kir_kenix
10-04-2012, 03:23 PM
I have heard grumblings on a few different boards regarding cast boolits for the LCP in .380. Seems some have had difficulty getting these pistols to cycle, or report terrible accuracy from cast. I will post some of my experiences with this pistol in hopes that it helps someone out later.
First off, this is not a target pistol! People complaining about accuracy from these pistols kind of suprise me. Now, I'm no great marksmen, but putting 6 shots on a 8x11 piece of paper at 7-10 yards in a defensive scenerio is good enough for me. I define "defensive scenerio" as drawing from concealed and shooting at a "threat" in a farily rapid fashion about the only requirement for this gun. I ask that whatever gun I'm carrying be perfectly reliable and accurate enough for the purposes intended. The LCP does this, both with jacketed and cast.
Second, shooting this pistol isn't a whole lot of fun. The recoil generated, even from the lowly 380 Auto isn't overly pleasent in the LCP. When I go to the range I usally fire 2-3 mags through the LCP and 2-3 cylinders through a j-frame (my other carry gun). If somebody is planning on shooting 200 rounds through the LCP on any given day, they are way tougher then I am.
The LCP is what it is. A small, easily concealed handgun with 6 rounds on tap. It lacks anything resembling useful sights outside of 7 yards. The slide does not lock back and I don't even carry an extra magazine. It is however, a very reliable and easy to carry back up gun.
Now to loading for this pistol. The magazine allows seating boolits out further then many .380's I've handled (though not as far as any Beretta or Glock I've seen). I am thankful for this because it allows the use of heavier boolits. Having said that, I am pretty much set on shooting the Lee 102 gr 356-102-1r. My mold does not have the bevel-base found in some examples, just the mildest "rounding" of the base. I size to .358 (which really just fills the lube groove) with no leading, though .357 worked just fine as well. My boolits are poured from WW's with 2% tin for fillout. Barrel slugs at .356 to the best of my ability to measure.
With the 102 gr Lee, I seat so my OAL is .983. I have expiremented with OAL quite a bit and finally settled on this length due to feeding issues. Go too short and the trip from the magazine jams the gun going into battery, go too long and occasionally a round will fail to clear the magazine.
I also expiremented with several different powders. Ended up going back to Bullseye because it meters reasonably well, functions my pistol well, and I have a TON of it. 2.1 grains functions this pistol very well and is easier on the hand then my carry loads. Winchester Small Pistol Primers were used extensively. I did chrono this load, but cannot find my notes right now.
For my carry loads I use the Speer 90 Grain Gold Dot Hollow Point. I have heard that this bullet has been discontinued, but I see it for sale on most of the large on-line retailers. 3.2 gr Bullseye in front of the Win SPP is my max load. OAL is .97 in most load books, but I load at .98. This is what I carry most of the time. I have fired several hundred of these loads with zero malfunctions. Clocks at 970 FPS.
I see alot of people trying to make the LCP into something it is not. This gun should not be asked to fire 2" groups at 25 yards or push a 100 grain bullet to 1,200 fps. Not going to happen. If someone has realistic expectations of what a small pocket .380 should do, I have no doubt they will be happy with the LCP.
Thanks for listening to my rant and I hope it helps somebody else out that is struggling with the LCP.
First off, this is not a target pistol! People complaining about accuracy from these pistols kind of suprise me. Now, I'm no great marksmen, but putting 6 shots on a 8x11 piece of paper at 7-10 yards in a defensive scenerio is good enough for me. I define "defensive scenerio" as drawing from concealed and shooting at a "threat" in a farily rapid fashion about the only requirement for this gun. I ask that whatever gun I'm carrying be perfectly reliable and accurate enough for the purposes intended. The LCP does this, both with jacketed and cast.
Second, shooting this pistol isn't a whole lot of fun. The recoil generated, even from the lowly 380 Auto isn't overly pleasent in the LCP. When I go to the range I usally fire 2-3 mags through the LCP and 2-3 cylinders through a j-frame (my other carry gun). If somebody is planning on shooting 200 rounds through the LCP on any given day, they are way tougher then I am.
The LCP is what it is. A small, easily concealed handgun with 6 rounds on tap. It lacks anything resembling useful sights outside of 7 yards. The slide does not lock back and I don't even carry an extra magazine. It is however, a very reliable and easy to carry back up gun.
Now to loading for this pistol. The magazine allows seating boolits out further then many .380's I've handled (though not as far as any Beretta or Glock I've seen). I am thankful for this because it allows the use of heavier boolits. Having said that, I am pretty much set on shooting the Lee 102 gr 356-102-1r. My mold does not have the bevel-base found in some examples, just the mildest "rounding" of the base. I size to .358 (which really just fills the lube groove) with no leading, though .357 worked just fine as well. My boolits are poured from WW's with 2% tin for fillout. Barrel slugs at .356 to the best of my ability to measure.
With the 102 gr Lee, I seat so my OAL is .983. I have expiremented with OAL quite a bit and finally settled on this length due to feeding issues. Go too short and the trip from the magazine jams the gun going into battery, go too long and occasionally a round will fail to clear the magazine.
I also expiremented with several different powders. Ended up going back to Bullseye because it meters reasonably well, functions my pistol well, and I have a TON of it. 2.1 grains functions this pistol very well and is easier on the hand then my carry loads. Winchester Small Pistol Primers were used extensively. I did chrono this load, but cannot find my notes right now.
For my carry loads I use the Speer 90 Grain Gold Dot Hollow Point. I have heard that this bullet has been discontinued, but I see it for sale on most of the large on-line retailers. 3.2 gr Bullseye in front of the Win SPP is my max load. OAL is .97 in most load books, but I load at .98. This is what I carry most of the time. I have fired several hundred of these loads with zero malfunctions. Clocks at 970 FPS.
I see alot of people trying to make the LCP into something it is not. This gun should not be asked to fire 2" groups at 25 yards or push a 100 grain bullet to 1,200 fps. Not going to happen. If someone has realistic expectations of what a small pocket .380 should do, I have no doubt they will be happy with the LCP.
Thanks for listening to my rant and I hope it helps somebody else out that is struggling with the LCP.