[HowardCohodas]

http://www.gunsholstersandgear.com/2008/07/02/new-380-acp-ammunition-tailored-for-the-ruger-lcp/

According to Michael Bane’s blog, a major ammunition manufacturer will bring a new .380 loading to the market that is specifically designed for the Ruger LCP. This is exciting, as two current problems exist with the current crop of ammunition and the LCP.

The first problem is the .380 ACP cartridge is an underpowered chambering. Generally, the .380 loads are weaker than what is available for the .38 Special. For self defense, you need all the bang you can get.

The second problem is I have been getting some reports that the LCP is ammunition sensitive. Some popular cartridges are not feeding properly. This, of course, is a HUGE problem if it extends to the entire line of LCP’s and not just a few examples. One of the reports was posted as feedback here (scroll all the way down).

Time will tell who brings what to the market. However, Bane has a lot of good contacts and I expect this information is very reliable.--http://www.gunsholstersandgear.com/2008/07/02/new-380-acp-ammunition-tailored-for-the-ruger-lcp/

http://michaelbane.blogspot.com/2008/06/monday-in-lobby.html

I wanted to mention something about guns that wasn't about gun control. The cherubs and seraphim tell me that a major American ammunition manufacturer is getting ready to pop, so to speak, a high performance .380 round tailored specifically for the little Ruger LCP. Well why not? With sales still grinding through the stratosphere, the little LCP has redefined "pocket pistol" and given the long dis'sed .380 a quick poke in the butt. Mine is the very definiiton of "reliable" and it's now generally stoked with Cor-Bon DPXs.

 

[Stiofan]

The Remington Golden Saber is used by most who read the online forums as it seems to work very well and feed properly. That said, having a beefer round which expands well at a higer velocity certainly couldn't hurt. If nothing else it may spur the the other manufacturers to better their own cartridge designs.

 

[Guest]

I ran 300 rounds of Winchester white box through mine, and 200 rounds of boring old Remington Express.

No issues at all.

R

 

[HowardCohodas]

The least interesting thing to me in those quotes is the problem of finding ammunition that works with the LCP.

The most interesting thing is the recognition of an ammunition manufacturer that the LCP is a phenomenon worth supporting with a more powerful round.

 

[kraigster414]

I would be intersting to see how this "major manufacturer" can exceed/improve upon the energy of the three Bufallo Bore .380 rounds which incidently, feed perfectly in my LCP, the exception being the Buffalo Bore hard cast lead round. It (the BB 95 gr. JHC) remains my carry load of choice followed closely by the Golden Saber. Your mileage may differ. Still, I'll reserve final judgment when more info becomes available on this soon-to-be introduced (maybe) super round. Specs on BB:

http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#380

Howard, thanks for posting this news.

 

[jpwilly]

I don't see very many reports of the LCP being finicky with the current crop of ammo. I also don't think any other manufacturer is going to make a huge improvement over the above mentioned Buffalo Bore +P loads save for a .380 "magnum" loaded to max pressure for the LCP only. I'm no designer/engineer but the pistol doesn't seem that much more stout than the Kel Tech maybe you could elaborate.

 

[ToddG]

Since the LCP is designed around SAAMI .380 Auto specifications, any "new" ammo is still going to have to stay within that specification.

A .380 Auto round designed to maximize performance out of the short LCP barrel, on the other hand, is something I'd expect to see by SHOT.

 

[kraigster414]

There are no SAAMI specs for .380 however theat didn't stop Buffalo Bore (BB) from pushing the envelope with their hot .380 rounds. Consequently, their use of the term "+P" is "literary license" at its best and I would think that the continuous use of the stuff would contribute to accelerated wear in P3AT and the LCP. Still, from my own personal experience with BB, both guns seem to handle it well and the energy delivered, equivalent to a .38 Special +P is impressive. Then again, there is no way to know how any given round will perform under every circumstance.

 

[ToddG]

There are no SAAMI specs for .380

You mean .380 +p, don't you? There is a SAAMI specification for .380 Automatic. MAP for .380 Auto is 21,500psi.

That's the standard to which the LCP was designed, manufactured, and tested.

I don't doubt that you could fire x-number of rounds of higher pressure ammo through an LCP. Just how much higher, just how many rounds, and just what effect it will have on the gun's durability, reliability, and safety are unknown ... and not warranted by Ruger.

If a new higher-pressure variant of the .380 comes out, and Ruger endorses all previously produced LCP's as backwards compatible, that would certainly be an interesting development.

 

[kraigster414]

Yes, I was referring to +P (I tend to type faster than my brain can activate). We are in agreement here. My thought however, is given the increased popularity of the .380 round due in large part to the high demand for the LCP, we are going to see other manufacturers attempt to push the ballistics envelope.

 

[ToddG]

kraigster -- I'm all for that. I was talking to a local police department this weekend about the LCP, which some of their officers carry as a backup. We all like the ergonomics, and the department was very happy that all six of the pistols it bought worked flawlessly out of the box (more than most people expect from the LCP, though that is changing).

But we all lamented giving up j-frames as BUGs from a terminal ballistics standpoint. Hopefully, what Speer did for the .38 Sp +p with its 135gr NYPD load someone will do for the .380 and the LCP.

 

[kraigster414]

kraigster -- I'm all for that. I was talking to a local police department this weekend about the LCP, which some of their officers carry as a backup. We all like the ergonomics, and the department was very happy that all six of the pistols it bought worked flawlessly out of the box (more than most people expect from the LCP, though that is changing).

But we all lamented giving up j-frames as BUGs from a terminal ballistics standpoint. Hopefully, what Speer did for the .38 Sp +p with its 135gr NYPD load someone will do for the .380 and the LCP.

Todd, I think we are in for some interesting times with the .380. Gun related manufacturers are seeing dollar signs with the LCP and that will fuel R&D. By the way, I hope you are not with the Montgomery Co. PD and considering going out on a disabililty. ;D (local joke folks).

 

[leathersmith]

Anybody see the "Outdoor" channel, last week; one of the shooting shows had a segment with Hornady rep. demonstrating a new 380 round they developed for "cycling ease, and stopping power." They did a test in ballastic gel with a down jacket in front of the gel. Penetration was claimed to exceed other brands. They said the hollow point is filled with a plastic or rubber material to prevent plugging up and interfering with expansion. The ammo box was labeled= Hornady 90080 Custom 380 Auto 90 Gr. FTX JHP Defense Round. They were using a LCP for the demo.

 

[kraigster414]

Anybody see the "Outdoor" channel, last week; one of the shooting shows had a segment with Hornady rep. demonstrating a new 380 round they developed for "cycling ease, and stopping power." They did a test in ballastic gel with a down jacket in front of the gel. Penetration was claimed to exceed other brands. They said the hollow point is filled with a plastic or rubber material to prevent plugging up and interfering with expansion. The ammo box was labeled= Hornady 90080 Custom 380 Auto 90 Gr. FTX JHP Defense Round. They were using a LCP for the demo.

And there you go.

And there will be more.

 

[Sassi]

Anybody heard anything more on this new round. Looks like it has been a while since any new information has come in on it.