.380 bullets

[Gravedigger56]

I'm thinking about starting to reload .380 auto. I notice some manuf. offer .380 bullets and some do not. I like Hornady bullets and from what I see, do you just use their 9mm for .380 since they are the same diameter. If so what weight is your favorite for plinking loads? 90, 100?

 

[TwinReverb]

X-Stream bullets (a Freedom Munitions related company).

 

[kcofohio]

Yes, 380 auto and 9mm are the same diameter. 380 reload data usually run from about 80 ge. to 115 gr. the norm is 90-100 gr.

Load for data in the powder of your likings. That will help guide you on bullet selection.

 

[jwrowland77]

My favorite load in my .380 is a 120gr TC cast bullet over bullseye. Most accurate load I have for it.

 

[fouled bore]

I just started to reload some using Speer TMJ 95 gr with IMR SR7625. Have yet to get a good load, I can't find good load data. If I recall correct my Lyman book has COL as .900 and that is really short. I have loaded at .950 with 3.4 gr of the 7625 and it will now cycle the gun. Anything less will fail to eject. I am thinking of trying a different power like HS38 or 231. The Speer load data has the 231 max at something like 4.0 with a COL at .980 (max) length. This seems a little hot to me. I want to pick up some Barry's plated 100 gr and try them sometime. I would like some powder suggestions if anyone has them.

 

[Candyman87]

I use Montana Gold 95 gr. FMJ in my .380 reloads. I've used successfully with everything from Power Pistol, BE-86, Titegroup, and W-231.

Plus the added advantage of the brass jacket instead of copper is I can visually identify the difference between 9mm and .380 when opened by color.

 

[CZ9shooter]

90 to 100 grain bullets marketed for use in 9mm are perfectly acceptable for loading 380. Some people will even load up to 115 grain bullets, but the added length will cause problems for most of us.

In 380, 90, 95 or 100 grains dont matter to me much. I just buy whatever is cheap or convienient. Lately it has been Berry's 100gr hollow base. I like PowerPistol due to the slightly higher charge weights.

 

[Free&Cold]

A heavy (for .380) bullet may have hindered terminal performance... Velocity out of a .380 may not be enough for a bullet designed for 9mm velocity. Not an issue for paper practice... and maybe not a big deal otherwise.

What I'd be concerned about is chambering issues. .380 chambers can be somewhat variable... To seat a large for caliber (heavy, designed for 9mm) deep enough to chamber/cycle, may force the base of the bullet too deep into the case. The .380 case thickens from the neck to head... Seating too deep can cause bulging cases and chambering issues. Before I bought 1000's I'd check functioning on a sample order.

Bullets labeled for .380 are in the weight range and are dimensioned to function properly "most of the time". Some bullets designed for 9mm will likely work, some won't...

Experimenting is fun (as long as it's safe). My comments are not to discourage you, only to offer a suggestion to help manage your expectations if you deviate from tried and true components.

Edit: to clarify... I'm referring to bullet weights 115 and greater... What mboe794 said above is spot on.

 

[Mike44]

I've loaded several thousand Berry's 100gr HBRN plated bullets for my wife's 380. She has shot them with no troubles. She only uses them for target shooting. At $81 per thousand from tjconevera http://tjconevera.com they are quite economical.

 

[Sunray]

.380 Auto. AKA 9mm Kurtz. Made for gun fights in phone booths.
Not much demand for reloading stuff. Aside from Hornady, Sierra makes a 90 grain JHP and a 95 FMJ. Speer makes a 90 grain Gold Dot and a 95 grain TMJ.
The ideal .380 bullet used to be made by Winchester. Was a 85 plus grain Silvertip. Still loaded, but not sold as a component. The old Silvertip was an SP with a thin Al cap on the lead.

 

[Gravedigger56]

Thanks for all the great advice. I won't be going over 100 gr. probably sticking with 90 since I'll only be reloading for range shooting. For self defense rounds I'll be sticking with factory ammo.

 

[JamieC]

I've had good luck with 105gr SWC from Bayou Bullets. My first efforts were using Power Pistol. I have some Bullseye I want to try also.

 

[wlkjr]

I've had good luck with 105gr SWC from Bayou Bullets. My first efforts were using Power Pistol. I have some Bullseye I want to try also.

Great bullet and excellent service from Bayou.

 

[Liquidring]

Check out the Lehigh bullets, for the .380, 75gr controlled fracturing, I load them for my G42 with CFE pistol and am getting 1025 to 1040, had to get them to over 1000 just to get it to eject the shells, loaded to .980 OAL, at this length, they won't load in my LCP, but I'll figure out the load for that one later. Loaded some in 9mm and they are hauling butt out the barrel

 

[Mad Chemist]

The 90gr XTP is one of the absolute best performing hollow point bullets from a typical short barreled .380. Get it travelling between 800-900fps and it will penetrate and expand well. I've obtained good results with Bullseye and VVN320. The N320 was cleaner. Accuracy was too close to tell the difference.

For plinking I've had good luck with Xtreme 100gr plated FP. I load these with a sensible load of Bullseye and get very good accuracy.

 

[ku4hx]

Plated, 90 or 100 ... doesn't matter to me, the guns or the paper. I buy from Berry's and X-treme and I've been able to take advantage of "blems" and sale prices.

 

[Henry45]

I shoot alot of 380 because my wife loves to shoot her Sig. The ones i've settled into are Berry's 100g RN and for good value on a FMJ, Armscor 95g. Both shoot great using Win 231.

 

[GyMac]

I really enjoy the .380 and load 95 grain RNL in front of Win 231/HP-38.

 

[Iron Sight]

I've loaded around 400 of the 95 G Missouri Bullet Co lead projectiles for my Walther PPK.

2.8 G of Bullseye. .980 overall length. No complaints or malfuctions. Using the HITEK coated versions. 5 rounds averaged 785 fPS on a buddies chronograph today.

Love Missouri Bullet Co service.

 

[Gravedigger56]

I ordered some Hornady 100gr. FMJ/RN. I have everything else but now I need to go do some shooting so I can accumulate some empty brass to reload.

 

[Artofgolf]

... so I can accumulate some empty brass to reload.

TJ Conevera is near to you & they offer once-fired brass @ $0.08 each

http://tjconevera.com/oncefiredbrass.html

...If so what weight is your favorite for plinking loads? 90, 100?

The Berry's HBRN is available as 100gr seconds for $75 per 1000.
I order them from time-to-time for G-42 plinking/practice Never a problem & they work very well.

http://berrysmfg.com/product-i15192-c129-g8-b0-p0-380_356_100gr_HBRN___1000ct_Second.aspx

 

[Gravedigger56]

Thanks for the link artofgolf. I think I'll be doing some business with them in the near future.

 

[Dudedog]

jell-dog had some tests on .380 bullets here someplace. I will check and see if I can find them and add the link.

 

[lckdnldd]

I am right partial to Xtreme 100gr. CPRNFP's. In response to fouled bore's post #5. I worked up some loads using 7625 under Xtreme 100gr. CPFP's. I started with 2.7 grains and worked up to Hodgdon's data max load in tenth of a grain increments. They all cycled in my LCP but I never reached what I would call a good load. Start load average velocity was 466 fps and max load average velocity was 543 fps. I have had the best results in .380 auto with HP-38.

 

[Gravedigger56]

shoot alot of 380 because my wife loves to shoot her Sig. The ones i've settled into are Berry's 100g RN and for good value on a FMJ, Armscor 95g. Both shoot great using Win 231.

I am right partial to Xtreme 100gr. CPRNFP's. In response to fouled bore's post #5. I worked up some loads using 7625 under Xtreme 100gr. CPFP's. I started with 2.7 grains and worked up to Hodgdon's data max load in tenth of a grain increments. They all cycled in my LCP but I never reached what I would call a good load. Start load average velocity was 466 fps and max load average velocity was 543 fps. I have had the best results in .380 auto with HP-38.

That's good to hear. I'm sitting on a couple of lbs. of W231 that I got a while back and didn't know what I was going to use it for. I think I'll save it for my .380.