P380 firing Buffalo Bore and WW Ranger T

[wyntrout]

Ok, I videoed firing my P380 with S&B 92-gr FMJ, Buffalo Bore 90-gr JHP +P, Buffalo Bore 95-gr FMJ Flat Point +P, and Winchester Ranger T ammo.
Lots of pictures... freeze-frames from the video with my widdle Canon.

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/3418254...7626903604884/




BB 90-gr JHP +P, a real power house... for .380 ACP.

BB 95-gr FMJ Flat Point +P, a very stout penetrator for heavy clothing.

Winchester Ranger T 95-gr JHP... a very good performer for .380 and has the lowest flash and recoil... not punishing to shoot like the Buffalo Bore.

I'll try to get the rest uploaded as quickly as possible. There are some super pix of flashes.

[wyntrout]

First the Sellier and Bellot made in the Czech Republic. This is the ammo I use for range fodder and it seems to perform well. I've shot probably close to 1000 rounds with only a few hard primers... I guess... another tap usually gets them on the way.

One thing to watch for if you're new to this ammo, is that the box has TWO trays of 25 cartridges and you migh be expecting to catch the rear of a longer tray and wind up with 25 or so loose rounds on the floor.

I include this ammo for comparison with the defense stuff.

[wyntrout]

Okay, now on to the firing with the S&B:







I've had no real problems with this ammo for range use.

[wyntrout]

Now some bright stuff... the Buffalo Bore 90-grain JHP. This is a bonded round and some versions are the Speer Gold Dot 90-gr bullets, and they are pretty stout. It's the highest performance ammo tried in the P380:

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/380auto2010.html


Powerful and really kicks.

[wyntrout]

Now the BB 95-grain FMJ Flat point +P which was #2 at the top of the chart with the #1 90-gr JHP in Ballistics by the Inch testing last year:



A bit of burning powder bits here.

[wyntrout]

And finally, the Winchester Ranger T 95-grain JHP, a good all around performer without all of the drama of the BB.

[MikeyKahr]

Halos

I love the halos with the BB 95-grain FMJ Flat point +P. Excellent photography, Wyn!

[wyntrout]

I love fireworks... pyrotechnics... and Buffalo Bore really puts on a show.

Wynn

[wyntrout]

I don't have any tight groups to display, but I'll post a few targets. The target was previously used, but the 3" circle is relatively uncovered by tape.

I was in the leftmost lane and this is the 18" by 18" carboard with a paper plate at 15 yards... not my best range.

First mag on the second picture... S&B, I think.

Then 6 rounds on the plate at 15 yards... pretty good for me... old eyes and a hasty shooter.

Then at 7 yards I fired 6 rounds BB FP with one hit at 10 o'clock inside the 3" circle... THEN I fired 6 rounds of Ranger T and put all in the circle... that's a triple at 10 o'clock inside the ring. The Ranger T is much easier to shoot, which can be more accurate and effective .

Wynn

[wyntrout]

I fired 4 mags of S&B rapid fire and put them all on the plate at 7 yards... just having fun.

Wynn

[jocko]

I believe after seeing that BB round in that little gun that one could also WELD with it to.!!!

[garyb]

Interesting and Great photo work. Thanks for sharing. (Side note: I like the T's too, but I have the new Critical Defense 90gr FTX's in my wife's 380. I wonder how these compare? I don't expect that she'd care for all that Buffalo Bore drama, but I'd expect them to deliver a bit more whallop.)

[wyntrout]

Those halos are so pretty! I would kind of like to have a high speed set up to get slow motion, but that's another hobby with expensive toys. I have too many costly hobbies now... to hear my wife talk.

I get 30 frames a second at 720P resolution and the flash usually only takes one frame or two. I show three sometimes to just show the recoil, but once in a while there will be like a double exposure in one frame with the flash and the raised gun as well.

With my 1911, the hammer is all the way back in the flash pictures before the slide seems to have moved.
I wouldn't mind trying more ammo, but that stuff's expensive! I'm kind of waiting to see if Speer comes out with a Short Barrel version of .380. I only have the SB version for 9mm and both for .45. The .45 ammo has different projectiles for the two versions and I don't know if the 9mm is like that.

I had some pretty wild flashes testing 9mm defense ammo, with some of that having quite the long plume and fantastic shapes... neat stuff.

Wifey's off for a few days now and I'll have to do something around here to keep her from nagging so much. The extra money she brings in makes a big difference in our lifestyle. It's above and beyond what we need to just get by. Without that, I couldn't go blow away $60 to $100 or more of ammo at the range whenever I feel like it... or shop online so much.

I ordered some more magazines to try... Chip McCormick Power Mag + in 8 and 10 round capacity. I also got two follower/spring kits... an 8 and a 6-7 round version to try in my collection of officer's magazines for the PM45. The Plus design is supposed to keep the follower in the tube and still engage the slide lock. I'll see. Also, it sounded good that they were safe for aluminum frames... how about POLYMER??

The danged 10-round Power Mag +'s were backordered... at CMC! They cost more there but the shipping is free... regular parcel post and no tax.

Wynn

[Bill K]

Outstanding work! Thanks.

The flat nose BB round would make an awesome SD round for those favoring FMJ for their pocket .380s. I believe that winter clothing can mess up the ability for even the best .380 hollow point rounds to expand. Maybe Hornady CD remedies this issue?

Bill K.

[garyb]

Maybe Hornady CD remedies this issue?

Hornady makes that claim. On their web site the show this in their videos. It's all about marketing, but who knows.....