Speer .90gr 380 loads

[RemoW]

H all,
Just got a p3at and want to load some 90gr speer gold dots.

my speer manual is 7 years old and shows a range of 3.6gr min to 4.0gr max of win 231.

Does anyone have a recent speer manual and tell me if that is still what they recommend?


Thx,
Dan...

 

[Dave R]

Speer No. 13 says 231 min. 3.6 max 4.0, so no change.

I'm in the same boat as you. Just bought a P-3AT, and shooting Gold Dots. I use Unique powder, though. Earlier this week I ran some max loads of Unique for Gold dots through the -AT and it ran fine. Quite accurate, and no signs of distress. Quite accurate, too.

I also run a plinker load just above the min for Unique (4.0gr) and Laser-Cast lead bullets. It likes those, too.

 

[Zak Smith]

I have data for this bullet in 9x19 if anybody is interested.

-z

 

[dodgestdshift]

I hate to sound stupid, but what is a P-3AT, a type of press? I have never heard of it.

 

[strambo]

Kel-Tec P-3AT= small, pocket size .380 autopistol. I don't know why they didn't call it the P-380? vs the phonetic sounding P-3AT.

I don't have one, but have heard good things about them.

 

[dodgestdshift]

Thanks, that was a stupid question. I never thought of the gun.

 

[Wil Terry]

KEL-TEC COULD NOT USE " P-380 " AS THE NAME WAS IN USE

By another gun company.
I do believe the P-3AT designation is most clever though !

 

[wingman]

I have tried various powder for the 380 and have settled on aa5, best accuracy,
less recoil.

 

[Dave R]

Good tip, wingman. Thanks.

 

[greg531mi]

Speer Manuals have some hot loads in them, I reload my 380 acp with 3.2 of Win. 231, and that is what Lyman and Winchester reconmend as max!!!
As with all reloads, work your way from starting to max. My colt Pony likes the 3.2 load a lot! I have some AA#5, I think I am going to try that, too.

 

[kimbernut]

3.6 gr. W 231

Is a bit much to start. After some difficulty in two pistols(Colt Mustang and Llama Micromax would not feed and seemed a bit harsh on the hand)I did some checking in other manuals and found that most of the others I checked showed a 3.2 gr of W 231 was the MAX! load. I learned a very valuable lesson that day. DON'T RELY ON ONE MANUAL ONLY! From then on I've always checked at least three manuals before the first cartridge is built. Good luck and good shootin'.

 

[RemoW]

thx all

Hi guys,

Thx for all the good info. I have 9 reloading books and they were all lower then the speer.

Now, just as a historical note. My friend has been reloading for 30 some years and has a series of reloading books over that time period. The max load for a 115gr rn-fmj 9mm in win231 fell from 5.5 down to the current 5.0 in the latest win reloading book.

So, has win231 inproved that much?


Dan...

 

[kimbernut]

W231 question?

Can't help there , I've used 3.0 gr. Bullseye with the Gold Dot 90 gr. for best results yet and am experimenting with TiteGroup.
My question to you is : I'm still waiting on the sequel- this should have been a series movie and was left wide open for a sequel that has never come about. (User name)

 

[RemoW]

OT

The movie was based on a series of novels by Warren Murphy and Richard Spair. If you are looking for some good reading pick up the Destroyer series. The first 70 or 80 were by the original authors and are fun reads. Much better then the movie.

Check them out. I think you will like them.

Dan...
He who has all 130+ books.
PS. I have never tried unique everyone says it is very dirty?

 

[kimbernut]

Unique

I've still got 4 oz. of the original 1 lb. of Unique I bought 5 years ago. I'll occasionally make up some revolver loads with it . From what I've been told the "new" Unique is much cleaner and does a good job.
The Bullseye I was refering to (also by Alliant) is a very clean fast burning powder that works very well in .380 Auto, 9mm, and .45ACP, and many others.
Dan,thanks for the "Destroyer" series info- I'll definitely check into it.

 

[wingman]

am experimenting with TiteGroup.

Have done that and found pressure/recoil higher, plus accuracy not as good.
I like titegroup for 45acp.!!

Red Dot is ok for 380, but again overall aa5 is tops in 380. Of course I have
not tried all powders but I am working on it.

 

[kimbernut]

Wingman

'Preciate the advice on AA#5 but I have none and have quite a bit of AA#2 have you done any work with it ? Just a quick glance at the Speer manual looks pretty good for the .380 Auto- have not yet checked other manuals on it.

 

[wingman]

Have not tried the aa2 "yet" but will, if I remember correct it is similiar to titegroup in burn rate and was developed for the 38 special. One thing
in reloading you just never know what will work for your gun.