380 load build up question

[CiDirkona]

I tried a cast load with 95 grain moly's in 380 at 3.7gr (taken at 20% down from a book load for FMJ) of Power Pistol. It functioned, but stretched and guppie-bellied most of the cases. I didn't chrono this load

I knocked the charge down to 3.1 gr with the same boolit as it was the smallest my dillon standard charge bar will go down to, and got 657fps on average, which is quite slow --- but funtioned in my keltec p3at just fine.

My question though, is -- if my 3.1gr 95gr moly load was that slow, could I use my 106gr cast boolit (lee 1r mold) and stay under pressure?

I can't find any book loads for PowerPistol and a 105-106gr boolit, so any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[bobthenailer]

Power Pistol is not the ideal powder for the 380 but will work , i use 3.0 gr of Bullesey or Tightgroup for my 380 loads with cast bullets with 95 gr bullets out of 2 -380 acp pistols

[Centaur 1]

I use Unique in my .380 loads. I have the ranch dog 100 grain mold, I use 3 grains Unique for plinking and 4.2 grains for full power loads. Since my carry loads are Cor-bon DPX, I stopped using the heavier charge in my LCP.

[bobthenailer]

Ive also switched to reloaded barnes tac-xp bullets for all of my carry handguns. there the same bullets as loaded by cor-bon dpx & wilsons preminum ammo line .
I read a test in 380 shot from a kel-tek , 2 1/2 inch barrel into ballistic gel with 4 layers of denium
in front of the block of gel . 10 inches of penetration , bullet expanded to .65 caliber other brands only expanded to .45 cal or less and simular penetration

[GabbyM]

That's all dandy hollow point performance but there are many of us out here that think 10 inches isn't enough.
I just run a 100 grain TCFP boolit.

Data for the Lee #356-102-1R is included in Lyman's fourth edition. No listing for Power Pistol though.

[Shuz]

Power Pistol is not the ideal powder for the 380 but will work , i use 3.0 gr of Bullesey or Tightgroup for my 380 loads with cast bullets with 95 gr bullets out of 2 -380 acp pistols

Bob: I'm using a Redding powder measure to try and get 2.7g of Bullseye for my .380's. My measure seems to scrunch up some powder granules so that I often get what looks like a cast boolit shaving like what you'd get from not enuf belling on a case. As a result, my variation in charge weights is as high as .4 grains! Do you have this same issue with your measure and Bullseye?

Anyone else having problems metering Bullseye?

[Pirate69]

I am using 4.0 grains of Unique behind a 102 grain bullet. The Ruger LCP has been known to throw cases all over the place. This load drops them just in front of my feet and runnings the gun very well.

[CiDirkona]

Ooooh -- I actually have some Unique too. Have any problems with it metering that small of a charge of Unique?

[bobthenailer]

im useing a dillon 550 and have no problems with its powder measure . the only other powder measure i have is a B&M mag micrometer powder measure

[Combat Diver]

I'm using a Lyman 258242 which gives me a 92 gr LRN under 4.1 grs of Unigue out of my CZ83. 100% realiable load.

http://i48.servimg.com/u/f48/16/48/54/01/lyman_11.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=859&u=16485401)


CD

[Roundnoser]

Bob: I'm using a Redding powder measure to try and get 2.7g of Bullseye for my .380's. My measure seems to scrunch up some powder granules so that I often get what looks like a cast boolit shaving like what you'd get from not enuf belling on a case. As a result, my variation in charge weights is as high as .4 grains! Do you have this same issue with your measure and Bullseye?

Anyone else having problems metering Bullseye?

I use 2.7 grains of Bullseye for my 380 with a 95 gr. cast bullet. I use a
Lyman 55, and it drops very consistent charges.

[Poygan]

I've used 3.4 grains of 4756 with a Lee 116 grain round nose and the same load with a Lyman 358345. Today I dropped the load slightly to 3.3 grains because of the light pistol. Sizing is .355.

[fecmech]

Shuzs, are you using the rifle chamber in you Redding?? I'm guessing that's your problem, you're basically metering a pancake with 2.8/BE. I have the same measure but also with the pistol chamber works great with BE. I load the RD 100 RNFP over 3.1/BE for practice and get 900 fps at 3.6/BE out of my Keltec.

PS. The main problem in the .380 as I see it is the amount of bullet in the case. You don't have much case capacity to work with and pressures rise real quick. That was a problem I had using the Lee truncated cone 120 gr bullet, I had super flat primers and not even 700 fps. With that bullet I had to have almost .300" of the bullet in the case, the RD 100 needs less that half that in the case.

[Shuz]

Shuzs, are you using the rifle chamber in you Redding?? I'm guessing that's your problem, you're basically metering a pancake with 2.8/BE. I have the same measure but also with the pistol chamber works great with BE. I load the RD 100 RNFP over 3.1/BE for practice and get 900 fps at 3.6/BE out of my Keltec.

PS. The main problem in the .380 as I see it is the amount of bullet in the case. You don't have much case capacity to work with and pressures rise real quick. That was a problem I had using the Lee truncated cone 120 gr bullet, I had super flat primers and not even 700 fps. With that bullet I had to have almost .300" of the bullet in the case, the RD 100 needs less that half that in the case.

fecmec--I didn't realize that there was a pistol chamber for the Redding measure that I have. That's prolly the answer, thanks!
Since I posted my concern, I have been using my Dillon 450 and the SMALL powder bar for the .380. Works like a charm!--Shuz

[Carolina Cast Bullets]

100 grain RDO RNFL, HP38 powder, bullet seated
where case mouth just covers lube grooves or fit to magazine,
Taurus 738

Uniflow powder measure, Lee carbide dies

Eats em up like salted peanuts and "minute of bad guy" at 10 yards
all day long

I hesitate to quote exact powder loads but charges with HP38 are
readily available in most manuals.

Jerry
Carolina Cast Bullets

[Gunnut 45/454]

With 3.4 gr W231 and the Lee 105 I get 938 FPS out of my Bersa very accurate load.