FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I shoot your +P 380 auto ammo in my LCP?

Yes you can. Gun makers often warn against using any ammo that is not SAAMI spec. and there is no SAAMI spec. for the 380 auto+P cartridge. Gun makers do this to protect themselves from any liability in our super litigious American society. Buffalo Bore and others have tested our 380 auto+P ammo in the LCP and many LCP owners currently shoot our +P ammo in their LCPs and we've never heard of any problems from the "power" or "pressure" of the ammo, but obviously the use of +P ammo in these little guns should be limited to just enough to test reliable feeding and point of impact, then carry the ammo in your LCP in the event you need it, but don't go plinking with it.

2. Can I shoot your +P 45 colt ammo in my Taurus Judge?

No. The Judge is not designed to be strong enough to use +P ammo. If you'd like to use very powerful loads in the Judge, use our items 3E and 3F. These two loads are safe to use in ANY 45 colt firearm and are much more powerful than ordinary 45 colt ammo. These two loads are also much more powerful than 410 gauge slug loads you can fire in the Judge.

3. Do +P loads accelerate the wear on my gun?

Firing any ammo in any gun will wear the gun out eventually. Firing +P ammo in the same gun, will always wear that gun out faster than weaker ammunition would. Just how much faster would depend on many factors and would vary from make and model of firearm and make of +P ammunition.

4. Will shooting hard cast bullets in Polygonal barrels hurt the barrels?

No. Please read my short essay on shooting hard cast bullets in polygonal barrels.

5. How long will it take UPS to deliver my order?

That depends on where you are having your order shipped to and on which day of the week your order is placed.  UPS only ships on regular business days Mon - Fri excluding holidays.  To help you figure specifically how long your order should be in transit with UPS, click here for a map with 'UPS In Transit Time' estimations from Buffalo Bore's Factory in Montana.

6. Why are there several different Muzzle Velocities with Exterior Ballistics Charts for each Buffalo Bore cartridge?

Buffalo Bore posts a relatively wide range of Muzzle Velocities and their associated Exterior Ballistic Charts as a courtesy to our customers because we have no way of knowing what kind of gun you will use our ammo in.  Generally, although not always, guns with longer barrels will exhibit higher muzzle velocities than guns with shorter barrels.   It should also be understood, that even two identical guns from the same manufacturer with equal barrel lengths can consistently exhibit different muzzle velocities while using exactly the same kind of ammo out of the same box.   There are several different variables that help determine the final muzzle velocity of each firearm.  We have posted a wide spectrum of muzzle velocities in an attempt to cover the full range of possibilities and even make room for the roguishly-experimental element also; we know they're out there. 

It is, of course, up to the customer to determine what the muzzle velocity is out of their own individual gun.  Although there are a couple of different ways to measure muzzle velocity, the most common way is via the use of a 'Ballistics Chronograph' which this Google link will show you some information, pictures and pricing for. 

After firing several rounds and measuring the velocities through a ballistics chronograph you can calculate your average muzzle velocity.  Now you can consult the Exterior Ballistics Charts we provide to more accurately predict what many of your bullet's characteristics will be downrange.  Things like velocity, foot pounds of energy remaining, drop in inches, flight time and even more can be quite accurately predicted at several different distances downrange by referencing the proper Exterior Ballistics Chart in accord with Your particular Muzzle Velocity.

Ballistics Chronographs are relatively inexpensive and much more accurate for the dollar than only a few years ago.  More and more of our customers are acquiring ballistics chronographs, finding their muzzle velocities and then using our Exterior Ballistics Charts to become very well informed gun and ammo users.   Fortunately for us, these folks actually understand what their guns and ammo are doing downrange better than ever before and a well-informed Buffalo Bore Customer is very often a repeat customer as they know first-hand how well their Buffalo Bore Ammo is performing against other ammo and have little need to take a magazine's word or our word for it any longer.