Heavy .380/ Light 9mm load data request

[gofastman]

I just got a Lee 105gr SWC mold and want to use it for .38, .380, and 9mm.
The bollets weigh in at about 108grs ±1gr when lubed up and sized.

I'm looking for load data for my 9mm and 380, its hard to come by because the bullet weight tends to be on the extreme end for both cartridges.

I was thinking about starting with Unique because I want to use up the rest of it then move to WSF.

I was thinking about 6.5grs for the 9mm and 4grs for the 380

Thoughts??? :confused:

[Uncle Jimbo]

You didn't state what gun you were going to shoot these out of.
According to my Hercules Reloaders, Guide, 4.2 grs is max for the 380 with the 100 gr lead bullet.
I tried this load using the lee 105 round nose. I shoot a Browning BDA 380. Well built gun and bigger that most 380s.
This load was a handful. So I don't know if the smaller concealable 380s could handle it. I ended up dropping down to 3.5 grs of Unique.
Don't load 9mm so can't offer my opinion.

[Gunnut 45/454]

With the Lee 105 gr bullet in my Bersa .380 ACP I use 3.4 gr of W231 COAL .0965", 938 fps! Good accurate load.

[gofastman]

This load was a handful. So I don't know if the smaller concealable 380s could handle it. I ended up dropping down to 3.5 grs of Unique.
OK, maybe 3.5grs is a better place to start.
The gun is a TCP, Its a really nice shooter, but the barrel/chamber doesnt look super beefy

[fcvan]

For the Lee 358-105 SWC, I use 3 gr. of Bullseye in the .380, and 5 gr. of Unique in the 9mm and .38 SP. I have only tried Unique with the Lee 356-102 RN (it goes .358 from my mold) and I didn't like the way it performed. I pretty much stick to Bullseye for the .380 because it works well for me. Frank

[30CAL-TEXAN]

Have you tried chambering a dummy cartridge yet?

I have a TCP as well as a few other 380 and that thing has the tightest throat I have had to deal with yet. I don't think that barrel has any room in front of the chamber at all. All of my other guns will chamber the Lee 102 but the TCP isn't even close. I was looking at the 105 SWC as a possible solution so I would be very interested in your results and also your OAL.

BTW, I have tried the 102 with 4 grains of unique and in a small frame pocket pistol it is down right painful. I found that 3 grains will work in most pistols but I have since switched to a Red Dot load for both 380 and 9mm.

[fcvan]

30cal-Texan, I haven't tried the Lee 358-105 SWC in my TCP so far, just the Lee 356-102 RN. I set my seat/crimp die to a factory round. The 102 sized to .358 has been a solid performer in my TCP, FEG, my wife's PK380, and my brother's PPK. I have not had any feed problems with the 105 in the PK380, the FEG, the PPK and a Berreta 70S I had years ago. I just haven't loaded any 105s recently. Frank

[gofastman]

so 6.5grs if Unique darn near fills a 9x19 case!
the longest I can seat this bullet without exposing the lube grove is about 1.100" COAL

Is it safe to compress the stuff like that? is a light bullet so i don't imagine pressure will get too high, but its just a bit disconcerting to see that much powder in a case!

[Kilroy08]

Here's what Lyman's 4th edition Cast book has to say:

For 105ish grain bullets motivated by Unique...... (It's 102 grain data, I doubt 3 extra grains will matter)

.380: 2.9-3.3 grains

9mm: 5.7-6.3 grains

6.5 grains is definitely +P territory

I did up a batch of the following

9mm
Lee 358-105-SWC sized to .356"
4.4 grains Unique
Winchester SPM primer
Mixed headstamp brass
seated to crimp groove on bullet

It shot well enough in my Hi Power and Uzi carbine. The Uzi didn't like to feed the semi wadcutter style bullet.

Nice, light recoil but it still cycled the action reliably

[gofastman]

Here's what Lyman's 4th edition Cast book has to say:

For 105ish grain bullets motivated by Unique...... (It's 102 grain data, I doubt 3 extra grains will matter)

.380: 2.9-3.3 grains

9mm: 5.7-6.3 grains

6.5 grains is definitely +P territory

I did up a batch of the following

9mm
Lee 358-105-SWC sized to .356"
4.4 grains Unique
Winchester SPM primer
Mixed headstamp brass
seated to crimp groove on bullet

It shot well enough in my Hi Power and Uzi carbine. The Uzi didn't like to feed the semi wadcutter style bullet.

Nice, light recoil but it still cycled the action reliably
good info thanks.
I find it interesting, however, that Alliant lists 6.3grs of Unique for a 115gr Gold Dot
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/powderlist.aspx?page=/reloaders/powderlist.aspx&type=1&powderid=3&cartridge=23

[Whistler]

The SWC usually sits way deeper than a HP/TC design, thus lesser powder to maintain safe pressures.

[gofastman]

The SWC usually sits way deeper than a HP/TC design, thus lesser powder to maintain safe pressures.

Ah, ok that makes sense.
I think ill back her down to 5.8 and see how that works



BTW, I have tried the 102 with 4 grains of unique and in a small frame pocket pistol it is down right painful. I found that 3 grains will work in most pistols but I have since switched to a Red Dot load for both 380 and 9mm.
I should mention that my TCP has a 16lb recoil spring from Wolff, its a touch heavier than the stock one.

[garym1a2]

Your title said you wanted a LIGHT 9MM load. Why over 6 gr of Unique. For a light load cut it way back and check accuracy. Better yet would be 4gr of bullseye in a light boolit.

[Sakdog]

Anyone find a lee boolit design that works well in the TCP? I have experiment with their 95gn 9mm mak (sized to .356") and found myself wanting, because the bearing surface created by this sizing operation requires a very deep seating to enable the gun to chamber a round in the tight throat

I moved to a LEE 2 cav 102 grain .356 round nose and it works... decently but requires that I seat no longer than .960" (for function in the TCP) I find that using the aforementioned lyman data all is well with this short COAL (staying in the middle of the charge weight-wise)

Big issue is that the 102 design is only available in 2cavity format I have been eyeballing the 105 gn TC mold but wonder if the bearing surface is going to be too long for the TCP. Has anyone found that the 105 gn TC mold works with the TCP? What kind of COAL do you have to run to make it work?

Could someone provide an estimate of the length of bearing surface on the 105 TC bullet?