.380 load data

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You need to invest in a Lyman #49 loading manual if you are going to shoot cast bullets.

Heck, you need to invest in a Lyman #49 load manual even if your aren't.

rc
 
Hello, The data I got with my Lee .380 die set only lists for 100 grain lead bullets and all other data was for jacketed bullets. It has two listings for 100 gr. lead, AA#2 start grains 3.2 / max. grains 3.6 also, AA#5 with start grains 4.1 / max. grains 4.5. Don't know it this will help you but thought I'd post it anyway as I too am going to load my own .380 ammo. LM
 
I load 95gr LRN bullets in the .380 Auto to a sedate 800 fps (approximately) for practice and plinking. Very accurate, clean, comfortable, with 100% cycling in my Bersa 95 (3.5" barrel) and Beretta 84 (3.8" barrel), and the brass gets deposited in a nice pile a couple of feet to my right. Performance might be different in a Walther PPK as I've never tried these loads in one.

To achieve this performance I've used:

Powder........................Amount....Lee Cavity
Accurate #2 .................. 2.7gr ...... .27cc
VihtaVuori N310 ............ 2.3gr ...... .27cc
Hodgdon Titegroup ........ 2.7gr ...... .24cc
Hodgdon Clays .............. 2.1gr ...... .32cc

(all loaded with either CCI or Wolf SP primers to a COL of .950")

I don't use Hodgdon Clays anymore for this round, as I experienced a lot of bridging in my Lee Pro Auto-Disk powder measure when trying to throw the very small charges. Notice that I needed to use the Lee Micro-Disk to obtain these small charges for all of the powders except Clays.

Also, I'm pretty sure I could obtain this performance with Bullseye, W231/HP38, and a host of other fast pistol powders. The powders listed are just the ones that I've personally tested.

Please remember that this is just my experience. You need to weigh the charges thrown by YOUR powder measure and proceed accordingly.
 
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I'm interested in loading 95 gr cast LRN for .380 with Titegroup powder too, especially for my new LCP. I just received a box of 1000 Missouri Bullet Co's new product, and was wanting to make up a batch of nice mild-to-moderate strength target practice rounds, and I've got a couple lbs of Titegroup, about 3/4 of a can of HP-38, and a full unopened can of Power Pistol. Given that the little LCP's barrel is only 2.75" long, the Power Pistol would probably be way too slow. The Titegroup is the fastest powder I've got, and it works absolutely perfect for me in 9mm target loads, so I reckon it'd also be an optimal powder in an extremely short barrel .380 too.

I'd found someone else's recipe for 2.4 gr Titegroup behind a 95 gr LRN, and was wondering if that would be too light of a load to start with for these cast bullets?
 
According to MY Lyman #49 manual, 2.4 is the starting load & 2.7 is the MAX.

This is for a 90 grain (nominal) cast bullet. It will weigh about 95 when sized & lubed.

I highly recommend YOU get a Lyman manual if you are going to load cast bullets.

rc
 
I agree with RC - I'm glad you have faith in the internet, I don't. I DO have faith in the manuals put out by various companies where they actually tested and published their results. Buy a book or two - it's in your own best interest and safety.
 
+1

I'm about to wear out my 6 month old Lyman #49 & Hodgdon 2009 looking up loads for people every day!!!

So many new reloaders, so many with no reloading manuals! :banghead:

rc
 
I use 4.2 grains of Unique. This is a max load or close to it. (it's pretty zippy, even out of a 2 1/2" barrel)

Titegroup sucks.
 
I have 3 reloading books. Lee 2nd edition, a print out of Hodgon data from thier own web site and a book on the complete reloading manual of the .380. None of them list data for cast loads. So i will go out and buy one more manual. I do not trust the internet for reloading . But you guys pointed me in the right direction
 
Please elaborate
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I shoot mostly cast bullets, and Titegroup seems to burn unusually hot and it makes a bunch of smoke and it scorches the brass. Also I can't get as good accuracy as with Red Dot for similar loads. And it is so dense for a fast-burning powder that it disappears in the bottom of the cases when you're loading and makes it hard to see.

It does meter nice, and a pound of it lasts a *long* time (I'm trying to use it up, and it just keeps going and going.) I would much rather use Red Dot or Bullseye.
 
It is also easy to throw a double charge with so little used. I try to choose a propellant that at least fills the case more than half full so that I will see an obvious double charge BEFORE finishing that particular round. Just might be way too cautious, OH WELL.
 
Thank you Zxcvbob. That was what I expected to hear about the cast boolits but hadn't seen it yet. Started to think the .380 was special .lol

Justin
 
4 grains Unique and a 100 grain plated Berry Bullet, Winchester primers. I tried the 4.2 and it is pretty hot for that caliber.
 
Don't know a majority of the brass bounced off the partition wall. I would say the couple that got past it and went into no-mans land in the range were flying 3 to 4 stalls over.
 
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