+P+ rated .380

[tdyoung58]

Bought some +P+ .380 and can't use it in my Sig P238

anybody know of a +P+ rated .380, would hate to try to sell this stuff

[Valorius]

Who is selling +P+ .380, and why can't you use it in your Sig?

A Sig P238 can certainly handle .380+P (Which is made by a few different companies) as a defensive load, you just would not want to shoot the stuff all the time at the range, as it will accelerate wear.

The hottest .380+P ammo on the market that i am aware of is made by Buffalo Bore. I use their ammo in my LCP.

[coble]

How do you find out if your gun can eat +p or +p+ ammo?

[jtk215]

I don't have any nor have I run any through my p238. But, I would. Why not function test a few mags to make sure they feed, which prob won't ultimately hurt the pistol, then only use it for carry? If you ever have to use the pistol to save your life, you won't be thinking about its service life.
Which +p+ 380 ammo do you have?

[Valorius]

How do you find out if your gun can eat +p or +p+ ammo?

Well there is certainly no such thing as +P+ .380 ammo, that i have ever seen. There is not even a SAAMI spec for +P in that caliber. The only 2 companies i know of that market a "+P" load in .380 are Buffalo Bore, and Magtech, with the Buffalo Bore being MUCH hotter, having energy levels that are identical to many top end .38+P loads, and velocities one would more expect from a short barreled +P 9mm load.

Just try whatever it is you want to test and see if it functions ok. As long as it does, and you don't shoot a lot of it, the pistol will handle it just fine.

[renalp]

Well there is certainly no such thing as +P+ .380 ammo, that i have ever seen. There is not even a SAAMI spec for +P in that caliber.

Yup. In the absence of an actual SAAMI spec, +P and +P+ are marketing terms that have no defined meaning (kind of like "industrial strength," "professional quality," or "XXX rated").

Gun manufacturers aren't going to certify their products for an unofficial pressure spec, so you pretty much have to rely on the ammo manufacturer's word and reputation.

To the OP, who made the ammo in question?

[renalp]

How do you find out if your gun can eat +p or +p+ ammo?

Ask. What gun and caliber is it?

[*Klutch*]

Why would you get one of the smaller guns marketed today and try to feed it +P+ or even +P? If you want something with more power get a 9mm or a 40S&W. They're made by Kahr, KelTec,Taurus,Sig and they are small so they will fit in a pocket too, ammo would be easier to get and a +P/+P+ 380 is pretty even with 9mm/9+P and it would be a larger gun that would be easier to hold on to when fired and carry more rounds in it. I'm just not seeing the logic to this, I carry a pocket 380 also but I don't feed it +P ammo cause it's a summer gun and 9ozs. I carry something larger in 9mm if I need more power.

[Valorius]

Why would you get one of the smaller guns marketed today and try to feed it +P+ or even +P? If you want something with more power get a 9mm or a 40S&W. They're made by Kahr, KelTec,Taurus,Sig and they are small so they will fit in a pocket too, ammo would be easier to get and a +P/+P+ 380 is pretty even with 9mm/9+P and it would be a larger gun that would be easier to hold on to when fired and carry more rounds in it. I'm just not seeing the logic to this, I carry a pocket 380 also but I don't feed it +P ammo cause it's a summer gun and 9ozs. I carry something larger in 9mm if I need more power.

Because a .380 firing +P ammo is considerably smaller and much lighter than even the smallest 9mm's (with the exception of the $1200 Rorbaugh R9). With Buffalo Bore solid copper .380+P hollowpoints a gun like a Ruger LCP is a flatter, lighter, smaller, yet equally powerful J frame .38+P that holds more bullets, and one that still recoils less than an air weight J frame firing hot .38+P rounds.

Simple answer.

Why wouldn't someone want that?

[zackattack784]

The only .380 +P+ I could find is this:
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm...&prodID=MB380M