We’ve finally gotten our hands on some PolyCase .380. As ammunition supplies continue to disappear, the arrival of any ammunition is a welcome sight. But PolyCase is different. As we reported earlier, PolyCase ammunition has plastic cases.
The polymer case is the latest practical ammunition development. It is lighter (if only marginally). The materials are more readily available (and cheaper). And they perform well. While these developments seem almost trivial for the .380 ACP round, PolyCase feels differently. They know that if they can work within the tight tolerances of the .380 ACP, they can make just about any round.
Shooting
The PolyCase shoots fine, which is the point. I don’t see any increase in accuracy. Nor do I see any decrease. These rounds work as well as the Hornady rounds I usually carry in the Colt Mustang.
Hornady reports that their .380 XTP runs at 1,000 fps from a 4-inch barrel. PolyCase reports 880 fps. Ballistics by the Inch logs 907 fps from the same barrel length. While the PolyCase is coming in last, the difference is small.
And I shot PolyCase with four different bullet types: two different 90 grain jacketed hollow points, one 95 grain JHP, and a 100 grain plated ball. I couldn’t feel the difference between them, though the 95 grains shot a tighter group, if only marginally.
One unique feature of the polymer is its aesthetic potential. While brass is, typically, brass, PolyCase can be any color polymer can be. So you can even dress up your rounds, if you’re into that sort of thing.
As for the weight difference, 50 rounds of brass cased Hornady 90 grain XTP.380 weighs almost 3 ounces more than 50 rounds of PolyCase with the same Hornady XTP bullets. Again, it seems inconsequential, but remember that these are a proof-of-concept. Larger rounds will have bigger differences in weight.
Criticisms?
The PolyCase does have one drawback. I load and unload my guns frequently. The PolyCase goes in just fine. The polymer has a touch of a soapy feel to it, even. But live rounds are hard to eject. Once fired, the cases fly free, exactly like they should. But the effort needed to pull a live round was surprising. It isn’t impossible, but more difficult than I would like.
Otherwise, PolyCase is flawless. And while that doesn’t make for a really dramatic product review, it is worth mentioning. Keep your eyes on PolyCase. This may be our future. And they are priced competitively with other well made hollow point .380, somewhere around the $25 mark for a box of 25.
The post Ammo Review: PolyCase .380 (VIDEO) appeared first on Guns.com.