.380

[DWalt]

My standard load for the .380 is 4.0 grains of Unique with Berry's plated 100 grain bullets. Almost exactly factory ballistics, high 800s MV. In a small .380 pistol, grouping performance is not something I even think about so long as I can keep all hits on the paper at 10 yards. Functional reliability is much more important, and my load is very reliable. I loaded 100 rounds of that today.

 

[rockquarry]

I've had several .380s (Colt, Walthers, and a Makarov) over many years, but currently own none. I generally use only cast bullets in handgun cartridges. There is really no advantage to jacketed bullet use as far as accuracy, velocity, performance, or reliable gun functioning if the proper cast bullet is used.

I had good results with the .380 cartridge using several bullets in the 90 -120- grain range. I tried a few powders that included Unique, Blue Dot, Herco, 231, and Bullseye. Overall, 231 loads were consistently the best. Bullseye showed promise and I probably did not do enough work with it.

A good quality .380 pistol and suitable handloads may surprise many shooters with the accuracy attainable, even at 25 yards.

 

[scout789]

I've been reloading (and experimenting) for over 50 years. IMHO, there is no need for any powders other than Bullseye or Unique. The former for .380.

I've not been reloading quite as long as you, but over 40 years nevertheless. Throw in some Red Dot and Green Dot for shotgun ammo (even though Unique can be used there as well) and I couldn't agree more!

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have been using WW231/HP-38 in 380 since 1979. I got a deal on a 1000 Speer 95gr soft hollow points, so that's the bullet I use! Works very well in PPk and LCP and other I don't remember.

Up here in the North, the cold weather forces heavier clothes in the winter. I always found 32 ACP to penetrate heave coats much better than 380. Just grab a winter coat from the trash or Goodwill (or from an Ex.) and see what a little real world penetration is like with your load!

Ivan

 

[Al W.]

3.1 grains of Bullseye with a 100 grain Berrys plated works great in my Bodyguard and PPK. One upshot of loading 380s is that no one does it so you can pick up lots of brass at the range.

No one seems to fire .380 at my range ! I'm on my own on the brass ...

 

[Al W.]

My standard load for the .380 is 4.0 grains of Unique. with Berry's plated 100 grain bullets. Almost exactly factory ballistics, high 800s MV.

That sounds about right to me.
I keep on checking back to some PPU factory ammo and when my loads get to about 4gr of PP it seems equivalent to the factory load.
I'm sighting in at about 12 yards and then taking it out to 25 yards.
The pistol I'm firing will group at 12 yards but although I'm on paper at 25 there are no groups to be seen.
Chalk that up the the 3" barrel .
I'm looking for lighter loads and so far it seems I can go real low and still get good results from as low as 3.5gr, in fact at 12 yards my gun shoots more precisely with a low charge.
I'm going to roll back to 3.2 gr on 20 rounds see what that does.
Need to get a chronometer .

 

[DWalt]

I don't plan to do any competitive shooting with a .380 pistol, and have never heard of anyone who did. If I ever do need to use a .380 for real, all I'd worry about would be its ability to put all its shots as quickly as possible into a 2' x 2' square at 15 yards or closer.

 

[GeoJelly]

No one seems to fire .380 at my range ! I'm on my own on the brass ...

Diamond K brass will be your friend. I have no affiliation with them ... other than ordering brass. I have been getting once-fired RP brass from them fairly reasonably - seems like $29 + shipping for 500. I'm anal enough to want only one headstamp when I'm reloading ...

 

[Al W.]

I don't plan to do any competitive shooting with a .380 pistol, and have never heard of anyone who did. If I ever do need to use a .380 for real, all I'd worry about would be its ability to put all its shots as quickly as possible into a 2' x 2' square at 15 yards or closer.

These guns intended use is self defense , for sure , but I like to be able to get into the black down range with whatever I shoot.
Thats the goal.

 

[buckshotshorty]

I think Titegroup does the trick for 380. I use it with 90 gr. Coated round nose bullets.

 

[Imissedagain]

Bullseye, N320 and Unique with 115gr XTPs, Penn 100gr TTBB, Hornady 115gr JRN and next purchase will be 115gr and truncated.
BE/Unique for decades and N320 a few years ago.... VV is clean.
XTPs and those Penns are accurate.
Practice with a pair of 380s .... point and shoot to the same spot... or barn door.

Our 2 S&Walther PPKs and the Sig238 seem to be our favorites although the LCP 2nd gen and G42 are carried most. I prefer to carry my blued PPKs but it's often in the shop waiting for new stocks.... kinda like a fashion model's life.

 

[Al W.]

I've been working with Power Pistol and Bullseye.
Loaded some 3.1 gr BE with th 100 gr Berrys plated.
Not very impressive .
Ran through a range of loads with PP from 3gr through 4gr and the 3.5gr was the winner so far.
Doing some loads with BE 86 and will see how that goes on Wednesday morning.
Lets not mention that I'm firing these rounds through an IMEZ IJ70 with the adjustable rear sight.

 

[hdwhit]

Alk8944 wrote:
Just use manual data, there is no reason to try to hot-rod any blow-back gun.

Excellent advice.

Worthy of being repeated (which is why I quoted it rather than just hitting "Like").

 

[hdwhit]

Al W. wrote:
No one seems to fire .380 at my range ! I'm on my own on the brass ...

You can do a search for reloading brass, but here are some results to get you started:
Range Brass
LEO Brass
oncefiredbrass.com
Handgun Brass | Bulk Handgun Brass For Sale Cheap
RMR Bullets
http://www.diamondkbrass.com/

I've dealt with each of them at one time or another, had no significant problems and any minor problems were promptly corrected. Of course you definition of what is a problem may differ from mine.

And if you want new brass, try Starline (https://www.starlinebrass.com/).

 

[Imissedagain]

Starline brass... new and shiny.... worked up the loads just as with the other 380 brass.
Range pickups for practice.

 

[Al W.]

Starline brass... new and shiny.... worked up the loads just as with the other 380 brass.
Range pickups for practice.

I like Starline or PPU for new brass, both work great.
Use them for my 9mm and 38sp.

 

[Al W.]

You can do a search for reloading brass, but here are some results to get you started:
Range Brass
LEO Brass
oncefiredbrass.com
Handgun Brass | Bulk Handgun Brass For Sale Cheap
RMR Bullets
http://www.diamondkbrass.com/

I've dealt with each of them at one time or another, had no significant problems and any minor problems were promptly corrected. Of course you definition of what is a problem may differ from mine.

And if you want new brass, try Starline (https://www.starlinebrass.com/).

Just ordered some once fired from Diamondk and have used PPU and Starline for new brass for my 9mm and 38sp.

 

[Al W.]

Just as an update . Picked up another .380 this one a CZ 83 milsurp .
After experimenting with Power Pistol I ordered a pound of BE86 and loaded a bunch of different loads using the 100gr plated Berrys. After experiencing increasing frustration with accuracy , both my pistols were tending to not shoot to POA. I reasoned that the load had to be a factor but that the charges were not . After ordering some 95gr FMJFP I'm on target .
My conclusion being that the polygonal rifling on the CZ really was not meant for lead projectiles. They must have sighted the gun in for FMJ, because with the jacketed rounds I'm in the scoring rings 100% on a 25 yard target and in the black about 70% of the time. So I think thats key. One of the shooters was saying that I needed to figure in abjuration and pressure variables using the lead and that it may be possible to get the right pressures with a lead projectile if I experimented with near squib loads. Say between 2.7 and 3 gr of BE or Unique or BE 86.
Any thoughts on this ?

 

[Imissedagain]

Polygonal rifling in pistols..... Glocks as an example.... advised not to use lead bullets.
Read up on it and then ask specific questions about that controversial issue.

I run jacketed in our growing Glock collection.
Jacketed not plated!

 

[Wise_A]

Couple things.

One is that you're not shooting a lead bullet, you're shooting plated. Plated bullets aren't known for stellar accuracy.

Two is that bullet obturation is dependent on hardness. The softer the bullet, the lower the pressure. Harder bullets take more pressure.