anyone doing 380 auto , 124 grain bullet , clays powder data

[russs]

Is anyone loading 380 auto, with clays powder under a 124 grain RN cast bullet? I just got a bodyguard 380 and would like to try this combination but can not find any load data for it.

[XxWoodsHunterxX]

Biggest I've been able to chamber in mine is 100gr. Good luck with that venture

[John Boy]

There is no loading data for Clays that I know of

[dkf]

You will most likely end up swaging down the base of the bullet since it will start to get into the web of the case. The Lee 95gr or 102gr bullets work well in .380 as does the Ranch Dog .380. I loaded some 115gr jacketed in .380 and it bulged the case out a good amount at the base of the bullet, nickel brass did not have enough give so std brass only.

[dudel]

Never loaded anything that heavy. 102gr was tops. Not sure clays is appropriate for such a small volume case (even less volume with a 124gr projectile).

[rintinglen]

I have tried the 122 grain 358-242 in 380 cartridges and was not happy. The POI and POA were very far apart, nearly a foot high at 15 yards from a PPK/s, IIRC. I used WW-231 and Bullseye in my experiments, but can see no reason why Clays shouldn't fail just as well as either of them. Heavy boolits and fixed sight 380's are not a match made in heaven. YMMV, but I'm betting not by much.

The other problem you'll encounter is that you will be loading tiny powder charges--1.2 to 1.6 grains at a guess. Clays seems to run about 10% faster than Bullseye. At these levels, a tenth of a grain matters. You'll need to weigh each powder charge for safety's sake.

I found happiness with the RD 358-100 TC. But any 90-100 grain boolit should work well. 2.2 -2.4 grains of Clays should be about right, but I can't say I've tried it. FYI, Hogdon does not list Clays for any ​ .380 rounds, so you'll be boldly going where the manufacturer doesn't recommend that you go.

[w5pv]

I have good luck with the Lee 102 grain pb in both the 380 and 9mm using Titegroup at the loads recomended charge rate.

[fecmech]

I loaded Bullseye with the Lee 120 TC and max on that was 2 grs. As fast and fluffy( poor metering) as Clays is I wouldn't even attempt it in that scenario. Loading 120's in the .380 is a stretch IMO and adding Clays to the mix is a bridge too far.

[dakotashooter2]

You will most likely end up swaging down the base of the bullet since it will start to get into the web of the case. The Lee 95gr or 102gr bullets work well in .380 as does the Ranch Dog .380. I loaded some 115gr jacketed in .380 and it bulged the case out a good amount at the base of the bullet, nickel brass did not have enough give so std brass only.

They likely will be a chambering nightmare... unless you swage out the bulge then the bullets will be undersized and won't group well.......

[dkf]

The Ranch Dog data for the 100gr Ranch Dog .380 bullet has data for Clays. That data can be used with the Lee .356-95 .380 boolit too.

[Blackwater]

Let me just add this to the above salient comments: With the "minor" calibers like the .380, you really need to balance velocity and bullet weight. Bullet weight CAN add impact effect to a ctg. IF it is accompanied by sufficient velocity. For me, that means at LEAST 800 fps. minimum for shooting living creatures, and I'd really prefer 900+. For that, 100 gr. is about as heavy as I think one needs to go in the .380. Performance in the real world is a balancing act between bullet wt., velocity and bullet shape. Alloy can make a difference, too, with boolits, especially with HP styles. If it was me, which it isn't, I believe I'd relegate that 124 grainer to the 9mm. and up. Sacrifice too much velocity and the desired performance level just seems to melt away, though it'd certainly be better than a slingshot or wearing a silly grin.

[c1skout]

I'd have to look at my notes but I tried some Lee 124rn in the 380 using Bullseye. They worked in my 1 gun but were too long for the other. I had better luck with the Lee 125rnfp, but even better with 102 or 95gn pills.

[XxWoodsHunterxX]

I've recently had a couple of the 100gr. That I loaded split the cases. I'm guesing it was because they stretched the case while seating. They did have a bulge but nothing that affected chambering as I checked in the guns barrel while reloading them.

[Blackwater]

I'd suspect the split cases were more likely caused by tired brass. Chamber dimensions can also help cause this, too. The fact that the bullets bulged the cases but they fit the chambers well tends, I think, to maybe indicate your chamber is on the large side for the caliber, but that's a plus when it comes to reliability. The old Lee Enfield SMLE's are a good example of intentionally large chambers, and they had a reputation for reliability that was enviable. The only real downside is that they're harder on brass, and you can't get as many loads out of your cases in larger chambers. Just a possibility, anyway.

[Eddie2002]

Been loading a 115 grain cast bullet over 2.4 grains of Greendot for my little Ruger .380 LCP with some success. The boolits are from a local supplier and came my way with a trade, ended up with 1000 of them so I really needed to work up a load. Couldn't find any cast load data for a 115 grain cast boolit, only jacketed load data. Figured using a smaller amount of a medium pistol powder would give the push needed for the heavier projectile. So far it has turned out to be a fun target/plinker load with less recoil than factory ammo. Don't have a crono but I'll guess the speed is close to 800 fps and haven't had any leading so far.
Couldn't find load data for anything over 115 grains, most bullets recommended for the .380 ACP are under 100 grains with the max weight being 115.