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Posted On: 12/31/2022
By: Dave
A: Thanks for reaching out, Dave! A compact pistol's barrel is typically 3 to 4" long. When ammunition is designed for a compact firearm, it usually has a lighter bullet and lower muzzle velocity. Those two factors determine recoil energy alongside propellant weight and firearm weight. Essentially, compact ammo helps to mitigate recoil in a lightweight handgun, as the handgun's lower mass equates to greater felt recoil. Compact ammo also often features low-flash propellant. A shorter barrel gives propellant less time to fully combust. When propellant is still combusting upon exiting the barrel, it emits bright light that could throw the shooter's eyes out of acclimation to a dark environment. Now, I want you to be certain that those are just small bonuses to choosing dedicated compact handgun ammo. In truth, your P230 will function just fine with this ammo. Sure, you could choose ammo with less recoil and duller muzzle flash, but when push comes to shove the performance isn't all that different. Furthermore, the vast majority of 380 pistols are technically "compact" to begin with. One of the primary advantages of the cartridge is that it permits the design of a small pistol. To put it another way, Remington doesn't really design 380 ammo under the assumption that it's going to wind up in a handgun larger than a P230. Even the common Glock 42 only has a 3.25" barrel!
Posted On: 1/7/2020
By: Allan
A: Hey Allan, thanks for asking us here at LuckyGunner! Yes, they will work just fine in your Ruger LCP, or any other compact, or even sub-compact you may own. We are happy to help you with ordering these or answer any other questions you may have!
