gun toting monkeyboy
12-08-2015, 08:04 PM
Hey all, I tend to lurk, and scavenge loads from on here, but I haven't run into a question that I couldn't find already addressed somewhere in the forum before. Unfortunately either this question doesn't seem to have come up, or my google-fu skills have failed.
So, here is what I am trying to do, and I was wondering if anybody has tried it before. I have a .380 ACP REVOLVER in gun jail at the moment. Since I don't have to worry about bullets feeding or cycling the action, I would like to try out some heavy for cartridge loads in it. I am trying to see if I can replicate the old .38/200 or .38 S&W Super Police loads that used a .38 S&W case and a 200 grain bullet, moving at about 630-650 fps. I currently have some load data from Ken Water's book, and have been using the .38/200 loads in several solid-frame revolvers. I would like to be able to update my 1910s vintage Colt Police Positive that loves these loads with something that is, well, less than a century old, in my carry rotation.
So, has anybody tried using heavy loads in a .380 ACP before? If so, what were your results like? Does anybody have any leads on some safe reloading data?
Right now I am looking at the following bullet possibilities:
A 212 grain RNFPGC that looks like it was originally designed for use in a .35 Remington. This is what I have been using for some of the .38/200 loads for the past several years.
A 180 grain SWC/Truncated Cone, depending on what I have sitting around.
A 158 grain Keith style SWCHP.
A 155 grain flat-nosed I don't know what to call it with a gas check. It is a custom mold from Accurate molds. I believe it is #36-155WL, that I haven't had sent off to get turned into a HP yet.
A plain, old fashioned 148 grain HBWC, both forwards and backwards.
A 148 grain DEWC.
And probably a few other cast bullets from online sources.
So, thoughts? Suggestions? Ideas? Anybody want to jump in and say "Don't be an idiot!"? I am not looking to hotrod the rounds. And I don't actually need them going super fast. I am looking for something to make holes through things, regardless of what it is likely to hit going through. The .38/200 will do that. What can I do with this to replicate that?
-Mb
So, here is what I am trying to do, and I was wondering if anybody has tried it before. I have a .380 ACP REVOLVER in gun jail at the moment. Since I don't have to worry about bullets feeding or cycling the action, I would like to try out some heavy for cartridge loads in it. I am trying to see if I can replicate the old .38/200 or .38 S&W Super Police loads that used a .38 S&W case and a 200 grain bullet, moving at about 630-650 fps. I currently have some load data from Ken Water's book, and have been using the .38/200 loads in several solid-frame revolvers. I would like to be able to update my 1910s vintage Colt Police Positive that loves these loads with something that is, well, less than a century old, in my carry rotation.
So, has anybody tried using heavy loads in a .380 ACP before? If so, what were your results like? Does anybody have any leads on some safe reloading data?
Right now I am looking at the following bullet possibilities:
A 212 grain RNFPGC that looks like it was originally designed for use in a .35 Remington. This is what I have been using for some of the .38/200 loads for the past several years.
A 180 grain SWC/Truncated Cone, depending on what I have sitting around.
A 158 grain Keith style SWCHP.
A 155 grain flat-nosed I don't know what to call it with a gas check. It is a custom mold from Accurate molds. I believe it is #36-155WL, that I haven't had sent off to get turned into a HP yet.
A plain, old fashioned 148 grain HBWC, both forwards and backwards.
A 148 grain DEWC.
And probably a few other cast bullets from online sources.
So, thoughts? Suggestions? Ideas? Anybody want to jump in and say "Don't be an idiot!"? I am not looking to hotrod the rounds. And I don't actually need them going super fast. I am looking for something to make holes through things, regardless of what it is likely to hit going through. The .38/200 will do that. What can I do with this to replicate that?
-Mb