Lead bullet data for a 380

[Andrew Quigley]

Howdy ya'll

Want to start reloading for my Kel-tec 380. Got a Lee 356-102 mold but can't seem to find any data for lead bullets. Everything is for FMJ or JHP. Want to use Titegroup powder.
Anybody know of data available for this bullet and powder. I've looked on the net but with no luck. Is there a safe starting point with this combo I can work up from?
thanks

[Spud]

Probably not much lead boolit data so you'll need to improvise. The start load for 100 gr. FMJ is 2.6 grains. You could drop that down three tenths of a grain or more as a start & be safe and work up (in 1/10 gr or so increments) 'til you get the gun to function the way you want, watching for pressure signs. Be careful. Doesn't take many extra "tenths" of fast burning powder to get excess pressure in these small chamberings. Use a chronograph if possible. Just make sure when you reduce the start load you're positive the bullets are exiting the muzzle! This is how I do it. My friend just gave me some of this powder to try in 45ACP. Works good in it. Haven't tried any in my 380, yet. Got 16 lbs of Unique, so I use that!

[Andrew Quigley]

Thanks Spud. I just used up my Unique because when I tried the titegroup in my 38's it was night and day difference in the groups. Sold me right then and there.

[NickSS]

Any load that is safe for a jacketed bullet in a 380 is safe with lead boolits. There is not enough velocity in that cartridge to worry about leading. I load 120 gr round noses in mine and they work fine I just took the 100 gr data and droped it about .3 gr and use that.

[Andrew Quigley]

Thanks NickSS. Got 2 Lee molds to try out. One cast a 112gr round nose and the other a 95 gr round nose. I'll try the 100gr data and drop it .3 gr.

[Andrew Quigley]

Well I finally got to load some rounds this past weekend and got to try them yesterday. Loaded up some 112gr. lead bullets with 2.3 to 2.7 grains of Titegroup. Didn't encounter any high pressure problems according to the primers and all shot pretty well. Just my luck it seem to do the best with the highest charge!

[zxcvbob]

I loaded some .380's last month using 95 grain commerical hard cast RNL bullets and 4.1 grains of Unique to testdrive my Kel-Tec. (range doesn't allow jacketed bullets indoors.) It shot very well, but each shot felt like a firecracker going off in my hand. Loaded some more using 3.0 grains of International but no time to go to the range and try them out. Should be a little milder, plus I polished the sharp edge off the tip of the trigger so hopefully it'll stop biting me when I shoot.

I have a 120 grain TC Lee mold. They work great in .38 Special. Hopefully will work good in 9mm and is not too heavy a boolit for .380 (of course I'll have to reduce the powder a bunch.)

[Flash]

Lyman's 47th edition lists 2 grains of Accurate Arms #2 with a 100 grain cast lead bullet in the .380 to give 734 fps. Titegroup is right above that on the burn rate list so use 2 grains as your starting point.

[Andrew Quigley]

Got a 95gr LRN I'm gonna try next. Like I said I started at 2.3 and went to 2.7 with no trouble using Titegroup.