I've been doing some shooting with a Milsurp CZ83 .
Been working up a powder charge with the limited range of powders available to me.
I've got Alliant stuff.
Bullseye
Sport Pistol
Unique
Power Pistol
I guess I got lazy and just was loading the max charge of BE with a 95 gr FMJFT.
Guess I went over max even up to 3.5gr with the BE.
Ran pretty accurately at high velocity. Not bad.
My question is this , what are your pet loads with these powders?
Figure to aggravate the neighbors a little with some .380 noise.
Not looking to buy any new powder . The prices are high.
BUT. What is your go to powder for .380 ? For shooting paper and plinking.
Thanks !

Bullseye in that rather short case works best for me.

When I do load for the .380 for my son I use mostly W231 but the newer W244 seems to produce higher velocities without sacrificing accuracy. I'm not sure which Alliance powders will be best because I have only used Winchester and Accurate powders.

From what I've read in Lyman 51, of the powders you listed it seems they only show data for Bullseye and Power Pistol with a 95gr bullet. Same thing for a 90gr bullet.

The Hornady 11th Edition shows only those 2 Alliant powders with a 90gr bullet.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

I typically use from 2.7 to 2.9 gr of Bullseye in these weapons. I am looking for decent performance and functional reliability, not Rhino Rollers.

I used to proudly say I handload for every common pistol cartridge (& several not so common) except 380ACP & 357SIG, which I have no interest in, then my son bought a PPK/S so now...

I tested three powders in his 380ACP PPK/S using Hornady 90gr XTP seated to a .970" COAL & sparked by CCI-500 primers: Power Pistol, Auto Comp, & CFE-P.

A-C & CFE-P were close at 952 & 955mv, respectively.

P-P @ 4.9grs was the winner for the highest velocity at 1027 fps avg. (Warning: 4.7gr is max in Hornady #10)

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Waiting for the break of day

Get very good results (accuracy and velocity) with unique and 95 gn jacketed bullets. The Interarms ppk is the most accurate 380 owned.

I’ve used Red Dot, Bullseye, Unique, Power Pistol and Tite Group.

I get the best velocity results with Tite Group in both my 3.9” FEG AP9S, Beretta Model 84, and RIA Baby Rock pistols, my 3.5” FEG APK9S, Walther PPK/S and Bersa Thunder pistols, and in my 2.75” Kimber Micro pistol.

A max load of Tite Group (3.4 grains per the Hornady 11th edition) is the only load that I’ve been able to get reliable expansion in ballistic gel with the 90 gr XTP in the short 2.75” Kimber Micro barrel. Velocity averages 975 fps in the 2.75” barrel and around 1100 fps in the 3.9” barrels - about 100 fps faster than Power Pistol, Unique and Bullseye.

Lacking Tite Group, I generally load using Unique, in part because it does well in a wide range of powders and I keep a lot on hand. It saves the more specialized powders for specific needs. Consequently, I’m more likely to use Red Dot and Unique in my FMJ practice loads and Tite Group in my self defense loads.



.380 ACP takes a bigger hit in short barrels and then 9mm, and in turn, .32 ACP takes a much bigger hit in short barrels than .380 ACP.

I'm looking for some Tight Group. I have a few pounds of Unique bought pre plague. Thats worth a shot, so to speak.
I notice that everyone who's on the BE band wagon loves that 2.7-2.9 load range. It's comical. I ask myself, "do I need another powder?". I've been running everything on BE because I have a lot of it, also pre plague purchased. I'm running BE in everything. 9,38,45,380. Versatile stuff...

With all my pistol and revolvers and the many types of bullets and weights that I shoot

I have found out that there is no "Magic Powder" that fits for me with all the
lead, FMJ and JHP bullets that I have tested, over the years.

Maybe in one gun, for highest fps or best accuracy with one type bullet
but my test show that changing a component, upsets the apple cart.

I wish I could get away with less bullets and 75% less powder, but it is not happening.

Very true.
I did loaded several at 3gr BE and they are accurate. I can put them on target at 25 yards.
Not bad.

Old guys like me, shoot BE or Unique in about all our handguns. Sometimes we venture out to another powder like AA #2,5,7 or 9 but revert back to what we know best: BE and Unique.

International Clay's. Oops, wrong brand.

I tried three Clay's powder in my 12 Ga. trap loads and really wanted them to work out
but the patterns, breaks and how the finished shell looked, just
did mot make me a happy camper.
I only used a little bit of Universal in the 38 and 357 revolvers.

I had way too much powder, to give it a fair try, but it might work
for the rest of you, if you have time to try it out.

I've only used W231. One of those rare times in reloading that the first thing you try works so well you don't bother trying anything else.

My .380's are of the larger variety, so it's possible to discern differences in accuracy a bit easier than pocket pistols. W231 out-shot three brands of factory ball by such a wide margin I just stopped right there. I generally use a 95 gr LRN. But 95gr FMJ had the same results.

3.5gr W231, 95gr LRN at 10 yards with a (*gasp*) Taurus PT638 which is 15 round double stack, single action, striker fired, locked breech, adjustable sights. An odd configuration. But very shootable and the softest shooting centerfire you're likely to find. New shooters love it.

Attached Images

GroupPT638.JPG (89.8 KB, 44 views)

I have gotten outstanding results with Hodgdon TiteGroup in all of my .380s, cast and jacketed. It's so good that I doubt I will ever use anything else.

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Dave Brown
SWCA #3279