Mold for a 380 auto

[Iowa Fox]

We have two LCP 380s in the family and I'm thinking cast just for a little 5 yard practice and to make sure the pistols are running ok.

I thinking of the Lee TL356- 95-RN or the 356-102-1R.

Any of you fellows have any first hand experience with either of these two molds in a 380 auto? Empirical experience in a LCP from either one of the Lee molds would be nice.

[toallmy]

I started playing with cast in 380 . A buddy picked up a 2 cavity Lee mold that has been discontinued that drops a 115 gr round nose at around .357 so that's what I have been using . They clump together pretty good up close but hit several inches high , I think that little 105 gr swc could work if it feeds good . Getting precise small powder drops was a challenge .

[wwmartin]

I got feed up with the heavy bevels on the Lee 125gr TC mold and milled enough off the top th get a 100gr TC 6 cavity. They resemble the Hornaday hollow point without the hollow. Shoot and feed great in my PPKs and the wife's Bersa. I have the round nose mold but it was only available in 2 cavity and I had 2 of the 125 TC 6 cavity molds so 1 was sacrificed and it worked.

Bill

[Ed_Shot]

I load .380 ACP for a Bersa, Colt, and LCP. I have the Lee 356-102-1R but my favorite is the Lyman 356242 (90 gr.).

[Grayone]

I have the Lee 95 grainer with the flatpoint. It works but I have to powdercoat and size at 357 to prevent leading. It feeds very good through my Lcp.

[Finster101]

Lee 358-105 six cavity.

[lotech]

I no longer have any .380s, but used to load for a Makarov, a couple of Walthers, and a Colt. As I recall, best accuracy was with a Lyman flat nose design that weighed just over 100 grains. An RCBS 93 grain roundnose and a SAECO 122 grain flat nose deserve honorable mention. I tried a four or five powders; 231 was the winner.

[MOA]

I'm using a RCBS 115 gr. cast I also use in my 9mm glock. Feed is no problem, but overall length is very important so it fits in magazines. Magazine needs to be fully loaded with ammo before settling on your OAL. My first loads were all within the specs of book data on OAL, and first cartridge into mag fit fine and chambered ok. When I went to load a magazine I found that all cartridges after the first was a tad too long and the nose was rubbing badly so had to shorten OAL a bit more. A learning experience I have not had from glocks, Bersa's or Colts. This issue was a Browning 10-71 in 380.

[beemer]

I had a Taurus TCP but ended up with a Ruger LCP2. I use the Lee 356 102-1R. I shot it the most in the Taurus, it works in the Ruger as well. There was never a problem in either pistol.

[Harter66]

The Lee moulds weren't available when I had the 380s . I bought the NOE 358-95 RF . It shot well enough for what the guns were , an LCP and a G42 .

[Winger Ed.]

I used to cast a 90 gr. RCBS RN for a buddy's suppressed Class III MAC.
It did a good job. We never really tried to find out its accuracy potential.
Our thoughts on that was that if you missed with the first shot, there was still 49 more in the magazine.

[crandall crank]

I use the Lee TL-356-95 RF in a couple of Ruger LCP's. We both PC and tumble lube them. Feed and cycle with no problem.

[Iowa Fox]

Thanks for all the help guys. I ordered a Lee TL-356-95RF.

Crandell what size are you sizing your bullets to if you are sizing them? Thanks.

[Sasquatch-1]

I have a first gen LCP and the Lee 102 grn rn mold (with my alloy it drops at about 105.) I load with 2.5 grns. of Unique and find it can be quite accurate out to 40 Yds and pleasant to shoot. (A plus with the LCP.) It will drop an eight inch steel plate at 40 yds. when I can do my part.

[Good Cheer]

In the 80's I used #358345 SWC in a .380 with the polygonal bore.
It was what I had and worked very well in that piece.
If I was trying to work up a load for a .380 now I'd go for a round nose, reliable feeding being everything.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

Like Finster101, the Lee 358-105 SWC shoots very well in many 380's.

[cwlongshot]

Count me another fan of the lil LEE 356-95RF mold!!!

I ordered a MP 357-93 mold too and like that for its HP and friendly feeder TC shape.

CW

[lesharris]

Lee 102 worked fine in my Sig and Ruger LCP. Tumble lubed quick and easy to do.

[crandall crank]

Iowa....I size them to .356" If you have any other questions, you can PM me.

[rintinglen]

I have one of the RD 358-100RF molds, the parent of the Lee 356-95rf and use it almost exclusively. I do have an NOE 358-88 RFHP 2 cavity mold that I got a few years back when I couldn't get hollow-point components. I can and have made HP's for my 380's, but the Ranch Dog remains my favorite. I have a Lyman 2 cavity 356-242, but life's too short for slow casting molds.
Except for the ones intended for my LCP, I size them .357. The LCP prefers .356.