Just bought a .380 Looking for your favorite loads

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Dudedog

Dudedog

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I finally decided to pickup a small .380.

jell-dog was kind enough to send me cases and bullets to get started on my new caliber. BIG THANKS to JD.

I was wondering what everybodies favorite loads are. (all types)
 
My favorite load for my .380 and the most accurate is a 120gr (normally comes out 123-124gr) TC cast boolit over Bullseye.
 
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What gr. are you going to be reloading?

I like a 95 gr. MBC (Secret Agent) with 3.0 gr. of HP-38 for light recoil.
For defensive feel, I got some 95 gr. HP from http://www.tjconevera.com/ that I load up to 4.2 gr. of CFE-P.

Finding my spent cases is the hardest part of 380 reloading. :)
 
Is it bad form to list weights of powder?
Depending on the manual, I use a near-max, or max load of Bullseye, with a 90 gr JHP (usually sierra, or hornady xtp)
Pretty potent kick with my mauser HSc, but a pussycat in the p238.
 
I use HP 38. and 95 gr FMJ RN for practice
. XTP bullets for duplicating carry ammo.
 
"For defensive feel, I got some 95 gr. HP from http://www.tjconevera.com/ that I load up to 4.2 gr. of CFE-P."

I've been using X-treme plated bullets but those jacketed prices are close enough to be worthwhile.

Have you done any accuracy testing, or any comparisons with plated?

Thanks.

EDIT:
Any idea who makes these bullets? Conevera's used to be a big Winchester distributor, but not sure what they are carrying now.
 
Is it bad form to list weights of powder?
Click to expand...
No not bad form. The rules say you need to point out any loads over max.
See http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=27444

You want to try to avoid someone who does not know better taking a load that may be close to max and not working up to it.

Don't know what I am going to be loading per say. Will end up trying lots of stuff over time. thought I would start out with 95-100gr bullets as that as they are considered "normal" weight for .380 (and jell-dog sent me some to try) :D
I have seen some listed loads with 115s so I might try some of those as well at a later date.

I had suggestions for Bullseye, HP38, and CFE-P I have those three so I will try them for sure.
Need to try to pick some AA5 to try next time I order powder online, no one in town seems to have it and I have been meaning to try it in 9mm.

Of course I understand all guns have there own favorites, I have checked manuals and gotten ideas but I sure appreciate all your suggestions.
 
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I've loaded for Colt Gov't 380, Bersa Thunder 380, and Sig p238 380. I've tried a few different bullets but the best has been Hornady 90 gr. XTP's. They feed great and are very accurate in all pistols. Not too expensive for plinking and also one of the most recommended self defense bullets in .380. Powders I've tested has shown the best loads are with the faster powders. Accurate Arms #2 is the best powder I've tested. It gives top velocity and small velocity variations. Slower powders up to Unique and AA#5 has always shown wider velocity swings. AA#2 has been scarce for a couple years but now available at least for a while. I use Accurate Arms data at near maximum but work up to that level as usual. I like Hornadys factory 90 XTP's plus Federal 90 Hydra-Shoks. Faster powders works better at least for me and be careful to prevent the possibility of double charges with the small charges of powder in .380. Accurate powder data available on-line. I would recommend not using bullets heavier than 100 grains in .380 and would stay with 90 grain hollowpoints and 95 gr. FMJ. Haven't loaded any Remington 105 gr Golden Sabers though.
 
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I shoot the Hornady encapsulated 100 gr. FMJ with a
full charge of Herco as listed in Speer's #9.
It is an accurate full power load in all my .380s.

JW, Trends across the Country must be different.

In the past two months, I've picked up a little over 1/2 a (old metal) coffee can
of .380 brass at my ranges.
As I'm picking them up, it is a good feeling to know that next time I am
out in the woods shooting I can just go ahead and fire at
targets without having to orient myself for brass ejection patterns.

(Old habits die hard though. I still have to fight the urge to scrounge the blackberries for a least a few of them!)

JT
 
Gearhead Jim, those Conevera bullets are good quality. Not sure who produces them, as they come in a plain white box with Conevera's name, bullet type, and weight.

As for accuracy, out of a LCP, out to 7-10 yds., I was getting 3-4" groups. I'm not bullseye shooter though. In plated, I've used Berry's 100 gr. HBRN. But I really don't recall how accurate they were, as I have shot very few and mainly over a chrony.

Like you said, the price is right for those JHPs.
 
Wife shoots a Sig P238. This load is 100% reliable in HER gun.
2.6 grains Red Dot
90 grain lead round nose cast (Lee)
OAL 0.920
OAL seemed to be critical for reliability.
 
I might stop by Staples and see if the carry ink pads in red. This may be faster than a sharpie. :)
 
I like Bullseye powder for 380 loads. The smallest disk on my Lee Autodisk will not throw powder charges small enough for many other powders.
 
Berry's hollow base bullets with a light dose of PowerPistol is what I use. PowerPistol seems to produce less "snap" in little guns than other powders. I tried substituting cast bullets at one time and ended up with very dirty guns. Straight blowback may play a role here.
 
For me, 100 gr plated RMR RN/X-Treme RNFP bullets with 2.6 - 3.0 gr of W231/HP-38 produced mild/moderate recoil loads that were accurate - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=748320

Zendude said:
I like Bullseye powder for 380 loads. The smallest disk on my Lee Autodisk will not throw powder charges small enough for many other powders.
Click to expand...
By drilling a hole and using a screw, you can consistently drop Bullseye down to 1.5 gr, W231/HP-38 to 2.0 gr and Titegroup to 2.6 gr - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=741988

attachment.php

attachment.php
 
My favorite load is Power Pistol, 3.6gn, behind the Xtreme 100gn plated. I also like BE86 and CFE-pistol at the same 3.6gn charge. These are well below the max, gives soft recoil, and cycles all my guns in the caliber just fine. LCP, Bersa Thunder, Sig P238.
 
90gr XTP at .970" with 4.4gr of Power Pistol does a good job of replicating standard 380 ammo. Bump it up a few tenths for a hotter round while maintaining SAAMI pressure.
 
Finding my spent cases is the hardest part of 380 reloading.
Click to expand...

Yep, and thats why I have been holding off on starting to reload for it. I have the dies and powder though. I plan on using VV N310, I have heard its great for 380.
 
fireman 9731 said:
Yep, and thats why I have been holding off on starting to reload for it. I have the dies and powder though. I plan on using VV N310, I have heard its great for 380.
Click to expand...


Recovering spent cases is often a problem. However, it might make you feel better to know that even if you buy once fired brass, you are still coming out cheaper than buying factory ammo.
 
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