Powder Choice for .380

[drband]

Please give me your quick opinion on best powder for .380 loading 100gr plated round nose bullets.

I currently have these powders available: Accurate #2, Unique, Red Dot

I have load data from 2 manuals and manufacturer websites, but I would value your more experienced opinions on a preferred powder from those listed above! So far, I have only loaded for .45-- time to branch out!

Let the voting begin...

BTW: If you have a suggestion on another powder, include that, too, and I'll put it on my list to search for.

 

[Curator]

All the powders you mention work OK in the .380ACP. However, Unique will give the highest velocity and is the most flexible for use with light or heavy bullets. My favorite load in my "locked breech: .380 is a 102 grain bullet and 4 grain of Unique.

 

[mstreddy]

Check out the reloading for Glock 42 parts III and IV. I'm using Promo (Red Dot) with good success using 100gr round and flat nosed bullets.

 

[Potatohead]

I like 7625 if you can get your hands on any.

 

[Trailduster79]

I have had really good luck with bullseye.

I just picked up some unique for my other pistol rounds, and I may give it a try in my .380 as well.

 

[Potatohead]

Yea, Bullseye is a good one too.

 

[Blue68f100]

The problem you have with the small 380 is the narrow load range. Use a powder that meters very accurate, which cuts Unique out of the mix. The other 2 I have not used so I can't say.

 

[Schwing]

Use a powder that meters very accurate, which cuts Unique out of the mix.

I agree that you need a powder that meters very accurately. That has been one of my biggest challenges with .380. Powders like bullseye and titegroup come to mind. I don't necessarily agree that Unique is out but Blue68f100 is correct in that many powder dispensers can have issues with it.

In fact, I have found unique to be one of the best for .380 but have to keep an eye on the charges to make sure they are dropping consistently. Red dot has posed similar challenges for me as well but have never used it for .380.

Just 2 days ago I loaded a few rounds with both power pistol and titegroup. Both powders do meter far better than unique but I have not had a chance to shoot them yet so I can't vouch for their other merits.

 

[kcofohio]

Having used Titegroup, HP38, and Silhouette here. Silhouette was the most accurate out of my LC380.

 

[rg1]

Best powder by far that I've tested in .380 has been AA#2. I only load 90 gr. HP's with CCI 500 primers and my chrono tests show AA#2 to give the most consistent velocity by far. Unique didn't work well in my loads with large velocity variations. Like mentioned there is a narrow margin with this small case and powder charges. I use AA load data for AA#2.

 

[cfullgraf]

I use Unique and 700-X in 380 ACP. I have used Bullseye and W231 in the past but i usually do not have either on hand at this time.

I tried AA#5 and it worked ok but I did not work with it to get it optimized.

I get good and consistent metering with Unique and 700-X with my Redding 10-X measure. Technique is important.

Other powders already mentioned should do fine in 380 ACP.

 

[drband]

Check out the reloading for Glock 42 parts III and IV. I'm using Promo (Red Dot) with good success using 100gr round and flat nosed bullets.

I'll do that! I'm really learning a lot as everybody posts. Keep 'em coming.

 

[jwrowland77]

I use Titegroup, Unique, Universal and Autocomp. Autocomp has worked great in mine. Most accurate load. I use a lot of Titegroup for plinking, just because I have a lot of it, and it'll load a lot of rounds of .380.

 

[lauderdale]

B.E./W231 RNFP Plated 100g. EXTREME G42 Really like W/231 both high end of chart.

 

[1KPerDay]

I use HP38/W231 now. My pistols prefer max loads of it with plated bullets. But Red Dot works. BE CAREFUL and watch each charge closely. At the small volumes of Red Dot that .380 takes, it meters very inconsistently in some powder measures. I recommend scooping it if that's the only powder you want to use. I generally don't use red dot or American Select (another powder that bridges/hangs up easily for me in Lee PAD) under 3.8 grains or so. Much below that and you get light charges. (NOTE: THE 3.8 GRAINS RED DOT IS NOT FOR .380ACP. I WAS MENTIONING IT ONLY IN GENERAL REGARDING CHARGE WEIGHTS IN OTHER CALIBERS).

 

[Potatohead]

1K, have you used Amer Sel with the charge bar? Does it hang up that way too? I was going to load some up and havent used it in awhile and wondering which route to take.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

Of the powders listed, I've had the worst results with Unique. #2 and Red Dot show very good to excellent results. For metering #2 would be the way to go. One of the best metering handgun powders I have used.

 

[Mad Chemist]

Unique will give the best velocities, AA#2 will meter the best. Unique will not work with an adjustable charge bar for the small charges needed with .380. It will work fine with a Lee autodisc.

I also like 4gr of Unique for 95-102gr jacketed or plated bullets. Of course you need to work up.

 

[1KPerDay]

1K, have you used Amer Sel with the charge bar? Does it hang up that way too? I was going to load some up and havent used it in awhile and wondering which route to take.

I use pro auto disk. Haven't tried charge bar or another measure. American select bridges about as bad as any powder I tried. I love it at 3.8 grains and up though.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you can find W231/HP-38 that's what I highly recommend.

Of the powders you have on hand I think AA#2 is the best all around choice with that cartridge/bullet combination. If you have access to Accurate powders AA#5 would be a good choice over AA#2. Ramshot Zip is a lot like W231 so if you can find it buy it...

 

[Walkalong]

Of those, I would try AA #2 first. I used W231 when I was still loading the .380.

 

[rchery59]

My favorite for 380 is universal. I wish I could find some. Meters well and has good velocity as well as accurate.

 

[Potatohead]

I use pro auto disk. Haven't tried charge bar or another measure. American select bridges about as bad as any powder I tried. I love it at 3.8 grains and up though.

Thanks. If only Amer Sel metered better...

 

[ljnowell]

AA#2 will meter the best and give you the most consistent loads. Unique will give best velocity.

My favorite is AA#5.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

I use Unique for everything so.....I find my .380 loads with 100 gr. flat noses to be very accurate and hard hitting out of the Glock 42. I weigh each and every load.

Shortly we'll see how they run in a Beretta Pico as well. Other than the fact that it meters "not so hot" I really like Unique.

VooDoo