Buffalo Bore +P for P380??

[TominCA]

I have a P380 that had to "go back" but now is reliabe with Black Hills 100 g FMJ and Magtech +P hollow point. I've tried about 7 or 8 types of ammo and what I come back with is the gun likes stuff that recoils HARD! No wonder with those heavy recoil springs!

So what's the most powerful, most recoil, most nasty 380 ACP ammo? Probably Buffalo Bore. Has anyone used it? I'm thinking of getting a couple of boxes and giving it a try.

Since we are writing about ammo - here is what my p380 handles well.

Black Hills 100 fmj (had to modify slide stop a little)
Mag Tech Golden something or other 95 g HP (its the lead / copper bullet - not the all copper bullet but I forget the exact name.

Remington UMC - 95 g FMJ - need to pay close attention to grip wih these and gun must be clean (50 rounds or less)

Federal Red box 95 fmj - Must have perfect "grip o death" or stovepipes result - but it functions well if you do your part on the grip.

From reading this forum I think there is a lot of difference in ammo preference for the p380 - but the above 4 are are what functions in mine. While I wish it would shoot evrything, the mix of 2 good defense ammo and 2 cheaper fmj range stuff is good enough to keep me happy -

Would like to hear about BB +p if anyone has some experience!

Tom in CA

[Ivan]

I've been trying the BB 100 gr. hardcast lately in my P380. Check the write-up they have on their web site about it - very interesting. It does have a bit more recoil than some other SD rounds (Winchester Elite & Ranger, Gold Dot, CD), but it is not unpleasant to shoot. It is very accurate and hard-hitting (knocked the target off the backstop). I carry a Winchester HP backed up by 6 of the BB hardcast and feel this combo is as adequate as one can get for the .380.

[TominCA]

I tried the Buffalo Bore +P and it did not work very well - I suspect a combination of bullet profile and slide velocity. You sure could tell it was more powerful though!

I'm sticking with Black Hills 100 and Remington 95 fmj as my two best loads.

[Internet Blohard]

I tried the Buffalo Bore +P and it did not work very well - !



I am considering the BB +P......so what "didn't work very well"....exactly? What happened? If you would....thanks.

[jocko]

tht is a really hot round and it is very easy to limp that P380 with the BB in it. Ihave readthis more thanonce. Kahr says u ca shoot the BB ammo but they have stated to go lightly with it. Maye just me but if you need that much more power, get a 9mm. The P380 is a handful with the BB rounds. My P380 just didn't do well with 102 grain golden sqabre rounds as I got alot of premature slide lock with it. The bullet in my gun anyways waqs just to big for such a laittle space. I just moved on to another defense round . It was no big deal with me. Could e that 100 grainb round might just be a tad big in ur P380. This is just a SWAG on my part.

[TominCA]

HI IB - First, lots of recoil!! Next premature slide lockback AND failure to lock back on the last round. Also some failure to feed. (4 out of 40 rounds) It was just too powerful! I suspect it could be bullet profile also. I would estimate I had 5 lockback problems out of 40 rounds. With the 4 Fail to Feed thats 9 failures out of 40. I shot this stuff first, before the gun got dirty. At the end of the day (about 100 rounds later) it was still shooting 100 G black hills and Rem UMC 95 G FMJ perfectly.

I thought of going to BB standard power because I really like their ammo; But I have to consider that the stuff is about $1.20 a shot and I can get the "works real good" Black Hills, which is probably just as good, for about $25 a box of 50 delivered from Northern Rifleman and about $30 a box elswhere. Thats 50 to 60 cents a shot so I decided to stop fooling around with the BB. These little P380's are just real finnickey - Actually, over the years I've noticed that many 380's are fussy about ammo, while most 9mm's are reliable with everything. I don't know what it is about the 380?? I only had one, and old WWII CZ, that would shoot everything.

I agree with Jocko - It's pretty stiff for the little P380 and if you want more power get a 9.

[Garland]

I have been using the Buffalo Bore +P 100 gr. hardcast as my carry rounds for about six months. I have not had any issues or problems, but I have only fired 35 or 40 rounds because it is so expensive and also not as enjoyable to shoot as other ammo.