Powder Choice for .380

Save yourself some time and don't bother trying to use the charge bar with Unique for anything below 5gr. For low charge weights it will fluctuate all over the place and occasionally throw only a couple flakes which gives you a high chance of loading a squib. Just use the disc for Unique and you'll be much happier.

Good info thanks guys

drband said:

Thanks! That's a time saver![emoji41]

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You may also find that your "new unique" is a lot less dense than the PAD chart says... Mine throws .8 to a full grain lighter than the chart indicates. I have to step up two or even three orifice sizes higher than the chart indicates (usually for other powders the chart is only slightly optimistic, requiring one orifice size higher than indicated for a particular charge).

However, once I found the right orifice, my Unique and PAD drops very consistently at 4.0 grains and up.

So just be sure to weigh a bunch of charges and write down what your PAD actually throws.

Mad Chemist said:

Save yourself some time and don't bother trying to use the charge bar with Unique for anything below 5gr. For low charge weights it will fluctuate all over the place and occasionally throw only a couple flakes which gives you a high chance of loading a squib. Just use the disc for Unique and you'll be much happier.

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Or do this:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=757530

I use 3.0 gr Titegroup for plinking through my PPK with a 95 gr. FMJ. Dirty, but pretty consistent and I've got a bunch on hand.

W231 is my favorite for 380. I have used AA#2. It was pretty OK. Meters great, for sure.

1KPerDay said:

You may also find that your "new unique" is a lot less dense than the PAD chart says... Mine throws .8 to a full grain lighter than the chart indicates. I have to step up two or even three orifice sizes higher than the chart indicates (usually for other powders the chart is only slightly optimistic, requiring one orifice size higher than indicated for a particular charge).



However, once I found the right orifice, my Unique and PAD drops very consistently at 4.0 grains and up.



So just be sure to weigh a bunch of charges and write down what your PAD actually throws.

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I find most all powders drop light on the disk chart. I think lee did that with safety in mind for that one in a hundred joker that tried to reload without a scale.

My go-to loads for 100 grain 380 Auto are IMR PB and IMR SR7625. I also get good results with SR4756. The bad news is that all three powders are on the 'no longer available' list but the good news is that I have a few pounds of each on hand which should last me a long time. I'll be motorcycling to a favorite reloading shop today to pick up three more pounds of SR4756.

Has anyone used Clays for 380?

I reload 45acp and have a bunch of Clays powder on hand, that being my choice for soft plinking in a 1911. Wondering if it might be suitable for 380's?

I do have some 231 and Bullseye but not a lot.

IMR SR7625. I also get good results with SR4756

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+1 but I think Im biased-2 of my favorite powders-

What gun are you loading it for? I like the 231 for my G42 the best but also like the Bullseye.

SR9 and p238..

Im really becoming fond of BE too. At first I didnt see what all the fuss was about but it seems to work nicely with any weight bullet I stick on there in either caliber.

I had mixed luck as far as accuracy goes with titegroup but I am not done working up loads yet.

I found the chargebar useless under about 4.5 grains of just about any powder. I also bought a knock off micro disk set off of ebay that was worthless.

I ended up filling the cavities on a spare disk with JB weld. Then I drilled out the holes until they gave me a good spread. I was able to throw as low as 2.3 grains of titegroup every time accurately this way. It also works well with powder pistol and bullseye.

I have always been surprised that lee doesn't seem to be aware that people routinely need charges of various powders that are under 3 grains.

I'd go with AA#2 for a blow back action 380acp, if you find any W-231/HP-38 or Bullseye that will work as well. As mentioned the metering is a biggy with small charges.

drband said:

Bersa Thunder .380

I'm using Accurate #2, but want to try Red Dot & Unique if I can figure out how to get them to meter small charges in my Lee ProAutoDisc.

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It's pretty hard to beat AA#2 unless you go with AA#5.

I like unique and #5 in the .380 but now I'm using ram shot zip cause I bought a few lbs of it when it was all I could get. Works great in that caliber and several others for that matter.

I use 3.0 to 3.2 grains of aa #2 in my 380

ljnowell said:

I find most all powders drop light on the disk chart. I think lee did that with safety in mind for that one in a hundred joker that tried to reload without a scale.

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Yes... but as noted, other powders are typically within .1-.3 grains of the chart, max. Unique is up to .8 lighter than indicated. This is the only powder that I've found with this issue. My unique is the "new unique" if it matters.

I found the chargebar useless under about 4.5 grains of just about any powder

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Check out this easy mod Schwing. Works really really good. If you do loads with large charges also, you may want to purchase another Charge Bar because this will take away a bit of the dropping capacity at the upper end. Check this thread:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=757530


Very easy to do also--- (if I can do it, I know you can do it)..

1KPerDay said:

Yes... but as noted, other powders are typically within .1-.3 grains of the chart, max. Unique is up to .8 lighter than indicated. This is the only powder that I've found with this issue. My unique is the "new unique" if it matters.

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My experience is that finer powders such as AA pistol powders are closer to the chart than flakes. The bigger the flakes the worse it is. With 700x I had to go three bigger I think to get it. Power pistol is usually two, sometimes three.

Scarpia said:

My go-to loads for 100 grain 380 Auto are IMR PB and IMR SR7625. I also get good results with SR4756. The bad news is that all three powders are on the 'no longer available' list but the good news is that I have a few pounds of each on hand which should last me a long time. I'll be motorcycling to a favorite reloading shop today to pick up three more pounds of SR4756.

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PB is not going away, it has changed to Hodgdon as the manufacturer:

http://hodgdon.com/shotpist.html

My favorite powder for 380 has been Power Pistol, but I have to admit I have not tried a lot of powders in 380 yet. The results I have gotten with PP in 380 have been great, though.