Getting ready to start loading 380.

[45taurus]

I just bought a new Ruger LCP. i've been loading 45 for a few years and 9mm only a month or so.

My question is, should i go with lead or FMJ? i really like lead and thats all i shoot with my 45, but my 45 does not lead at all. How is the 380 on leading? specifically the Ruger LCP? Will i be able to find a load that will lead minimally or does it lead no matter the load? So which should i do? Another question is, is there anything i need to know that is different than loading 9mm or 45?

Thanks in advance.

 

[cfullgraf]

Lead should be fin in your 380. I have loaded lots of cast bullets and shot them in my 380s.

380ACP is no more difficult to load than 9x19 or 45ACP except the cases are small and difficult to handle. Also, powder charges are small.

I taper crimp my loads in a separate operation from bullet seating.

Once the bullet is seated, you may see what looks like a bulge in the case at the base of the bullet. Many 380ACP sizer dies size the mouth a little small so the bullet, especially cast lead bullets expand the case out. It looks funny but will not affect functioning.

You generally do not see this with 9x19 or 45ACP.

Hope this helps.

 

[murf]

make sure you get enough bell on your cases. the 380 bullets are short and fat and can cant sideways when seating.

murf

 

[45taurus]

Ok thanks for the tip Murf. Do you have any pictures of a 380 cant'ed bullet?

 

[murf]

no, but i've loaded 95gn lead bullets (short and fat) crooked that straightened out with a little more bell on the case. shot all the crooked ones, so i don't have the pics. also, try to match the seating die tip to the bullet. flat tip to flat bullet nose, round tip to round bullet nose. try to square up the bullet to the case as best you can before you push it up into the seating die. i also taper crimp after i seat.

let us know how it goes.

murf

 

[Hanshi]

Yes, the .380 shines with cast bullets that are within it's range of operational pressures. I've never encountered a leading problem.

 

[45taurus]

Yes, the .380 shines with cast bullets that are within it's range of operational pressures. I've never encountered a leading problem.

Sweet. thats good news.

Murf i'm ordering MBC's 380 bullets. I think there 95g LRN. There are probably the only ones i'll ever use. I just order the 3 die set of Lee dies for the 380 and another turret disk to go with it. How do i tell what kind of seating die i have? What one is the factory one?

Also i'll be using w231. I'm going to tailor my loads to my gun, however do anyone of you have some recipies that they would like to share that i can pay special attention to when i work up to them?

 

[forgetitohio]

I re-load 90GR. XTPs and copper round nose. It's a pain to load those little buggers.
I have nothing against lead bullets other than I hate cleaning guns.
What type of powder and how much?

45taurus
" I just order the 3 die set of Lee dies for the 380....

I think you can get 9mm. and use them for .380 also. Never know if you might need 9 re-loads.
I found that out when I bought Lee .38 dies and can't use them for .357.
BUT you can use .357 for .38.

I use 231 also. If I can find my book I'll post charge and chrony results. I've played around with loads. I was shooting a .380 Makarov for the tests.
I don't think I would get the same info thru my Kel-Tec .380.

 

[murf]

i'm confusing you on the seating die issue. i was talking about the insert that goes into the top of the die. some dies have different shape inserts. the lee die should have a cone-shaped insert and will be fine. just follow the directions that come with the die set to set up your press. i am using w231 for my 380 auto load. i'm not using mbw bullets so my load length will be different. make sure you do the drop test with your loaded rounds. saves a lot of headaches at the range.

murf

 

[Seedtick]

380ACP is no more difficult to load than 9x19 or 45ACP except the cases are small and difficult to handle.

+1 on being small

Especially if you're loading 45 Colt and then switch over to those little suckers. That and my fat fingers really makes them seem small. :banghead:

Seedtick

 

[45taurus]

I think you can get 9mm. and use them for .380 also. Never know if you might need 9 re-loads.

I already load 9mm. Are you sure you can use them for .380 also? Something tells me it wouldn't be smart. Either way i've already ordered them so it doesn't matter.

 

[45taurus]

i'm confusing you on the seating die issue. i was talking about the insert that goes into the top of the die. some dies have different shape inserts. the lee die should have a cone-shaped insert and will be fine. just follow the directions that come with the die set to set up your press. i am using w231 for my 380 auto load. i'm not using mbw bullets so my load length will be different. make sure you do the drop test with your loaded rounds. saves a lot of headaches at the range.

murf

Yes i know you meant the insert. I was asking what insert the factory die came with. I really enjoy my RN bullets and its all i've ever reloaded in lead.

 

[45taurus]

Also i cant find load data for a 95g LRN bullet using w231. can anyone post one out of a Lyman manual if they have something in there. Man i really need to pick up a couple more books. All i have is the cheapo's.

 

[MissouriBullet]

Sweet. thats good news.

Murf i'm ordering MBC's 380 bullets. I think there 95g LRN. There are probably the only ones i'll ever use. I just order the 3 die set of Lee dies for the 380 and another turret disk to go with it. How do i tell what kind of seating die i have? What one is the factory one?

Also i'll be using w231. I'm going to tailor my loads to my gun, however do anyone of you have some recipies that they would like to share that i can pay special attention to when i work up to them?

FWIW, I load our 95 grain .380's with 3.0 grains of W231 to an OAL of .964 on my Camdex. It is a mid-range load and feeds and cycles perfectly in my ca. 1985 Walther PPK/S. From 20 feet, I can easily achieve Minute-of-Oak-Tree-Stump levels of accuracy (I haven't tested for accuracy, but those who have say that this is a very accurate load.)

Brad

 

[Centaur 1]

I shoot nothing but cast in my LCP. I cast the Ranch Dog TL-358-100-RF and load it over 2.9gr of Unique. The max load for this bullet is 4.3gr, but the LCP isn't any fun to shoot with full power loads.

If you cast your own bullets look here.
http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_6_24&products_id=20

If you don't cast, Carolina Cast Bullets sells them.
http://www.carolinacastbullets.com/Ranch_Dog_Outdoors.html

You should slug your barrel before using cast bullets. My LCP's barrel has a groove diameter of .3573", if I were to use standard .355" bullets they would lead the barrel pretty badly. I size mine to .358" and they work great, I'm pretty sure that Carolina Cast will size them to your needs.

 

[J_McLeod]

Also i cant find load data for a 95g LRN bullet using w231. can anyone post one out of a Lyman manual if they have something in there. Man i really need to pick up a couple more books. All i have is the cheapo's.

Lyman doesn't have data for a 95gr LRN. Only 90 and 120. For a 95gr FMJ they recommend 2.1-2.9gr 231, with 704-939 fps and 9700-15800 CUP. OAL is .900.

 

[45taurus]

I shoot nothing but cast in my LCP. I cast the Ranch Dog TL-358-100-RF and load it over 2.9gr of Unique. The max load for this bullet is 4.3gr, but the LCP isn't any fun to shoot with full power loads.

If you cast your own bullets look here.
http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/inde...products_id=20

If you don't cast, Carolina Cast Bullets sells them.
http://www.carolinacastbullets.com/R..._Outdoors.html

You should slug your barrel before using cast bullets. My LCP's barrel has a groove diameter of .3573", if I were to use standard .355" bullets they would lead the barrel pretty badly. I size mine to .358" and they work great, I'm pretty sure that Carolina Cast will size them to your needs.

Is that something MBC can do also? They are much cheaper from MBC, and i'm ordering more 45's from them this weekend anyway.

 

[forgetitohio]

"I already load 9mm. Are you sure you can use them for .380 also? Something tells me it wouldn't be smart.....

I looked at my press last night; I'm using .9 set for .380. I sold my .9 but if I get another I'll re-set my dies.
I have the Lee Classic Turret Press; 3 stage w/powder measure. You can set the dies up or down depending on which case you're loading.
With my .357 dies I loosen the nut and set it for .38. Been doing it for 19yrs. Very easy. Very smart. GLTY

 

[Clark]

I did some experimenting with working up loads in (5) .380s in January.
I measured the case support of the Kel-Tec P3AT and Ruger LCP at .280" and .250" respectively, using a needle and a case inserted into the barrel.
But when I worked up to guppy belly case bulge, I measured the edge of the bulge at .290" and .270" respectively.
The web of the 380 case is .170" ~ .175" thick, so there is .1" of thin unsupported case wall over the feed ramp of an LCP.
CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.
Here is a pic of a case bulged in my LCP with 3.6 gr Bullseye 115 gr JHP .96" which is ~71% extra powder over max book load.
That guppy belly is a bubble being blown in brass. If the bubble breaks, you will be sorry.

 

[murf]

looks like brad gave you a nice starting load. you will find out about the leading issue after you shoot a few and look down the barrel. let us know how the range session goes.

murf

 

[wingman]

I use Berry 100gr (plated)and AA5 powder for my 380 loads, I have a Taurus tcp and a Makarov 380, both are excellent however the mak I believe will take a much stronger load. Honestly I can't understand the use of lead in the Ruger LCP or the TCP they simply aren't range guns made to fire hundreds of rounds.

I can understand the use of lead as a cost saver on 45acp or 9mm if shooting large amounts of rounds per month.

 

[MickKennedy29]

9mm is a tapered case, .380 is not. You could use some of the same dies but the sizer die is different. I am sure some people can and do get away with it, but it would not be the best idea in my opinion.

 

[Orange Boy]

I already load 9mm. Are you sure you can use them for .380 also? Something tells me it wouldn't be smart. Either way i've already ordered them so it doesn't matter.

If you are talking about the bullets and not the dies, you certainly can load the Hornady 90 Gr. XTP JHP (.355" dia.) "9mm" bullet into a .380 case. It is darn accurate out of my LCP too. I use it in front of 3.0 Gr. Bullseye and give them an OAL of 0.960" I've shot about 500 of them through that little gun since I bought it.

 

[45taurus]

Missouri Bullet-

FWIW, I load our 95 grain .380's with 3.0 grains of W231 to an OAL of .964 on my Camdex. It is a mid-range load and feeds and cycles perfectly in my ca. 1985 Walther PPK/S. From 20 feet, I can easily achieve Minute-of-Oak-Tree-Stump levels of accuracy (I haven't tested for accuracy, but those who have say that this is a very accurate load.)

Brad

.964 is awful short isn't it?

 

[Steve Koski]

I'm using .950" with Xtreme 100 grain RNFP's.