380 heads

[WHITETAIL]

Ok guys and gals
I am looking for a new mold for the 380.
I have a 90 gr.RN now and would like to
move up a little, in weight.
I have tried a 125 gr. and found that they
did not fit my mags for the 380.
If you would let me know what you
guys and gals have found.

[sigep1764]

Lots of people use the Lee 102gr round nose. Going up past that can be done, some have on here with a little searching. I use the Lee 95 grain round flat. Its giving pretty good accuracy and the little tumble lube grooves can be filled with traditional lube.

[Winger Ed.]

For all it takes to get another mold, and work up a lot for it, you're only going up in weight 10%.

Not to discourage ya, but if the 90 gr. works well, I'd stick with it and be happy.

If ya just want boolits to be a little heavier:
These mold weights are all calibrated for use with (I think) Lyman #2 alloy that's pretty hard.
If you raise your Lead percentage as much as ya can and boolits still fill out well, and don't lead the barrel-
you should be able to get them up into the mid 90s with the mold you have.

[Thin Man]

Many years ago I wanted to reload .380 cases but did not own a dedicated mold for that cartridge. What I did have was a Lee .358-105-SWC mold and a quantity of boolits sized and lubed at .358". I seated these .358" boolits in cases so that about half of the front band was inside the case and half out. These loaded rounds loaded into every .380 magazine I have tried them in and have fed up and cycled without any issues into every pistol that I have loaded them into. Perfect function every time. I have bought several dedicated .380 molds since that time but still seem to return to this mold for total satisfaction. Lee still offers this 105 grain mold in both 2X and 6X designs. Just try to find either one in today's market. Worse yet, try to afford it. Best of luck to you, and you can still use the boolits in the 38/357 revolvers when you wish to do that.

[LabGuy]

Right now I’m playing with the Lee 356-102 R1 in my SW Bodyguard 380. Runs fine.

[Cary Gunn]

Howdy Whitetail,

I think both Sigep1764 and Thin Man have made good suggestions.

The Lee 95 RF -- which from my mold drops a bit heavier (97 grains) than its' stated weight -- is my usual .380 ACP bullet, but the aforementioned Lee 358-105-SWC has also worked O.K. for me. Both bullets are sized to .357" and tumble-lubed in Lee Liquid Alox.

Either offering would provide at least a somewhat heavier slug than your current 90-grainers.

Happy trails,

-- Cary Gunn --

[Land Owner]

I found my alloy 49-49-2 percent Pb/WW/Sn casts at 104 gr. from a Ranch Dog TL358-100-RF as below. Truncated cone. Reliable into the bore. Six cavity mold so making a thousand is a piece of cake.

[BC17A]

I haven't found a more accurate boolit for my 380s than the Lee 356-102rn.

[toallmy]

I just recently started loading the little 380acp myself , and I'm having a similar problem but with a 115 gr RN hitting high on target . When the components shortage ends I will get a proper mold but for now I will use what I can .
It's been a adventure putting together the equipment , but I'm finding the 380 to be a treat to play with . Just wish I had ordered that extra 5k sleeve of small pistol primers .

[MostlyLeverGuns]

Like Thin Man, I used the Lee .358-105-SWC mold, very good accuracy and function from a Browning 1971 model .380.

[porthos]

by heads; were assuming you mean BULLETS or BOOLITS, right?

[dondiego]

by heads; were assuming you mean BULLETS or BOOLITS, right?

Yea, because the case head holds the primer!

[Murphy]

Everybody wishes. One of mine is for LEE to bring back their 356-102 R1 in a 6 cavity offering. I've owned the 2 cavity version, and I've cast many bullets with 2 cavity molds over the year. 4 & 6 cavity molds can sure spoil a fella. You may want to look at NOE's sight for what is available.

Murphy

[Hanzy4200]

I wouldn't go much bigger. Your not getting any benefit, and clearly some issues, from going up much larger. Thats the second time this week I've heard the term "heads". Is this a new term?

[Cherokee]

An old time dealer I knew back in Pittsburgh always called them bullet heads. Never knew anyone else that did.

[Winger Ed.]

An old time dealer I knew back in Pittsburgh always called them bullet heads. Never knew anyone else that did.

I'd never heard the term before except for referring to people whose neck was so short & thick,
it looked like their head was mounted straight onto their shoulders.