Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

I had a chat with my local gun dealer today and asked why there is no 380 auto to be found anywhere. He told me from his sources that the manufacturers have temporarily stopped manufacturing 380 auto in favor of 9mm for military/law enforcement use, but it shouldn't be long now when they'll step up and start making 380 auto (mainly a civilian caliber) in enough amounts to satisfy demand. Let's hope so!!

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

Plenty of .380 Winchester on GunBroker. Only $1.00 a round!

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

This time next year....... that will be a bargain


:36_1_28::36_1_28::36_1_28:

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

So many people getting Concealed carry permits and you have an issue.


E-A

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

It's a combo of the fact that a lot of the same line equipment and raw material sizes are used for both 380 and 9mm. Combine that with the Obama surge and the flush of new 380 carry pistols on the market this past year and it's pretty ugly for the 380 crowd. The stuff now sales for MORE than 9mm which is just crazy. I resorted to buying materials and plan to load 500 rounds myself for target practice....as soon as my new die-set shows up.

:565:

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

Careful who you disclose that information to.

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

You're reloading?

What are you a terrorist?:sarc:

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

Wow, I ordered 100rds (2 boxes) from Midway last December for my P3AT. It just arrived. I paid $15/box for it. I just saw that they are going for $35-$45 a box now on gunbroker! This is insanity, what the heck is going on? I can't believe it! Maybe I should sell now!!! I could make a 300% profit!
Are people afraid of no more ammo due to Obama or the end of the world? This is nuts!!

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

I was going to get my wife a p3at for mothers day, but am SERIOUSLY reconsidering it because a gun with no bullets, is just a really expensive hammer.

Id really rather not get the .32, so that kinda leaves me with the 9mm kel tec (pf9?). Hope theres still 9mm ammo out there, even just one box.

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

The P3AT is the perfect drop in your pocket and go gun. Mine has performed flawless with about 100rds, I really trust it. Its the gun that get's carried the most. The 9mm is larger, but if it is in the purse carry, probably ok. Next on my list is a .38snubbie, easier to hang onto the brass for reloading.

The P3AT is not considered a primary carry gun though, but sometimes that's all I got, better than nuttin'

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

Ive got a compact .45 Ill be carrying in an IWB holster. Ive tried it out, it feels fine, except when im sitting, but even then not so bad. Just waiting for the CCW permit to come in the mail(in 4 more months).

The p3at is for my wife so she can carry in her office. She works alone as an office manager for a construction temp company, so i get worried.

The idea is just cause its a nice light gun so she wont be tempted NOT to keep it off her person due to discomfort and small enough to be carried without being seen despite what she may be wearing(tight jeans, loose pants w/e).

Ill have to check out the 9mm version and see if there is a significant difference in size and carriability, since whatever she has will likley be her only gun(primary) at the office, along with pepper spray, etc.

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

Check out the 9mm vs. the P3AT size. If in doubt, get the smaller one, as you will be apt to carry it more. I have a little front pocket holster and it drops into my front pant pocket, and I don't know its there half the time. If the 9mm is not as easy to drop and go, you may leave it more often...I am even tempted to leave the P3AT, but its so easy to drop and go...worse case, if you end up with the 9mm, and its a little too big, you could probably just sell it for the same as what you bought it for!!! 9mm is a much more powerful caliber, but the 9mm short/.380ACP could do the job if placed correctly...if the scenario is pretty low threat, the .380acp is fine. If I knew I was going into bad areas, its .38+P/.357 Mag for me...but I just avoid bad areas in the first place!!!

GAM...GUNS ARE MONEY.
good luck.

This guy has a good review on the p3at

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

Just got a lcp for my wife and I cannot find a single .380 round in town.

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

I bought one of those a short time back, but I've two other .380 handguns and a small supply of ammo I bought a little at a time. For practice I have a couple .22 caliber handguns about the same size as my other options in other calibers and .22 is still available in my area. A plus with practicing with .22 is the neighbors think you're just out back plinking with your .22 instead of blasting away with a .40 or something and causing them to fear you're practicing up for them.

On the subject of ammo, most suppliers I've checked with locally don't seem to have a clue about when they'll be able to resupply. On the net it looks like early July some will start showing up again. Even reloading dies and components are not expected to start showing up for at least another month.

For now, I'd suggest practice with your .22, but keep in a close personal relationship with your normal carry sidearm, handling it or "fondling" it daily to stay in touch with it.
:bull-smile:

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

What does your local guy with so much insight have to say, nowadays?
http://www.ammoengine.com/find/ammo/.380_ACP

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

I've had a P3AT since they first came out.

I only have about 700 rounds put up so I stopped practicing with it. Might consider dies soon if the supply doesn't improved.

Off topic note: I was at Kel-Tec's plant last year with a fellow GIM'r because he needed a repair on one of his Sub carbines. Off the top of my head I asked the girl to look at my P3AT. She asked us to go have lunch and come back in about 2 hours. When we returned the Sub9 was fixed with mostly new parts. She handed me my P3AT and commented that they just put my numbers on a new gun. Hard to beat that kind of service. And no, I don't work or represent them in any way.

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

I think that the extreme popularity of the Ruger LCP is a major reason for this. The ammo shortage is the main reason that I haven't bought one.

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

Doesn't look much different than before. Like someone said about GunBroker, you can have all you want at around $1 a round. Bud's occasionally has boxes of 50 in FMJ for $40. What a deal!

All the stuff available on that list is your high-end personal defense stuff - nothing you'd want to piss away in 15 minutes at the range....

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

LCPs are popular but the compact .380 regardless of brand is wildly popular. The ammo shortage for this caliber thus makes no sense. It is not like demand is simply outstripping supply. There is simply no supply despite demand. Sure, you can get buffalo bore or doubletap rounds at well over a dollar a round. Where is the prvi partisan, fiocchi and wwb? Granted prices should be inflated in the face of overwhelming demand but supplies remain to a trickle. Midwayusa has been saying WWB is "coming soon" since April. Whenever the coming soon date arrives they just push it forward another month or two. Local shops only hold boxes to sell to buyers of a .380 pistol but will not sell to an avid shooter. the last few times I've seen .380 FMJ 50rd boxes they were low class brands at astronomical prices (>$1/rd). I don't blame the dealers for gouging in this market but I do blame the manufacturers for not capitalizing on the demand. I refuse to believe that .380 is somehow in some 100X the demand that 9mm is.

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

Same here. Can't even reload for 380. Starline brass has their 380 brass showing 1/15 until available.....it was 12/15 before. Who knows when it will be shipping....

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

I have several p32 keltecs and plenty of ammo for them but I was in a gun shop fondling a Lcp and a P3AT. One in each hand. I finaly bought the P3AT bcause I just had to have one. Bought two fifty round boxes of .380 Fmj ammo for $20 each. Think by the sounds of it I better go back and see if they have any more.

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

What were your reasons for choosing the Keltec over the Ruger?

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

Has anyone checked Cabela's? They have sales going on right now for 380 Auto, Aguila (Jacketed hollow points), 50 rounds @ $24.99/box. Also, MFS, 9mm Luger(Practice rounds), 50 rounds @ $13.99. Magtech (First Defense), 9mm Luger (Nickel jacketed hollow points), 20 rounds @ $19.99. Sales end 12/24, I think.

Going to a gun show tomorrow and looking for practice ammo in the 100's.

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

No, but I've noticed Cabela's has a habit of listing the stuff on the webpage, and then notifying you that it's on backorder in small print during checkout. It took over a year to get an order of .223 from them. That and answering two emails in the interim about whether I really still wanted the stuff.

Still better than Sportsmans Guide. It's been awhile since I ordered, but they used to do the same thing. Only every once in awhile they'd cancel a backorder on me without notice.

Hell, I've got a coupon for Cabelas, I'll check it out....

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

Reliability. While I was standing there fondling them another fellow was trading guns. He commented that he and his wife have both had Keltecs for a long time. His comment was that they had been very reliable. He said he does some gun smithing and had worked on several of the Lcps friends had brought to him. They had some problems with them jamming. He thought in time ruger would work those bugs out but in the mean time he was going to stick with the Keltecs. My P32's have been reliable.

The Ruger felt a little nicer in my hand. The checkering on the grip of the Keltec is more course but if I need to drag it out some time I would prefer the courser grip of the Keltec. They are the same shape and size.

I had intended to buy an LCP but changed my mind. Reliability is the most important thing to me. I carry them for self defense up close. I have a P32 with a belt clip on it that I can carry in my waist band in the middle of my back. I hardly know it's there. I can also carry them in a shirt or vest pocket.

Cowboys and indians generaly get along pretty good but if there's alcohol involved things can get dangerous. I was getting groceries one time near home and had finnished putting them in my car. An indian approached that I knew and said "hey cowboy can you help me out here"? That's what they always say when they want a little money. I always give them a dollar or two. Another one approached and the first one acted like he was scared of him. He was younger, stocky built and muscular. He wanted to shake hands. I didn't want to but I didn't want to insult him so I did. When we did he slipped his hand around and gripped my thumb. I took a good grip of his but he was stronger than me. It was a hostile and aggressive move. He wasn't in good humor. So we looked each other in the eye and talked. Turned out I'd rode horses and worked with his father gathering and working cattle. He eventualy loosened his grip and I pulled my hand away. If he had tried to bend my thumb over bachwards, break it and rob me I'd have been in trouble. I was standing by the door of my car and I had a .44 magnum just under the edge of the front seat but I couldn't get to it. I was wishing I had a gun like the P32 I have now. I could have reached around behind my back with my left hand and pulled it out. Stuck it behind his right ear and if he bent my thumb I'd want to hear a "BANG"! rather than a "CLICK"! Reliablility is important.

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

That's the thing about a LCP, it is on you 100% of the time. I've put over 1000 rounds through mine with zero issues. I cannot speak for a P3AT.
The fact that I keep burning up ammo, however, means I may just dump the platform and move to a caliber that allows for easy concealment and controllable shooting... oh wait, that's right, when your my size there is nothing that beats it.

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

I just checked Cabela's ....they dont show any Aguila in 380 that i can find.....could you post a link?

FWIW i have used some of the MFS 380 (picked it up at a local gun show) i had 2-3 ammo failure to fire problems with that brand

I did pick up some of this ammo last wk and recieved it within 3days of ordering it http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/catalo...rt.php/sort/2a

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

For the Aguila I think you may have to go to the store.



The ones below are online.

Main page and to save some $$ on Cabela's shipping;
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...ntId=cat602007


To start here's Winchester;

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...avAction=jump&
cmCat=MainCatcat602007-cat20837&catalogCode=2UG&rid=&parentType=index&ind exId=cat20837&hasJS=true

Wolf;

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...837&hasJS=true

Both good buys in my opinion, I will check into a little further.

This is 380 I bought.

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

Bought one 50 round box of American Eagle .380 Auto for $17.95 yesterday from a local gunstore. Also, of the WalMarts near me has Winchester .380 Auto 100 round value packs for $33.97.
Take care,
Mod1

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

That's a good price for the wolf (includes dry box), any idea how much extra wear and tear the steel cases put on an extractor?

The walmarts I occasionally check into are always completely bare of pistol ammo and the clerks tell me that they never get resupplies.

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

i bought some of the aquila's from luckygunner, haven't shot them yet, but they didn't come in a box or anything just a baggie LOL

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

gun show in tampa on 12/05/09 had 1000's of .380.......there was plenty of every cal.

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

This may be a touchy subject with some people but how many out there shoot reloads?
I'd much rather shoot factory ammo but when I could not find ammo this year I bought a ton of reloads from a regular at the gunshow. I know....I've heard the horror stories about gunshow reloads. I shot up a couple of thousand rnds of his stuff in 9mm and .38 with no problem and while friends were sitting at home earlier this year with no ammo I was at the range.
Given a choice I would always buy factory ammo as a first choice but I believe that a guy that reloads as a business and has repeat customers at the gun shows is probably ok. I know a couple of people at work who reload. They are useless at work and I can't imagine trusting their ammo.

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

The rule is "know your reloader", well, actually the rule is "be your own reloader" but my time is worth more than that to me.

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

A guy I was shooting with this weekend, has a Walther 380. He just got back from Phoenix and says the funstores there, had plenty of Blazer .380 aluminum case ammo and were selling it for around $15 -$18 box, depending on the store.

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

Found another place,

cjsammo.com

don't buy all of the 380, I need some too.

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

Thanks to this thread, I found a great deal at cabelas.com, for 500 rounds of .380 in a dry box. Using their coupon code and including shipping it came out to be about 39 cents each. On the same day as this purchase, all other stores I found were over 60 cents each.

The Cabelas checkout page said they were out of stock and I would receive my package in > 2 weeks. However, I got a nice surprise by Mr. UPS Man yesterday! Looks like they replenished quicker than they thought.

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

That is good to hear. My experience had been hit or miss when ordering from Cabela's. Sometimes I receive what I ordered, and sometimes it gets backordered for so long that the order ends up just getting canceled.

I'm in need for more .380 for my wife, but I would expect Cabela's has already depleted what it had received. Maybe I will give it a try, but I get a feeling I won't be nearly as lucky as you were!

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

A lot of people say that the steel used for the cases is softer than the steel used for extractors, so shooting steel cased ammo is not an issue. That is probably the truth, but I still try to avoid the steel cased stuff if I can.

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

Special thanks to machinez who actually posted this over on the metals forum....

.380 Ammo in stock 500 rounds for $129.99 + shipping/tax after coupon. Some cashback too.

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/978857

Re: Regarding the 380 auto shortage
 

That Herter's brass went up $30 per 500 since you posted the links. Still a decent deal. I have to wonder about 91gr .380, though. 95gr is the industry standard for .380 FMJ. Cabela's is starting to show PMC (backorder) and still shows Wolf (backorder) as well as Magtech (backorder). While the Herter's is the only one currently in stock it is encouraging to see additional brands appear as they were not there just a couple weeks ago. I wonder if they appear because they sold out in days or if they are in anticipation of arrival?