Reloading 380 ACP

[martyd]

Hi,
Does anyone have data for reloading 380 acp with 90gr & 100gr Cast Boolits?

I have been gone from shooting and reloading for several years due to things out of my control and had to sell all my toys. I am just now able to get back into what I really like. Trying to rebuild the things I need.

Thanks,
Marty

[hoodat]

I guess my favorite powder lately for 380 has been HP-38/Win 231. (same thing).

I haven't been casting my own for this cartridge, -- just hadn't picked up the right mold for it. I stumbled on a really good commercial cast bullet from Bear Creek Bullets. It's a hard molly coated pill, round nose at 98 gr. I think they price out at 38 bucks for 500. I love em.

I'll let ya find your own charge weight. jd

[hoodat]

By the way, here's the Hodgdon site which is good for a lot of data for various brands of bullets and powders.

https://www.hodgdonreloading.com

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Lee's Modern Reloading has many .380 ACP loads.

DG

[ulav8r]

I have loaded Sierra seconds, about 90 grains but I don't have any left to confirm weight. Charge was 2.77 grains of unique from a Lee dipper. That load should be safe with any bullet up to 105 grains, cast or jacketed. They ran just fine in my Llama.

[Ed_Shot]

The Lyman 3rd Edition Cast Bullet Handbook is free to download on line:

http://marvinstuart.com/firearm/Manuals/Bullet%20Casting/Lyman%20Cast%20Bullet%20Handbook%20-%203rd%20Edition%20-%201980%20-%20Reduce.pdf

I didn't check the data for every .380 ACP load, but the UNIQUE load data for the Lyman 90 gr. boolit that I use is identical to current published data.

[toallmy]

I'm just starting to load the little 380 with cast but I find 2 grains of Red Dot under a 115 round nose cast Boolit will throw the brass further than I can find them in the grass , although shooting a little high they group well .

[HumptyDumpty]

2.6 Grains of Red Dot has worked well for me under a 95 grain cast bullet.

[Kylongrifle32]

I have been using 2.5 grains of Titegroup with the Lee 102 grain rn.

[jcren]

Cfe pistol has become my goto for 380. Mellow feel but easily reaches factory velocity with powder coated lee 95rf bullets. Usually about 3.8 grains, which is under the 95 grain hornady load max of 4.2.

[onelight]

I'm just starting to load the little 380 with cast but I find 2 grains of Red Dot under a 115 round nose cast Boolit will throw the brass further than I can find them in the grass , although shooting a little high they group well .
380 brass is magic :) you will find the lost 380 cases in your 9mm case bucket at home .

[Three44s]

As full as a 380 case gets with red dot, I had trouble with my Hornady LNL Progressive shaking powder out of the short little cases as it indexed. As loading progressed, some of that loose powder ended up down in the priming station. Not pretty.

Three44s

[ackleyman]

Power pistol is the mack daddy powder for accuracy and speed, over 1000 fps for self defense loads, 95g.

Ruger pistols can use an upgrade on the spring weight for speeds at 1050...no big deal. Shoot some 5 gallon water jugs that are from cat litter or similar...you will never feel under gunned. Carry an extra mag or two.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

The Lee 358-105-SWC sized .357 with 3gr HP-38 is extremely accurate in my Browning 1971 .380.

[Land Owner]

https://i.postimg.cc/cLSmppXR/RD-TL358-100-RF-for-380-ACP.jpg

All day, every day, in a pair of Walther PPK, from a 6cav., AL, plain base mold, no gas check, that makes >60 by 104 gr. boolits per pound of 49-49-2 percent Pb-WW-Sn alloy in about 2.5 minutes when the mold is hot. Lube & size or PC. They reliably cycle and are accurate over 2.4 grains max. load of IMR700X.

Ranch Dog is out of production. Others (NOE TL358-100-RF-BE2 and Lee TL356-95-RF) have it, but ran out of supply. Someone is trying to gouge a 2cav RD on evilbay. Here's a 2010 CB thread: https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?90126-RD-TL358-100-RF-6-Cavity

[derek45]

win231/HP38

https://i.imgur.com/ytysuc1.jpg

[martyd]

HI,
I thank all of you for your suggestions!
I have some of those powders and will load up some test rounds later today.

Thanks,
Marty

[rintinglen]

I also have the RD TL358-100 and have used it extensively in my Colt Pocket lite, PPK/s, Beretta 84f, and Ruger LCP. The LEE .356-95-RF is a virtual clone. 2.5-2.7 grains of WW231 works wonderfully well.

[Alferd Packer]

Hi,
Does anyone have data for reloading 380 acp with 90gr & 100gr Cast Boolits?

I have been gone from shooting and reloading for several years due to things out of my control and had to sell all my toys. I am just now able to get back into what I really like. Trying to rebuild the things I need.

Thanks,
Marty
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Marty the Lyman cast bullet manual no3 is free online to download .
All you have to do is just Google it.

[farmbif]

2.7 gr bullseye with 90 grain cast slug

[JoeJames]

The Lyman 3rd Edition Cast Bullet Handbook is free to download on line:

http://marvinstuart.com/firearm/Manuals/Bullet%20Casting/Lyman%20Cast%20Bullet%20Handbook%20-%203rd%20Edition%20-%201980%20-%20Reduce.pdf

I didn't check the data for every .380 ACP load, but the UNIQUE load data for the Lyman 90 gr. boolit that I use is identical to current published data.That is great on the manual! I thought I was fairly current, but mine has no number for the edition and it is copyrighted 1973.

[markmars]

380 brass is magic :) you will find the lost 380 cases in your 9mm case bucket at home .

Sometimes, sometimes you find them after you reload 9mm and you see a round that is a little short. Or at least I do.:-o