1st firings of cast 380

[kmw1954]

A very generous member from another forum supplied me with a bunch of 356-102-R1 cast Lee bullets to try out and help me decide if I would like to start casting.

Well I loaded some with AA#2, A 2.8gr load and a 3.0gr load and then used a variety of lengths starting at .970" and moving down to .955".

My intention was to shoot these thru my S&W EZ380 and my Witness Pavona 380 only yesterday when I went to the range like an idiot I left the magazine for the Pavona on the loading bench where I left it to plunk test these.

Anyways the EZ seemed to shoot these fairly well but didn't like the long ones. So now I will load up some more and maybe also try some with either some HP-38 or Silhouette. But so far these seem like a very nice plinking load.

[Bookworm]

I keep meaning to load for 380, but I don't shoot it very much.
That could be because the only firearms I have that shoot 380 are small and somewhat difficult to shoot.

However, they are my hot weather carry, so I should shoot them more.

[kmw1954]

Bookworm, I had always wanted a Berretta Model 84 then EAA came along with the Witness Pavona a few years ago and it is pretty much the same size and capacity and a new one could be bought for just over $300.00 So I bought one. My thought was to use it as a training aide as I could load it cheaply. Then S&W came along with the 380 EZ. Shot it and fell in love. Even the wife likes it and she also shoots a 45acp!

With these cast lead bullets and light loads in the EZ I could have shot it all day Sunday and never got tired. At 10 yards I was consistently printing 5/6" groups with a standing two hand grip. The more I shot it the smaller the groups got. I had more fun shooting this Sunday than my friends SR22

[LAGS]

I shoot the Lee 102 in my 1976 AMT "Back Up" .380
I powder coat mine, and they seem to do well.
It is a Belly Gun, so I am not as worried about accuracy as I am with function.
I will have to find my Data , but I believe I was using Bullseye or Unique.
But my loads seem to function Great, even when I forgot to re assemble it without the Extractor.
Being a blow back can be forgiving at times.

[Outpost75]

I load cast for .380 and shoot them in original Ruger LCP, Beretta M1934 and SIG P230. In all use Accurate 35-120H cast of COWW, lubricated with Lee Liquid Alox and sized .357" for SIG and .358" for Ruger and Beretta, all with 2.5 grains of Bullseye, OAL 0.925-0.955". Powerful, accurate load which cycles reliable in all of the guns.

Attachment 245760Attachment 245761

Above 7-yard target fired with Ruger LCP.

[kmw1954]

Just received today some more samples from another member of some coated Lee 356-102-1R and some TL 356-95- RF. Very interesting is seeing these compared to the other 102. So I cannot say enough, Thank you guys, you've been very kind and generous!

Now I was unable to find any cast load data on Western or Hodgdon so I fell upon the old adage that plated are loaded the same as cast, only reversed. I do have the Lyman book; Pistol & Revolver Reloading Handbook and there is load data in it but it is quite dated. In it there is a load for a 92gr RN and a 100gr Conical. the 92gr has data for 700X, Bullseye, Unique, 231 and the Dot powders while the 100gr show Bullseye, AA2, 231, 700X, AA5, Unique and 2 of the Dot powders.

The load for the 100gr bullet using AA#2 show a start of 2.0gr and a max of 3.4gr.. The Western Plated 100gr with AA#2 was 2.8 to 3.4 I believe. and have shot a lot of 100gr plated with 2.8gr and 3.0gr and they have always performed very well.

So I also have a lot of HP-38 powder so I may have to load a few with it also.

Initial impression is I believe I can load cast lead 380 and shoot it in my guns w/o much of the headache that comes with the 9mm round. Which is encouraging!

[Abenaki]

I shoot the 102 gr R-1 from Lee, in my S&W Bodyguard.
It is my practice ammo. Not my carry ammo.

I like it.

I do have a hard time with those small cases.
Glad that I do not reload 25acp!!

Take care
Abenaki

[LAGS]

The small cases are a problem and I pinch my fingers a lot.
But I DO load .25 ACP's as well as .22 LR's.
So it is just part of the game.
But, I let the wife be the "Range Chicken " and find all the empties she can.
After all, she shoots most of them

[kmw1954]

So I've spent time this week working up 2 loads with the TL-95gr bullet that are powder coated and that went quite well. Was able to load 20 with AA#2 and 20 with HP-38. The HP-38 I had to use the Lee Auto Drum measure because the Auto Disk wouldn't drop light enough. I have a few more of these 95gr bullets to load then I will be working up some of those 102gr powder coated bullets to compare with the bare lubed ones.

Now if these shoot as well as the first sample I believe I will start looking for equipment and lead to try doing this myself!

[onelight]

You may have seen this disk from titan but I use it for some tiny powder charges .
https://www.titanreloading.com/titan...n-micro-charge

[kmw1954]

Yes I have and have also seen the mod to add a setscrew to the disk and also have the Micro Adjustable disk.

[gpidaho]

kmw1954: I just started loading the 380 myself. I had so many pieces of 380 brass from range pickups that I bought a Ruger LCP to shoot them up. Also, I got the Lyman 90gr, #356242 mould and powder coat the bullets. I like to use the RCBS Little Dandy for the small charges. Gp

[gnostic]

I've shot hundreds of cast 380's from my PPK, I couldn't see any difference from jacketed bullets.

[kmw1954]

Thanks folks, So far I am really enjoying this trial. This afternoon I took the 356-102 coated bullets I have received and sorted them into two weights 101.5gr or more (42) and 101gr or less (30). Not quite sure which powder I'm going to load these with so I might wait to see how the 96gr bullets go with the HP-38.

Now I'm more seriously looking at a lead pot and a couple molds.

[gpidaho]

I bet the HP-38 works as well as most. So far I've tried bullseye, TiteGroup and PB. Red Dot is the next try. Gp