Range/Break-in Ammo for P3AT

rosie22lr · #1 07-05-2009, 12:38 PM

Many thread on "pickiness" of ammo for P3AT. Anyone have recommendations for the less expensive ammo for range practice and/or breakin of pistol. How about PrviPartizan?

Blackmagic14 · #2 07-05-2009, 04:29 PM

I use Monarch from Academy Sports... It is generally available and relatively inexpensive and it always feeds in mine

wegriffin8642 · #3 07-07-2009, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosie22lr

Many thread on "pickiness" of ammo for P3AT. Anyone have recommendations for the less expensive ammo for range practice and/or breakin of pistol. How about PrviPartizan?

I reload my own and suggest 3.6 or 3.7 grains Unique pushing a 95 grain JHP...light recoil and fairly accurate to 21 feet or so.

**James NM** · #4 07-08-2009, 02:05 PM

I haven't heard of too many 380 shooters lately being able to be picky about which ammo they purchase. If/when they find any, they buy it.

rosie22lr · #5 07-08-2009, 02:22 PM

Hey Blackmagic14--went on Academy site and could not find any reference to Monarch 380.
Hey JamesNM--Although I have not used it yet, I now own a K-T P3AT, which, from threads seems to be very particular on ammo. I understand supply/demand but if it sn't going to go thru pistol it does not make much difference if there are hundreds of boxes available. Just trying to hedge my bets, not buy something that doe not work in the pistol and stick to advice from users; on real good personal defense, I am convinced on several 380 cartridges (Hornady FTX and Fed hydrashok) and am on waiting lists. I can find PrivPartizan, which I mentioned in my thread (Serbian ammo at around $16); I have fired it in a Bersa 380 and will try it next week on the Kel Tec. If all goes well, I can purchase many hundreds of rounds for breakin of pistol

**James NM** · #6 07-08-2009, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosie22lr

Hey Blackmagic14--went on Academy site and could not find any reference to Monarch 380.
Hey JamesNM--Although I have not used it yet, I now own a K-T P3AT, which, from threads seems to be very particular on ammo. I understand supply/demand but if it sn't going to go thru pistol it does not make much difference if there are hundreds of boxes available. Just trying to hedge my bets, not buy something that doe not work in the pistol and stick to advice from users; on real good personal defense, I am convinced on several 380 cartridges (Hornady FTX and Fed hydrashok) and am on waiting lists. I can find PrivPartizan, which I mentioned in my thread (Serbian ammo at around $16); I have fired it in a Bersa 380 and will try it next week on the Kel Tec. If all goes well, I can purchase many hundreds of rounds for breakin of pistol

Academy is strictly brick & mortar - no mail order.

Don't suggest you purchase a hundred boxes of 380 until you know if it will function inyour gun. And the only way to find which ammo will function in your gun is to shoot some. Even the same model of guns can have very different likes and dislikes in ammo.

Bisley · #7 07-08-2009, 03:37 PM

My LCP likes the PrivPartizan just fine. I have fired about 100 with no failures.

rosie22lr · #8 07-09-2009, 09:13 AM

Hey JamesNM: You are right. You've got to try different ammo to know and you have to buy them to try them. That is why I can at least try some due dilligence and ask forum members on their experience even though each pistol can be different. Its the best you can do when you are looking for a pistol/ammo fit.
Hey Bisley: Thanks for heads up on Privi ammo. As I said, I used it in a Bersa and it looks and acted as good as any ammo. Will try some next week and hope it works--if so, my everyday target, practice ammo will be easy since it is available at my shop.

PhilR. · #9 07-09-2009, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wegriffin8642

I reload my own and suggest 3.6 or 3.7 grains Unique pushing a 95 grain JHP...light recoil and fairly accurate to 21 feet or so.

So how will that information be helpful to someone needing ammo? Are you going to manufacture some for the OP?....

PhilR. · #10 07-09-2009, 11:11 PM

I've used Hornady XTP, Cor-Bon, PMC, Winchester white box and Blazer Brass in my P3AT, with no failures at all.

I very much feel that the people who complain of failures do not know what they are doing, and blame the ammo. When you find someone who knows how to handle them and how to do proper maintenance, you will hardly ever find any problems....

rosie22lr · #11 07-10-2009, 06:52 AM

Hey PhilR: Obviously most ammo and certainly 380 does not seem to exist. As with any commodity you ration what you got and take advantage of any change in supply. I am on all kinds of notification lists and standby purchases and for 380, my gunshop manages to keep stocked on the Privi that hopefully will work fine in the Kel Tec. For me, I always keep my home/personal defense ammo at a minimum of 2 mags full and ration my practice within the limits of my supply. I keep my shooting technique up to date with a plentiful and cheap supply of 22lr that I use for target shooting; it certainly does not have the same recoil as my 380 or 38 but it is better than nothing.

Bisley · #12 07-10-2009, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosie22lr

I keep my shooting technique up to date with a plentiful and cheap supply of 22lr that I use for target shooting; it certainly does not have the same recoil as my 380 or 38 but it is better than nothing.

That is a good plan.

I actually bought a Walther P-22 recently, just so I could try to hold on to my 'edge' with short barreled pistols. Where I used to burn up 200-400 rounds of 9mm and .45 at a range session, I now do that with .22, and just fire one 50 round box in each caliber, with my centerfires.

PhilR. · #13 07-10-2009, 11:51 AM

I agree - sounds like a good plan.

.380 will one day be back on the shelves. The ammo manufacturers do not make all calibers at once. They will produce large lots of one caliber at a time, and once completed, change over the machinery to the next cailber in line, and then produce it. Sooner or later they will get back around to .380, hopefully producing lots large enough to meet demand.

If you see a case of reasonably-priced .380, better snag it. That's what I did about 1.5 years ago, and I'm still going through it even now.....

rosie22lr · #14 07-10-2009, 07:13 PM

Hey PhilR: Several months ago I purchased around 3000 rounds of CCI minimag for my 22lr and 2 other gun shooting 22lr buddies. Now I see that Natchez , who for the longest time along with others consistently showed "out of stock", is now pricing it about $ .75 higher for 100 rounds than what I paid. As you said, when you see it grap it.

spongebobmac · #15 09-14-2009, 10:00 PM

wwb has been good to me , but i dont shoot it enough to really make a good call, too expensive , i stick to 9mm

Masteryoung · #16 11-03-2009, 02:29 PM

I just purchased a p3at last week. I found out after purchase how difficult to obtain and how pricey is ammo is to obtain for 380's. my dealer had speer gold dot ammo 20 rounds for $20. Thats $1 per round, im not sure if this is the average going price or not. My local gas station had Aguila rounds, 50 rounds for $25. I have only shot the Aguila rounds. They have shot decently.