Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns a .380 that takes +P ammo?

my little ruger .380 semi-auto calls for regular ammo only. i've heard that you can shoot +p ammo but it's risky, or wearing on the system.

are there some handguns in .380 that are known for handling +p ammo?

Interarms PPK/S handles Lehigh Defense Item 639 .380 +P 65gr 1400fps really well.

Sig P232.

Browning/Beretta BDA or 84 or 85. The Sig, I would carry it in my LCPII, but not use it as a steady diet. Glock 43, Sig P238, Kimber micro, Smith Shield, Bersa Thunder, Smith Bodyguard 380,

I would bet on modern renedition of Makarov from Slovakia. It is called CP380. Superior to original Makarov in every way. The DA trigger pull is surprisingly good for DA/SA firearm. When these were offered for around $300 they still bought surplus Bulgarian Makarovs instead.

The Beretta Pico is rated for 38ACP +P ammo.

Wouldn’t that be a 9 mm? (Sarcasm)

No, loaded with 95gr bullet 9x19 can attain Vo of about 1350fps.

My thought as well

looks like lot's of choices. appreciate the input.

sometimes a little more can mean a lot more in practice.

got to look at those mdls y'all referenced.

How much +P would you put through your LCPII?

+P in .380 is not recognized by SAAMI, so each manufacturer which advertises ammo as +P ammo is merely telling you that its pressure is above the SAAMI spec ammo unless they give you an exact pressure specification. It could be anything. With that said, I am confident that the Glock 42 can handle higher pressure than SAAMI spec ammo. YMMV.

What kind of velocity do you need? Just going to a gun with a longer barrel than the LCP will give you an increase in velocity with standard pressure ammo.

my yellow contractor in lcp is fine w/std velocity ammo. i don't use it much. some have said that regular diet of +p will wear it out faster than one might want. on the other hand, a few through probably couldn't hurt.

while on the subject of these little mouse/rat guns, does any mfr. make a revolver in 380? i haven't seen one.

Yes, there is a goofy looking offering with tiny grip from Taurus.

^^^What Fubarski said^^^

I'd put in a minimal amount. I actually don't consider it a good personal defense gun. I consider it a last option gun. I don't have a problem with standard 380 ACP, but the plus P I have is just for carrying in it once I establish I can run a mag or two through it. It's better than nothing.

What’s a regular diet? 100 a month? 200? The gun is cheaper than the ammo. Enjoy.

yeah. 100 a month might do it in. i use just rem stuff. it's hard to find now.

but for max effect in carrying, the +p might be worth the cost.

Well, if you could find that quantity of +P ammo in the first place, at the pre-pandemic price of about $1.50 per round, you are looking at $1,800 a year to feed the gun. If you are willing to pay that much just for ammo, it isn't that much of a stretch to just buy a new gun every year. I'd bet that the overwhelming majority of LCPs don't see 1200 rounds of any kind of ammo in a lifetime.