380 auto Boolit?

[randyrat]

What is a good Lee boolit to use in the Kel Tec 380
102 gr
120
124 2R
124 TC
125 2R
I have leaning toward the 356-120 TC or the 125 2R but could be convince other wise with some advice.

[fecmech]

Randy--I used the lee 120 TC in my Keltec before I got the RD 100 RNFP. It works just fine as a plinker but you can only get a little over 700 fps safely due to pressure limits. Interpolating Lyman 358242 data and using 3.2 of 231 (the highest velocity for 358242) I was able to get 780 fps in my KT with the Lee 120. Looking at the diagram for 358242 on cast pics I felt that the Lee bullet had the same bearing surface and amount of bullet in the case as the lyman 358242 so I thought the Lyman data for the Lee was a decent match. Using RD's data with his bullet I can get 900 fps at safe pressures but I throttle it back to 800 fps for practice. BTW I cracked the slide in my KT at the 1400 rd mark. Not sure if it was the 120's, the 100's or just that it's a light little gun not made to be shot a lot. The main thing was that KT just told me to send the top end in and 2 weeks later they sent me a new slide, barrel, recoil rod and spring, no charge! I had not replaced the recoil spring on the original top end for the whole 1400 rds. For carry purposes I think the RD bullet would be hard to beat in the .380.

[randyrat]

Your right, KT has a good costumer service. Maybe I should look at the RDs molds

[2wheelDuke]

I've had good results with Lee's 102gr round nose in the P3AT. Mine is dropping my alloy closer to 110gr. I put Bullseye behind mine. My P3AT also likes the Ranch Dog boolits. I'll buy that mold someday.

[Centaur 1]

I don't think you'll like the heavier boolits. From what I understand Michael at Ranch Dog ruined his Jiminez pistol when he was trying to develop a 125 grain boolit for the .380, and the Kel-tec is only 1/3 the weight of a Jiminez. The 100 grain Ranch Dog boolit is hard to beat in the .380, it's worked flawlessly in my LCP and my daughters 380 Bodyguard. Look on the Ranch Dog website, he has a couple of molds with cosmetic scratches and he reduced the price to $46. This boolit also works just as good in a 9mm or 38 special which helps to conserve your lead supply, three of these weigh less than two 158 grain 38's.

http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=35_36&products_id=169

[randyrat]

Good point about conserving lead and the pistol

[gunoil]

i shot 102's, there great. Someone said never over 120 for 380. I wanta custom mold from el paso thats 110 round nose. Then could use in 9mm and 380. trouble is, 380 brass is hard to get or find or buy or pick up at range, stuff flies everywhere. I need ta scrounge me up another bag of once fired 380 brass. I am a newbie shootin lead bullets.





diamondback9 keltec380 kahr9 S&W/4006/40cal keltec subK/glock40cal.

[rintinglen]

+1 on the RD mold. i got one of his "rejects" off ebay a couple of months ago and am glad I did so. It shoots closer to POA than the 122 358-242, and casts more boolits quickly than my 356-242 92 grainer. Mine weigh about 102 grains as cast and in limited testing have performed well in my PPK/S. My Beretta 84 eats anything, so that is no test, but the Walther is finicky, and things have to be pretty close to factory to get it to work accurately. So far the RD 100 works very well with WW231. Ihave not tried anything else yet.

[Catshooter]

You can't go wrong with a Ranch Dog mould.

Having said that, I don't own one for the 380. I have a Lyman 356635 (if I'm recalling the number correctly) which is a sort of truncated cone with a decent meplat. Weighs 100 grains and the Kel Tec eats them up.


Cat

[fcvan]

I have used the Lee 356-102 RN and the Lee 358-105 SWC in a number of my .380 pistols over the years. I always go back to the 102 RN with 3 GR of Bullseye as it has performed well in a Walther,PPK, a Walther PK380, an FEG PA-63 (Walther clone) a Beretta 70S, a Taurus TCP-738. The 105 did also, but I generally use that for .38 plinkers. I have been tempted to try the Lee 356-120 TC but as cat it weighs the same as my Lee 356-125 RN so I figured it was just a bit heavy for the .380. Frank

[mnkyracer]

I use the Lee 102 gr rn w/ 2.8 grs of BE. I tried the TL356-124 but they had to be seated DEEP to get the in the mag of my pistol.

I still have some of these if you really want to try them.

[tgator]

Not meaning to steal this thread, but would like to know if the RD TL358-100-RF could be bumped or enlarged to work in mak 9x18. I picked up a cz 82 I would like to reload for. Will move if improper. Thanks


Tim

[reloader28]

I've had great luck with Lee 358 125gr RF in 380's. Very nice boolit in 380, 9mm, 38spl.
Had it up to 950fps with Blue Dot from the heavy Hi-Points, then backed down to 850 and it shot nice. It's not fun out of the little Taurus's tho, only tried 2 shots. 650fps shoots good and fun tho.

Just got the RD 100gr and that is a sweet boolit. Still working up a load for it.
With straight WW mine drop out at .361.

[bobthenailer]

Ive used the lee 102 rn & now the Saeco #380 95 gr rn in many 380 pistols with no problems ! i currently own a OMC back up and a Keltek and they have been used in a Bersa , Walther Star, Colt & Astra 380 pistols .
I have bullet moulds for 122 gr rn & tc bullets, but prefer the lighter bullets for the 380 pistol

[hornady]

I just bought the Lyman 356242 GV mold 90 Gr. For my wife’s Bersa 380. I loaded a box with 2.8 grains of win 231. I have not had a chance to test them yet. That little gun will thump you pretty good with factory loads. I loaded some Berry bullets at around 3.0 Grains of 231. She shot three mags and had enough. So I dropped back to 2.8 Gr. I hope these are as mild as the Berry with the reduced load. I need too get her shooting the Bersa more.

[GabbyM]

Not meaning to steal this thread, but would like to know if the RD TL358-100-RF could be bumped or enlarged to work in mak 9x18. I picked up a cz 82 I would like to reload for. Will move if improper. Thanks


Tim

RD sells a bullet for the 9x18 Makarov. TL367-100-RF.
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