[Tony1990]

I have been on my weekly 380 ammo hunt but I still can only find a box or two of ammo at each store and I am getting a collection of different types of ammo. I prefer to use PMC and Blazer ammo but my collection of ammo now includes the following manufacturers:
PMC, Blazer, Fiocchi, PPU, Magtech, Remington, Winchester, Lawman. So far I don’t have any of the following ammo Lettier&Bellot, Federal, Buffalo Bore, Polycase Ammo, Hornady, Aquila, Independence, Cor-Bon/Glaser, Freedom Munitions, Dynamic Research Technologies or Zombie Ammo. There are more types of ammo out there I believe that I don’t have.
I am very glad that my Bersa Thunder 380 and Bersa 380CC has fired every type of ammo I have ever used, I don’t know who designed them but they have my thanks.
I live in the DFW area of Texas and there will be a gun show next weekend in Fort Worth and if I find a lot of PMC ammo there, I may spend next months car payment on a bunch of ammo.

 

[robhic]

Have you tried GunBot 380acp pistol ammo ? I used them a bit and found some pretty good deals. I believe one was a 250 rd bulk box of Federal (?) from Cabela's (or other big box retailer) and price wasn't a give away (they never are...) but reasonable. This was a few months ago so the 380 supply might be even better by now.

 

[mp1977]

Came across 4 boxes of Tula .380 at a Walmart for under $15 a box but no one around to open the cabinet before I needed to leave.

Any thoughts on Tula? Should I have stuck around?

 

[Tony1990]

Came across 4 boxes of Tula .380 at a Walmart for under $15 a box but no one around to open the cabinet before I needed to leave.

Any thoughts on Tula? Should I have stuck around?

I have never used the Tula ammo but from what I hear the Tula Ammon uses steel for their cases and bullets. When I first started shooting at my local range they did not permit steel case ammo to be used because they said the bullets damaged their shooting range, they even used magnetics to check the ammo. Anyway people I know have told me I should not use steel ammo so I don't. Also they say the ammo is real dirty.
I sure hate to bypass the $12.98 per box of 50 steel rounds at Academy.

 

[robhic]

Yes, TULA (unless otherwise noted on the box -- they also make some brass-cased ammo) is steel-cased. Bullet is jacketed lead. I've used it in 9mm and 45acp without issue. It shoots OK and is fine for range use. As Tony says, some ranges don't like or allow it (mine does) 'cause I guess they can't reuse the steel cases. Only down side I've read about is that it can sometimes be hard on the extractor. I guess the steel is less forgiving than brass and may stress the extractor more. I've not had problems, but I also haven't shot a huge amount of it.

I OWN about 2000 rounds of steel-cased 9mm Wolf and TULA but haven't shot it all, yet, through my Glocks. What I have shot hasn't caused me any trouble so far. YMMV ... Good luck!

 

[mp1977]

Definitely would only be used as range ammo. The steel case ammo would make clean up easier (public land) with a magnet.

I might just pick those up if they are still there.

 

[Tony1990]

I am kinda happy again now. Just got back from Academy where I was able to get some range ammo (can also be used for Self Protection). No ammo limit today, got 5 boxs of Monarch 380 FMJ brass ammo for $16.99 per box of 50. That's $84.95 for all 5 plus tax. If I had the cash on me I would have gotten the other 15 Boxs.

 

[robhic]

I am kinda happy again now. Just got back from Academy where I was able to get some range ammo (can also be used for Self Protection).

??? Is it HP ammo you'll use at the range because it's all you could get? Or are you talking about using RN ammo or other non-HP ammo for SD use? If the latter, I'd advise strongly against that! You've got pass-through liabilities with RN ammo (yes, even in 380) and HP ammo is much more potent to stop a threat than RN ammo. Please tell me I'm reading this wrong ....

 

[Tony1990]

??? Is it HP ammo you'll use at the range because it's all you could get? Or are you talking about using RN ammo or other non-HP ammo for SD use? If the latter, I'd advise strongly against that! You've got pass-through liabilities with RN ammo (yes, even in 380) and HP ammo is much more potent to stop a threat than RN ammo. Please tell me I'm reading this wrong ....

My comment that FMJ can also be used for Self Protection was only because it can be if there is no other choice. The ammo I carry and keep loaded in my home protection guns are either Hornady FTX 380 critical defense ammo or Winchester PDX1 380 Personal Protection ammo. However if a bunch of Zombies attack my house and i use up my 2 mags with critical defense ammo ( 16 rounds ) in them I would use my range mags with FMJ ball ammo.

 

[robhic]

My comment that FMJ can also be used for Self Protection was only because it can be if there is no other choice. The ammo I carry and keep loaded in my home protection guns are either Hornady FTX 380 critical defense ammo or Winchester PDX1 380 Personal Protection ammo. However if a bunch of Zombies attack my house and i use up my 2 mags with critical defense ammo ( 16 rounds ) in them I would use my range mags with FMJ ball ammo.

That's the spirit!!! Those damn zombies can be SO irritating sometimes!

 

[mp1977]

Score! Stopped at the Walmart in Moses Lake, Wa., and picked up 3-100 round boxes of Winchester .380 white box. $38+ per box.

I'm pretty happy with that. Beats the Tula that I had been thinking of grabbing.