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Thread: Reloading 380 ACP

  1. #1
    Boolit Mold martyd's Avatar
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    Reloading 380 ACP

    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
    Last edited by ReloaderFred; 04-19-2021 at 11:46 AM. Reason: Edited to comply with the rules.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master hoodat's Avatar
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    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
    It seems that people who do almost nothing, often complain loudly when it's time to do it.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master hoodat's Avatar
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    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
    It seems that people who do almost nothing, often complain loudly when it's time to do it.

  4. #4
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    Lee's Modern Reloading has many .380 ACP loads.

    DG

  5. #5
    Boolit Master

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    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.
    Spell check doesn't work in Chrome, so if something is spelled wrong, it's just a typo that I missed.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    The Lyman 3rd Edition Cast Bullet Handbook is free to download on line:

    http://marvinstuart.com/firearm/Manu...-%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.
    COME AND TAKE IT
    Let’s Go Brandon!!!!

  7. #7
    Boolit Master
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    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 .

  8. #8
    Boolit Buddy HumptyDumpty's Avatar
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    2.6 Grains of Red Dot has worked well for me under a 95 grain cast bullet.

  9. #9
    Boolit Buddy

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

  10. #10
    Boolit Master

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    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.
    "In God we trust, in all others, check the manual!"

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by toallmy View Post
    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 .

  12. #12
    Boolit Master
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    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
    Quote Originally Posted by Bret4207

    “There is more to this than dumping lead in a hole.”

  13. #13
    Boolit Man
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    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.

  14. #14
    Boolit Master
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    The Lee 358-105-SWC sized .357 with 3gr HP-38 is extremely accurate in my Browning 1971 .380.

  15. #15
    Boolit Master

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    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/sho...00-RF-6-Cavity
    If it was easy, anybody could do it.

  16. #16
    Boolit Master derek45's Avatar
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    win231/HP38

    .


    NRA LIFE Member

    USPSA/IPSC

  17. #17
    Boolit Mold martyd's Avatar
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    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

  18. #18
    Boolit Grand Master
    rintinglen's Avatar
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    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.
    _________________________________________________It's not that I can't spell: it is that I can't type.

  19. #19
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by martyd View Post
    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.

  20. #20
    Boolit Master
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    2.7 gr bullseye with 90 grain cast slug

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check