.380 ammo for range.
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29 Posts
In my Bersa Thunder 380, I have used Mag-tech FMJ and PMC Bronze FMJ most often, with no problems. I've had problems with Sellier and Bellot FMJ causing failure to feed jams.
I have also used Aguila JHP as practice ammo because it is often cheaper than FMJ and cuts a nice round hole in paper. I've seen video tests that show it doesn't reliably expand so I won't carry it for SD, but fine for range use.
Price-wise, anything under $13 per box of 50 is pretty good. I recently ordered some from Freedom Munitions for under $10.00 per box but I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet. However, all of the forum posts I have seen about it report no problems.
I have also used Aguila JHP as practice ammo because it is often cheaper than FMJ and cuts a nice round hole in paper. I've seen video tests that show it doesn't reliably expand so I won't carry it for SD, but fine for range use.
Price-wise, anything under $13 per box of 50 is pretty good. I recently ordered some from Freedom Munitions for under $10.00 per box but I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet. However, all of the forum posts I have seen about it report no problems.
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18 Posts
Fiocci and Sellior and Bellot cause more problems that almost all the others combined. If you'll mike the OAL on these two you'll find most are a bit over the OAL of 0.980" listed in Hornadys 7th edition of reloading. Winchester White box is almost as bad with FTF, stove piping and some rounds needing a double strike to fire plus even the .380 stuff doesn't seem to give much consideration to the fact that most wlii be used in short barreled pistols causing a bunch of fouling due to an incomplete burn of the powder. For what the 100 rd Win. White box sells for you can buy two 50 rd boxes of Federal 95 gr fmj. These have worked great in my Ruger LCP and in my Thunder Plus. Academy sells the Federal for around $16.00/50 and the Win. White 100s for around $34.00 so the Federal is actually less. One note about carry ammo, Hornady Critical Defense, NOT Critical Duty!! is a great defensive round as is Cor-bon. Both run around 900 to 950 fps out of the shorter barreled Ruger LCP and should get 1000 fps or better out of the Bersa's slightly longer barrel. They aren't cheap, but if you'll do a little research on both of them they are very impressive rounds compared to the new flood of .380 rounds available today. Hell I'm old enough to remember when there were only two .380 rounds available. You could get a 90 gr. or a 95 gr. and both only came in FMJ!!!!!!!!!!! My Thunder Plus is carried as a "second" gun to back up my Glock-30 .45 ACP That I run G-21 13rd mags in.
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180 Posts
Here is some for only $.20 cents per round, I have used some it shoots good for the price.
http://www.sgammo.com/product/surpl...uto-acp-russian-steel-case-non-corrosive-ammo
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180 Posts
I haven't seen any difference between the two in my guns.
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18 Posts
The main difference between brass and nickel cases is the brass will eventually tarnish where the nickel cases won't. most LEOs prefer nickel since they stay shiny. They will both feed the same it's just that the brass will discolor after awhile.
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37 Posts
With the ammo shortage now I was able to buy a couple of bags of PIERCE 380 Auto for my BT380. Not very reliable. A few rounds didn't burn right, but they fired. The distinct sound compared to the rest is unmistakable. The gun didn't complain though. I looked closely at the bag and it said 'factory seconds'. Right.
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12 Posts
The only ammo I can find for mine is Remington and PMC bronze. I think I have a box of PDX jhp for it somewhere as well. They all shoot fine and fairly clean. I've had a couple failure to ejects but I blame that on the gun itself. It's barely broken in yet.
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38 Posts
I've got two 50 boxes of winchester white box , two 50 of tulammo I got for free in a trade before I heard thunder shouldn't use those so now I'm sitting on them worrying about trying it. And one box of defensive ammo. I can't find even winchester for 380 any freaking where. I found the two I have at a Walmart like. 20 miles from my house (there's 4 closer than that and none have had ammo in months) and it sucks.
Where did you hear that the Bersa Thunder should not use either Winchester white box plinking ammo or Tulammo cheap eastern block ammo?
My Bersa Thunder 380 eats anything and everything, with no problems!
Hey, it ain't a $1500 Kimber, so jam that Russian ammo in there and go out and shoot!
My Bersa Thunder 380 eats anything and everything, with no problems!
Hey, it ain't a $1500 Kimber, so jam that Russian ammo in there and go out and shoot!
If it is "barely broken in" the failures are your fault, not the guns. Run a few more boxes of the Rem PMC Bronze through it, its good ammo, and a good gun.
Maybe you are limp wristing it?
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38 Posts
No winchester is fine for me it's my most common used ammo bc it's all i could find. But someone here on another thread mentioned do not use tulammo
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