[hans471]

After reading posts here I decided to add the .380 carbine to my collection. As I looked over the paperwork for it I read the part about magazine compatibility for the rifles. As I read it I got out all my High Point mags and looked them over carefully. When I get time I will post pictures if anyone is interested but here is the basics of what I found.

Mags compared: 995TS (9mm)mag, .380 carbine mag, ProMag 15 round 9mm mag and the Red Ball 9mm 20 round magazine.

If you have a newer carbine you may recall a card that came with it warnings about using old style 995 and aftermarket mags. The picture shows the part of the magazine that works the last round bolt hold open device. The 995TS mag is different than the old 995 (pre-TS) that didn't have the last round device. There is a cut out to allow the follower to push on on the lever to make this work. Old mags didn't have this. I am thinking the old ProMags didn't have it either.

It is very difficult to tell the .380 carbine mag from the 9mm carbine mag. There is a very very small difference but you need to look close to see it. I compared the ProMag (and I think its about a 4th generation design) to the .380 and its a good match. The Red Ball 9mm is also so close as to be hard to tell apart.

Sure they look about the same, but will they actually work? I took the new .380 carbine and all these mags to the range and put them to the test. I am happy to report that all of these mags preformed flawlessly in the .380 carbine. I repeat: All of them. I could tell no difference between them in the rifle.

Details: Ammo was hand loads, 95gn round nose bullets both lead and jacketed. Loaded to "normal" power, not +P or anything hot. I can not promise that all bullet shapes will work this well as I have not tried them all but round nose bullets are the most common load for normal .380 ammo. (Not specialized "personal protection" loads).

You use whatever magazine you want, that is a personal choice. I am not here to tell you to ignore warnings or whatever. I am just reporting what worked in my rifle with my magazines and my ammo during this range trip. I will say that I have no plans to buy any more magazines at this time as all my magazines seem to work just fine in either my .380 or my 9mm carbine.
YMMV

 

[backbencher]

Fascinating that you got the RedBall 20 rounder to work in the .380" carbine. I'm not sure .380"s seen that kind of firepower since the 2nd WW, maybe earlier, lol. Since you're handloading - what is your OAL on your loads?

ETA: You should probably take lots of pics & turn that into an article, get a free membership out of it.

 

[B_Cassidy]

Redball isn't 100% in my 3895. It's a nightmare with flat nose like Winchester White Box, feast or famine with my coated lead handloads (admitted low power which may be a factor), and not quite reliable with factory jacketed round nose.

 

[MachoMelvin]

I have also ran 2 Red Ball mags with 18rds each through my 3895TS, with NO problems. My Red Ball mags were very tight trying to get the last rounds in, so I opted to use less rounds with great success!

 

[hans471]

Redball isn't 100% in my 3895. It's a nightmare with flat nose like Winchester White Box, feast or famine with my coated lead handloads (admitted low power which may be a factor), and not quite reliable with factory jacketed round nose.

As I mentioned, the magazines ran fine with the ammo samples I used. Bullet shaped and the OAL of the round can make a big difference. Also, a slight change in the adjustment of the feed lips can really matter. I will try to get time to write up a full report on this with some pictures. Also I would like to try some other ammo but currently I only have three different loads to work with. These include 95 gn round nose lead, 95 gn round nose jacketed (actually Berry's electro plated) and some Wolf 95 gn. round nose jacketed. I do have some high dollar personal defense +P stuff but for $$ reasons I don't normally burn through those in this carbine.

There are many variables and anyone who has shot much knows that even a tiny variable in the magazine or ammo can result in unreliable feed issues. I may just be lucky in that all my gear is "just right" and all the pieces are playing together well. It is interesting however that I did try four different magazines from three different companies and all worked perfectly. Maybe it was just my luck of the draw?

If you are having feed issues there are corrections you can make. Of course flat nosed bullets are the most problematic in any firearm and I really try to avoid them. They require the feed angle of the round exiting the magazine to be just right. Also, the chamfer on the barrel needs to be good so the round has a better chance of entering the chamber properly. Round nose bullets will often cover up misalignment of parts. Maybe that is why they are so popular?

Adjusting the feed lips is often a quick fix. Of course it does require you to have knowledge going in and a proper adjusting tool does make the job easier. Also, there is some very useful information right here:
http://www.mouseguns.com/hipoint/wolftips.htm

 

[papershooter]

Thanks Hans , I have 5 oe mags and the 3 that I've used worked great . I'm going to break in my carbine then I'll look into the redball mags .

 

[dietdrpepper]

Any updates on shooting the 380carbine with the redball mags? Just picked up a 380carb and want the capability to load it up with about 17-18 rounds in the magazine .

 

[ajole]

Should still work fine with the right bullets; nothing has changed on the mag or gun side of the equation.

 

[dietdrpepper]

thanks! any preferred ammo for the mag?

 

[moona11]

thanks! any preferred ammo for the mag?

The kind that goes pew pew

 

[ajole]

thanks! any preferred ammo for the mag?

That's the problem. What works on one may not work on yours. Buy and try a few, once you know what works in your gun, stick with it.

 

[engine2]

Although I like the Winchester white box for most guns none of my 380's (3895, CF380, LCP, P238 & Micro 380) will cycle the flat nose reliably. The white box round nose, no problem.