380 bullets and powder

[RunninLate]

Just got in a set of Hornady dies for the 380 along with a bunch of brass. I am tumbling and resizing the brass while deciding on what bullets to load.

I looked at Missouri Bullet, Blue Bullet and Extreme Bullet companies for plinking around. When ordering the dies I ordered some Barnes Tac-XP bullets not realizing they were packed 40 to a box.

Questions that I have are:

What bullet would you use for plinking around (prefer not just a lead bullet)
What JHP bullet would you use and weight
The diameter between the JHP and coated is .355 to .356
What power would you load? I have some Bullseye, Unique, 700x and 800X on hand. The loads that I am seeing in hand are showing 231 but I can not find any.

 

[Sunray]

The bullet and powder used depends on the purpose of the pistol. If I was loading .380 for plinking it'd be a cast bullet, only. Jacketed bullets are too expensive. And with Bullseye, but only because I use Bullseye for nearing everything.

 

[J_McLeod]

I prefer 95gr bullets, and have no problems with cast. They're cheaper and shoot just as well. I like MBC. Bullseye should work.

 

[kcofohio]

Have been using the Berry's HBRN 100 gr. here lately with good success. It has more bearing surface. $85.48/1000. And free shipping for orders over $75.

http://www.berrysmfg.com/product-i14471-c10-g8-b0-p0-380_356_100gr_HBRN_1000ct.aspx

I haven't used the powders you listed, but I'm sure they'll work. Maybe not the 800x.

 

[Walkalong]

Plated 100 Gr.

90 Gr XTP.

?

Bullseye or 700X.

 

[mstreddy]

Do a search here on loading 380. There are some great topics and thoughts on loading for it. BDS has done some extensive workups and posted the results. ArtOfGolf started a series on loading for the Glock 42, there are 4 installments and they cover a variety of powders, bullets, weights, etc. The latest in the series #4 has some good info on other pistols as well.

Of the powders that you have, I would suggest Bullseye, but I haven't used it myself, so YMMV.
Bullets, I've used Berrys 100gr and Xtreme 100gr. Both are plated and have worked well for me.

 

[FROGO207]

For the 380 I use Bullseye and X-Treme plated bullets with the charge just above the starting loads for FMJ of the same weight. I have not loaded for it for a year or so and hesitate to give specific data off my memory. If you never have loaded lead bullets for handgun before I would suggest starting with plated. Then when your process is down for that caliber and know what to expect with loads switch to lead and modify as needed. I will wager it will be a better learning curve than just starting with lead.

 

[emptybrass]

I've had good luck with Rainier plated 100 gr.

 

[Toprudder]

Plated 100gn from Extreme. My preferred powder so far is Power Pistol, but I have also used BE-86, Autocomp and CFE Pistol with good results. Of those you have listed, I would go with Bullseye.

 

[rfwobbly]

For 'plinking' go with the lowest cost. That's most probably going to be some 'blems' or 'pulls' from Rocky Mountain Reloading. They always carry a strange variety of everything cast, plated, and jacketed. At the very least it's a great place to start so you don't pay too much.

 

[SFreed]

I also use Berry's 100gr HBRN, but I'm using AA#2.

 

[lauderdale]

Unless I missed it w/gun are you shooting with?

 

[RunninLate]

Lauderdale, I will be using a KelTec or Walther PPK. Maybe in a couple of months a Glock.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

For plinking I use MBC smallball. They now sell them coated, which I will buy when I run low.

 

[748]

I load a lot of 380 and always use unique.
When you have a keg of unique, you can load a lot of 380.
For some reason my reloads always shoot tighter than factory, maybe the factory figures when they are loading for 380 that accuracy does not matter.

 

[Mad Chemist]

Xtreme 100gr plated flat point are cheaper than most lead boolits. They are also cleaner and just as accurate. I used to load MBC 95gr lrn and have no complaints but I find that plated are much less hassle. I may experiment with some coated lead in the near future.

Of the powders you listed, I would go with Bullseye. For .380 you really need to select a powder that meters well since the charge weights are so small. You should also go for medium to fast relative burn rates. Unique, Power Pistol, and Autocomp are probably the slowest powders that work well for .380. I have had very good results with Bullseye, VVN320, and Tightgroup. Unique gives good accuracy and velocity but it is such a pain to meter at charges under 4gr so I quit using it for this cartridge.

 

[lauderdale]

Can I ask you what are you using to weigh your charges with? As there is some great input already here. I don't know every thing but agree w/most all previous. Iv moved on from the G. 42 w/a polygonial barrel (Spelling ?). Am reloading for the newer Berretta pico 380 W/M.Gold 95grainers W/w231, as my B.E. flat point loads and w/231 are fine also in the pico. Both of these guns have a break in period that needs to be met! I been using my T-7 turret and single staging my rounds and using a redding 10x measure w/ a gem pro. 250 to try to be exact.. Be careful and read as much as you can! Just my opinion.

 

[Candyman87]

I either use 95 gr. cast lead bullets or 95 gr. Montana Gold bullets. 100 grain bullets are just too heavy for my little PPK to shoot comfortably all day.

Out of those you show, I've used 700-X successfully, but mostly use either Titegroup or BE-86.

 

[Mad Chemist]

I have a Beretta Pico as well.

I use a Pro Autodisk measure and I verify with this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GGGJUSA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I love this scale. I'll try to post a substantial review at some point. I believe it to be the best digital scale for the money.

 

[ljnowell]

I load 95 grain lead hollow points for my father with AA#5. I have thread here somewhere.

The bullets are reasonably priced from midway, but they are lead, not plated/jacketed.