Reloading the 380
- Thread starter jj2am44
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J. R. WEEMS
Member
I used to collect 380's. Yes I load for them, I have all sizes shapes and brands. It's fun to shoot at the range. The Sig and Beretta, CZ are tack drivers.
I carry a pocket 380 and a 9mm
Finding the brass after it goes into another County is another story
This is my current one-- got it for a canoe gun-- brass goes to the next county so I got a Cadwell brass catcher-- it handles brass just fine.
I load for it as well- on my turret press. Granddaughter held it for the first time today and can't wait until She works up to it. Have several boxes of Speer Gold Dot bullets but get all other from Extreme bullets.
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Have you sunk one with it yet....?
This is my current one-- got it for a canoe gun-- brass goes to the next county so I got a Cadwell brass catcher-- it handles brass just fine.
I have it's twin. Have always really liked that gun, Probably my favorite 380 even though I like the CZ also, the CZ is bigger.
I reload .380 with my Dillon 650. It works great too. I was concerned the small components might be tough to handle with my large hands. I found the exact opposite.
Regarding reloading a round like the .380 (not a target caliber in most cases) :
My thoughts are if you are going to carry (CCW) a .380, you better darn well practice with a .380.
By reloading this caliber I NEVER have an excuse for not shooting at least 50-100 rounds of .380 while I'm out back shooting other stuff.
Without even breaking stride, I can easily load up 700-750 rounds an hour with my Dillon. A couple hours of work and I've got PLENTY of range fodder for months to come.
I use 231 Win behind a round nose Missouri Bullet.
That is why I reload .380.
Oh, and by the way, after I purchased my Sig 238 for CCW....I now have a pocket gun that I can reliably knock down (from 15 yards) all six of the 8" plates on my rack. My P3-AT was good for 4 out of 6. It does make a difference which .380 you carry as to the accuracy and (fun) you will have with the gun while at the range.
Cocked and locked...the only way to fly.
Bob
Regarding reloading a round like the .380 (not a target caliber in most cases) :
My thoughts are if you are going to carry (CCW) a .380, you better darn well practice with a .380.
By reloading this caliber I NEVER have an excuse for not shooting at least 50-100 rounds of .380 while I'm out back shooting other stuff.
Without even breaking stride, I can easily load up 700-750 rounds an hour with my Dillon. A couple hours of work and I've got PLENTY of range fodder for months to come.
I use 231 Win behind a round nose Missouri Bullet.
That is why I reload .380.
Oh, and by the way, after I purchased my Sig 238 for CCW....I now have a pocket gun that I can reliably knock down (from 15 yards) all six of the 8" plates on my rack. My P3-AT was good for 4 out of 6. It does make a difference which .380 you carry as to the accuracy and (fun) you will have with the gun while at the range.
Cocked and locked...the only way to fly.
Bob
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KnotRight
Member
I reload everything that I shoot that includes 380s. My guns are NOT high price (KelTec and Walther PPK) but they shot every time I pull the trigger. To be honest, the PPK has not left the safe in 4 to 5 years. The KelTec is with me everyday. It eats everything that I reload.
Reloading in general is fun and I see no reason not to reload for it. Once the dies are bought (around $45) the cost is cheap.
Reloading in general is fun and I see no reason not to reload for it. Once the dies are bought (around $45) the cost is cheap.
pcgunner
Member
I recently purchased a brand spanking new Browning 1911 .380 Black Label - and I'm loving it!
I bought for carry and it fits incredibly well not only in my hand but also as a CC!
Since I like it so much, I just bought a set of dillon dies for it and of course trying to pick up as much brass at the range (outdoor) as possible with little to no success except for what I shoot.
That being said, I'll reload it because I like to reload for all my calibers - I find my loads are much more accurate than store bought and well I just like knowing I can shoot something I reloaded myself.
Go figure
I bought for carry and it fits incredibly well not only in my hand but also as a CC!
Since I like it so much, I just bought a set of dillon dies for it and of course trying to pick up as much brass at the range (outdoor) as possible with little to no success except for what I shoot.
That being said, I'll reload it because I like to reload for all my calibers - I find my loads are much more accurate than store bought and well I just like knowing I can shoot something I reloaded myself.
Go figure
DWalt
Member
I have dies, brass, and bullets. But I don't shoot .380 enough to load it very often. Still, it's nice to have the capability if ever needed.
gwpercle
Member
If it's fun to shoot, and if you already reload, I would go ahead and get dies. You don't know what's going to happen and being able to make your own just may come in handy.
Pick up a little Lee Hand Press and you wont have to covert your Dillon set up. The Hand Press is perfect for loading 100-200 rounds every once in a while.
I have made it a point to own loading dies and bullet moulds for every gun I own and some that I don't own , but just might one day . Depending on who gets appointed to the supreme court and who gets elected president us gun owners may have a rough time of it.
Gary
Pick up a little Lee Hand Press and you wont have to covert your Dillon set up. The Hand Press is perfect for loading 100-200 rounds every once in a while.
I have made it a point to own loading dies and bullet moulds for every gun I own and some that I don't own , but just might one day . Depending on who gets appointed to the supreme court and who gets elected president us gun owners may have a rough time of it.
Gary
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OP
jj2am44
Member
Well, I went ahead and bought the dies and conversion kit for the 650. Started changing over and found they only sent me 2 locator pins. Found the 9mm is the same, so I used that. Then I found out the arm wasn't going over far enough to drop the case, The plastic cam was moving when I cycled the press, so I tried to tighten the Allen screw and here, the plastic cam just disintegrated before my very eyes. Dillon is sending me another one (and a locator pin), but I haven't had a whole lot of good luck with this caliber yet. Got the 100 grain bullets, some brass and I have had the primers for some time now. OH YEAH-just try to find some W231 powder.
gregintenn
Member
I reload 380. I reload 9mm, and it's a heckuva lot cheaper, so why not reload 380?
I won't load anything smaller, however, as loading the 380 is akin to fly tying or castrating gnats. I'll just pony up and buy what little 32 and 25 ammo I shoot.
I won't load anything smaller, however, as loading the 380 is akin to fly tying or castrating gnats. I'll just pony up and buy what little 32 and 25 ammo I shoot.
muddocktor
Member
I've been loading 380 for around 5 years or so now. I just went with a setup for my single stage press, since I only have 1 pistol in 380 and it's not a pistol I shoot a whole bunch. But, since I only needed to buy a relatively inexpensive die kit it was a "no brainer" to start loading for it.
Virginia John
Member
If I own it I reload it. That way if another ammo shortage comes, I'll be ready.
Green Frog
Member
My thought when I saw the title of this thread;
"First you've got to find the #@*%$ things and pick them up out of the weeds or gravel before you can even begin to reload them!!"
Other than that, if you have good fine motor skills and skinny fingers, why not? I've owned a couple of 380s (have a Femaru now) but although I've owned dies for years have reloaded very little because I shoot them very little.
Froggie
"First you've got to find the #@*%$ things and pick them up out of the weeds or gravel before you can even begin to reload them!!"
Other than that, if you have good fine motor skills and skinny fingers, why not? I've owned a couple of 380s (have a Femaru now) but although I've owned dies for years have reloaded very little because I shoot them very little.
Froggie
One thing I did was make a different loading block. The ones I had were too deep, and the case was too hard to get a hold of. Filed a inexpensive spade bit down to the correct diameter (I don't recall the number) and drilled aprox a 1/4" row of holes in a 3/4" old piece of walnut I had laying around. Works fine.
