[tony2029]

Hello new to reloading and need some help. Looking for what is the best brass and primers and bullets to use if i'm using hodgdon hp-38. I'm using a bersa thunder380 thanks

[dap22]

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

If you're looking for reloading recipes, the Hodgdon website is a good place to go. As for brass, bullets, and primers, there are many choices, too many to list. Winchester is my preferred brass, bullets I prefer Montana Gold and for primers, CCI, Winchester, Tula........whatever I can find actually.

[cfullgraf]

For 380 ACP cases, I use what I can find sticking with the major brands. Currently, I use Berry plated bullets but have used cast and jacketed round nose in the 95-100 grain range.

I use powders that I have on hand for other cartridges. Mostly 700-X these days which I use in 45 ACP.

I use whatever standard small pistol primers I have on hand.

I want reasonable accuracy at short ranges and that is not rocket science.

[chris in va]

Ask around on the for sale section for 380 brass. No need to get new brass.

[Hondo 60]

^^^^ what he said^^^^^^^^

for primers, I like Tula cuz they're cheap.
I just paid $19.60/1000
For bullets, I'd go with Hornady XTP for carry & probably Berry's for plinking ammo.

[tglazie]

I have great luck with hp38/w231 using 100gr Berrys HBRN and 95gr LRN. I see slightly better and cleaner results using N320 with the same bullets, but both powders are excellent.

[jibjab]

Not all JHPs will expand at 380 velocities.
I would start with plated or hardcast lead bullets, round nose or TC will do but finding a workable COL maybe easier with a round nose bullet.

I think W-231 is a excellent powder choice.

I would try to use a primer that is listed in your load data.

[FROGO207]

My thought is to start with inexpensive jacketed or plated bullets first if you have no experience already with loading lead bullets. There will be less of an issue when learning basic pistol ammo loading as they are more forgiving IMHO. Then when you get your loading down and a good load then find a good expanding (usually more money) bullet to use. The next step would learn lead loading which is less forgiving (lots more things to look for, leading, sizing, etc.) for economy.

[OldMac]

Check a few of the 100gr+ bullets in your pistol before you load a bunch of them. My lcp loves anything in the 85-95 range but has some feed problems on the fat nosed larger bullets. It will still load and fire but one or two out of fifty need some help. Thats fine for the range but i prefer 100% confidence for carry. The 90 gr hornady critical defense seems to expand the best at 380 velocities for me.

[ArchAngelCD]

Are you building range ammo or SD ammo?
Do you want to load FMJ, lead or JHP ammo?
What velocity are you looking to generate?

You really didn't give us enough information so we can help. The link to the Hodgdon load data site above is a good idea. Always check any load data given to you on the Internet. Mistakes can and will happen when writing numbers, be careful.

Welcome to the forum...

[Pilot]

I use 92 grain copper washed lead bullets with my once fired brass, and HP-38/W231.

[tony2029]

im building range ammo for now the load fmj i dont know about velocity

i have hp-38 powder, Federal Small Pistol Primers, and Starline Reloading Brass 380 ACP but i dont know what bullets to use

[Centaur 1]

For range ammo you're better off in the beginning if you use plated bullets, they are cheaper than jacketed. Before using lead you should slug your barrel, undersized bullets will create issues with barrel leading. A lot of reloader have good luck with Berry's, they're $80/1000 and free shipping.

http://www.berrysmfg.com/product-i14470-c10-g8-b0-p0-.380_Cal_100gr_FBRN.aspx

[Sky King]

I've been using Magtech 95gr FMJ bullets and Magtech Primers along with HP38 in my Bersa Thunder

[ArchAngelCD]

I am not a fan of plated bullets and I feel they cost too much for what they are. I would use either the less expansive lead bullets or FMJ bullets from MagTech, Hornady, Winchester or Remington at almost the same price as plated bullets.
Remington 95gr FMJ @$67.46/500 (http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1601158769/remington-bullets-380-acp-356-diameter-95-grain-full-metal-jacket)
MagTech 95gr FMJ @$54.99/500 (http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1657113581/magtech-bullets-380-acp-355-diameter-95-grain-full-metal-jacket)

500 Rainer 100gr RN plated bullets are $50 (Cabela's) $48 (Midway)
500 Berry's 100gr RN plated bullets are $46 (Cabela's)

[gspn]

+1 on Berrys plated bullets. I just started loading .380 and have run through about 200 of them so far...no problems at all...they shhot well and they are relatively cheap.

Ive used Berrys in other calibers as well...all with no problems.

[Centaur 1]

I am not a fan of plated bullets and I feel they cost too much for what they are. I would use either the less expansive lead bullets or FMJ bullets from MagTech, Hornady, Winchester or Remington at almost the same price as plated bullets.
Remington 95gr FMJ @$67.46/500 (http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1601158769/remington-bullets-380-acp-356-diameter-95-grain-full-metal-jacket)
MagTech 95gr FMJ @$54.99/500 (http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1657113581/magtech-bullets-380-acp-355-diameter-95-grain-full-metal-jacket)

500 Rainer 100gr RN plated bullets are $50 (Cabela's) $48 (Midway)
500 Berry's 100gr RN plated bullets are $46 (Cabela's)
I'm a lead shooter all the way, I cast all my own bullets. The problem is that a lot of .380's have oversized bores and standard sized bullets will cause barrel leading. My LCP has a bore that's .3573", and I shoot bullets that are .358".

[RandyP]

Berry's or Ranier plated for me, same powder as the OP - no negatives to report. Mostly Starline brass and Wolf primers.

My local ranges prohibit bare lead reloads.

[ArchAngelCD]

Berry's or Ranier plated for me, same powder as the OP - no negatives to report. Mostly Starline brass and Wolf primers.

My local ranges prohibit bare lead reloads.
That's why it's a good idea to save factory ammo boxes. What they don't know won't hurt them and won't cost you extra money. :evil:

[RandyP]

Nah - I respect the folks who run the great gun shoppe and range - I'm one of those old fogies who learned early on to follow rules. - lol - besides, I don;t want to be inhaling those burned lube and lead fumes either.

[GCBurner]

A .380 from a 3" barreled pocket pistol at 7 to 10 yards doesn't need match target ammo precision, it primarily needs reliability. I mainly reload with whatever brass and FMJ 95gr. bullets are least expensive, for range practice ammo, with mixed brass, Winchester primers, and Red Dot or Titegroup powder. For actual carry use, I use factory 95gr. ammo from CCI Blazer, which has functioned with 100% reliability from my pistol.

[A Pause for the Coz]

You have plenty of options for the .380
I suppose you could spend as much as you want on premium components.

I do have some Hornady xtp loads that I keep for self defense.

But for taking it out and blasting. Why spend more than you have too?

Buy used brass. Once fired who cares. Your going to loose them long before you wear one out.

Primers magtech, cci, Wolf, Tula. what ever is on sale.

Bullets:
Wideners sells some copper clad bullets for $75 for 1000 shipped. These are not the most accurate ( Paper plate at 25 yards good)
http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=100000271&dir=278|281|1082|1143

I also shoot these LEE 358-105 SWC in my 380.

http://www.titanreloading.com/molds/bullet-molds/357-mag-38spec-38-sw-38colt-np/lee-6-cav-mold-358-105-swc-
These shoot surprisingly well sized at .358 and tumble lubed. Shoots 2 inch groups at 25 yards.
I know they work in a Taurus 380 not sure about the Bersa.

Thats pretty much what I shoot unless I find a deal on some thing else. But it would have to be better than the $75 for 1000 shipped. 8 inches is good enough for plinking.

[ArchAngelCD]

Nah - I respect the folks who run the great gun shoppe and range - I'm one of those old fogies who learned early on to follow rules. - lol - besides, I don;t want to be inhaling those burned lube and lead fumes either.
I was only playing with you, of course if the range prohibits the use of lead bullets you don't use them.

BUT, from the studies I've read it's not the bullets that cause lead in the air, it's poor ventilation systems and the primers.

[bds]

I am not a fan of plated bullets and I feel they cost too much for what they are. I would use either the less expansive lead bullets or FMJ bullets from MagTech, Hornady, Winchester or Remington at almost the same price as plated bullets.
Remington 95gr FMJ @$67.46/500
MagTech 95gr FMJ @$54.99/500
I like Winchester, Remington, Montana Gold jacketed bullets and Speer plated GD/TMJ bullets but quite impressed by the performance of Berry's hollow base bullets - http://www.berrysmfg.com/product-i14471-c10-g8-b0-p0-.380_Cal_100gr_HBRN.aspx

100 gr RNHB $74/1000 shipped (that's for 1000, not 500) - http://www.tjconevera.com/berrys-380-cal-100-g380101.html
http://www.berrysmfg.com/upload/bullets/plated/100hbrn_md.jpg

[ArchAngelCD]

I like Winchester, Remington, Montana Gold jacketed bullets and Speer plated GD/TMJ bullets but quite impressed by the performance of Berry's hollow base bullets - http://www.berrysmfg.com/product-i14471-c10-g8-b0-p0-.380_Cal_100gr_HBRN.aspx

100 gr RNHB $74/1000 shipped (that's for 1000, not 500) - http://www.tjconevera.com/berrys-380-cal-100-g380101.html
http://www.berrysmfg.com/upload/bullets/plated/100hbrn_md.jpg
I gave some HB 185gr .452" Berry's bullets a try in my .45 Auto and I had a big problem loading them. I would say every 4th or 5th would shave the plating off and yes, I did increase the bell and by a lot and it still happened. It's a shame too because the ones I did shoot were very accurate and I was impressed by that accuracy. (even more accurate than my 230gr LRN loads and I thought those were accurate)

[bds]

I gave some HB 185gr .452" Berry's bullets a try in my .45 Auto and I had a big problem loading them. I would say every 4th or 5th would shave the plating off and yes, I did increase the bell and by a lot and it still happened.
Berry's plated bullets tend to be sized larger and they advertise them with lead bullet diameters. Perhaps you should have applied less taper crimp?

I used .473" taper crimp with 185 gr 45ACP HBRN bullets and even when seating/taper crimping in the same step using Lee dies, I do not shave the plating off. 5.6 gr of W231/HP-38 loaded to 1.250" OAL produced very accurate shot groups and milder recoil.

Here's Berry's 185 gr HBRN loaded with .473" taper crimp (on the right) next to a factory 230 gr FMJ (on the left). When I pull the bullet, I will barely see a taper crimp mark or no mark on the bullet's plating.
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=173956&stc=1&d=1351452522

Sorry for the thread hijack ... back to OP. :D

[ArchAngelCD]

There were 185gr SWC bullets and I am crimping in a separate operation so it's not the crimp that's the problem.

[bds]

HB 185gr .452" Berry's bullets a try in my .45 Auto
AFAIK, Berry's make HB bullet only in 185 gr HBRN? http://www.berrysmfg.com/products-c17-45_Cal_.452.aspx

I am crimping in a separate operation so it's not the crimp that's the problem.
You were shaving the plating off while seating the bullet?

We are really thread-jacking now ... perhaps a new thread discussion? ;)

[ArchAngelCD]

Yeah, during the seating.
It's possible the bullet was slightly canted which could also happen in other calibers like the .380.

Sorry to the OP for going off topic...

[RandyP]

Too true - back in the 'olden' days there was an indoor range that even let me shoot my black powder Navy revolver - heck after about three rounds you couldn't even see downrange due to all the smoke - lol

There are three ranges I frequent, and they all have varying degrees of ventillation - I REALLY envy folks like my brother out in Hoosierland who has a nice outdoor range setup in his back yard.