95gr powder coated LRN .380 data question.

[usmc0811]

Hello everyone.
Today I wanted to load up some .380 brass that I have acquired. The powders I have on hand are HS-6, HP-38, and Tite Group. And like the title states I am using 95gr powder coated LRN bullets. I have looked in the 4 manuals that I own and see no data for this particular round. Does anyone have any suggestions? They will be for target practice for my wife and I to punch holes in paper. Looking for minimal recoil, soft shooting rounds to be used in her Sig 238. Thanks everyone for any help. I guess I need to get more Manuals lol.

 

[Charlie98]

There is data at Hodgdon.com in the reloading section... for both TiteGroup and HP-38.

 

[Galil5.56]

I would stick to HP-38, as my first choice. Although not the same but very similar, I reload 9mm Makarov using the same weight cast bullets, and have found HP-38/WW231 to do very, very well... Can be loaded very light, to surprisingly stout - as stout as a .380/9x18 can be.

Have used HS-6 in 9x18 and others in the range such as Power Pistol, Unique, heck even slow coal like Bluedot, and really think HP-38/WW231 is very hard to beat for what you are wanting to achieve. Will also say in the wee bit 'faster' column, Bullseye and 700x have done well too for what you want, should you ever get the chance to try them. Good luck.

 

[kcofohio]

I agree, go with HP-38. 2.9-3.0 gr. seems to work well with Missouri's secret agent.

 

[Hasaf]

I use TiteGroup for 380. My reasoning is that a short barrel needs a fast burning powder. I could be wrong though.

For minimizing recoil, the only thing that comes to mind is to stick to the published minimum loads. I really haven't played around whit different loads. I just stick to one that works for me.

 

[Walkalong]

Hp-38/W-231 is good stuff for .380, shot plenty of it back in the day. Titegroup should work just fine, but I have never tried it.

 

[LiveLife]

95gr powder coated LRN bullets ... Looking for minimal recoil, soft shooting rounds to be used in her Sig 238.

Powder coated lead bullets can be driven to jacketed velocities (if the coating application and baking produced even coverage) and you can always reference load data for slightly heavier bullet.

Here's Hodgdon's load data - http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol

95 GR. SPR FMJ W231/HP-38 COL .970" Dia .355" Start 2.9 gr (802 fps) 13,100 CUP - Max 3.2 gr (884 fps) 15,400 CUP
100 GR. HDY FMJ W231 COL .980" Dia .355" Start 2.9 gr (819 fps) 13,800 CUP - Max 3.1 gr (843 fps) 15,400 CUP

Here's Lyman #49 load data (NOTE: Sized .355"):

120 gr Lead RN W231 OAL .980" Dia .355" Start 2.1 gr (718 fps) 9,200 CUP - Max 3.2 gr (946 fps) 15,800 CUP

Since you are looking for soft shooting rounds, when I did load development for my wife's Taurus TCP 738 (Also looking for soft shooting load), I used 100 gr plated RNFP and referenced Hodgdon load data and tested 2.6, 2.8 and 3.0 gr loads of W231/HP-38 along with factory Tula 91 gr FMJ ammunition - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...e-100-gr-rnfp-range-test.748320/#post-9542719

Using 10/10 for felt recoil for factory Tula ammunition, I got the following range test results:

- 2.6 gr under 1" group (4/10 felt recoil)
- 2.8 gr 1.25" (6/10 felt recoil)
- 3.0 gr 1.25" (8/10 felt recoil)

If your powder coated 95 gr lead RN bullets are sized .355", I would replicate my load development and test 2.6, 2.8 and 3.0 gr as even soft recoiling 2.6 gr load produced accuracy.

If your bullet sizing is larger at .356", I would start at 2.4 gr.

 

[usmc0811]

Thanks you all for the great information. I will try both the tite group and the HP-38 I have on hand and compare the results. This forum rocks and so do all of you. Hope I can help you all out one day with some new knowledge as I get better with time.

 

[usmc0811]

I just loaded up 50 cartridges of .380 LRN Cast bullets with 2.9 gr of HP-38 with an OAL of .960. I will see how they shoot and report back soon.

 

[LiveLife]

Sounds good. Look forward to your range report.

Since you are using powder coated lead bullet that will deform bullet base easier, could I suggest loading up 10 rounds of 2.7 - 2.8 gr just for comparison. Never know, they may reliably cycle the Sig slide and provide good enough accuracy for soft recoiling paper practice.

From what I read on various forum threads, 2.8 gr of W231 with 95 gr bullet at .980" maybe the threshold for reliable slide cycling and accuracy with lighter recoil. Since you are using shorter .960", 2.7 gr may reliably cycle the slide and produce accuracy.

 

[wlkjr]

I can get away with 3.0gr HP-38 with a 95gr bullet in my G42 but it takes 3.1 for my wife because her grip is not as stiff as mine. I have also used Titegroup at 3.0gr for the same bullet.