Mold for .380 cast bullet?

[KenH]

Hello all, I've got a Ruger .380 I'd like to cast bullets for. I've used the Lee 356-102-1R mold, but that 1R round nose just doesn't fit into the lead of that little 380. I'm looking at the Lee 356-120-TC and from the photo with that Truncated Cone it looks like it would fit nicely. Comments? I'm also a bit concerned about the 120 grain for the .380 - I do plan to use this solely for paper punching with very light loads around 600 or so fps. Comments?

Thanks to all for any comments and suggestions - perhaps of other molds?

Ken H>

[Harter66]

I had the NOE 358-88 .
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=34_255&osCsid=fgilnfjfbnc8189gs8kbqcci73

It worked fine in and LCP and G42 .

[Minerat]

Just cast the first batch from a NOE TC358-100 RF for my 380. It will be a while before I can get some loaded. I want to powder coat them first and will be out of town for the next 3 weekends. I'll post something when I can get some loaded.

[Outpost75]

In original model Ruger LCP we have standardized on Accurate 35-120H.

Heavier bullet with large meplat is reliable feeder, and deep penetrator.

228407228408

[jmort]

I will take Ranch Dog's design every time. Fantastic.

228410

[Land Owner]

+1 jmort...Ranch Dog's TL358-100-RF

My 49/49/2 - Pb/WW/Sn allow drops at 104 grains and ~12 BHN for "vaporizing" results and a satisfying "ring" against hardened steel plow discs at 15 yards from a pair of Walther PPK. The 6-cav. aluminum mould just keeps on delivering in quantities too great to shoot at one range session!

https://i.postimg.cc/Qd5Nn0BF/RD_TL358-100-_RF_for_380_ACP.jpg

[Czech_too]

Lyman 358242 or the Ranch Dog.

[Thin Man]

Before I had a dedicated .380 defensive pattern mold I loaded the Lee 358-105 SWC (sized .358) in .380 brass, seating the boolit so that about half of the front driving band was inside the case and half outside. Never found a pistol that refused to function with this boolit, absolutely reliable for feeding and chambering. This may not be your best option for defensive purposes but will not let you down for cycling. As an advantage Lee now offers this pattern in their 6X molds.

[jcren]

I use mostly the lee 95 rf version of the ranchdog in my 380's but the wide meplant can be picky about oal, especially in my tcp. I do have and have loaded the lee 120 and it fed and shot flawlesly, but recoil was sharp with warm loads. Would work well for low velocity target loads however.

[georgerkahn]

For general plinking/shooting in several .380s, a mould which produced working bullets for me is the Lyman 356-632, purportedly dropping 100 gr. RNFP bullets, which I put through the Lyman 450 lub-sizer using plain-Jane Lyman hollow lub sticks, with them pushed through using their #402 top punch. My alloy is 10 1lb ingots of COWW, to which I add one 1lb ingot of RotoMetals SuperHard. For the .380s, all semi-auto actions, this mould followed several with different nose configuration which proved not to provide 100% functioning. As stated, the L 356-632 (mine is a 2-cavity one) drops bullets which function well -- alllmost 100% -- in my pistols.
BEST!
geo

[lotech]

I haven't had a .380 in quite a while, but had several years ago and all these bullets worked well: RCBS 93 grain RN, Lyman 100 grain FN, and the SAECO 122 grain FN. I developed at least one accurate load with each bullet and, as I recall, the RCBS RN was probably the most accurate. Tried many powders; 231 generally best, but most accurate load was with the RCBS bullet and Bullseye powder. Wheelweight alloy was fine and bullets sized .356".

[KenH]

Thanks to all for comments - after posting last night I got "antsy" and placed the order for the Lee 356-120-TC mold. I'm still a bit concerned about the 120 grain bullet weight, but since I only plan for light paper punching loads maybe it'll be ok. I wish I had found the Lee 358-105-SWC mold to order - I like the 105 bullet weight better. and with the cheap $22 shipped price I might just order it anyway.

I really liked that NOE TC358-100 RF design and would LOVE to have one in brass, but at $101 plus shipping I guess I'll have to pass.... for now anyway.

Thanks again for all comments.

Ken H>

[jmort]

I do know of someone who has used the Ranch Dog bullet on two "man-sized" hogs. They dead. Not head shots either. Hope the 120 grain works out well for you.
Too heavy for the case in my opinion.

[KenH]

Too heavy for the case in my opinion.

I agree it's heavier than I wished. I just tried to cancel the order and wanted to order the Lee 358-105-SWC mold for the lighter weight. I actually think something along the lines of 90 grains would be better for the little .380, but we'll see. All I plan for cast bullets is paper punching. For SD carry I use factory loads. I REALLY prefer my 9mm Glock 43 for SD ballistics, but that darn .380 just slides into my pocket so easy for concealed carry.

Thanks again for comments and sharing of knowledge.

Ken H>

[lotech]

Bullets of 120 grains work fine in the .380. Use an appropriate powder, like 231, and you can get decent velocity with such a bullet. The Lyman cast bullet book shows the same velocity for a 120 gr. bullet vs. a 102 gr. using 231 powder. A 90 gr. bullet, with the same powder, shows to be only a little faster than the heavy one.

[KenH]

Oh, velocity doesn't really matter as long as it will travel 10 yds in a straight line to punch a hole in paper. I'm sure 231 is a good powder but I don't have any. I've been using Unique for many years for light loads with good results from 45-70 to 38 spl loads.

I've had good results with 158 grain cast in 9mm for light loads. Actually seems to be less recoil than 120 grain bullets when both are loaded just enough to work the action.

[Land Owner]

Other Powder choices:
IMR Hi-Skor 700 X (IMR Pamphlet 2006, Speer Vol. 12)
Hodgdon Clays (Hodgdon Pamphlet 2004)
Hodgdon Universal (Hodgdon Pamphlet 2004)
Unique (Hodgdon Pamphlet 2006, Speer Vol. 12)

[jcren]

On the powder note, hs-6 and the new cfe pistol are awsome for 380, especially at 100+ grains

[dubber123]

The LEE 95 grain RF functions and shoots surprisingly well in my Ruger LCP, I really like the wide meplat it has.

[Rick Hodges]

The Ranch Dog 95gr RF works well in my OMC Backup and my brother's Taurus 238(?). 3.0gr. of WW231 and they function perfect and are pretty accurate as well. I PC them.

[Cherokee]

Lee 95 grain RF works in my 380's with 231 & WST and cuts a nice round hole in paper. The Accurate Mold 35-100B RF is also good. Have to play with OAL's for reliable feeding of 380's.

[KenH]

Yes, that Lee TL356-95-RF mold is the weight bullet I'd think good for a .380, but wasn't sure about the size of the bullet just outside the case. Looks like it will have to be seated deep? What is your OAL of loaded cartridge for reliable chambering? ARe you using in the Ruger LCR?

[gwpercle]

Give the Lee 358-105-SWC a try , it says SWC but it's more of a truncated cone than SWC .
It works just fine in light 9mm Luger loads and should be just the ticket in the 380 .
Gary

[KenH]

Well, the Lee 356-120-TC mold should be here tomorrow so I'll play with it some. BUT, I surely do like the looks of the 358-105-SWC bullet. I expect I'll most likely wind up ordering one of those also. Heck, $22 shipped - that's less than the wife spends on nail polish! We KNOW a new bullet mold is more important that nail polish! (she doesn't real this forum:)

[Echo]

My friend's Sig loves the Lyman 358242 RN. My mold throws it ~120 grs - Lyman also made it in a 91 grain version.

[georgerkahn]

Best wishes with your Lee mould! I have had a Colt Mustang, CZ27, Sig 230, Beretta 1934, and a fifth .380 I cannot recall manufacturer of, and in my experience, the bullet weight was not an issue.. I've cast and shot from 95 to 135 grain no problem. HOWEVER, at least with two (the Czech, and the Italian ones) were very finicky re the ammunition, and I cannot honestly advise if it was the bullet nose shape, OAL, or ??? On the recommendation of a "range buddy", who gifted me a handful or so of the Lymans, I quickly learned that this bullet functioned in all the .380s with no problem! This has been over a ten-plus year period -- e.g., all the different pistols. Bion, after getting gifted the bullets, I do believe I got the 2-cav mould off eBay at a most reasonable price. No handles, and used -- but it still drops great bullets.
geo

[KenH]

OK, I got the Lee .356-120-TC mold today. Casts just fine, I did swap the sprue plate for one I'd already enlarged the holes in and milled a trench between holes. Dropped bullets right around 121 to 122 grains, and .356/.357 diameter. One coat of Smoke's clear powder, loaded 3 rounds with 2.0 grains (weighted) Unique, seated bullet to .97" COL and it functions nicely. cartridges drop right in just as they should, eject brass right at feet making it easy to find brass. Stepped in backyard to test, Chrono'd 532, 538, and one that was seated to .95" chrono'd at 563 fps.

I think I'm going to like this mold, and think it just might work good for 9mm. Now to load up a few more to shoot some paper with tomorrow - all depending on how much wind 'n rain we get from the hurricane. It should be well to the east of us and not bother. Sure hope it stays east anyway - even better to die out in Gulf so folks to east of us won't be hit.

Ken H>

[WRideout]

When I first bought my Taurus TCP last winter, I had a supply of Lee 105 gr SWC that I started out with. I have only ever used Bullseye in this little 30 acp case. A short time ago I acquired the Lee 95 gr mold. It seems to feed more reliably, and accuracy is very good for a pocket pistol with alleged sights. I continue to have an occasional failure to feed, but now they can be cleared by simply racking the slide. With the 105 gr, I typically had to remove the magazine, and go through a regular dance to get the jammed ctg out.

The Lee 95 gr mold works a lot differently than the rifle and round ball molds I had used in the past. It seems to lose heat very quickly, and will cast small diameter boolits if not hot enough to get good fillout. I have to keep everything very warm, and it takes about ten or fifteen pours before the mold is up to temp. Once hot, it does pretty well.

Right now my standard load for 380 auto is 2.7 gr of Bullseye, WW SP primer, and Lee 95 gr as cast, tumble lubed with Bens liquid lube.

Wayne

[KenH]

Right now my standard load for 380 auto is 2.7 gr of Bullseye, WW SP primer, and Lee 95 gr as cast, tumble lubed with Bens liquid lube.
Wayne

Sounds like a good load, a bit more "peppy" than what I load for plinking with the .380 - I like the light loads so they drop the brass at my feet for easy retrieval rather than throwing the around. The .380 is a fun little round to shoot.

Ken H>

[Land Owner]

Not a criticism, since I "load small" in that cartridge too (2.7 gr. IMR 700X), but 2.7 grains of anything in that case just does not begin to fill the empty space and the margin for error at amounts that small increases exponentially. Be careful.

[KenH]

Not a criticism, since I "load small" in that cartridge too (4.5 gr. IMR 700X), but 2.7 grains of anything in that case just does not begin to fill the empty space and the margin for error at amounts that small increases exponentially. Be careful.
4.5 grains of Hodgdon IMR 700X is more along the lines of a 9mm load, not .380 isn't it? Of course it depends on bullet weight. I see on the Hodgdon site 4.0 grains with 700X is the max load for a 124 grain bullet in 9mm. for .380 with 100 grain bullet it's listed as 2.7 grains of 700X. I realize these are low numbers. I wish my version of QL had 700X listed. Is 700X a new powder? OR an old powder like PB which isn't listed either.

Now, with all that said, I like a powder that will just about fill the case, or at least 70% full. Per QuickLoad it shows for Unique that 3.3 grains is max load. Problem is QL gives wrong fps when tested in my G43 or the .380. By changing the Burn Rate setting of Unique powder to the value that gives a fps to match my chrono, then 3.0 grains because a max load. Since I'm punching holes in paper I don't need max load, only enough to reliably operate action which is 2.1 grains of unique with a 120 grain cast bullet. Per QL 2.1 grains of Unique with the Lee .380-120-TC bullet seated to .960" is 67% of case filled so there's not much change of double charge. While I don't normally weight each powder charge, I do weight a good number of them to be sure the powder measure is still throwing correctly.

Thanks for your comments.

Ken H>

[Boolseye]

4.5 grains of Hodgdon IMR 700X is more along the lines of a 9mm load, not .380 isn't it?
Gotta be a typo. He must have meant 2.5 gr. 4.5 gr. 700x would be a proof charge, or more, in a .380.

[KenH]

Thank you for comment, I thought typo myself, but reading his statement I think he was thinking of a different cartridge being loaded, not the .380 cartridge. He says:

.......in that cartridge too (4.5 gr. IMR 700X), but 2.7 grains of anything in that case just does not begin to fill the empty space and the margin for error at amounts that small increases exponentially. Be careful.

Note he says "2.7 grains ...... not..... fill empty space". I'm not sure how full the case would be with 700X, but with Unique 2.7 grains is >80% of case capacity with the Lee bullet.

Ken H>

[Boolseye]

Yeah, that sounds like a 45 ACP charge under a 200 or 230 grain slug.

[Land Owner]

Did not mean to be silent for this long. By my own hand I have mistyped. That IS my 9mm load and 2.7 gr. is MAX for my 380.

I apologize and have corrected that above. thank you for being Eagle eyed...

[KenH]

Thanks for coming back to comment. As I said, I suspected a 9mm load. That's still a fairly sporty 9mm load - isn't it?

[Rattlesnake Charlie]

Ranch Dog's design.

[Land Owner]

KenH - 4.7 would be max (interpolating for 104 gr. from my alloy) but 4.5 gr. is mild against my "ham hands" that can palm a basketball and are supported by 6'-04" height and 280#'s of bulk...but maybe that is TMI (I've omitted eye color and Mother's Maiden name for security purposes).

[Cherokee]

Yes, that Lee TL356-95-RF mold is the weight bullet I'd think good for a .380, but wasn't sure about the size of the bullet just outside the case. Looks like it will have to be seated deep? What is your OAL of loaded cartridge for reliable chambering? ARe you using in the Ruger LCR?

My OAL is .927 for several 380's. I tried .925-.930 and found .927" seem best. No Ruger, KelTech, Browning 1911, Star Pony.

[KenH]

Thanks for the comments - yep, your .927" is about right for a round nose bullet. For the 2R and 1R Lee bullets my .930" is about max for reliable functioning. I just don't like the cartridge with almost all the bullet inside the brass, no reason why, just "seems" like there should be more bullet outside the brass? I've come to like the Lee .355-120-TC bullet pretty good. It works equally well in my 9mm as well as the .380 so don't have to cast up different bullets. Not sure why that matters - got all the molds, and plenty of room to store the bullets so what difference does it make to use different bullets for 9mm and .380?

Looking back at my loads and yes, you're right - 4.7 grains 700X wouldn't be a major heavy load for 9mm. Of course, bullet weight would factor in big time - 102 grain bullet vs 148 grain. I've been working up a pipsqueak load that's easy for grandkids to shoot. Just enough to reliably work the action is enough. Those pipsqueak loads work good for me also. My 6'-4", 220 lb frame doesn't help the arthritis in my wrists and hands. As a result I tend to like the light loads. Bad shoulders keep the rifle loads light also.

Again, thanks to all for comments.

Ken H>