need your advise about 380acp and lead bullets what powder you have the best groups with??

[midland man]

so guys i am shooting a kimber micro 380acp and using 95gr lead bullets and also i just purchased a lee 95gr .356 mold from a guy in another forum and waiting on that to come in! but here's what i have and did i have alot of greendot powder and have tried some loads out of my lyman third edition handbook at 2.1gr, 2,4gr and 2.8gr and at 2.4gr groups were okay much better than the other two! and i had some 20 year old but not much left of imr SR4756 and at 3.3gr this load shot very nice tight groups but i just learned that IMR dosen't make this powder anymore! so guys what powder do you use for 95gr lead bullets that gives you the tightest groups, and any other advise about this fun little cartridge? thanks!

 

[Bush Pilot]

If you can find some 231 you'll find it's a great powder in the .380. 231 meters like butter and is very consistent in all my .380s.

 

[Charlie98]

I've used Unique in my .380 handloads, it's always worked pretty well, but I agree with Bush that a little faster powder might work well, particularly with the shorter barrel... W231/HP38, W244, even TiteGroup would probably work pretty good there.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

I have an unopened pound of SR4756. If you get up this way (North Central Oklahoma) bring something to trade.

Or, we can meet someplace...

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

My goto is Bullseye but I have used Ramshot Competition, Red Dot, Accurate No.2, and TiteGroup as well with similar results. The only difference being cost, availability, and heat transfer. I’m loading a 95gr TC to right around 800fps regardless of powder used to get there the “accuracy” is about the same. To be fair, when it comes to .380 my wife shoots way more and much better and her favorite load is with TiteGroup. She shoots a Walthers PK380 and a CZ-82 and gets 3-4” groups at 25yds from either one. Off-hand, standing, no support at an indoor range.

 

[Rule3]

HP 38/Win 231

 

[midland man]

I have an unopened pound of SR4756. If you get up this way (North Central Oklahoma) bring something to trade.

Or, we can meet someplace...

sounds good thanks!

 

[Dudedog]

I really like AA#2 for practice loads in .380, meters great in .380 size charges.
For full power stuff I have had good results with CFE-P, which also meters well. (not as good as AA#2, but good)

AA#2 is a bit slower than green dot burn speed wise
17 Alliant Green Dot
18 Winchester WST
19 IMR, Co Trail Boss
20 Winchester Super Handicap
21 Hodgdon INTERNATIONAL
22 Accurate Arms Solo 1250
23 IMR, Co PB
24 VihtaVuori N320
25 Accurate Arms No. 2
26 Ramshot Zip

CFE-P is a bit slower than 4756

39 IMR, Co SR 4756
40 Ramshot True Blue
41 AA#5
42 Hodgdon HS-6
43 Winchester AutoComp
44 CFE Pistol
45 Ramshot Silhouette

(Note #s are just where the powder is listed in one burn speed chart I have)

 

[BC17A]

For full power loads, Titegroup and Sport Pistol give me the best accuracy. For range plinking fun with light or mid range loads I like faster powders, Clays, Titewad, Red-Dot, Bullseye, Ramshot Competition and 700X.

I used to cast and shoot a lot of the Lee 95 grainers and they don't seat very deep in the case so IME they do best using the fast powders.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Bullseye or HP38/231

 

[BushMaster-15]

Just about anything in the #24-36 Burn rate works old Herco is about as slow as you want to go but Bullseye 231 and Unique all produce decent groups out of MY Walther's .

 

[Jimster]

Bullseye, 3 gr with Barry’s fmj works for me and my LCP2. Had a Kimber and it ate them as well.