Do you use same lead for 380acp & 9mm?
- Thread starter rajb123
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rcmodel
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You can, but there are much better options.
.380 ACP generally uses a 90 grain bullet.
9mm uses a 115 - 124 - 147 grain bullet.
90 grain bullets are too light for a 9mm.
And 115-124-147 are too heavy for a .380 ACP.
I noticed you had another question about loading both with the same reloading dies.
Do you have a reloading manual??
They will answer most of your questions like this.
I highly recommend the Lyman #49 manual if you plan to load lead bullets in anything.
But the bottom line is, you are talking about two completely different cartridges.
So buying the right dies and bullets for each caliber is the proper course of action for a new reloader.
Way less chance for a Series of Unfortunate Events to take place.
rc
.380 ACP generally uses a 90 grain bullet.
9mm uses a 115 - 124 - 147 grain bullet.
90 grain bullets are too light for a 9mm.
And 115-124-147 are too heavy for a .380 ACP.
I noticed you had another question about loading both with the same reloading dies.
Do you have a reloading manual??
They will answer most of your questions like this.
I highly recommend the Lyman #49 manual if you plan to load lead bullets in anything.
But the bottom line is, you are talking about two completely different cartridges.
So buying the right dies and bullets for each caliber is the proper course of action for a new reloader.
Way less chance for a Series of Unfortunate Events to take place.
rc
Ok - good idea. I don't have experience with either case but the components sure look similar.... sort of like a .40 and 10mm
I did not think this would be advisable but I did find a few receipes where you could use the same projectile for both cases.... so these brews are probably a poor choice for both cases....?
I did not think this would be advisable but I did find a few receipes where you could use the same projectile for both cases.... so these brews are probably a poor choice for both cases....?
mgmorden
Member
Actually there are reloading recipies (particularly in the Lyman manuals) for 9mm down to 90gr and .380 up to 115gr, so you certainly CAN use the same bullets for both, but you're sort of limiting yourself like this as one or the other isn't going to be optimal (and for 9mm I prefer 147gr, which absolutely will not work for .380 at all).
So yes, it CAN be done. You probably don't want to do it though.
So yes, it CAN be done. You probably don't want to do it though.
Unlike 40 S&W and 10mm, or 38 Spl and 357 Magnum, or 44 Spl and 44 Magnum, or a few others, 380 ACP is not a shortened version of 9x19. Most of the dimensions between the two cartridge cases are different.
evan price
Member
9x19 has a taper from the .355" diameter bullet back to a larger diameter case head and rim, same as 40 S&W more or less. .380 does not taper but is straight from the .355" bullet to the case head.
There are recipes for light 9mm and heavy 380 but the limiting factor will be if your guns will shoot them well.
You would be far better off to use a 90 grain for your 380 and a 125 grain for your 9mm, in terms of how well they shoot your ammo.
There are recipes for light 9mm and heavy 380 but the limiting factor will be if your guns will shoot them well.
You would be far better off to use a 90 grain for your 380 and a 125 grain for your 9mm, in terms of how well they shoot your ammo.
kerreckt
Member
I have used 95gr RN projectiles in both with good success just be careful with OAL. Some 9mm pistols can be picky but I have not had any problems.
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