Casting for .380 with Lyman 358345 or 356402, new to loading .380

[beezapilot]

I've done a fair amound of casting/ loading for revolvers, but am finding myself gearing up with some autoloaders. I have two moulds that fall into the weight limits for the high side of 380. Lyman 358345- a 115gr mini-Keith, and a 356402- 120 gr truncated cone, has anyone had any success with these two moulds in .380??

I've read some of the old posts and from what I understand the SWC 's are seated deeper than many designs and may (1) bulge the case (2) develop high pressures (3) with the SWC feed issues may happen.

I see some loads for 120gr slugs, but not with a TC- OAL issues?

The other option is to buy a 90gr mould- anyone with a favorite?

MY wife carries a Sig P232, and likes to plink with it and a Walther P380, in hot weather I carry an LCP in my back pocket.

[gefiltephish]

I'm going to suggest that your choices are generally a bit big for this cal. As always, it just depends on your gun. My wife's P238 couldn't even take the Lee 105 swc. Many folks successfully use that bullet in other 380's though. I wound up using the Lee 95-RF and even that I have to seat as deep as the brass will allow, otherwise it won't feed consistently even though it drop tests ok.

<edit>The 95RF drop tests at .930, but I settled on .905-.910 as the max that will feed. (2.9gr W231)</edit>

[beezapilot]

Another related question. I see a load for 90Gr boolit with RedDot powder, has anyone used Promo in a 380???? When I load 12 gauge the "rule of thumb" is that Promo can have varying density- that is to say the volume to weight ratio may not be constant- but that the grain weight charges are compatable with Red Dot specifications.

Yeah- I thought that I would end up buying a new mould, 115/120's seem a bit heavy for a universale application for the 3 handguns- 90-95 gr....

[pworley1]

I have tried both of those with the 380 walther pp with some success. My best results with all 380s has been with the lyman 356242 92g.

[rking22]

Get a 6 hole lee 95RF copy of the ranch dog and don't look back. I load them in 38 specials for my daughter's smith 36 too. They cast great and shoot well (at least my group buy) in my Beretta84 and 86. I tried the 120 and was just "not rewarding"

[beagle]

As has been mentioned, they're a tad heavy for the .380. The 358345 might be all right if it will feed properly but from my limited experiences with the .380, I have my doubts. I've had good luck with the 92 grain version of the 358242 and also good luck with an old 356404 if you happen on one of them somewhere. It's a nubbed off version of the 356402. Both fed well and were accurate in a shooting partner's .380 with book loads./beagle

[spfd1903]

I bought a S & W Bodyguard a couple of years ago and the Lee 2 cavity 102 grain mold to feed it. The boolit is listed in the Lyman fourth edition CB handbook for loads with either .380 auto or 9 mm Luger. I still can't believe it, but I cast 900 boolits from the mold in one sitting (the new 95 grain six cavity looks interesting). Loads with either BE or Unique were overlapping holes at 30 ft. Just for grins I loaded 60 rounds to the 9 mm recipes, and was pleasantly surprised with the same accuracy from a Browning HP. Just got a Hi-point .380 at a gun show this weekend, and my wife wants to save up for a Glock 42, so I will be doing more load experiments with .380 before the year is over.

[dkf]

Heavier bullets will bulge the brass or swage down the bullet at the base with the .380. I load some 115gr XTPs in .380 and it bulges the brass some but still chamber fine. For .380 105 gr and lighter is optimal.

[beezapilot]

Scored a RCBS .38-90RN mould, range trip today to try out several things- one of them the .380- nice boolit, no feed issues, shot good groups. Used Red Dot data, but used Promo powder- so far so good. Thank you all for the input.

[fcvan]

When I first started loading for .380, I bought the Lee 356-102 1R. When cast with range scrap it weighs about 105 grains. I bought the 358-105 SWC for use in 9mm but have loaded it a few times for .380, and it cycled well in several different pistols.

I have recently bought the TL356-95 RF but haven't actually cast any with it yet. I've been ES powder coating everything for the past year and hope the PC with that boolit will feed well in a Glock 42. The Mrs doesn't know it yet, but she's getting a G42 later this week. She loves her G23 and I'm sure she will the G42 as well.