I had a chance to do some testing this weekend.
I didn't load up a lot of each because I was trying to determine what would function well (5 rounds is note enough to tell for sure but gives me a good idea)
and then load up so more for accuracy and function testing this coming weekend.
Here are some of my chrono results from this round of testing, more results to follow.
A big thanks again to everyone who sent sample bullets, I appreciate it!
Mixed range brass S+B small pistol primers
Kahr P380, .380 ACP 2.5" barrel (short!)
Charges as thrown by Lee Auto drum, most but not all weighed (shame on me, should have done them all, had one or 2 that were probably light) weight rounded to the nearest .1 by scale.
String: 9
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 12:12:37 PM
Grains: 90
Hi Vel: 878
Low Vel: 805
Ave Vel: 849
Ext Spread: 73
Std Dev: 30
90 CJ Convera HP 3.9 CFE-P .960 OAL
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
860 77.4 147.789
878 79.02 154.04
805 72.45 129.49
831 74.79 137.99
872 78.48 151.942
String: 2
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 12:14:40 PM
Grains: 90
Hi Vel: 896
Low Vel: 843
Ave Vel: 860
Ext Spread: 53
Std Dev: 20
90 Montanna Gold HP 3.9 CFE-P .960 OAL
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
896 80.64 160.421
861 77.49 148.133
848 76.32 143.693
855 76.95 146.075
843 75.87 142.004
String: 8
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 12:09:54 PM
Grains: 90
Hi Vel: 862
Low Vel: 793
Ave Vel: 819
Ext Spread: 69
Std Dev: 31
90 Sierra HP 3.9 CFE-P .920 OAL
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
845 76.05 142.678
804 72.36 129.168
793 71.37 125.658
862 77.58 148.477
794 71.46 125.975
String: 7
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 12:06:33 PM
Grains: 90
Hi Vel: 859
Low Vel: 774
Ave Vel: 812
Ext Spread: 85
Std Dev: 35
90 XTP 3.9 CFE-P .965 OAl
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
859 85.9 163.828
809 80.9 145.311
774 77.4 133.01
807 80.7 144.593
String: 3
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 12:17:38 PM
Grains: 95
Hi Vel: 804
Low Vel: 665
Ave Vel: 752
Ext Spread: 139
Std Dev: 53
95 CMJ FMJ 3.3 ZIP .965 OAl 1 Stovepipe
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
777 73.815 127.341
665 63.175 93.276
744 70.68 116.754
774 73.53 126.359
804 76.38 136.344
String: 3
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 11:49:54 AM
Grains: 100
Hi Vel: 823
Low Vel: 749
Ave Vel: 780
Ext Spread: 74
Std Dev: 30
Berrys RNHB OAl .968 3.9 CFE-P
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
823 82.3 150.43
779 77.9 134.78
755 75.5 126.60
798 79.8 141.4
749 74.9 124.6
String: 6
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 11:59:36 AM
Grains: 100
Hi Vel: 812
Low Vel: 760
Ave Vel: 790
Ext Spread: 52
Std Dev: 20
Berrys RNHB 3.9 CFE=P OAAL .960
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
812 77.14 139.071
760 72.2 121.829
780 74.1 128.326
802 76.19 135.667
796 75.62 133.645
String: 2
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 11:44:35 AM
Grains: 95
Hi Vel: 856
Low Vel: 755
Ave Vel: 813
Ext Spread: 101
Std Dev: 36
CKJ FMJ OAl .968 3.9 CFE-P
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
808 118.776 137.75
856 125.832 154.6
755 110.985 120.27
820 120.54 141.87
826 121.422 143.95
String: 5
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 11:56:20 AM
Grains: 95
Hi Vel: 862
Low Vel: 775
Ave Vel: 813
Ext Spread: 87
Std Dev: 32
CMJ 95 3.9 CFE=P
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
814 81.4 147.113
793 79.3 139.62
862 86.2 164.974
823 82.3 150.384
775 77.5 133.354
String: 9
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 12:34:00 PM
Grains: 100
Hi Vel: 788
Low Vel: 655
Ave Vel: 712
Ext Spread: 133
Std Dev: 48
Xtreme 100 RNFP 3.1 IUniversal .950 OAl To light!
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
788 78.8 137.865
655 65.5 95.254
694 69.4 106.935
716 71.6 113.822
708 70.8 111.293
String: 4
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 12:19:34 PM
Grains: 100
Hi Vel: 805
Low Vel: 724
Ave Vel: 760
Ext Spread: 81
Std Dev: 39
Xtreme 100 RNFP 3.3 Zip .950 OAl 1 to light
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
805 80.5 143.878
801 80.1 142.451
745 74.5 123.229
724 72.4 116.38
729 72.9 117.993
String: 2
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 12:39:48 PM
Grains: 100
Hi Vel: 738
Low Vel: 690
Ave Vel: 709
Ext Spread: 48
Std Dev: 22
Xtreme 100 RNFP2.8 Bullseye .950 OAl To light !
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
738 73.8 120.925
730 73 118.317
690 69 105.706
699 69.9 108.482
690 69 105.706
String: 8
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 12:31:09 PM
Grains: 100
Hi Vel: 806
Low Vel: 746
Ave Vel: 776
Ext Spread: 60
Std Dev: 21
Xtreme 100 RNFP 3.7 BE86 .950 Oal Almost to light
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
806 80.6 144.235
781 78.1 135.427
746 74.6 123.56
780 78 135.08
770 77 131.639
String: 1
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 12:36:54 PM
Grains: 100
Hi Vel: 821
Low Vel: 782
Ave Vel: 804
Ext Spread: 39
Std Dev: 18
Xtreme 100 RNFP 4.0 BE86.950 OAl
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
789 78.9 138.215
821 82.1 149.654
810 81 145.671
782 78.2 135.774
821 82.1 149.654
String: 6
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 12:23:54 PM
Grains: 100
Hi Vel: 823
Low Vel: 786
Ave Vel: 784
Ext Spread: 64
Std Dev: 25
Xtreme 100 RNFP 3.7 WSF .950 Almost to light
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
786 78.6 137.166
814 81.4 147.113
788 78.8 137.865
823 82.3 150.384
759 75.9 127.904
Note: No WSF listed loads for .380 worked up from 3.3, 3.5
String: 7
Date: 3/20/2016
Time: 12:28:03 PM
Grains: 100
Hi Vel: 862
Low Vel: 815
Ave Vel: 844
Ext Spread: 47
Std Dev: 17
Xtreme 100 RNFP 4.0 WSF .950 OAl Stiff
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
855 85.5 162.306
845 84.5 158.531
815 81.5 147.474
845 84.5 158.531
862 86.2 164.974
Note: No WSF listed loads for .380 worked up from 3.3, 3.5, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9
Note #2, 3.3 and 3.5 were to light
Note #3 I am not saying the WSF loads are safe. 4.0 was probably a MAX pressure or more load. CAUTION: The following post includes loading data for WSF that is not listed 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.
So to give a quick summary it looks like my little Kahr is happiest if the loads are at least 130ft/lbs. It now has a couple hundred rounds thru it and functions fine
IF then load is heavy enough.