Reloading 380Auto Questions?

[2ndAmendmentNut]

Is it safe to use 9mm Luger dies to load 380ACP rounds? Not apposed to buying a set of 380 dies but just don’t want to if I don’t have too.

Also I need some mold advice for a good 380 boolit. My prerequisites are a flat base and reliable function in a variety of 380s, so a mold that duplicates the FMJ’s profile is what I am thinking.

[jdgabbard]

For the mold, you might take a look at the 356242. I have this same mold, but mine is a 358242. The only difference is the diameter dropped. The lyman manual show data for both versions of the boolit (90g and 120g).

As for the loading with 9mm dies. I have loaded with a combo of 9mm and 38spl dies. That said it was kinda a hassel, and I wasn't real happy with the results. My advice, buy the dies. It will make things a bit easier on you.

[NickSS]

The 380 case is smaller in diameter than the 9mm Luger as well as shorter by 2mm. Buy a set of lee dies. For cast bullets I shoot far more 9mm rounds than I do 380s so when I am shooting cast in my 380s I mostly use either a lee 120 gr TC or a Lyman 120 gr RN in it. They work fine and give me 850 to 925 fps in my two 380s. When I carry them for self defense I load them with JHP bullets of around 90 gr weight. My lead loads are just for practice and they work quite well. I have thought about getting a 90 gr bullet mold but have not bothered as the six cavity Lee 120 gr RC mold casts bullets so fast that I usually make up 10 to 20 pounds of them at a time.