Just bought a .380 Looking for your favorite loads

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I'm heading down the .380 path as well. My wife got a G42 for Christmas. We found right away you need to have a solid grip or it will jam. It shoots factory 95 gr fio ammo fine.

I picked up some 100 gr. plated bullets from RMR and have just started to try and find a load. I have universal on hand and it meters well so I tried that first. Per the Hodgdon load data center 3.1 gr is start, 3.4 gr is max (just over 16k psi). I loaded 6 rounds at each .1 gr power level up to 3.5 gr. None of them reliably cycle the action. The best I got was 2 jams out of 6 shots using the 3.4 or 3.5 gr loads. At the minimum loads I had 100% failure to eject.

I have not decided if I want to try another batch at .2 and .3 over max with universal and look for pressure signs, or find a different powder. I have Clays, Clay Dot, 20/28, BE-86, W296, & 700x on hand. On the burn rate charts universal is right there with unique and power pistol - so I think the be-86 would be similar to the universal.

I have not tried leaving the action open and putting it away for a couple of weeks either. I think right now the pistol is at about 300 rounds fired.
 
John, Hodgdon uses a Hornady FMJ. It could be the difference of plated to FMJ and the profiles of those bullets. I'd try some different factory ball ammo just to be sure you/ her gun isn't picky.
 
It works with all the factory ammo I have tried. She had troubles with it at first because she just didn't have a solid grip. I shot it and no failures, she would get 2 or 3 jams per magazine using the same ammo. Once she improved her grip she was fine.

Yesterday I was shooting from a rest. It could be a grip issue, but I don't think so.

From what I've read the G42, being a locked breech action, likes hot loads, and does not do well with light or soft loads. I've heard of people going to a lighter spring, but I haven't tried that either.

From what I've read the Speer manual lists loads up to 3.8 gr of Universal, I don't have that manual and haven't found one to look at to verify. I did find a discussion on Glock Talk about the G42, someone there ran quickloads on the .380 and came up with the 3.8gr. load as being right at the SAAMI guidelines for max pressure.

I have not looked closely at the casings from yesterdays tests. I did look over the primers and checked a couple cases for any casehead expansion. I can't detect any difference between the 3.1gr. to the 3.5gr. loads.

ETA: I went and looked at a Speer manual, 14th ed. The Speer manual publishes max loads of 4.3 gr universal for 90 gr fmj, and 4.1 gr for 95 gr fmj (compared to 3.6 for the 90 gr JHP, and 3.5 for the 95 gr FMJ in the Hodgdon data). The discussion on Glock Talk I read was using Quickload to generate a 100 gr load. The Speer manual does not have a load published for a 100 gr. projectile. The Quickload analysis indicates the 4.1 gr load for the 95 gr FMJ would be right at SAAMI max pressure. Quickload was then used to look at a 100 gr projectile. Their analysis indicated 3.8 gr would be at SAAMI max pressure.
 
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A good economical 380 load I make has 100 grain plated bullets from Ranier or Xtreme and Bullseye powder. Starting load is 2.5 grains and can work up as high as 3.1 grains.
 
Currently I own a pair of G42's, they do indeed like full power ammo but nothing beyond SAAMI spec has ever been needed for them.

Many of the G42's made before about Sept 2015 have problems with the slide stop locking open, with rounds still in the mag. If that's happening to you and you have one of the older guns, the only solution seems to be exchanging the mags for the latest version that has "03" underneath the part number on the back of the mag, and installing the slide stop with a -2 after the part number stamped on the inside. Glock did that for free on my two older guns, but I had to pay shipping to them because the guns were over a year old. If you have a friendly FFL, he can send them much cheaper via USPS but be sure to insure properly.

I've fired well over a thousand of my practice reloads which use mixed brass, Win primer, X-treme 100 gr plated FP bullet loaded to .950" COAL, 3.4 gr WW231.
Caution- I could not find that combination in any of the loading manuals, trying to interpolate and extrapolate existing data suggests that I'm either over the max load or just barely at the starting load, take your choice. :scrutiny: These average 843 fps from my gun, most 95 gr factory loads average 860-900 fps from my gun but of course the bullet is 5 gr lighter.
Freedom Munitions reloads with the same bullet and COAL average 955 fps from my guns, much hotter, but I don't know what powder they are using or if they even know what pressures they are producing. Commercial reloads can be strange...

My G42 has replaced the Airweight J-frames I carried as pocket guns for 30+ years.
 
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Im almost certain I settled on 3.0gr of Bullseye under a Berrys 100gr RN hollow back. I dont have my load data handy right now but Id at least bet a klondike bar thats what it is. Ive only shot it through LCPs though
 
John, the G42 does indeed like full power loads to operate the slide all the way back. I have loaded with Bullseye and Titegroup with 100 grain plated at 3.0-3.1 with success. My favorite is a 105 grain Bayou coated with 2.8 grains of W231/HP38. The coated bullets will take a somewhat lighter charge. The faster powders seem to work a little better than the slower ones. This has been my experience. I'm probably way over 6000 rounds through mine.
I just swapped out 8 of the older mags with the newer 03 versions but have yet to shoot with any of them. Just got them yesterday.
 
Dudedog said:
Starting to feel better and was able to pick up the pistol.
Wonder if the 10 day waiting period is what made me ill. :)

As you can see it is small so shooting it should be interesting, maybe a bit more
challenging than my 1911 9mm.

kcofohio, a big thanks for the bullets got them today, nice looking bullets and the TJ Conevera's HPs look really sweet. (looks like West bound packages are faster, mine to you won't be there for another day)

Looking forward to loading for it and testing.

Hondo 60, nice to hear Titegroup and Universal. I really like Universal for 9mm as well.
Click to expand...

Dudedog, The package finally arrived. Thank you for the generous variety. :)

Also, thanks for sharing your chrony results. And the other goodies. :D
 
Boy was I off

:eek:
Got sidetracked today but I loaded up some rounds with the Xtreme 100 RNFP for initial testing / break in of my new Kahr.
I loaded some with CFE-P at 3.3, some at 3.5 and some at 3.7 and the last 5 at 3.9gr -- 50 rounds (charge range 3.3 to 4gr)
Also some with HP38 2.9gr and Ramshot ZIP 2.8gr and 3.0gr

Off to the indoor range.
It appears at this point in time my Kahr does not like light starting loads or medium loads.
(maybe like the G42 only happy with the heavier loads, but it is not broken in yet, and may get better)
CFE-Pistol
3.3 Soft but no extraction, 15 rounds :eek: Shot them all single shot.:banghead:
(as fast as pulling them) (still in chamber no jam)
on to 3.5....
3.5 :eek: same routine as 3.3 another 15 rounds single shot
3.7 ok, getting somewhere now sort of, a few ejected most semi stove pipe type jams. 15 rounds, practice clearing drill :rolleyes:
3.9 fed and extracted
This is almost the max charge of CFE-P for 100gr bullet
HP38 2.9gr 15 rounds some did not try to extract, some jams, one was ok.
ZIP 2.8 :cuss: back to single shot mode.....
ZIP 3.0gr repeat of 3.7 CFE-P results, getting good at clearing jams by now:rolleyes:

Note pistol is happy with Federal White box.
So I would say from now on for the other powders I will load 5 at start charge just to be safe, probably more single shot mode at start charges.
Then maybe 5 mid range then the rest at a bit below Max and at Max.

Need to redo the CFE-P, HP38 and ZIP loads at heavier charges,
and try Titegroup, Bullseye, BE86 and Universal.

This is really the first time I have had issues with FTEs (except when I was testing how low I could go in 9mm before getting them and then it was always quite a bit below Start charge)
So loading .380 for the Kahr has been interesting so far. :)
 
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I had them at .975 which just barely plunked. Maybe I will back off on powder a bit and try seating deeper. I was at the indoor range so no chrono numbers which would be helpful to me here.
I don't know about the Taraus but the Kahr has really stiff springs.
(Would have liked to get one of the little Taraus if they were on the CA list)

Thanks for the bullet samples :cool: I appreciate it. :)
 
I have to load Titegroup and Bullseye at about 3.0-3.1 with plated bullets to get them to cycle reliably in my 42. For lead coated I can drop down a couple of tenths.
 
wlkjr said:
John, the G42 does indeed like full power loads to operate the slide all the way back. I have loaded with Bullseye and Titegroup with 100 grain plated at 3.0-3.1 with success. My favorite is a 105 grain Bayou coated with 2.8 grains of W231/HP38. The coated bullets will take a somewhat lighter charge. The faster powders seem to work a little better than the slower ones. This has been my experience. I'm probably way over 6000 rounds through mine.
I just swapped out 8 of the older mags with the newer 03 versions but have yet to shoot with any of them. Just got them yesterday.
Click to expand...
Well, I learned a bit of a lesson. The bullets I ordered were 100 gr RNFP plated bullets sized to .355.

After some more experimenting at the range I finally followed a suggestion and slugged the G42 bbl. I came up with a slug diameter of .356 -.3565. The .355 plated bullets are .355

This may explain why I've not been able to get the pressures even at the max universal load to cycle the action.

I guess I need to go find some .356 plated or coated bullets. (these are for range plinking)
 
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John3921 said:
Well, I learned a bit of a lesson. The bullets I ordered were 100 gr RNFP plated bullets sized to .355.

After some more experimenting at the range I finally followed a suggestion and slugged the G42 bbl. I came up with a slug diameter of .356 -.3565. The .355 plated bullets are .355

This may explain why I've not been able to get the pressures even at the max universal load to cycle the action.

I guess I need to go find some .356 plated or coated bullets. (these are for range plinking)
Click to expand...


.355 is the correct size for 380acp. That's what factory ammo is. I have had the same issue when using a slow burning powder such as Universal. Couldn't get the pressure to operate the slide. I have had no problems with Bullseye powder, even at the lower end of the charge range.
 
Perhaps. But If I were to go cast, (Glock so I won't) I'd want .357 or even .358. Next batch of plated or coated bullets I purchase will be .356 - they are out there.

I did get universal to work the slide, eventually.
 
Thanks BDS I appreciate it.
Need to make trip by the indoor range again before I drive out of town to do chrono testing.

I will see if shortening the OAL up a bit helps. I loaded a bit on the long side being cautious as .380 is new for me and I don't yet know how picky it is about OAL differences.

Duvel,
Got the bullets today. THANKS :D Looking forward to testing the XTPs in .380 and the others in 9mm! Your kindness is greatly appreciated!

Now between what jell-dog (thanks again for giving me a supply of .380 brass and bullets to work with!!!! most :cool:), kcofohio, Duvel have sent, and what BDS is sending I have more than enough .380 bullets to keep me busy for awhile.

You guys are great, I just can't say thanks enough.

Results will be coming soon. :)
 
Darned if I know if it was right or not, but I used an OAL of .958-.960 the last time out. I taper crimped (separate from seating operation) to .370-.371. These functioned and worked the slide on my g42. I was over the hodgdon published max to do so though.

Once I get through the batch of 100 gr plated rnfp's I have, I will look for .356 coated bullets and start over on a load work up.
 
Seems like I was a maybe quite a bit long with my first RNFP loads. :banghead:
First .380s, that's one reason I used CFE-P first, large charge range and fairly forgiving (IMO)

Starting to sound like shorter is the answer. Got some shorter ones loaded up.

BDS tends to be right most of the time by the way, but his wife may disagree with me on this. :)
 
Voodon d. i think a few of us remember when he used to post and was one of the first that got ahold of a g42 and was working up loads for it w/unique @ and oal w/the extrm. fp of .945 Knowing him some from here and there he had results from loads he loaded and range tested. I wish he was still around as i learned @ first from few on here. The .380 pico also 2 guns that have to be broken in and thats were the .950/oal comes in for me. W/w231 i favored it and worked up to pressure signs then backed off a groups came together better. I know he did his homework on both guns and is a missed member by me. John
 
I had a chance to do some testing this weekend.
I didn't load up a lot of each because I was trying to determine what would function well (5 rounds is note enough to tell for sure but gives me a good idea)
and then load up so more for accuracy and function testing this coming weekend.
Here are some of my chrono results from this round of testing, more results to follow.

A big thanks again to everyone who sent sample bullets, I appreciate it!:D

Mixed range brass S+B small pistol primers
Kahr P380, .380 ACP 2.5" barrel (short!)
Charges as thrown by Lee Auto drum, most but not all weighed (shame on me, should have done them all, had one or 2 that were probably light) weight rounded to the nearest .1 by scale.

String: 9
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 12:12:37 PM
Grains: 90
Hi Vel: 878
Low Vel: 805
Ave Vel: 849
Ext Spread: 73
Std Dev: 30
90 CJ Convera HP 3.9 CFE-P .960 OAL
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
860 77.4 147.789
878 79.02 154.04
805 72.45 129.49
831 74.79 137.99
872 78.48 151.942

String: 2
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 12:14:40 PM
Grains: 90
Hi Vel: 896
Low Vel: 843
Ave Vel: 860
Ext Spread: 53
Std Dev: 20
90 Montanna Gold HP 3.9 CFE-P .960 OAL
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
896 80.64 160.421
861 77.49 148.133
848 76.32 143.693
855 76.95 146.075
843 75.87 142.004

String: 8
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 12:09:54 PM
Grains: 90
Hi Vel: 862
Low Vel: 793
Ave Vel: 819
Ext Spread: 69
Std Dev: 31
90 Sierra HP 3.9 CFE-P .920 OAL
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
845 76.05 142.678
804 72.36 129.168
793 71.37 125.658
862 77.58 148.477
794 71.46 125.975

String: 7
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 12:06:33 PM
Grains: 90
Hi Vel: 859
Low Vel: 774
Ave Vel: 812
Ext Spread: 85
Std Dev: 35
90 XTP 3.9 CFE-P .965 OAl
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
859 85.9 163.828
809 80.9 145.311
774 77.4 133.01
807 80.7 144.593

String: 3
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 12:17:38 PM
Grains: 95
Hi Vel: 804
Low Vel: 665
Ave Vel: 752
Ext Spread: 139
Std Dev: 53
95 CMJ FMJ 3.3 ZIP .965 OAl 1 Stovepipe
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
777 73.815 127.341
665 63.175 93.276
744 70.68 116.754
774 73.53 126.359
804 76.38 136.344

String: 3
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 11:49:54 AM
Grains: 100
Hi Vel: 823
Low Vel: 749
Ave Vel: 780
Ext Spread: 74
Std Dev: 30
Berrys RNHB OAl .968 3.9 CFE-P
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
823 82.3 150.43
779 77.9 134.78
755 75.5 126.60
798 79.8 141.4
749 74.9 124.6

String: 6
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 11:59:36 AM
Grains: 100
Hi Vel: 812
Low Vel: 760
Ave Vel: 790
Ext Spread: 52
Std Dev: 20
Berrys RNHB 3.9 CFE=P OAAL .960
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
812 77.14 139.071
760 72.2 121.829
780 74.1 128.326
802 76.19 135.667
796 75.62 133.645

String: 2
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 11:44:35 AM
Grains: 95
Hi Vel: 856
Low Vel: 755
Ave Vel: 813
Ext Spread: 101
Std Dev: 36
CKJ FMJ OAl .968 3.9 CFE-P
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
808 118.776 137.75
856 125.832 154.6
755 110.985 120.27
820 120.54 141.87
826 121.422 143.95

String: 5
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 11:56:20 AM
Grains: 95
Hi Vel: 862
Low Vel: 775
Ave Vel: 813
Ext Spread: 87
Std Dev: 32
CMJ 95 3.9 CFE=P
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
814 81.4 147.113
793 79.3 139.62
862 86.2 164.974
823 82.3 150.384
775 77.5 133.354

String: 9
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 12:34:00 PM
Grains: 100
Hi Vel: 788
Low Vel: 655
Ave Vel: 712
Ext Spread: 133
Std Dev: 48
Xtreme 100 RNFP 3.1 IUniversal .950 OAl To light!
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
788 78.8 137.865
655 65.5 95.254
694 69.4 106.935
716 71.6 113.822
708 70.8 111.293

String: 4
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 12:19:34 PM
Grains: 100
Hi Vel: 805
Low Vel: 724
Ave Vel: 760
Ext Spread: 81
Std Dev: 39
Xtreme 100 RNFP 3.3 Zip .950 OAl 1 to light
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
805 80.5 143.878
801 80.1 142.451
745 74.5 123.229
724 72.4 116.38
729 72.9 117.993

String: 2
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 12:39:48 PM
Grains: 100
Hi Vel: 738
Low Vel: 690
Ave Vel: 709
Ext Spread: 48
Std Dev: 22
Xtreme 100 RNFP2.8 Bullseye .950 OAl To light !
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
738 73.8 120.925
730 73 118.317
690 69 105.706
699 69.9 108.482
690 69 105.706

String: 8
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 12:31:09 PM
Grains: 100
Hi Vel: 806
Low Vel: 746
Ave Vel: 776
Ext Spread: 60
Std Dev: 21
Xtreme 100 RNFP 3.7 BE86 .950 Oal Almost to light
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
806 80.6 144.235
781 78.1 135.427
746 74.6 123.56
780 78 135.08
770 77 131.639


String: 1
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 12:36:54 PM
Grains: 100
Hi Vel: 821
Low Vel: 782
Ave Vel: 804
Ext Spread: 39
Std Dev: 18
Xtreme 100 RNFP 4.0 BE86.950 OAl
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
789 78.9 138.215
821 82.1 149.654
810 81 145.671
782 78.2 135.774
821 82.1 149.654

String: 6
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 12:23:54 PM
Grains: 100
Hi Vel: 823
Low Vel: 786
Ave Vel: 784
Ext Spread: 64
Std Dev: 25
Xtreme 100 RNFP 3.7 WSF .950 Almost to light
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
786 78.6 137.166
814 81.4 147.113
788 78.8 137.865
823 82.3 150.384
759 75.9 127.904
Note: No WSF listed loads for .380 worked up from 3.3, 3.5

String: 7
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 12:28:03 PM
Grains: 100
Hi Vel: 862
Low Vel: 815
Ave Vel: 844
Ext Spread: 47
Std Dev: 17
Xtreme 100 RNFP 4.0 WSF .950 OAl Stiff
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
855 85.5 162.306
845 84.5 158.531
815 81.5 147.474
845 84.5 158.531
862 86.2 164.974
Note: No WSF listed loads for .380 worked up from 3.3, 3.5, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9
Note #2, 3.3 and 3.5 were to light
Note #3 I am not saying the WSF loads are safe. 4.0 was probably a MAX pressure or more load. CAUTION: The following post includes loading data for WSF that is not listed for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.




So to give a quick summary it looks like my little Kahr is happiest if the loads are at least 130ft/lbs. It now has a couple hundred rounds thru it and functions fine IF then load is heavy enough.
 
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Now that I am getting functioning dialed in I can embarrass myself by posting targets next week. :D

The little Kahr is just a tiny bit tougher to shoot well than my 1911 9mm. :rolleyes:
(of course I need to be fair about what to expect as well, completely different beast)
 
I just got my die set in for .380.

I will be loading for my LCP, which is amazingly accurate on box ammo. I hope I can get it dialed in.

Bullet selection is under way.
 
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