4 Attachment(s)
P380 and test of new parts and ammo.
I wanted to switch from +P Underwood Gold Dots for my Kahr P380 and have been trying to get some Hornady Critical Defense 90-gr FTX for my carry ammo. The +P was no fun to shoot, though probably enough expansion and penetration out of my 2.5" barrel. Fall last year I left "notify me" email info at about 20 sites and made two orders for 10 boxes each at Optics Planet... the only store that would offer back orders. The expected delivery has been pushed back several times... latest to June 28 back in January, I think. If it ever comes in, that would be nice. Those orders were for 10 boxes shipped, each for just under $250. Their most current price was about $34 a box.
About 10 days ago I got a notice from Palmetto State Armory that they had some and I ordered 10 boxes of 25 for $308 shipped in three days! I don't know if there was a limit, but I needed a supply to try the ammo and get used to it, so I wanted 10 boxes to add to the two I had already swapped for with another dealer a couple of shows ago. He was selling the CD(25) and the FMJ(50) at $59 or so a box! I got one box with an even trade and persuaded him to let get another for two boxes of FMJ more. I had paid $12-$13 a box for the S&B several years ago and bought 3 cases. I still have just over a case and won't be shooting too much of that at the range.
I just went to the range and tried that in my P380... worked fine, but my eyes were worse... almost 2 years since last range trip.
Shortages, ammo taxes, and permits could make future ammo purchases difficult. I won't be using much at the range. The range had nothing for the .380 and limited .40 S&W, but I had my own. I had put a stainless guide rod in my P380 to stop rust and got the improved Lakeline striker group, so I wanted to test function, too! It worked great, but after about 60 rounds FMJ, I had one failure to fully chamber a round... needing a small push forward on the slide. I broke the P380 down and cleaned it a bit, especially the barrel and the feed ramp which does have a history of aversion to much grunge.
It doesn't help that my feed ramp is "not stock". Once upon a time I tried to alter the ramp to facilitate loading and chambering... with my DLT... Dremel-Like Tool... and a diamond abrasive ball... YIKES... like a red hot knife into butter! I spent a long time with much less abrasive stuff and eventually got it looking slick and working, but accumulations of powder residue do take a toll and cleaning should be done after every 50 rounds or so. I used a lot of different grits of sandpaper and worked with the fine wrapped around a pencil and then polishing compound and Flitz. Whew! Cleaning the feed ramp requires removing the slide and taking the barrel out. I didn't have any springs go flying, but that was on my mind enough that I pointed the recoil assembly towards the side instead of down range.
I'm satisfied that the Critical Defense works in my pistol and have switched to it. I now have just over a box and a half of the +P Underwood... to sell at the next gun show in June. That's 50-round boxes which they don't even offer anymore, not that Underwood has ANY ammo in stock.
I had only my regular progressive Transition glasses and my uncorrected range glasses, so I couldn't really figure out how to aim with the double vision... one blurry and one darker set of sights in my vision, so I kind of used somewhere in between and pointing quite a bit. Center of mass won't be a problem, but past 10 yards I could still hit a sheet of paper... USUALLY! :D It didn't matter if I closed the non-dominant eye or not. I shoot with both eyes open and don't usually have a problem with vision. Getting old sucks... 75 in June!
I'll have to take some bi- and tri-focal shooting glasses with me the next time. I have some with the magnification at the top, the bottom, and both. My far vision is okay, but I had more of a problem with the sight picture this time. I need to shoot more often!
Some targets from my first of the CD... 7 rounds, then covered with tape and then 7 more rounds... not tight groups, but I think that I can get close enough for self defense. The range was about 7 yards and I did try my four-circle target at 5 yards... guestimates, since there were no longer any range markings on the walls at the range.
Tgt 1: the S&B 92-grain FMJ at 7 yards
Tgt 2: the S&B at 5 yards
Tgt 3: the Critical Defense 90-gr at 7 yards and the first 7 rounds tape covered, then the second 7 rounds.
Tgt 4: the CD at 5 yards, somewhat quickly.
I took 4 boxes of 25 CD, but only shot 3.
I shot a box and a half of the Sellier & Bellot 92-gr FMJ, 75 rounds, though I had another box. I had enough fun to see how good or bad I was doing. :)
