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Ruger ARX .380 Ammo

PostPosted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 5:39 pm
by MarkB
I know that this is the Poly Case ammo that is getting an assist from Ruger. There have been several reviews and ordinance gel videos since the last postings here.

I picked up two boxes of .380 Ruger ARX ammo from Brownells for $17.00 a box of 25 rounds. The cartridges are loaded in brass cases with a "JAG" headstamp. The bullet has the profile of a hardball loading except for the three flutes in each bullet.

I have not yet fired the ammo in my RM380 so my comments are from the reviews and articles I have read and the videos I have seen.

The stated velocity of the .380 round is 1315 fps with a 56 gr bullet. The gel test show that the flutes cause a very good initial wound channel from the fluid pressure that the flutes generate. Then the bullet starts to tumble as it slows. This is by design and causes even more wound damage. The bullet in .380 easily goes through 4 layers of denim and still causes the good initial wound channel. It will not clog up like a hollow point will from the cloth.

This is science and technology producing a design that works differently yet is still very effective.

Here is a review that gives a good explanation of how the round works by RealGuysReview.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdkDbpOntns

Here is a gel test with denim.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXlYcabJ3lY

Keep an open mind here. Things change. Remember when "polymer" handguns came out and everyone said they will never work well or catch on? Read the reports and watch the videos and draw your own conclusion. From what I have read and seen, I feel the ARX rounds are effective and a possible improvement over existing designs. The current designs will always work well.

Edited: Here is a faq page from Polycase that gives a lot of info on how their bullets are made and how they work. It's good reading.

http://www.polycaseammo.com/faq

Here is an article from Ed Head from Gunsite:

http://www.downrange.tv/blog/ruger-arx- ... ion/36155/

Re: Ruger ARX .380 Ammo

PostPosted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 5:56 pm
by mauser9
thanks for review Mark. Change is in the wind. Ammo sure ain't cheap these days. Pays to reload I guess.

Re: Ruger ARX .380 Ammo

PostPosted: Mon Dec 07, 2015 7:42 pm
by nitesite
I appreciate you for bringing this to our attention.

This might be good stuff. Or it could be like RBCD.

Time will certainly tell!

Glad you posted this. Thanks!

Re: Ruger ARX .380 Ammo

PostPosted: Sat Dec 26, 2015 9:06 pm
by remingtontoter
I have read several articles on their ammo, but have yet to see any around any of the LGS around me. When I do, you can bet your bottom dollar I'm gonna pick some up. ;)

Re: Ruger ARX .380 Ammo

PostPosted: Sun Dec 27, 2015 4:46 pm
by mauser9
Have been dying to know the price of this new-fangled stuff per box of 25 or 50 rounds. I know Ruger is promoting the stuff with their logo but I won't be surprised if we leave our $$ at the register.

Re: Ruger ARX .380 Ammo

PostPosted: Thu Dec 31, 2015 6:05 pm
by remingtontoter
Prices look to be around 2 dollars more, per average standard ball ammo, per 50 count box. Just did some searching online at Polycase prices...still have not seen any around my area yet. Personally, for the price versus quality, I really like the SIG Elite ammo. It shoots as good as it looks.

Re: Ruger ARX .380 Ammo

PostPosted: Fri Jan 01, 2016 3:53 pm
by SHOOTER13
Over the decades with mostly the same firearms...I have found certain brands perform better and will shoot POA/POI in any particular gun.

I keep a range note book with each firearm and record what works...and what doesn't. Weather conditions, temps, altitude...anything that will and does affect a bullets path to the target is also noted.

If I buy a certain caliber for a certain gun...price doesn't trump quality when picking which is noted as working the best for that particular gun.

I own a Colt Model 1908 and Walther PPK/s in caliber .380...and both like one brand over the other...it's a fact that should be noted.

Re: Ruger ARX .380 Ammo

PostPosted: Sun Jan 10, 2016 8:36 am
by nitesite
SHOOTER13 wrote:Over the decades with mostly the same firearms...I have found certain brands perform better and will shoot POA/POI in any particular gun.

I keep a range note book with each firearm and record what works...and what doesn't. Weather conditions, temps, altitude...anything that will and does affect a bullets path to the target is also noted.

If I buy a certain caliber for a certain gun...price doesn't trump quality when picking which is noted as working the best for that particular gun.

I own a Colt Model 1908 and Walther PPK/s in caliber .380...and both like one brand over the other...it's a fact that should be noted.


Good post Sir.

I'll add just one thing: gimmicky ammo rarely impresses me.

Re: Ruger ARX .380 Ammo

PostPosted: Tue May 31, 2016 9:29 pm
by warbird1
Anyone use Federal Hydrashok in the RM 380?

Re: Ruger ARX .380 Ammo

PostPosted: Wed Jun 01, 2016 7:33 am
by nitesite
Honestly, for years it has been somewhat established that the .380 should just get fed with ball ammo. The reason given is that almost no hollow point self-defense ammo expands with any regularity or reliability. Just strive for being able to penetrate deep enough thru clothing and/or against the much larger girth/density of the American adult today (vs. typical body mass/thickness of an American criminal from 40-years ago... back when we generally started carrying .380 pistols for self defense).

Face it, the cartridge hasn't gotten stronger but on average we have gotten physically much larger than, say, the typical size of an American male from the 1950s era. Back then criminals folded from a couple hits from almost anything. Not today.

Saying that, if I WERE to load SD hollow point bulleted ammo, it would not be a Hydra-Shok. Federal handgun ammunition is top tier, I agree. Why not? Because while that HS bullet was thought to be "as good as one gets" back in the late seventies and eighties it has been vastly improved upon in the past 5-6 years. The Hydra-Shok is quality made in its components (powder/primer/case) but is scarcely better than a ball round in a .380 Auto.

Re: Ruger ARX .380 Ammo

PostPosted: Thu Apr 27, 2017 7:42 pm
by DavidFagan
I tested the arx ammo against a 1/2 dozen or more other defensive ammo. This is now what I keep in my carry 9mm's and 380's. The additional plus of the lower recoil especially in the tiny lcp is substantial. I've found those calibers in the $15-17 a box. They actually tulip ed the backside of a filed metal door.

Re: Ruger ARX .380 Ammo

PostPosted: Fri Apr 28, 2017 7:48 am
by nitesite
Good info to know David. Thanks.

It takes a lot of cash to test more than a half dozen brands of ammo, so what you report is appreciated.

Re: Ruger ARX .380 Ammo

PostPosted: Sun Aug 13, 2017 8:29 am
by Richardw
I spent many hours researching the ARX performance in 380. I searched blogs, YouTube, and online articles. In no case did I find any reason to avoid or reject the ammo. This is a summary of what I found.

Penetration was close to that of ball ammunition.
Penetration in gel was, as expected, dependent on distance from gel and barrel length.
Barrier material had little affect on penetration.
Velocity was, as expected, dependent upon barrel size, but over 900 FPS out of 2.4 inch barrel semi.
High velocity compensates for light bullet weight in term of kinetic energy.
Penetration minimum was about 11 inches and maximum was about 16 inches.
Bullet does not deform regardless of barrier.
Can go throug a car door or windshield.
Reduced recoil compared to RN and HP.
Created large permanent wound cavity than any HP tested against.
Penetrated deeper than any HP tested against.
No failures in any test guns.

As a result I purchased 50 rounds and shot them at indoor range at 25 feet. Using RM 380 achieved 3.5 inch groups. ARX is now my EDC round. Using up HPs on hand to continue breaking in RM 380.

Do not write the ARX off in any caliber. I assure that what sounds like a gimmick is not. It works as advertised.

Re: Ruger ARX .380 Ammo

PostPosted: Sun Aug 13, 2017 10:49 pm
by mauser9
Sounds like many are impressed with this new ammo. Sounded pretty radical when I first read about it. Cost is a big factor too. Nice to get a break.