Magtech Archives - Walt in PA

A few weeks ago I received a very surprising email, from Lucky Gunner, asking if I would be interested in reviewing some of their ammunition. All I had to do was put together a review, however I saw fit, and they would provide me with some ammunition, free of charge. I would have been crazy not to accept some free ammunition and was happy to take them up on their offer. We briefly discussed the calibers that I shot and it was decided that Lucky Gunner wanted me to give their Magtech First Defense 380 Auto SCHP (Solid Copper Hollow Point) a try. Brand: Magtech Line: First Defense Quantity: 20 Per Box Bullet: Solid Copper Hollow Point Case: Boxer Primed Nickel-Plated Brass Caliber: .380 Auto Weight: 77 Grain Muzzle Velocity: 1099 ft/sec Muzzle Energy: 207 ft/lb Ammo Cost: $30 per box (less when purchased in quantity) Shipping Cost: Varies by Zipcode Shipping Having never received ammunition in the mail, I didn't know what to expect in terms of shipping. I had this crazy notion that something as volatile as ammunition would take forever to arrive via UPS Ground and may come complete with armed guards. The reality was that it shipped just like any other item I've ever purchased online. In three days time, the ammunition left the shipping location in Georgia and arrived on my doorstep, in Pennsylvania. This single experience dispelled all of my concerns of delayed shipping. Cost on the other hand stings a bit when ordering in small quantities. Your milage may vary, but shipping to my zipcode runs between $12.74 (FedEx Home Delivery) and $13.10 (UPS Ground). If I bump the quantity from 1 box up to 5 boxes, I see very little change in shipping charges. The moral of the story here is apparent. If you are planning on ordering ammunition online, order as much as you can afford to get the best bang for your buck. Shooting When I purchased my Smith & Wesson Bodyguard, I was cautioned that these types of small pocket pistols could be very picky about ammunition. I was told that if I were to use something like Cor-Bon Pow'R Ball, with its round nose and filled hollow-point, I wouldn't have a problem with feeding. I took this advice to heart and avoided anything with a large hollow cavity in the bullet. As a result, I was a little concerned about how reliable the Magtech would be. It turns out that reliability wasn't an issue at all and the gun handled all rounds beautifully. Accuracy was wonderful at 5, 10, and 15 yards. My groups began to spread out at 20 yards, however, that was probably more my fault than that of the ammunition. Thoughts When it comes to self-defense ammunition, I am very timid about what I carry. Based on firing two boxes of Magtech 380 Auto SCHP, I feel confident in the reliability and accuracy of the product. Before I would consider making the switch from Cor-Bon Pow'R Ball to Magtech First Defense, I would need to see some ballistics tests to show reliability of expansion and penetration. Pending those tests, I would certainly recommend this product for everyday carry. Lucky Gunner was a pleasure to deal with throughout the entire process. Even when I had to send an email apologizing for the delay in doing this review (I was in a car accident and became rather busy for a two-week period), they were pleasant and seemed genuinely excited to hear my thoughts of their product. As a result of this experience, I would not hesitate to do business with Lucky Gunner in the future