Reloading the .380 ACP

Back when the micro 380's were all the rage, if I could find 380 at all, it was $18-$22/50. Recently, I've been seeing it for $13-$18/50, not as bad. Still, I can load my own 380 for $6-$7 a box. That makes it worth it to me...all day long.
Of course, I have a 380 worth shooting, a lot, a Sig P232. Very accurate and fun to shoot.
I can't say either about the micro 380's that I have shot.
 
It depends on if you buy in bulk enough with your reloading components or if you buy local off the shelf. If you buy in bulk I find it worth reloading just about anything I want. If you buy only a few boxes at a time them maybe not. I don't care how little I shoot something. I'll reload .25 ACP just to do it.
 
All my lgs carries is jacketed... I don't need to be wasting expensive bullets on paper..so yes; reload.

$3/100 primers,
free used range brass scrounged from the floor,
$1/100 powder,
& $4/100 lead bullets

VS: $16/box new ammo (the cheapest my lgs carries.)
 
http://www.handloads.com/

In the right column is a calculator. This makes it easy to figure costing. Whether you buy primers by the hundred or the thousand, powder by the pound or 8 lb keg, it will break it down into cost per round. As long as you know the charge weight, just pump in the numbers and it spits out the answer.

And the Load data database in the left column is very helpful as well.

The usual disclaimers apply.
 
My favorite load is right off Alliants website. 4.8 of Power Pistol.

Only I've dropped all the way to 102gr GD on top of it where Alliant list it with a 90gr.

For plinkin lead, Meisters LRN will handle everything you can throw at it. Missouri's bullets are a great deal and what I shoot from most of my other calibers.
 
I reload tons of .380, my wife has had surgery in both wrists for carpal tunnel and she loves to shoot. It's one of the easier calibers for her to shoot all day, short of a .22.

95gr. RN
3gr. Win 231
CCI 500 or Win. WSP, whatever is on sale
 
A couple years ago I switched from carrying a P32 to a P3AT and being in the middle of the ammo shortages of '09 and '10 decided to reload 380. I found a set of used Hornady carbide dies on one of the auction sites for around $25 delivered. Sorted through all the used range brass I'd accumulated and came up with around 600 pieces of 380 brass. Ordered 1000 cast bullets and tried the 3.0 gn W231 load mentioned earlier.

The load worked fine so I stopped experimenting and loaded all my brass. I still have a lot of the ammo left but from start to finish I had half a day and just around $100 invested including buying the dies. The small cases were not fun to reload but to me it was worth the time and money invested.
 
Back when the micro 380's were all the rage, if I could find 380 at all, it was $18-$22/50. Recently, I've been seeing it for $13-$18/50, not as bad. Still, I can load my own 380 for $6-$7 a box. That makes it worth it to me...all day long.
Of course, I have a 380 worth shooting, a lot, a Sig P232. Very accurate and fun to shoot.
I can't say either about the micro 380's that I have shot.

I load the .380, , 90grjhp over 3.0 grs. Red Dot, or 3.4 gr. Bullseye.
love reloading for my Colt pocket light.
 
About 35 years ago, I wanted to reload 380 ACP. So I ordered dies, and 1000 Remington 95 grain soft hollow point bullets. I have the shell plate for the 550. I have about 22 pounds of WW231 and 5 or 6k WSP so all I need to do is round up my brass (400-500) and make a batch.

At the time I was looking at a MAC-11 full auto and silencer, and when that deal fell through, I just lost heart and still haven't found it! The neat little brief case had a $500 transfer, but wow!

Ivan
 
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