago and watched a guy buy every box of .32 and .380 they had. When he was asked about shooting he replied that he did not even own a gun chambered in either of these. He was doing it to make some quick cash.
Click to expand...

That's no different than ticket scalping, IMO, and should be just as illegal.
 
Why has there been such a huge demand for .380? I understand that there are scads of pocket guns (LCP, P3AT etc.) out there but those seemingly don't get a lot of firing range usage and .380 isn't exactly in heavy demand by the military.
 
.380 isn't exactly in heavy demand by the military
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No, but 9mm is, and I have been told that it is made on the same machinery, or so I have been told. Can anyone confirm this?
 
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I was in Prescott AZ on vacation a few months ago, stopped in a local gun shop to look around. I said to the guy behind the counter, "I suppose you're out of .380 like everyone else". He reached up on a shelf behind the counter and brought out a box of 50 handloads, with Hornady hollowpoints. Bought them for $40. So, if you get tired of checking the big box stores, you might have better luck in the small privately owned gun shops.
 
If anyone is around the central Kentucky area, Bud's in Lexington had quite a few boxes on the shelf for around $25 a piece not too long ago.
 
380

<< No, but 9mm is, and I have been told that it is made on the machinery, or so I have been told. Can anyone confirm this? >>

Met the Federal rep the other day. He confirmed this, said the 380 is put up on the same line as the 9 mm and in the current situation they don't dare stop the 9 mm production long enough to set up for 380. He figures that between one thing and another it will be about two years before the shortage eases up.
 
Thanks for confirming that.
note: reading your reply I realized I left out the word "same" before machinery.
2nd note: I messed up that whole sentence, but you know what I mean.
 
He reached up on a shelf behind the counter and brought out a box of 50 handloads, with Hornady hollowpoints. Bought them for $40.
Click to expand...
There is no way I would buy and shoot someone else's handloads, especially at that price.

I did just the other night order four boxes of the Prvi Partizan .380 from Midway. I received notification that it is in the mail as of this morning.
 
I am getting it locally for about $14/box for common Rem FMJ. It comes around about once a month and inventory lasts a couple days at my local Pacific Northwest chain-variety store (Bi-Mart). It is still somewhat scarce but not impossible. Most other calibers are more readily available. We are starting to get out of the woods here with the ammo shortage.

Today I found: .38, .357, .40, .45 and lots of .223. 9mm comes around pretty often. Like last week.

.22, .32 and .380 less so.
 
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