Reloading the .380 auto?
- Thread starter delta-419
- Start date
venomballistics
Member
380's find their way into my 9mm brass from time to time, sometimes it even makes it into process.
I'll give you a qualified no.
While results are not catastrophic as they pass through 9mm dies, it's not good either.
I'll give you a qualified no.
While results are not catastrophic as they pass through 9mm dies, it's not good either.
kbm6893
Member
Quite a few .380 brass have made their way into my press when I'm resizing 9MM. It is obvious but it does punch out the primer. I always resize with a .380 die but doesn't seem to be an issue.
Hell, I even have a separate die set for .357 and .38 Special. I set my dies once and leave them alone. Powder and primers might be in short supply (I just walked out of my local scalper who was asking $149 for a brick of SPP), but dies are still available easily. I can understand why. I've told a bunch of people not to get into reloading until components are readily available. That might never happen at this point.
Hell, I even have a separate die set for .357 and .38 Special. I set my dies once and leave them alone. Powder and primers might be in short supply (I just walked out of my local scalper who was asking $149 for a brick of SPP), but dies are still available easily. I can understand why. I've told a bunch of people not to get into reloading until components are readily available. That might never happen at this point.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Like some here have said, try to get a set of 380 dies. It will make your life much easier. You don't want to take a chance on damaging your gun or worse yet hurting yourself or someone else.
MidSouth Shooters has Lee 380 ACP Carbide dies in stock (3 dies) for $41.49
380 Auto Carbide 3 Die Set With Shellholder by Lee
The Lee 4 die Deluxe Set is a little more @$55.99
380 Auto Deluxe Pistol Carbide 4 Die Set With Shellholder by Lee
Both Lee sets include the shell holder.
The 3 die Hornady set is $55.24
380 ACP Series II Handgun 3 Die Set With Zip Spindle by Hornady
You need to buy the shell holder separately.
The RCBS 3 die set is $64.59 no shell holder included.
380 ACP Carbide Taper Crimp 3 Die Set by RCBS
All the die sets above are in stock @ MidSouthShooters...
Good luck.
MidSouth Shooters has Lee 380 ACP Carbide dies in stock (3 dies) for $41.49
380 Auto Carbide 3 Die Set With Shellholder by Lee
The Lee 4 die Deluxe Set is a little more @$55.99
380 Auto Deluxe Pistol Carbide 4 Die Set With Shellholder by Lee
Both Lee sets include the shell holder.
The 3 die Hornady set is $55.24
380 ACP Series II Handgun 3 Die Set With Zip Spindle by Hornady
You need to buy the shell holder separately.
The RCBS 3 die set is $64.59 no shell holder included.
380 ACP Carbide Taper Crimp 3 Die Set by RCBS
All the die sets above are in stock @ MidSouthShooters...
Good luck.
cmj8591
Member
You can not properly resize a 380acp case with a 9mm Luger sizing die. The 9mm has a more tapered case than the 380 and a larger base at .3910" compared to .3739" for the 380. The 9mm die will not reduce the size of the 380 enough to bring it back into spec, which is the purpose of resizing. You might get the 380 rounds loaded with 9mm dies to work so long as they were only used in the same gun but I wouldn't bet that they would work with any other and if you run into a case that is a little less elastic, then it might not even work in the gun they were originally fired in. There is no real purpose in doing it anyways as 380 dies are cheap and available.
Another option, although a bit pricey, is to order new brass from Starline. I have .380 dies but it's a pain to police them up at the indoor range. So, back when prices were a little better, I picked up 1000 cases from them + a couple hundred here off of the Forum. Still using the 200+ I picked up here. Speaking of the range, Elite Sports in Manassas, they recently kicked their .380 (new) range ammo back up to $26 & change ... 
