WTB .380 ACP Bullets

[Rattlesnake Charlie]

In my never ending quest for the ultimate .380 ACP cast bullet I would like to try some of the Lyman 356404 design. It is 95 gns with a really wide meplate.

If anyone has about 200 of these to sell, I'd be interested.

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Someone is already sending me the bullets.
Thanks to all for response.

[Ranch Dog]

Rattlesnake... Have you taken a chamber cast of your pistol yet?

[Rattlesnake Charlie]

Which one?

No, I've never did a chamber cast of any of my handguns.

The FEG is the one that gets the most use. It will chamber when loaded with bullets as large as .358, which is what the Lee 105 gn SWC mold I have drops them at.

My Kel-Tek will not arrive for a couple of weeks yet.

I have an old Davis zinc gun that I've only fed but bullets sized to .356.

[Ranch Dog]

Just curious...

I have a Jimenez Arms JA-380 that is quite a shooter and I'm getting ready to work with it on a custom bullet. I know, I know... Saturday Night Specials but I enjoy all the JA centerfires. I also have the JA-25 and JA-Nine and they too are both great shooters. I shoot cast in both of those.

[Will]

I use the LEE 356-111-2r. I don't think they make it anymore, only the 102gr version. My mold drops at 358 which is what my 380 bore is. They shoot better than factory with 2.4gr red-dot. I also use the 358-105swc but have some feed problems. I tried the Lyman 356402 but could never get it to feed.

[GabbyM]

I've the 356632 bullet in 100gr. PM me if you'd like some. I"ve plenty.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=32&pictureid=145

[Ranch Dog]

Well let me ask you this. How large a meplat do you think that you could get away with on a bullet and still have it feed?

I've used a couple of Beartooth bullets in my autos (9mm and 45 ACP), with great service, and his metplat is 59%. You guys have any experience with FN bullets in your 380 Auto.

[Rattlesnake Charlie]

Well let me ask you this. How large a meplat do you think that you could get away with on a bullet and still have it feed?

I've used a couple of Beartooth bullets in my autos (9mm and 45 ACP), with great service, and his metplat is 59%. You guys have any experience with FN bullets in your 380 Auto.

Most of my experience in .380 ACP has been with my FEG, a Hungarian made clone of the Walther PP.
It will feed empty cases.
It will feed full wadcutter bullets ##.
Yes, this would spoil me.

In the end, I'm looking to eventually determine the ultimate two-legged varmint stopper when fired from really compact pistols like the Kel-Tek P-3AT / Ruger LCP and others like them.

##
.380 ACP full wadcutter bullets made by loading Lee 105 gn SWC to just past the last grease groove and cutting/filing off the nose.

[45 2.1]

Well let me ask you this. How large a meplat do you think that you could get away with on a bullet and still have it feed?

I've been useing a 110 gr. NEI TC boolit (evidently I had it cut short as there are no flat based boolits shown of the weight and style, it could be one of two numbers) meant for the 9mm in my 380s along with several other styles. The 380 TC group buy is a near duplicate of it and the Lyman pictured above. The current GB 380 TC has a 0.231" meplat with about 0.05" radiuses on the edges. That is about a 65% meplat.

[Rattlesnake Charlie]

I use the LEE 356-111-2r. I don't think they make it anymore, only the 102gr version. My mold drops at 358 which is what my 380 bore is. They shoot better than factory with 2.4gr red-dot. I also use the 358-105swc but have some feed problems. I tried the Lyman 356402 but could never get it to feed.

I use Red Dot a lot too in .380. Like it better than Bullseye. Doesn't quite reach top end like Power Pistol.

As for feeding the Lee 105 SWC, where does it hang up? I use a separate Lee taper crimp die that ensures the front band is not too large in diameter to chamber. If it hangs up via the case rim end failing to fully align, smooth up the breach face with a small file and/or sandpaper, even fine wet dry. If still having problems, PM me. I've tamed a few finicky to feed varmints. Most were clear after my head cleared from beating it against the wall.

[Ranch Dog]

Thanks for the 45.2.1 and RSC, I appreciate it. I've got the work done on my 25 ACP and 9mm Luger, both Jimenez Arms pistols. The 9mm (JA-Nine) is pretty standard stuff. I need to get off my butt and do the chamber casts on my 32 ACP (Bryco M-38) and my JA-380 so I can get Tom Myers to finish up the drawing but in reality won't get to those until next week.

The 25 ACP is the odd duck and is extremely over-bored. It is going to need a .256" bullet. The strange thing is that it shoots extremely well. Lee Precision gave me a 252-50-2R mold and I can literally push it through the barrel with a cleaning rod but I use plumbers lead and it must flatten out well at the shot as it is a shooter.

This is a "for me" thing so I'm letting the chamber of each pistol tell me what it needs and not going to worry about much else.

[Will]

Rattlesnake:
I think you're right. When I load the 105swc I've been opening the mouth to prevent lead shaving and it looks like I'm not getting enough crimp to remove all the flare. Don't have a factory crimp die, guess I better get one.

Will

[beagle]

Rattlesnake Charlie....That looks pretty close to a 356404 and the weight's about the same. Compare when you get these in hand. May be cheaper to go that route than looking for a 356404./beagle


I've the 356632 bullet in 100gr. PM me if you'd like some. I"ve plenty.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=32&pictureid=145

[adam38654]

I've the 356632 bullet in 100gr. PM me if you'd like some. I"ve plenty.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=32&pictureid=145

How do these bullets group for you? What type of guns do you get good performance out of them with? What caliber does the mould drop them at and do you re size them?

[GabbyM]

Adam:
I just purchases this mold at auction this spring. I've made a bunch of them but my 380 is out in AZ with my daughter. So I've not tried them out. It's shape is similar to the Sierra 90 gr HP. They are dropping from the mold at .358"

I think they'd shoot very well through a 9 x 19mm at 1350 to 1400 fps they'd make little critters go pop. But I"ve settled on the 122 and 124 grain bullets for my 9 x 19mm's which I seldom shoot anyway.

I cast up a couple thousand of these Lyman 356632 today. OP is taking a few to try out.
This bullet came up in a thread earlier this summer. Couple of guys said they liked it very well. Of course Lyman has discontinued it. Mine came back all the way from England.

I've shot a bucket full of Hornady and sierra 90 grain HP bullets from 9mm Lugar. They worked well and tended to bury into the dirt instead of ricochet 200 yards across a corn field like the 124gr solids do.