Keltec question

[breas1]

Alright so i just acquired a .380 and I'm trying to find a good defensive round for the gun. I've heard that some hollow points don't feed well, so, what do you shoot? What works well in these little guys? Thanks for all the help.

 

[krn]

i personally don't own a keltec in .380 but my girlfriends father uses some corbon's. he was telling me that if and when i do pick up a .380 handgun that i should go through some different brands to see how the gun handles the round.

 

[Snake Eater]

I Use Hornady Critical Defense In My Kel-Tec 380.

 

[LPPOsecurity]

Buy a few different brands, and run em thru, both target and carry, I found even my XD.40 doesn't care for a couple different kinds of ammo, see what shoots the best and responds the best, and then use it, I would run no fewer than 50 of each kind

 

[LotsofGlocks]

I personally use Speer Gold Dots and never had any problems with mine. Good luck with your decision!

 

[vwfred69]

I used gold dots in mine with no problems

 

[bRAD]

gold dots and corbon's

 

[Dawall]

Generaly the Kel-Tec 380 and 32 functions well with most HP ammo if it is clean and lubricated properly. The powerball ammo is more reliable because of the more rounded tip if you do not maintain the gun as much.

 

[dubsac]

I Use Hornady Critical Defense In My Kel-Tec 380.

Where can you find Hornady CD I look everywhere locally and online and can never find some???

 

[UltraRick]

+2 or 3 for Gold dots

 

[DeadeyeChrista'sdad]

Was just noting to someone that I'm currently carrying ACME 90 grain Hornady XTPs. This was an old beater gun that was given to me by a friend, and after a little fluff and buff, and some work on the extractor, seems to function quite well. Plus, ACME's a site sponsor, and you can many times find them set up at the gun shows.

 

[GoBoilers!]

I ran a variety of ammo through my 3AT and I did not find any that did not function as long as it was CLEAN. As dawall mentioned, they need to be cleaned and lubed to run smoothly. I did find that mine will start to get FTE's after about 50 rounds, so that is when it is time to clean it. The Gold Dots are probably my favorite round too.

 

[451_Detonics]

If you can find it I would try some Pow'R Ball from Glaser. It is a big cup hollowpoint with a poly ball in the tip to facilitate feeding.

380 Auto 70gr Pow'RBall | COR®BON/Glaser Self Defense | Dakota Ammo

 

[steve666]

I don't have a P3AT, but my HK4 is a picky eater and I find that PowrBall works well when others don't.

 

[Hornett]

I'm not really a big fan of hollow points in my P3AT.
I have ran them and they feed fine but my concern is with penetration.
I carry hollow points in everything else, 9mm 40 and 45, but just ball ammo for my little Kel Tec.
This is just my opinion, I would entertain opposing views.

 

[cosermann]

. . . but just ball ammo for my little Kel Tec.

+1 for FMJ/ball. Reliability aside, HPs don't penetrate enough for my liking in .380acp.

 

[skyscout]

I use hornaday critical defense as well.

 

[breas1]

Thanks for all the input guys looks like i have to work to do.

 

[cosermann]

Thanks for all the input guys looks like i have to work to do.

Some resources to get you started.

http://www.brassfetcher.com/index_files/Page638.htm - (main link on this page is to 1.35MB PDF)
http://www.brassfetcher.com/380ACP.html
http://stevespages.com/page8f380acp.html - 3.82" test bbl.
.380 ACP Ammunition Performance Data

 

[RQP22]

+1 for FMJ/ball. Reliability aside, HPs don't penetrate enough for my liking in .380acp.

I agree! For .380 and smaller I have always been a fan of FMJ/Ball ammo. Helps with that extra bit of penetration with smaller charged ammuntion.