380 boolit

[Messy bear]

Hi guys.
Wondering what you think of these designs for a LCP
Accurate 35-098S or Lee TL 356-95 RF. How do you think either would work in the 1st model LCP?
Thanks

[Outpost75]

My LCP, SIG P230, and Beretta M1935 all shoot accurately and feed reliably with Accurate 35-120H, cast from wheelweights, sized .357" and loaded with 2.5 grains of Bullseye. Velocity about 800 fps from the LCP. When hollow pointed by Erik at www.hollowpointmold.com and cast of 1:30 tin-lead the HP version of the bullet weighs 114 grains. Velocity is a bit low from the LCP for reliable expansion, but it mushrooms nicely from barrels 3.5" or longer.

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[Bigslug]

My NOE TL358-100 is a Ranch Dog design very similar (if not identical) to those two and IS dimensioned to be tumble-lubed and loaded as-is. Had very good luck shooting mine across several vintage .380 designs as well as a new Glock 42, and bought the mold largely on the recommendation of a friend who runs it in an LCP (perhaps from a Lee mold) and has had good success at possum control with it.

The Accurate 35-098R would be their tumble lube version. It'll be more expensive going that with that maker, but Accurate lets you spec mold materials, final diameter with a specific casting alloy, sprue plate design, and you can get it to order in a couple of weeks as opposed to waiting for NOE's next run in the format you like. Both will be a MUCH nicer mold than the Lee. I would unhesitatingly say that having an NOE is worth well more than the 30% less you'd spend on the Lee 6-holer. An Accurate might run you triple the Lee's price or more, depending on how you set it up. Whether that's overkill for a snubby defense pistol or not depends a little on what you want to work with. No question that the Lee will serve well, but probably not for as long.

[jcren]

I have the Lee 6 cavity and both our 380's shoot this bullet well. 4.2 of autocomp and smokes pc is proven possum and dillo medicine.

[6thtexas]

I shoot a bullet similar to what Outpost 75 shoots. I use the Accurate 35-122t:
http://www.accuratemolds.com/img/bullets/detail/35-122T-D.png

On top of 2.9 grains of HP38 velocity is 758 FPS out of my LCP. Feeds well and has good penetration. I could probably increase the powder charge a bit, but this does what I want it to do.

I also have the NOE TL358-100-RF. On top of 3.5 Grains of HP-38, it will break 900FPS out of the LCP.

I personally like the heavier bullet better and that is what I carry in it

[Outpost75]

...I use the Accurate 35-122t:
http://www.accuratemolds.com/img/bullets/detail/35-122T-D.png On top of 2.9 grains of HP38 velocity is 758 FPS out of my LCP. Feeds well and has good penetration... I personally like the heavier bullet better and that is what I carry in it

Yes, that bullet also VG. I tested an earlier version 36-125T which was based on the 37-125T for the 9x18MAK cut to smaller diameter. Tom at Accurate changed the designator for the .380 ACP bullet and THAT is now cataloged as the 35-122T, here is a test target.

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[18Bravo]

I can't speak for the LCP but I do use the LEE TL356-95 in a Bersa Thunder 380 with very good results. I powder coat and load it in front of 3.1gr of W231or HP38 with a very light taper crimp. The Bersa, being fairly heavy, eats these like popcorn with hardly any recoil while giving decent accuracy.

[Three-Fifty-Seven]

... :)

[farmerjim]

I am using the lee TL 356-95 RF powder coated and sized to .357 in my Ruger LCP 2ond model. Some of the headstamps in mixed brass will not take a .357 sized boolit and still chamber. I load them with plated bullets and shoot them where I will loose them. the lee works well in the LCP.

[Kosh75287]

OUTPOST 75, I can't help wondering if you could get greater velocity with that projectile if you tried a slower-burning propellant. I don't have any data at my fingertips, but I'd be surprised if a modest charge of Unique wouldn't give you a noticeable boost in muzzle velocity, which may help insure better expansion.

I don't want to tread on anyone's sacred load (I don't like it when it happens to me), so I make this observation with some hesitation. If you use 2.5/Bull'sEye/114LHP because it is comfortable (I'd expect it to be), and always hits where you intend it, then never mind. I just hate to see you forego another 100 f/s (or the better part of that) muzzle velocity if you don't really have to.

I haven't spent nearly as much time reloading blow-back pistol cartridges as I have the more powerful ones. What experience I have had suggests that there is a threshold velocity for each projectile, which changes the extent of bullet expansion none "none" to "LOTSA". Though the LCP might be more of a handful with slightly higher velocity, it might still be manageable AND give you expansion with such a projectile. Just thinking out loud...

Your thumbnails suggest a very thoughtful work-up of the bullet-cartridge combination. I wouldn't have expected 2400 to work in such a diminutive case, but there's no arguing with the results.

[Outpost75]

OUTPOST 75, I can't help wondering if you could greater velocity with that projectile if you tried a slower-burning propellant. I don't have any data at my fingertips, but I'd be surprised if a modest charge of Unique wouldn't give you a noticeable boost in muzzle velocity.

I have higher velocity loads with Alliant #2400 and Olin AutoComp which approach 1000 fps in my SIG P230 and Beretta 1935, but I don't use them in the LCP. The cast load in the LCP is for practice only and I carry it with the Remington 102-grain Golden Saber Ultimate Defense Short-Barrel load.

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[Messy bear]

Hey thanks guys! Great info!