Kahr P380 -- choices in range/defensive ammo??

[ccw9mm]

If you own a Kahr P380 and regularly shoot it, what ammo do you use for the range and SD/carry?

I would like to know the brand/model of ammunition you use, and what your experience has bee with respect to reliability.


My P380 has seen:

• Remington UMC Handgun Ammo (#L380AP) FMJ .380ACP (green box), 95gr., 955 fps, 190 ft-lbs
• Federal American Eagle (#AE380AP) FMJ .380ACP, 95gr, 980fps, 203 ft-lbs
• MagTech First Defense (#FD380A) SCHP (copper HP) .380ACP, 77gr, 1099 fps, 207 ft-lbs

I am looking for additional ammunition, but I would prefer to focus on those choices that others have seen work reliably well. Am still in the break-in period and searching for the right ammo for the gun. It seems relatively finicky, so far disliking the UMC ammo with many FTE's, but loving the MagTec FD HP's.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[tokerblue]

I posted this in another thread, but it may help someone else here. I have only tried a few brands.

Prvi Partizan - Worked flawlessly.
Winchester White Box FMJ, 95gr - Worked flawlessly.
Corbon JHP - 4 FTF's in 20 rounds.
Speer Gold Dot - Worked flawlessly.

The Winchester and Speer are easier to find in CT than other ammunition brands for .380ACP.

[DIABLO9489]

Range ammo:
Winchester White Box FMJ- No malfuncitons
Blazer TMJ- No malfunctions
Carry ammo:
Speer Gold Dot- No malfunctions

[gottabkiddin]

I use the Speer lawman FMJ for the range and the Speer Gold Dots for carry in both my LCP and my DB380.

I had some CorBon +p 90gr JHPs that I'm carrying in my DB380, not sure of the numbers, but I think it's about 1050fps and 200fpe. I tried the Hornady XTP in my DB380 and it's a no go, FTF problems big time, but they ran fine in my LCP. Normally I'd be concerned about the FTF problem with my DB, but it seems to like the ball and larger cone shape of the CorBon and Gold Dots just fine.

It's warming up a little in GA, so I'm going back to loading my .380s with four FMJs and topping the mag off and chambered round with Gold Dots for my LCP; and straight CorBon +p JHPs in my DB380.

I don't own the Kahr P380; sorry ccw9mm, I misread the post as it pertains to the P380.

[Stevew]

I don't have a Kahr P380. What I do will go against what the majority of folks that know what they are doing do. I carry what I shoot. I don't use one round for the range and one round for carry.

I think I am better off knowing how a given bullet will feed than how it will perform when it hits in a SD situation. Reliabilty is more important to me than performance.

If all I could afford to practice with was WWB or UMC, then that would be what I carried, if it was reliable in my gun. I feel more confident having an inferior bullet that I know will go bang than have a top performing bullet that I am not 100% sure how it will perform in my gun.

I don't doubt that there some bullets out there that perform better under some circumstances than the bullets that I have. If it is stove piped in your gun then it really doesn't matter.

I have put a lot of thought into this. There is research that gives 380, 38SPL, 45ACP and many other rounds with full metal jackets or certian lead bullets an advantage over some of the high tech bullets. There is just as much research that gives the high tech bullets an advantage in given circumstances. Based on all the givens, research, history, facts and BS, I think if you choose what works well with your gun you will be ok.

I know that everyone that has read more than couple of articles on bullet performance will have different opinions. No one has proven to me that there is bullet that is better in all circumstances than all other bullets. I am a hunter and evaluate bullet performace on game. I am a shooter and I evaluate bullets on reliabilty. Game doesn't wear a jacket and two shirts. If the first bullet stops the threat, it doesn't matter if the second round is stove piped in your gun. I still choose reliabilty over perfomance as long as performace is acceptable.

[ccw9mm]

Again, I am specifically looking for actual experiences with the Kahr P380 that people carry.

While I appreciate the other responses, they don't apply to the P380's reliability.

[Mrbrent]

My Sig 232 likes the Hornady Tap.

[Chevyguy85]

If I remember right one of my regulars out @ the range has a karh 380 I'll try to remember to ask him what he's had success/failures with. Granted I don't go out for RSO duty until the 19th though. Nothin else shoot me a PM thursday night as a reminder

[got2hav1]

Just finished breaking mine in today.
American Eagle 95 gr. FMJ- no problems at all
PMC Bronze - no problems at all
CCI Blazer - one stovepipe ( this was probably my fault I was shooting left hand no support)
Magtech 95 gr. JHP- did not reliable feed these
MFS - could not feed also lots of light strikes ( don't understand this )
Hope this helps.

[ChihuahuaTN]

P380 FORUM - The Number One Source for Information on the Kahr P380

this should help,

Mike

[ccw9mm]

Anyone else with a Kahr P380, specifically? If so, which ammo is providing you with the best cycling reliability?


* Please, am only interested in knowing of experiences with the Kahr P380 and ammo used in it with good reliability. Due to the finicky nature of this pistol, I want to focus on the P380 experiences only.

[HandgunWorld]

I've owned a P380 for over a year. I've shot roughly 1200 rounds through it. The only ammo it didn't like was Fiocchi FMJ. But if feeds Corbon, Speer, and Hornady with no problem. And of course, any other fmj except the Fiocchi. Great little gun.

[tokerblue]

I saw Speer TMJ for the first time for the P380. I tried 50 rounds and had a lot of issues. First FMJ I've had issues with in the Kahr. About 5 failure to feeds and 2 stove pipes. I was extremely disappointed to say the least. My P380 has been virtually flawless to date.

I'm going to try and go back to the range this week and make sure it's the ammunition that's giving me the problem. I'm going to shoot WWB that I know have been flawless.

[Cory1022]

Toker, where in CT are you finding Speer Gold Dots? I was at Hoffman's today looking for it in 380 and 9. Not to derail this...

-Cory

[Superhouse 15]

A customer is an LEO and he used his Kahr to qualify on the agency BUG course. The agency policy is .380 or bigger for a BUG and issue ammo is Gold Saber in all calibers including the .380. He was most impressed with the way it shoots.