Any .380 loads with Accurate #5?

[levsmith]

Hey guys,

I have an LCP that I got about a month ago and hadn't shot much because it cost about 40 cents per round for factory ammo which I think is ridiculous. Anyways, I have 1000 Berrys copper plated bullets and some brass and want to try reloading for it. Where I work, we have a plant shutdown on the 5-9th of July for the holiday and I plan to go to my parents house about 100 miles from here and do plenty of shooting. So I would like to get some 380 loaded up so I can actually shoot the gun but I don't have any pistol powder except Accurate Arms #5 at the moment and nowhere local has anything either. So I was wondering if anyone has some loads for 100 grain copper plated bullets using AA#5. Modern Reloading 2nd edition and Speer 14 doesn't have any loads for copper plated bullets that I see. Thanks for any help!

 

[peligro113]

Yes there are loads listed with Accurate#5, I bought the same bullets as you, they are listed on the Lee reloading manual. I am currently in the sandbox so I can't look them up for you.

 

[dagger dog]

levsmith,

.380 ACP (9 MM Kurz)

100 gr FMJ Hornady

4.4 gr AA#5 starting load
4.9gr. being MAX
velocities 788 and 895 fps
17,000 CUP

FC brass
CCI 500 primer
Max Length 0.680"
trim length 0.670"
COL MAX 0.984"
COL MIN 0.940"

Info from Acurate Smokless Powders Number Two (revised)

a small note that this data is for FMJ and you state a plated bullet so use at your discretion.

 

[BADUNAME37]

The weakest point of the chamber is the underside where the feed ramp meets the chamber. If you dismantle the gun and drop a cartridge, or even a piece of brass into the chamber, you will see a U-Shaped portion of casing that remains visibly unsupported while the casing is tight within the chamber.

Any problems that I have read about people having were in this area, where the brass casing started to bulge, or expand. When I worked up loads, I only loaded like five of each and shot them over my chronograph, but also carefully inspected the shot cases for any signs of bulge in this area. Once you hold the casing so you have the extractor marks oriented, you will clearly see the outline of the U-Shape on the bottom of the casing side base when the extractor marks are on the left side, looking at the case from the bottom (case base - bottom).

I read where one guy shot POWERFUL Factory or Factory-Reloads and it blew the magazine out and did some other damage.

The LCP is fine to load for, if you are extremely careful ANd you know just what you are doing and know just what to watch for!

 

[levsmith]

Thanks for the replies guys. Friendly, I have heard about the unsupported chamber in the LCP and I will be starting low on the loads. Thanks for the heads up though

 

[HOWARD J]

Lee Manual-2nd edition

100 gr lead bullet---380 Auto
Accur #5--Start 4.1----never exceed---4.5

You should use lead data for Berry's bullets.............

 

[rcmodel]

You should use lead data for Berry's bullets.............

That is certainly not what Berry says.

Berry says:
Plated bullets occupy a position between cast bullets and jacketed bullets. They are soft lead, but have a hard outer shell on them. When loading plated bullets we have found best results using low- to mid-range jacketed data in the load manual. You must use data for a bullet that has the same weight and profile as the one you are loading. Do not exceed mid-range loads. Do not use magnum loads.

rc

 

[HOWARD J]

Low to mid range jacketed data---can't get much closer to lead data.
Are you happy now---you showed me how dumb I really am.
I don't use lead bullets---so I will keep quiet about it from now on.
That should make your day...................

 

[peligro113]

Lee's reloading book has loads for plated bullets.

 

[levsmith]

Thanks for the replies so far. Modern Reloading 2nd Edition does have some loads for plated bullets but none for 380. I guess I might just have to go with rcmodel and use the low end of the jacketed load