reload 380acp

[ahurley]

Hi everyone i have a jimenez 380 and i want to reload for that spiciffic gun but need help on where to start i know it shoots fmj 90-95gr round tip bullets. I need to figure out a powder and load charge for it Any help or advice is appreciated thanks

 

[fouled bore]

I have been using HP-38, it works well.

 

[John3921]

I have universal clays on hand. I've loaded some test loads up with 3.1 - 3.5 gr of Universal (100 gr plated RN). 3.4 is listed max in the hodgdon guide. I loaded 5 at 3.5. These are for a G42, which can be tough to get to cycle I'm told. If it likes the 3.4 loads I want to know what 3.5 is going to do since I expect some variation with the powder measure when I set the .380 up to load on the progressive press. I expect the G42 won't like the 3.1gr or 3.2gr loads.

 

[buck460XVR]

Hi everyone i have a jimenez 380 and i want to reload for that spiciffic gun but need help on where to start i know it shoots fmj 90-95gr round tip bullets. I need to figure out a powder and load charge for it Any help or advice is appreciated thanks

Do you have a manual or two? They would give you powders and starting charges. Have you reloaded before? If not, manuals also teach you technique and safe loading practices. There are also online reloading manuals, generally on powder manufacturers websites that will give you load recipes. Even if you get load suggestions from folks here, you still need to verify them with publisheed data.

 

[gonoles_1980]

Lot of recipes for 90 and 95gr for the 380, check out Layman, Speer, the Hodgon and Alliant websites. They will have loads for those bullets. It's when you go to a 100 gr you will have more difficulty.

 

[ahurley]

Yes i am new to reloading and i have lyman 48th edition i see the powders they used but i have not been able to souce them localy yet that is why i am asking about diffirent powders and after reading more online i am thinking about going with the hi point 380 over the ja 380

 

[1KPerDay]

check the manufacturer's sites of the powders you can find locally. Lots of powders will work for .380. Get a couple manuals. read them.

 

[Jlr2267]

Yes i am new to reloading and i have lyman 48th edition i see the powders they used but i have not been able to souce them localy yet that is why i am asking about diffirent powders and after reading more online i am thinking about going with the hi point 380 over the ja 380

I don't know your financial situation, but if at all possible, save another $50 and get a Ruger LCP. They are dirt cheap right now and, in my opinion, a much better firearm.

For 380 info, check Hodgdon and Alliant's websites. Always verify your loads, by cross reference if possible. Read and understand your reloading manual before you start.

 

[JamieC]

I have loaded ammo for my wife's P238, 105gr LSWC from Bayou Bullets. I've used both Bullseye and Power Pistol, not sure yet which one we like better.

 

[R.Ph. 380]

Win 231 or HP 38 (same powder) does nicely and impossible to double charge a case.

 

[Hondo 60]

Buy or borrow a reloading manual or 3.

Lyman's 49th or Lee 2nd edition are good places to start.

 

[AZAndy]

With 92 grain lead, I use 3.6 grains of Unique. I got my bullets from Meister.

 

[gonoles_1980]

JamieC, if you don't mind, what loads are you using with Power Pistol. I have some ladder loads ready to go on Friday, but it never hurts to collect all the data possible. I emailed Alliant, but basically was told they haven't tested with my bullet, so they don't have load data.

 

[Compound8.0]

I have CFE that I use under 95 gr FMP bullets just to use that particular powder up . HP38 is a favorite though . Please , do do your homework then double check your scales and powder drops .

 

[Henry45]

I shoot 231 in my 380's. Decently clean, not super clean, but not too bad. I see you have the Lyman book, while a good book, i mostly use it for cast loads. Get a Speer or Hornady. If you want online info, go to the Hodgdon sight. They have a loading section for powders to use. Remember... start low, work your way up to see what works best. In a 380, tenth's of a grain makes a difference in velocity and accuracy.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

As a new reloaded you need to be careful. Do not trust data you get from someone on a forum you don't know. They may be good willed but mistakes can and will happen when posting numbers.

Never start at the max charge weight, start low and work up slowly. When a load data site give only one charge weight that is the max charge. Reduce that charge by 10% to get the starting charge weight.

Be careful and pay attention to what you are doing. No distractions when reloading, all attention is on loading. There are many helpful members here who know their stuff. Don't hesitate to ask questions. Good luck on your new hobby, it's very addictive. Don't say I didn't warn you lol.

 

[Toprudder]

JamieC, if you don't mind, what loads are you using with Power Pistol. I have some ladder loads ready to go on Friday, but it never hurts to collect all the data possible. I emailed Alliant, but basically was told they haven't tested with my bullet, so they don't have load data.

Let me interject. One of my favorite loads for 380 is Xtreme 100 RNFP, seated to 0.955", with 3.6gn Power Pistol. About 740fps out of my Bersa, and 660fps out of my LCP. I got my original load data from the Lyman manual, that is just slightly over the starting charge for a 100gn FMJ.

 

[tonyjr]

I would suggest you get a Lee hand loader . [ e-bay ]
You will get a chart - follow it .
It is easy to read and follow .
You will need primers [ I only use CCI ] powder , cases and bullets .
Ask any questions you have here . Your chances of meeting someone from here are very slim , so son't be embarrassed .
Look on utube .

 

[alexcue]

I'm going to give you what works for my guns. A Ruger, Colt and Bersa. I use 100gr Xtreme RNFP

In order:
Titegroup
N310
W231/HP38

 

[JimKirk]

I picked up a .380 ACP in a Ruger LCP during the sale days they were having on those right after Thanksgiving ... I got a set of RCBS Carbide dies and started reloading for it just before Christmas ...

I have been loading the Hornady XTP in 90 Gr ... I have been using Hodgdon TiteGroup and Accurate #5 .... both are working well and shoot clean ... have not shot either over the chronograph yet ... maybe the weather will get better soon. I ordered 500 nickel plated brass and have them ready for reloading .... just got to get an order out for some bullets...

 

[Zendude]

If you are looking for load data for 100 grain bullets, the Hornady manual has several load recipes. Also, if you are using Lee dies, the instructions contain quite a few loads.

 

[Potatohead]

Listen to Buck and the boys. You really should hang around here awhile and ask some questions..dumb ones or not. That's how I learned.

I had a little trouble with 380, that's what I started with also. Think I would have had less trouble with 9mm for reasons I wont go into here.

 

[tonyjr]

Manual wise - I don't like Barnes or Nosler .
My favorite is the Lee [ notebook one ] Then Speer , then Sierra ,
Hornady , Hodgdon ,-
Don't bother getting Winchester or Dupont

 

[Robert101]

The 380 is not difficult to reload but I do find the guns to be just a little finiky. I suggest you gather info from powder manufacturers like Alliant and Hogden as well. As to reloading stay in the middle powder range to start and only remove the bell on the case mouth (don't over crimp). Also, check a few rounds in the gun chamber (plunk test).

 

[Steve C]

Finding data isn't a problem. Go to Hodgdon.com and get reloading data for the .380 acp using HP38 or any other Hodgdon, Winchester or IMR powderw using 90 and 95 gr bullets. HP38 is a good powder to use in the .380 as its burn rate works well with this small volume case. The range of charge for each of these bullets is only about 3/10ths grain from start load to maximum so there's not a lot of load development.

Data for Alliant powders can be found at their website. Unique and anything faster will work.