Reloading .380?

I'm with Mal. I find .380 a bit finicky to load for and don't want to push the envelope. I load cast Lee 90 grainers over 231 to reliably cycle the action and let it go at that.

Were I shooting a locked breech version, such as the Star, I might work with hotter loads, but I am shooting the bitty OMC Backup and don't care to risk battering when I am just playing.
 
Hello123.
I'm in the process of setting up (for the 1st time) on my 650...I'm all ears too. I want to load up for the range so I can practice with my daily carry...a Kel-Tec A3-AT 2nd Gen.

I also have Walther PPKS, a CZ-83 & a Llama 380 that need to be fed.

Load suggestions anyone?? I have LOTS of 231.

Bob
 
I've been loading the 88 and 90 grain JHP's in the .380 for many years. I haven't put up any in a while, but I think that my preferred charge weight for Bullseye and 231 with these bullets is 3.2 grains. I'm not sure, though, so don't quote me on that. I haven't loaded nearly as much 231 in the .380 as I have Bullseye. I do recall that velocities ran close to 1000fps when I chrono'd them.

I run a PPK/s and a Bersa .380...used to have a Browning BDA, and these loads worked great in all of them.
 
I am looking for .380 90 grain JHP bullets. My usual supplier (X-Treme) does not offer them. Are there sources other than the normal standbys ie., Brownells and Midway? Thank you for your help.
 
Great thread, because I was just searching this question. I did an inventory of my current collection and just realized I have more .380's than any other caliber. Just random the way it worked out. But I don't reload for it yet.

I'm real interested in reloading for target rounds! Love getting yalls feedback!
 
Yep I use a Lee Mold for a trunicated cone 105 grain bullet for practice and 115 grain hornady XTPs for carry. Not gonna tell you how much powder as I load on the warm side but my Savages, Bersas, Berettas and others handle both loadings just fine. I also use a roll crimp and it works just fine.
 
I load 90 gr. Hornady XTP-HP's in .380. I use CCI 500 primers and AA#2 powder at 3.6 grains which is only .1 below max Accurate Arms data which is 3.7 grains. Totally reliable in different .380's and nearly duplicates factory velocity. I've no issues with using my loads for self defense but I do mostly carry factory Hornady 90 XTP.
 
I am carrying a miserably small pistol right now. A Ruger LCP 380 with laser in a Desantis Nemesis holster.
It is loaded with Speer Gold Dot bullets and enough Power Pistol to get 1100 fps average over the chrono [same as Buffalo Bore +P].

I am in a city of 20,000 people that has had one murder in 100 years.

There is not enough threat to justify strapping an AR15 to my chest as I type this.

I use the Lee Factory crimp die.
 
"I am in a city of 20,000 people that has had one murder in 100 years." - Clark

I can only wish for such good fortune. You are over-armed for sure. In that case I would open carry a claw-hammer on a utility tool belt, and save exposing a perfectly good firearm to sweat and weather.

As to the OP's short question, seems that Mal H has the most logical answer so far. I would be inclined to add a bit more to the direction he took.

My first CCW was a Bersa 380. I wanted to shoot it a lot so I spent some time on practice rounds. Here are some of my favorites.

1. Montana Gold 95 gr. FMJ HP, CCI 500, Alliant Unique 3.0 gr., COL 0.965

10 rounds, Average velocity 749 fps, Std. deviation 60

2. Same bullet, primer, and COL, powder was Ramshot Silhouette 4.0 gr.

10 rounds, Average velocity 862 fps, Std. deviation 44

3. Same bullet, primer, and COL, powder was Alliant Power Pistol 4.0 gr.

10 rounds, average velocity 865 fps, Std. deviation 10

Now lets add what I would actually carry in it when in CCW mode.

4. Winchester Super-X 85 gr. Silvertip HP, Lot #2089220125

10 rounds, average velocity 965 fps, Std. deviation 17
 
Ranch dog 102 grain flat point over 4.1 unique. 4.2 is max.
912 fps 188 fpe. Feeds well plenty hot for my hands in an LCP.

Enjoy, I have 500 to do this winter.

David
 
Don't know why, but the .380 has always had a soft spot in my gun inventory. One of my first guns was a .380, never messed reloading with it till a few years ago. I've got a few of them...

I use Xtreme 100gr RNFP
Titegroup and N310 work real nice for me. You can literally load a few thousand per pound with them.
I keep them tame, nothing crazy. They feed and function perfectly.
I did try W231, but i found it a little dirty for my taste.

For self-defense loads, I use factory ammo. For the range? it's all my loads, it's crazy what they want to charge for reloads!
 
I have tried a few .380 loads and they have all worked spectacularly.

My favorite was a 105 gn cast lead TC over 2.0 grains of Red Dot. That load shot superbly out of my Bersa. 759 avg fps.

Now I am loading a 95 grain cast RN over 2.6 grains VV 310 and I am getting much higher velocities. Avg 865 fps.

Like everyone else, I only load plinking ammo. I leave self-defense loads to the manufacturers.
 
Thanks for sharing everyone, I'm about to setup my dies to start pumping out some 380 of my own, it seems every time I go to the reloading bench something else pops up.
 
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