powder for .380

[oldiegoldie]

am new to reloading [loaded for rifle 60 yrs ago] and need a reliable, fool proof, safe powder. using 100 gr Berry's bullets and Federal small pistol primers. will be range ammo. appreciate any suggestions.

 

[rockquarry]

I haven't loaded for .380 in a good while, but tried several powders with cast bullet weights of from around 90 grs. to 120 grains. Powders included Bullseye, 231, Unique, Blue Dot, Herco, and maybe another. Probably the best overall was 231, with Bullseye as a second.

I'd recommend a Lyman manual.

 

[Funflyer]

Titegroup is my favorite 380 powder for 102gn and 105gn range loads. I recently started testing Sport Pistol with the same and so far it is working just as well. For hotrod 90 & 95 grain loads I only use CFE Pistol or Autocomp.

 

[rg1]

Best powder I've loaded by far has been Accurate Arms #2. Gives most consistent velocities of all. Need faster burning powders. I even think Unique is too slow. Especially do not use any powders slower than Unique.

 

[jkmo]

Have loaded and shot close to 1000 in a 380 E Z. 100 grain Hollow base Berry plated bullet over 3 grains of 231. Wifey shoots it well also

 

[OKFC05]

HP38 (231) is old standby; titegroup is new favorite, especially for standard loads.

Lived on Parkview in Troy ,IL while stationed at Scott. Nice place to live, restful drive to work. Raised fantastic vegetable garden. (note to jkmo)

 

[alwslate]

I don't load the .380 but from what I see in the loading manuals 231
seems to be ideal.

 

[GyMac]

231/HP-38 is what I use, but it’s because that’s what I use for my other cartridges that I reload. It’s worked fine for over 7000 rounds in my .380 Makarov.

 

[Rogeronimo]

Green Dot, Int'l Clays.

 

[DWalt]

Any of the faster propellants will work OK for the .380, but with the Berry bullets, I always use Unique.

 

[kbm6893]

HP38 (231) is old standby; titegroup is new favorite, especially for standard loads.

Lived on Parkview in Troy ,IL while stationed at Scott. Nice place to live, restful drive to work. Raised fantastic vegetable garden. (note to jkmo)

HP38 is the only powder I use for handguns. Meters dead on every time. I’ve only been loading for 7 years and I don’t pay attention to burn rates or FPS. Just looking to make safe and reasonably accurate loads and HP38 does that for every handgun caliber I own. I don’t want to deal with mixing up powders either. I think I use 3.0 grains but I’d have to check.

 

[TjB101]

Titegroup and Bullseye ... both meter well and consistent charges is required for such a small case. 2.8gr TG worked great in my P238

 

[cowboy4evr]

I reload the 380 using Berry's 100 gr plated bullets in a Sig P238 . I use Ramshot True Blue powder . They (Ramshot) list the load data . It meters like water . Regards Paul

 

[ArchAngelCD]

W231 (HP-38) works very well.

 

[oldiegoldie]

i've got a good sized list to take to the gunshops....appreciate every suggestion. we seem to have plenty of powder, but i'll know more about the selection tomorrow.

again, thanks...

 

[GeoJelly]

I guess I am the real outlier here since I use Power Pistol with 100-g plated bullets. I picked PP since the Hornady manual I use (9th edition) had a wide range of charges for PP using a 100-g jacketed bullet. I've fired those loads in a SIG P238, Glock 42 and CZ-83 with zero issues. That said, my biggest concern with .380 (and 9mm too) is avoiding bullet setback during feeding. So, I put a strong taper crimp on my .380 loads.

 

[buckshotshorty]

I’ve loaded thousands with Titegroup And Xtreme 100 gr.

 

[38SPL HV]

When I had a 380 ACP (moons ago) I used WW231.

 

[growr]

Fired thousands of .380 acp with Unique and had great results. Might work well for you as well.

Randy

 

[oldiegoldie]

was able to find 2 of recommended powders, Titegroup and 231. so bought 1# of each. thanks again for the help.......had no idea where to start.