Which factory .380 ammo for future use of brass?

[Wayne02]

I recently received an LCP and am in the process of gathering the dies and bullets needed to reload this caliber (have the powder and primers on hand).

In the mean time I wanted to purchase some factory ammo so I could shoot the gun and use the brass for future reloading.

I purchased 5 boxes of fiocchi .380 on a whim when they became available about the time I started my search. Knowing what short supply .380 has been I jumped on them when they came available without doing any research.

I find out that they have a cannelure. I have never been to fond of cannelures and was wondering if most .380 factory ammo uses them?

If not, can you recommend a few other factory options that I can keep an eye out for that don't have a cannelure as I'm considering buying a few more boxes of factory ammo?

Thanks

 

[zxcvbob]

Whatever you can find, except for "A-Merc" brand (I'm not sure they make .380) or steel-cased. If your .380 is anything like mine, it throws the brass so far you will lose it before you wear it out.

 

[Walkalong]

Whatever you can find, except for "A-Merc" brand

Agreed.

 

[rcmodel]

I am reloading S&B, Federal HS & American Eagle right now.

No problems with any of it.

Nothing wrong with the case cannulure either.

It will iron out and go away after a few load cycles.
But like zxcvbob said, I usually lose mine before I find out for sure.

rc

 

[RandyP]

with brass availabilty in .380 being so crappy this days, the easier way to get some brass at all may well be to buy factory ammo - when you can even find THAT.

For reloading anything but steel case to be sure.

 

[ambidextrous1]

When the issue of cannelured .380 brass arose, I looked at my .380 brass ( a whole bunch of it) and sorted some of it according to the presence or absence of cannelure. Less than 1% of my brass has the cannelure.

If you're concerned about what you're buying, ask the sales clerk to show you a round from the box you're considering.

 

[jfh]

While I have had what .380 brass I need on hand for years, I can't help but wonder if just buying some outright from (for example) Starline wouldn't be cheaper than buying .380 generic stuff at higher prices. Has anybody scoped this out and figured the cost?

Jim H.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

back when it was available magtech ammo was fairly cheap and the brass good.

 

[RidgwayCO]

I last bought factory .380 Auto in May of 2008 at $219 delivered for 1000 Federal 95gr FMJ from ammoman.com. At the time I was actually looking for reloadable brass, and the price (including a FMJ bullet) was not outrageous, so I got it. Good luck finding anything close to that price nowadays (in fact ammoman isn't even listing .380 Auto anymore).

I just priced out components for .380 Auto, and the best prices I could find that would be usable to me were:

7.6¢ - per bullet (Montana Gold 115gr JHP at 4000 for $302)
1.0¢ - powder (multiple powders)
3.0¢ - primer (multiple small pistol primers)
2.3¢ - brass (Starline at $114 per 1000, used 5 times)
------
13.9¢ per round = $6.95 for a box of 50

And why does the Montana Gold .355" 95gr JHP cost more than their .355" 115gr JHP? (I know, for the same reason that Starline .380 Auto brass costs more than their 9mm Luger brass...)

 

[Roccobro]

Just buy some used brass from one of THR's great sellers? $55 for 1k pieces.

Then throw in some nice Missouri Bullets at $24/500 and your in for some nice accurate plinking ammo.

$4.45 per 50 from the first box on. Woohooo!

Justin

 

[CZ223]

If Someone is selling Brass for $55 I want some

I have used most brands of 380 and the Fiocchi is the only one I have found with the cannelure. It should not be a problem if you keep your bullet weight under a hundred grains depending on bullet profile. I have loaded that brass with both the Hornady 90 gr. XTP and berry's 100 grain RNFB. By the way, I shoot it my two LCP's and it works great. Magtech, Winchester, Remington, Federal and, even Aguila all work well for me.

Another brand to stay away from is Herters. This stuff is showing up at Cabellas. The Brass looks great but it has a berdan primer.

 

[Roccobro]

If Someone is selling Brass for $55 I want some

Go to the FS section then. lol Any one of the high volume sellers has them. No need to list them most of the time as there is a nice demand from buyers of other calibers.

Justin

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Almost any "name brand" manufacturer's ammo will have good brass suitable for reloading. With the way supplies are right now it's not like you have a wide choice to choose from anyway. I would buy whatever is available or find the best price. As for the cannelure present on some brass, I wouldn't worry much about it since it will "iron itself out" after a few firings so it's really not an issue.

 

[RandyP]

Starline new brass is great, but their leadtimes at present are pretty severe. Still waiting on my mid-November order for another batch of .380 myself.

 

[Roccobro]

I only recover 40% of my .380 brass. I'd never leave the range if it was once fired Starline!

Justin

 

[jepp2]

I ordered 2K of Starline 380 brass in late December, and it was delivered last week....