XR380?

Ok, I know, on the one hand this sounds kind of dumb. Why would anyone get one if he/she could soon buy, say, a Boberg Micro? Still, given the huge popularity of .380s today, a more powerful one might sell. How cool would it be to advertise "The Most Powerful .380 on the Planet? I wonder if there might be a market for one? Ladies, maybe. They still carry a lot of .38 special revolvers, and an 8-shot .380 would be preferable to that, I'd say. Many .380s don't even shoot +P loads, so there's that. Also, many .380s are a bit lacking in reliability for a primary SD gun...bet Arne could change that perception.

Would the initial setup/tooling costs just be too prohibitive, or could there be a demand for this gun that might justify it? So many calibers, so little time... 8-)

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Permalink Reply by Albert Goldstein on February 10, 2012 at 6:50pm

Here are the spec sheets for the Buffalo Bore round in both compact and standard size 380 pistols:

http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=127

The hard cast round still develops around 250 foot pounds of energy out of a compact 380.

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Permalink Reply by VMole8 on February 12, 2012 at 4:02pm

I don't see the point. If the XR9-S recoils like a sturdy, locked breach .380 already and can't be made appreciably thinner due to the rotory lockup, there's really no point. The main problem with the round is the miserable penetration with expanding bullets since they're so short and light, and driving it faster will only exacerbate the problem. If you're a "hydrostatic shock" guy, it's still pointless cause the most credible research in support still acknowledges the necessity of the FBI's 12"+ inches to ensure the shock is transmitted to major blood bearing structures with common limb/shoulder passthrough and oblique shots. I think the Micro 9mm and a fullsize and G19-sized 10mm pushing 200gr is where this design makes the most sense.

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Permalink Reply by Arne Boberg on February 12, 2012 at 6:27pm

OK - I see that this ammo is really hot (possibly +P+), and the velocity in a Kel-Tec (I'm assuming the P3AT) is 1061 ft/sec, which is 249.7 FPE. The XR9-S has gotten an energy level that low before - it was with the PRVI 158-grain ammo travelling somewhere in the 700 ft/sec range.