mold suggestions for 380?

[mike_kaleigh]

First I am a noe guy already, have the handles ect, I do have the noe 225g 300blk and 135g 9mm pc designs and had great luck. My dad just got a s&w 380 and I am going to start loading for him, what do you guys recommend. Noe has an 88 and 100, and lee has 95 and 102. I powder coat and love the smooth side bullets but noe doesn't make them for 380 weight range and said it will be a year before they even try to add to the selection. so what are your suggestions?

[redhawk0]

I have the Lee 102g...it shoots well...but usually low out of my S&W 380BG. I recently switched to a 358242 92gr...but unfortunately I just cast and PC'd them last weekend...but haven't been out to the range yet. (Traveling for the next few weeks.)

If you're looking for a little heavier...the 102gr is a good feed for the little pistol.

redhawk

[Winger Ed.]

Not exactly a target pistol, but I used to cast a 90gr. RN for a life long friend's Class III MAC in .380.
I can't remember if it was a RCBS or Lyman though.

For what it is, and firing from an open bolt, it did well.

[Ed_Shot]

I also have the Lee 102 gr. but I much prefer the Lyman 356242 (90 gr.) for .380 in my Bersa.

[gwpercle]

NOE moulds are my first choice ... but I don't see much for the 380 auto right now ...
I like flat spots on my boolits and the 380 auto could use a flat meplat ...
Lee 358-105-SWC more truncated cone than SWC but it has worked well in my 9mm Luger and in my brothers 380 Auto .
If you are going to powder coat them ... look at the Lee TL356-95-RF ... that rascal has a nice meplat , a little round shoulder for feeding , weight is listed at 95 grains and powder coated ... it should be just the ticket for 380 Auto .
Mybe try a double cavity Lee mould untill NOE can get around to making exactly what you want ... I've done that a time or two !
Gary

[mfruech]

I recently received the MP 358-100 HP PB 4 Cavity Mold NLG. It is an outstanding mold for 380 if you powder coat and want the hollow point option.
https://www.mp-molds.com/product/mp-358-100-hollow-point-pb-4-cavity-mold-no-lube-groove/

[P Flados]

The Lee 102 (mine drop at 108) was easy to get working in my 380. The round nose feeds good and shoots good but is not something I would recommend for any kind of defensive application.

I have a custom 85 gr truncated cone NLG that I also like.

I like the looks of the NOE 88 for a 380 better than the 100. A non-hollowpoint 5 cavity would be most tempting if I were shopping.

[Finster101]

Lee 358-105.

[jcren]

Have ran a bunch of the lee 95 rf powdercoated out of several 380's and they shoot well, but require deep seating when powdercoated to feed well. Just got the Arsenal 358-100 which is simular but with a bit more taper that looks like it will solve this problem, but have not had a chance to cast any with it yet. Btw, if you see it, grab some cfe pistol powder. This stuff is excellent in 380, allowing mild lead loads or +p jacketed with very little muzzle flash and mellow recoil impulse.

[Minerat]

I have a NOE 358-100 2 cavity PB. with 3 pins, they cast: solid = 101 gr, Cup point= 97gr and LHP=90 gr. It drops 0.359" dia.

[jdgabbard]

The classic bullet for the .380acp is the Ideal/Lyman 356242 (90gr variant). The problem is, you'll probably never see this in a 4-cavity mold. I've only seen 1 and 2 cavity molds. I WISH Mihec would make one of those in his 8-cavity Aluminum mold, or even a 6-cavity brass mold... But so far, my wishes have gone unheard. Maybe someday he'll hear my cries...

BUT, you can get it in a 4-cavity mold from NOE: https://noebulletmolds.com/site/product-category/bullet-moulds/355-9mm/359-93-rn-s3/

In my experience, this is the best bullet for the .380, though some are very fond of the Ranchdog RNFP - Which Lee's 100gr version is very close.

[sigep1764]

The Lee 95 grain round flat mold is good in my 2 380s. I run it with W231 and powder coat it. Plus the 6 cavity rains boolits. Couple hours casting keeps it fed for a long while.

[Wheelgun]

Lyman 356404 is my top choice, but good luck finding one.

As other have said, the Lee TL357-95-RF is a good one & can be found in a 6cav. It runs good in Colt Mustangs and Browning 1911-380s powder coated or with Lee alox.

[Bigslug]

The Ranch Dog can be had in several formats:

NOE TL-358-100-RF

Lee TL-356-95

Accurate 35-098R. If tumble lube is not your thing, 35-098S. . . or like you say, just powder coat it. Of the three, Accurate will let you customize the diameter for your alloy.

These are similar in shape to Winchester's Q4206 flat point FMJ profile. I've tested them to feed in the PPK, Colt 1908, FN 1910/22, and Glock 42, and a friend can vouch for the Ruger LCP. Since hollowpoints are of dubious benefit at the .380's speed and throw-weight range (insufficient penetration), these wide meplat options are about your best bet.

[pworley1]

The 358242 has always worked best for me.

[Thin Man]

I will toss in another vote for the Lee 358-105 SWC boolit.

[frkelly74]

The little Lee round nose is among the small number of boolits that I have had first time out success with. That is, I loaded up some rounds and shot them with no bobbels , they just worked with a small dose of 700X providing the push.

[WRideout]

The Lee 95 grain round flat mold is good in my 2 380s. I run it with W231 and powder coat it. Plus the 6 cavity rains boolits. Couple hours casting keeps it fed for a long while.I also use that 95 gr Lee mold, and it functions perfectly in my FEG PA63. It feeds well in spite of its flat nose. If it's not something you are going to use a lot, a two cavity Lee will keep you going at low initial cost.

Wayne

[paul edward]

I have had good results with a Lee TL-356-95RF. These drop at .358 from my 2 cavity mold. Shooting as cast with Lee tumble lube these work well in a PK380 and give decent accuracy.

[MT Gianni]

Another user of the Lee 95 gr. PC it and forget about the tl.

[GONRA]

GONRA used 94 grain .358 inch diameter Lyman IDEAL U358242 cast boolits
for all sorts of locked breech .380 ACP loads/pistols.....
Then developed (with lottsa help from Corbin! !!)
swaged ~40 grain FMJ plastic core bullets for .380 ACP Seecamps.....

[mvozz]

I had someone give me some boolits to try, they were small 38 cals. I played with them and found them to be great in a 380. They were a truncated cone about 105 grain Hi Tek coated and were fun to play with. It took me a while to find a source but in the end they were made from a NOE mould - well I added another mould to my collection. The NOE 358-105-TC is great for 380, can be used in 9mm and I am playing with it for light 38 special loads.

[Charlie Horse]

The Lee 95 grain round flat mold is good in my 2 380s. I run it with W231 and powder coat it. Plus the 6 cavity rains boolits. Couple hours casting keeps it fed for a long while.

Same here, but I also have the RN but it is a 2 cavity. It performs just as well and I really like it, too.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

I too like the LEE 358-105-SWC. Very, very accurate in a Browning 1971 .380.

[rintinglen]

I have the Ranch Dog group buy, which became the LEE tl356-95 TC, and I heartily recommend it. It has worked really well in every one of my 380's, including a Walther PPK/s, and a Mauser HSc, as well as a Colt Mustang Pocketlite, a Browning BDA, a Browning 1910, a Ruger LCP, and my Kahr P-380. Get the Lee 6 banger or a 5 cavity NOE TL358-100-RF-BE2 5, make a lot of boolits, load 'em, shoot 'em and smile.

[sureYnot]

I always ran 125gn in my glock 42. I also run 168 through my sr9. Can't promise it's a good idea. But, I've been happily doing it for years.