What not to use. I have Remmington 102 grain HPJ for defense. What should I use to break it in????

MagTech and UMC usually work well.  Avoid anything that doesn't use a brass case (Blazer and Russian ammo), and Magsafe.  WWB is hit and miss as far as reliability.  I suggest avoiding it until you are sure your pistol works well with other types of ammo.

edit:  Almost forgot:  avoid American Ammunition (a.k.a. Amerc) in all your firearms.hock.gif

a stock P3AT doesnt like ammo with a flat front, either a flat nose FMJ (like WWB) or a JHP.  a fluff and buff fixes the majority of that feed issue.  if you're just looking to blow ammo down range, i would reccomend something with a round nose like S&B

S&B (Sellier & Bellot for those who don't know) is good ammo, but is notorious for having hard primers.  It might be wise to buy a box and try it before purchasing a whole bunch.  One can always clip a few coils off the firing pin spring if necessary, but that is more trouble than most are willing to put up with for one brand of ammo.

Quoted: S&B (Sellier & Bellot for those who don't know) is good ammo, but is notorious for having hard primers.  It might be wise to buy a box and try it before purchasing a whole bunch.  One can always clip a few coils off the firing pin spring if necessary, but that is more trouble than most are willing to put up with for one brand of ammo.

i havnt had any problems with S&B and hard primers with my P3AT. YMMV

Quoted: Quoted: S&B (Sellier & Bellot for those who don't know) is good ammo, but is notorious for having hard primers.  It might be wise to buy a box and try it before purchasing a whole bunch.  One can always clip a few coils off the firing pin spring if necessary, but that is more trouble than most are willing to put up with for one brand of ammo. i havnt had any problems with S&B and hard primers with my P3AT. YMMV

Mine has been OK with it too.  Many have had some light strikes, and not just with Kel-Tecs.  It is no big deal in practice, but if I were going to carry FMJ, I would pick something else.

Quoted: Mine has been OK with it too.  Many have had some light strikes, and not just with Kel-Tecs.  It is no big deal in practice, but if I were going to carry FMJ, I would pick something else.

i wouldnt carry 380 FMJ anyway, regardless of reliability.  Just not enough dammage, and with only 7 shots, i need some serious knockdown power in one shot

Quoted: Quoted: Mine has been OK with it too.  Many have had some light strikes, and not just with Kel-Tecs.  It is no big deal in practice, but if I were going to carry FMJ, I would pick something else. i wouldnt carry 380 FMJ anyway, regardless of reliability.  Just not enough dammage, and with only 7 shots, i need some serious knockdown power in one shot

There is no such thing as "knockdown power" in any pistol round.

.380 ACP is an anemic round. In JHP they tend to underpenetrate badly. FMJ is the only ammunition that meets the IWBA/FBI minimum penetration standards. The P3AT is a BUG or deep concealment gun. You need to know its severe limitations in regards to incapacitation potential, and plan accordingly.

Santa Barbara...do a search at KTOG.org.  This stuff is hot, hot, hot and very inexpensive.  I have run ~150 rounds of this ammo through my P3AT with zero problems, some guys on KTOG use it exclusively.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Mine has been OK with it too.  Many have had some light strikes, and not just with Kel-Tecs.  It is no big deal in practice, but if I were going to carry FMJ, I would pick something else. i wouldnt carry 380 FMJ anyway, regardless of reliability.  Just not enough dammage, and with only 7 shots, i need some serious knockdown power in one shot There is no such thing as "knockdown power" in any pistol round. .380 ACP is an anemic round. In JHP they tend to underpenetrate badly. FMJ is the only ammunition that meets the IWBA/FBI minimum penetration standards. The P3AT is a BUG or deep concealment gun. You need to know its severe limitations in regards to incapacitation potential, and plan accordingly.

I personally do not believe the "IWBA/FBI minimum penetration standards" make a lot of sense for my needs in a pocket pistol for self-defense.  I have read a lot of what they have to say, but something is missing from their understanding of bullet wounds IMO.  I also find it rather amazing that they claim 2000 fps as some sort of almost "magical" threshold where all sorts of effects they cannot deny the existence of suddenly start to happen.  Plenty of people have defended themselves with pocket pistol calibers over the years, "anemic" or not.

Quoted: Santa Barbara...do a search at KTOG.org.  This stuff is hot, hot, hot and very inexpensive.  I have run ~150 rounds of this ammo through my P3AT with zero problems, some guys on KTOG use it exclusively.

I have used this stuff, and wouldn't carry it.  Yes, it is hot.  But if I am going to carry something that will not expand, I think I will opt for something not stored improperly (corroded cases and bullets, inconsistent velocities) for the last quarter century or so.  AFAIK, any modern FMJ/TMJ ammo will penetrate to IWBA/FBI standards anyway (if that is what you are after), why deal with the extra muzzle flip, noise, and blast from the Santa Barbara?  Over at KTOG, many posters don't shoot it even for practice due to the battering it can give a P-3AT after just a little use; others are waiting for Wolff to come out with stiffer recoil springs before they will try it.

edit:  Typo

Quoted: MagTech and UMC usually work well.  Avoid anything that doesn't use a brass case (Blazer and Russian ammo), and Magsafe.  WWB is hit and miss as far as reliability.  I suggest avoiding it until you are sure your pistol works well with other types of ammo. edit:  Almost forgot:  avoid American Ammunition (a.k.a. Amerc) in all your firearms.hock.gif

Magtech has a warning on their box last I knew telling us not to use it in Kel-tecs.

Quoted: Quoted: MagTech and UMC usually work well.  Avoid anything that doesn't use a brass case (Blazer and Russian ammo), and Magsafe.  WWB is hit and miss as far as reliability.  I suggest avoiding it until you are sure your pistol works well with other types of ammo. edit:  Almost forgot:  avoid American Ammunition (a.k.a. Amerc) in all your firearms. Magtech has a warning on their box last I knew telling us not to use it in Kel-tecs.

You are confusing Magtech with MagSafe.  Magtech is my favorite practice ammo for the P-3AT.  I have fired many, many boxes, and there has never been any type of warning on any of them.  MagSafe is sold in 8 round blister packs, some of which have the warning.  Read the stickied thread on the top of this forum on why it is a bad idea.