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snaggdit
02-13-2009, 04:27 PM
OK, here's my problem. I want to load some 380 for my mother in law. I just recieved some brass. I have a 356-125 2R Lee 2 cavity mold. Works fine in my 9mm. I thought because the diameter was the same I could use it in the 380. When I went to look for loads in my handbook, it seems this is kinda heavy for a 380, and there is no load info. Can it be used? Has anyone done it? Midway is backordered into April on a 102 gr Lee mold. Even buying FMJ bullets are backordered until mid March. The Lee dies are way out there, too. I can swallow the price of a set of RCBS, and they are expected to be in stock in a few days. Help! I did post in WTB a few days ago for a mold and dies, and no one spoke up.

Edit: I guess I should add she has a Sig. Would this heavy of a boolit cause too high of pressure?

BCall
02-13-2009, 04:43 PM
I dunno, I am just now working up to load for my 380, but the Lee manual lists one load for a 124 gr jacketed bullet. Everything else seems to be 100gr or lighter. It shows 2.4gr of HP38 as the starting and max load for a 124 gr jacketed bullet. Don't know if that helps you or not. Billy

snaggdit
02-13-2009, 04:48 PM
Yeah, that's the load book I checked as well. Makes me think I could use a boolit that heavy, but what to use for powder type and weight? I need to get a few different pistol powders, I guess. I have been trying to keep it simple with A#5 and just yesterday got some A#2 since they were sold out of A#5. Sounds like some Unique or Green Dot might be a good thing to have around as well. Maybe some 2400.

jdgabbard
02-13-2009, 06:06 PM
I believe it is too long brother. You can try it, but the problem is that the front driving band would need to be seated down into the case. In which case you would have nothing to taper crimp to. They wont even fit in the magazine if you seat it to the front driving band.

You might be able to get the 120 TC boolit to work, don't know havent tried it. But the 102-1R will work for sure. Good luck.

BCall
02-13-2009, 06:10 PM
Just an FYI, I needed to order a few parts from Lee last week, so I added a 356-102-1R mold to my order. A little more expensive, but it came today, and I didn't have to wait until april. Plus lee only charged $4 shipping. Mine was here in less than a week. Billy

Calehedron
02-13-2009, 06:12 PM
I have the Lyman 356242 in 90gr for my wifes 380. I use 3.0gr of Bullseye mostly but I am in the process of switching all smaller cartridges (45ACP, 40S&W, 9mm, and 380) over to Power Pistol. A little slower burning for the heavier bullets and a little more bulk to fill the case with.

Hud
02-13-2009, 06:41 PM
RCBS cast bullet manuel # 1 list several different powders and charge weights for the 124 gr RN and the 124 CN in 380 auto. If you don't have one close, I can e-mail a copy of the page to ya.

Hud

carpetman
02-13-2009, 06:43 PM
snaggit--" I want to load some .380 for my mother in law". What ever did she do to make you so mad?

Bret4207
02-13-2009, 07:34 PM
" I want to load some 380 for my mother in law". As a retired police officer I urge you to seek other means of redressing any issues or grievances you may have with your MIL. It's not worth going to jail son.....:mrgreen:

snaggdit
02-13-2009, 10:53 PM
My "Mother in Law" was a cop, too! I love her like my own Mom. She is the coolest! She has been dating my friend since I met my wife 10 years ago. Long story. He is a few years older than me, my wife is 9 years my junior. We all have fun together. Now if I could only get my wife into the shooting sport!

Carpetman- she does own a cat...

snaggdit
02-13-2009, 10:57 PM
Bcall, I looked at Lee a few months ago when I was looking at another mold. I guess you may be right. Worth the few extra bucks to get it now. That would really make this whole issue moot. All but the dies... Right now the RCBS are only BO for a few more days. I was watching the mold, BO only a couple days and it just jumped 2 months. I better get in line.

Leftoverdj
02-13-2009, 11:00 PM
Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook has a pile of loads for their 121 grain #358242. I've used the Lee bullet in the .380, and it worked for me. It's a near thing, though, and might not work with a tight chamber and/or thick cases.

Here are a few starting loads:

Blue Dot 3.7 732 fps
HS-5 2.6 619
Unique 2.2 630
WW-231 2.1 718

snaggdit
02-13-2009, 11:23 PM
Thanks Leftoverdj. Seems Unique wins the backup pistol powder competition. It would work in my 9mm, 40 and 45 as well. I think I will get a # the next time I get near the sporting goods shop (2 hour drive).

snaggdit
02-14-2009, 02:32 AM
My other problem is I don't have a 380. My MIL is living in Tyler Texas right now on another pipeline job (she runs the office), with their home (and private range) in Arkansas. I need to send her rounds w/o being able to test fit them. A friend does have a 380, so I guess I can get the load chronoed before I send them. Best to just get the proper mold and find a middle of the road load.

Leftoverdj
02-14-2009, 03:49 AM
Snaggit, Unique is an old standby of great versatilty and with lots of data, but AA-5 covers about the same range and meters much better. You won't go wrong with either.

NuJudge
02-14-2009, 08:26 AM
What .380 acp pistol does your Mother-In-Law have? I've only got a 1968-vintage PPK in .380, and it is tollerant of most anything that fits and is round nosed.

The cartridge is not tollerant of much over 100gr, leaving too little space for powder and bulging the case down at the base of the bullet if you use heavier. Maybe something with a bevel base would not bulge the case.

For cast, I use the Lee .356-102gr. I have it in 6-cavity, and keeping the mold hot enough is a bit of a problem. The Lee site says they don't make it in 6-cavity any more. It causes the PPK to really jump around:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=550977

You might want to use the Lee FCD if this was going to be used in a pistol you could not work the load up for:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=668253

Hang Fire
02-14-2009, 10:54 AM
Beware of those heavier "AND" longer bullets, tried a cast 124 grainer for the wife's .380. was to long. Finally settled on a 93 grain cast, works fine.

snaggdit
02-14-2009, 12:31 PM
Thanks NuJudge, but did you notice both those items were backordered until 4/6? ARRRRRG! She has a Sig P232. She wanted something small for her CC (told you she was too cool!).

jdgabbard
02-14-2009, 01:52 PM
Snaggdit, just like what Hang Fire and myself have said, I think you will find that 124g too long. I played with it hours trying to get it to fit for use in my .380 (a bersa thunder), and its just too long. You can't sit it deep enough, unless you were to flatten out the nose some how.

I just loaded a dummy round with one just to double check for you. Hornady list the Max COL as 0.980" The round I loaded up measured right at 1.032 And that was seated as far down as you can go without roll crimping OVER the front driving band. Then tried putting it in a mag. Not only would you only be able to put one in, you would have to do so while the mag was actually already in the pistol. Its just too long.

Nate1778
02-14-2009, 02:49 PM
You want a round nose for the .380. I have some flat nose that will not work in my gun. Not saying that all .380 are that way, just saying the round nose is a safe bet.

I must apologize, I am one of the reasons the mold is on back order till 4/4:mrgreen:


I definitely suggest the FCD, I have one and it makes some very nice ammo.

carpetman
02-14-2009, 03:00 PM
snaggdit---Mother in law owns a cat. Thats plenty of reason. You sure the .380 is big enough?

Ghugly
02-14-2009, 04:48 PM
snaggdit---Mother in law owns a cat. Thats plenty of reason. You sure the .380 is big enough?

I agree. To start with, I've always heard that Mothers-in-law require a pure silver boolit. I don't think you can get enough weight for proper penetration casting silver for a .380.

Elk Country
02-14-2009, 11:37 PM
snaggdit...PM sent!

Elk Country

Dave B
02-15-2009, 10:22 AM
My LCP shoots these Lee 105s withttp://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/dbeeson3/DSC00977.jpgh 2.7 gr Titegroupjust fine.

PolishYeti
02-21-2009, 02:03 AM
DaveB could you repost that load data for the Lee 105 gr SWC's , your picture covered most of the text up. I too am one of the reasons for the backorder on the lee molds and have been trying to research some loads. Titegroup is the powder I have been using most so a load using that would be fantastic.

snaggdit
02-21-2009, 08:56 AM
The load info isn't covered, just split. Lee 105 SWC 2.7gr Titegroup.

PolishYeti
02-21-2009, 12:52 PM
Thanks snaggd , I should have seen that. Thanks guys for the info , it's great to find a place like this for all the more obscure loads. Hopefully I'll have info of my own to share in the future as I get more into this.

Willbird
02-21-2009, 02:15 PM
HEY, Lock stock and barrel has them in stock :-)...

http://www.lockstock.com/prodinfo.asp?number=LEE90305

Bill

jdgabbard
02-21-2009, 04:01 PM
HEY, Lock stock and barrel has them in stock :-)...

http://www.lockstock.com/prodinfo.asp?number=LEE90305

Bill

Looked at the link. Found it kinda comical. Did they really think we'd believe their comments about being lathe bored? I've never had a Lee mold that wasn't out of round...:coffee:

Dave B
02-21-2009, 10:23 PM
I size my Lee 105s to .356. As you can see in the pics they have a little bulge in them. I would bet that the factory FMJ in the pic is .355.

Willbird
02-22-2009, 10:44 AM
Looked at the link. Found it kinda comical. Did they really think we'd believe their comments about being lathe bored? I've never had a Lee mold that wasn't out of round...:coffee:

I rarely read commentary on websites :-). Dick Lee probably wrote that himself. We go have to agree that Lee IS unmatched for aluminum mass produced boolit molds because nobody else competes in the sub $20 mold marketplace hehe.

Bill

putteral
02-22-2009, 01:53 PM
I have an order placed with Lee Factory sales for the 105 gr mold and a couple of other items. Have been waiting 5 weeks now. They keep saying any day now.