Cast .38 SWC boolits to .380

[Trickrick]

Can I use a 38 swc lead bullet in a 380 or 9 mm if I run it through a sizing die?
I have access to a bunch of cast 38 bullets and wonder if a can trimmer .002 off to fit a 380?
Seems simple enough, but I am just getting started in the casting arena.

[Outpost75]

The .380 case is so small, any SWC heavier than about 100 grainsa will intrude too much into powder space and run pressure up. Better to use a bulket designed for. 380 ACP.

[Trickrick]

I wasn't even thinking about the weight......duhhhh
Would it work in a 9mm?
I'm not sure about the weight, but will find out this weekend

[guncheese]

yup it isnt the size around thats the issue
its the total lack of space for powder
you have to seat it sooooo short to get it to chamber there isnt any room left for powder
99420

[dkf]

If you can get it to feed in a pistol the Lee 105gr SWC will work in both .380 and 9mm. With .380 you have to watch that you don't swage the base of the bullet down as there is not a whole lot of straight case wall before it starts to get in the taper.(keep longer COAL)

[tazman]

+1 on the Lee 105 swc. I have used it in the 9mm. Some pistols have feeding issues with this boolit, some don't. The new Lee 356-95-rf seems to be working well for most people in .380 and 9mm.

[.5mv^2]

I run a Lee 105 SWC in all my 380-357 guns. Seems to work. The 357 really flings them.

99459

[Avery Arms]

158 grain SWC works fine sized down and fired in a 9mm but it's a very heavy bullet for a 9mm and load data is not generally available so you will have to carefully work up a load. The good news is that 158gr bullets create a lot of recoil so most guns will cycle with a very light powder charge.

There is some commercial 158gr 9mm FMJ designed for subsonic use in suppressed SMG's and rifles, IMI painted the bullet tips blue to identify it as subsonic and more recently PRVI was selling it with plain copper bullets.

I haven't tried 158's in a 380 and have no plans to, the cartridge is just too small.

[Boolseye]

The 357 really flings them. Right?! I've clocked them at over 1400 with Unique in the .357, no leading at all.

[Boolseye]

158 grain SWC works fine sized down and fired in a 9mm but it's a very heavy bullet for a 9mm and load data is not generally available so you will have to carefully work up a load.
3 grains of BE works fine. I don't go higher, myself. Not the greatest boolit for 9mm, feeding can be dicey.