Possible Explanation for low availability of .380

[SQLGeek]

Not sure if this has been posted before. My apologies if it has but I didn't see it.

I saw this on another forum. Some interesting facts in there, including the most popular rounds that Winchester produces.

http://www.armstalk.com/blog/?p=592" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Teamless]

While I think it is an interesting read, I do not see where it helps anyone who is looking for .380 ammo regrettably, which also means that I will not look any further into me getting an LCP (I just looked at those over lunch today)

[SQLGeek]

Well...I never said it would help anyone find .380 but it might explain why it can't be found.

[Teamless]

Well...I never said it would help anyone find .380 but it might explain why it can't be found.

I understand, but was hoping by the title that it would answer "when" and "where" it would be more available is all.

[SQLGeek]

Updated the title to allay any confusion. Sorry about that.

[The Annoyed Man]

Interesting read. I'm actually surprised that .45 ACP ranked lower on the list than .38 Special and just ahead of .380, given that there are still some military and LEO ammo demands for the cartridge, and I haven't had any trouble finding any of it lately.

[blackdog8200]

Another explanation, 2 really that were disscused on the radio this weekend seemed pretty plausible.


They both are related to each other as well. The plethora of new .380 guns out there causes quite a demand for .380. The manufacturers have to test every gun made so there is a pile right there plus, everyone of us that has bought one of the newer pocket guns has bought or tried to buy several hundred rounds to run through them to proof for carry use.

My LCP is a real drag to shoot and at the outrageous prices for 380 rounds i have only proofed mine with about 200 and a box or two of the good stuff. We had a BUG shoot the outhernight and I didn't want to shoot the little LCP since the ammo is way to expensive and hard to replace.

Besides the panic buying caused by recent political events, it might be a while before most of us get out of the hoarder mode.

It stands to reason, 9mm is a NATO / Military load, .40 is the big LEO and alot of chl types load and these like .223 or 5.56, .308 or 7.62 NATO will be some of the first runs for production. They make more 12 guage than 20 ga and if suddenly everyone started buying .410 AR15's for example, there would be a run on .410 ammo.

Well we can continue to Hope for Change in the Ammo supply and price too.

[NcongruNt]

FWIW, I've been able to get .380 plinking ammo the last 3 visits to Academy. The last time, there was even WWB available. I still opted for the Monarch, with its $4/box cheaper price tag.

I noted something interesting about the article. The author says the following:

Paul quickly pointed out that Winchester has recognized the spike in demand; however .380 in general is still fifth on the list of top sellers.

I made the mental note that you can't sell more if you don't produce more. Apparently the author doesn't make this connection, as he later equates the above figure with "demand". While .380 demand certainly isn't anywhere near that of 9mm, Winchester is likely raking in more considerable per-unit profits nonetheless. There's less raw material in every component of the round except primers. Price for .380, however, is about 30% higher than 9mm. Some of this may come down to "volume", but I think it's convenient that demand outstrips supply for .380, commanding a higher price. For Winchester, this means more money for less work.

I'm all for them running their business however they feel. I will note, however, that I've not purchased a box of Winchester .380 in 2 years. I have, however, purchased Monarch and Magtech by the armful whenever they were available. I'm sorry, but I'm not buying a box of WWB .380 for $21 when alternatives exist at the (more) reasonable price of $17. At $21, I'm not even buying it when alternatives are not available. I just stop shooting .380 until reasonably-priced ammo comes along. I'm apparently not the only one, as I can go to Academy and watch the Monarch ammo move off the shelves while the overpriced WWB collects dust.

If Winchester continues along this path, I think the other ammo manufacturers will make Winchester's overpriced .380 irrelevant, and the demand (and sales) for .380 will go to other manufacturers.

[frazzled]

I am in a bit of a pickle. She Who Must Be Obeyed's pistol is a bit finicky and only works well with magtech's and the usual US manufacturers (Remmy/Winchester etc). Monarchs and imports jam to the level she is displeased, and you don't displease SWMBO. So I search for reasonably priced or sit on backlogged orders for such. Not fun.

[A-R]

Interesting article. Thanks for posting it.

I can only hazzard a guess here, but could .38 special be the third most purchased handgun round because of the prevalence of pocket carry of snub-nose revolvers by civilian CHLees? Also, seems a lot of LEOs still use snub-nose revolvers as back up guns. And while no one LIKES to shoot these or likes to ADMIT that it is their primary carry, I've long suspected that the lil' snub nose still has MANY more users in the CHL world than the high and mighty 1911. Not disparaging the 1911 or the .45 ACP in any way. But even the smallest .45 is at best a small IWB belt gun. And many folks with CHL pocket carry almost exclusively because of the need to dress certain ways for certain lifestyles (business casual etc).

Let's face it folks, all of us who spend any amount of time at all posting about CHL on the internet are the "cream of the crop" so to speak, and probably not a good statistical sample of the more than 400,000 CHLees in this state. For every one of us who professes to carrying a .45 or .40 or 9mm on our belt, there are probably five non-members of this forum who are perfectly content (and feel perfectly "protected" with a 5-shot wheel gun in their front trouser pocket as an EDC. Sure they might take grandpa's old USGI 1911 or a large-frame Glock or Beretta to the range with them so they can feel good about the general location of the holes in at least one of their practice targets. And they likely put the obligatory 50 rounds down the barrel of their snubby. But then they clean those guns, put them in the safe or the shoebox, and put the snubbie back in their pocket.

As the lil pocket .380s become more plentiful, .380 could conceivably even leapfrog .45 in this list. Though I suspect that for every new .380 pocket gun, another .38 goes unused or unpurchased.

Anyway, just random thoughts on the subject. No facts to back up my assumptions. Probably worth exactly half of two cents.

[SQLGeek]

I think there are a lot of CHLers around that go for something like a .38 snubby for pocket carry and leave it at that. I know a few on a non-gun forum I frequent that do so and will be the first to admit that they don't really shoot but like knowing they have the .38 in their pocket. I also know a few LEOs that carry .38s as a BUG or for off-duty carry.

That and revolvers seem to still be pretty popular at the range.

[mactex]

I've been more encouraged about .380 over the past few weeks. I've been able to locate plinking .380 (Monarch, WWB, and the like) as well as self defence ammo (Hornady Critical Defense, Gold Dots, etc) on a much more regular basis. My LGS seems to think that the worst of the .380 drought is over.

[LarryH]

Don't keep us in suspense, mactex. Where did you find it?

[mactex]

Don't keep us in suspense, mactex. Where did you find it?

What, and give up my best secret! Dury's and Academy in San Antonio, and Cabela's in Buda are my best sources. I must now go into the witness protection program.

[A-R]

Yeah Cabela's in Buda has had a lot of JHP .380 lately. Still not much FMJ. But I am finding FMJ at Academy more often lately.