My first post & first 380 ACP reloads

[jdavionic]

I've really enjoyed this forum for some time, but just recently joined. It seems like the forum has some very knowledgeable individuals with a lot of good info.

On to my first post. I'm not new to reloading but I am new to reloading .380 ACP. My wife finally decided to start carrying, applied for her permit, got a Bersa Thunder .380, and wants to practice. Finally!

To support this, I wanted to get quite a bit of ammo for her. With the shortage of .380 ACP ammo, I thought it best to get the dies and start reloading this one too. Mind you, I've got quite a bit of factory defensive ammo for her to practice with too, including HydraShoks and the new Hornady Critical Defense ammo (which is what she carries).

I reviewed several threads and gave it a shot this evening. Here is the formula that I came up -
Winchester FMJ 95 gr
2.7 gr Titegroup
WSP primer
0.960 OAL
Medium Crimp using Lee Factory Crimp

I loaded 100 rds just to see how it performs. Do you think the formula looks decent? Any suggestions? I really struggled finding a target OAL. I could only find data for XTP or RN bullets.

Although I have a progressive press, I loaded these on my single stage press. I cleaned the primer pockets and hit them with compressed air. Measure every case to ensure they were within spec (discarded 2 out of spec). Weighed the charge on every 5th round. Checked the OAL on every 10th round.

 

[ants]

Welcome, jd.

Sounds like you've got a good load, but it's at or near max. It may be better to back off a little and work upward. Especially with a new Bersa. Maybe it likes light loads, maybe it likes hot loads. It will tell you which one it likes. So will the wife.

My OAL varies from 0.956 to 0.962.

For self defense I load 115 grain. Data is published in many places, including Lyman Pistol and Revolver 3rd Ed.

 

[jdavionic]

Sounds like you've got a good load, but it's at or near max.

Bummer...I was trying for the other end of the spectrum. I thought that using 2.7 gr of Titegroup would be on the low end since the manual that I had showed it as a starting point. I think 3.2 gr was at the high end. Unfortunately the OAL was .970 for RN...so I may have buggered it up by going to .960 for the different bullet type. The Winchester FMJs that I used were 95gr and had a flat point.

 

[ants]

All is not lost. It's not an overcharge. Stiff charges in this cartridge only make for short brass life (even with light charges it splits 10 ways to Sunday). With flat nose bullet, your .960 is good. Go ahead and shoot the suckers!

 

[Lone_Gunman]

I think your load is OK.

While I agree with starting somewhat low end and moving up, I will also tell you that I think most guns work better and shoot cleaner with high end loads than low end loads.

Your OAL should be OK for the flat point 95g Winchester FMJ.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

all sounds OK to me except I've never loaded Titegroup.
sometimes a short pistol bbl benefits from faster powder with light weight slugs.
Rem Golden Sabre HP shoot great in my BDA .380 over BullsEye.

 

[RidgwayCO]

QuickLOAD computations show that you're fine with that load, and Speer says 3.1gr MAX for their 95gr FMJ bullet (at .970 COL).

For another option, my 95gr lead round nose "plinking load" for the .380 Auto uses 2.4gr of Titegroup (.21cc from my Lee Micro-Disk) for about 770 fps (and a massive 125 ft-lbs) out of the Bersa 95. Very accurate and comfortable, reliably works the action, and deposits the brass in a nice neat pile not too far away.

 

[showmebob]

FWIW I've been using Berrys 100 gr RN in front of 3.3grains of Unique for practice rounds.

 

[bedwards1]

Not to hijack a thread, but I loaded my first 380 last night and the brass is really thin compared to others. The slightest wiggle in the shell holder or catch and you've folded a side. Also the primer pockets seem to vary. Loaded Magnus 100gr lfpbb with 3.4 gr sr4765 oal of .967 seemed to function fine in my Bersa.

be

 

[jdavionic]

Well, we shot the reloads today in my LCP and my wife's Bersa Thunder. The rounds cycled fine and seemed to be accurate.

 

[marcodo]

Just out of curiosity...

Hodgdon web site lists 95 gr fmj titegroup range 2.7-3.2...do you guys have other data that would suggest this may not be accurate?

I have some 95 grain lead on order as well...where should I start?