The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old December 23, 2012, 07:12 PM   #1
jwrowland77
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 23, 2012
Location: Conway, Arkansas
Posts: 1,398
Need Help .380 Auto?!?!?

I'm getting such a wide range of min and max between manuals, I need some help weeding through it.

I'm using 95gr FMJ RN Magtech .380 bullet. OAL of .970. I've thought about taking an average of min and an average of max and using those for my work up. Everything from the manuals is for a 95gr bullet except the Hornady and that's for 100gr.

Any help would be appreciated.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1356307947.386296.jpg

Last edited by jwrowland77; December 23, 2012 at 07:20 PM.
jwrowland77 is offline  
Old December 23, 2012, 07:31 PM   #2
jwrowland77
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 23, 2012
Location: Conway, Arkansas
Posts: 1,398
Here's a picture with averages that I was thinking about using for my workup.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1356309063.921469.jpg
jwrowland77 is offline  
Old December 23, 2012, 07:55 PM   #3
Florida Cracker
Member
 
Join Date: May 16, 2010
Location: Weston, FL
Posts: 55
I don't shoot or reload .380 but I have nearly a gallon bag of nice once fired range brass if you'd like to make me an offer.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Florida Cracker is offline  
Old December 23, 2012, 08:03 PM   #4
jepp2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 24, 2008
Location: Loveland, CO
Posts: 1,476
When I load for the .380, it is a balance of the bullet seating depth and the OAL. Depends on your bullet length. So based on the bullet I am using I develop my own OAL to meet my seating depth requirements. I have a minimum bullet seating depth that I must meet. I then adjust my powder load so I am in the correct pressure range.

I use Montana Gold bullets but the same approach would work with your bullets. I can share all of my notes and values I use if you would like them. Just PM me.
jepp2 is offline  
Old December 24, 2012, 09:28 AM   #5
jepp2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 24, 2008
Location: Loveland, CO
Posts: 1,476
I found this post to be extremely helpful:

http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...=need+380+auto

The key factor from it is that .175" of the bullet must be seated into the case. I use this resource to determine the bullet length for bullets I don't have the length information on.

I use Montana Gold 95 gr. JHP in my .380 loads. The bullet length on this bullet is .439. I load to an OAL of .955". Then I take whatever load I am going to use and calculate the bullet seating depth. If I have increased the seating depth, I will reduce my powder charge based on the QuickLoad calculation to generate the same pressure. The load is small enough you could just back off .1 to .2 gr for your starting load if your seating depth is deeper in the case. As always, start low and work your way up.

It could be easy to create a load with insufficient bullet in the case to hold it securely. Bullet selection is important as is the OAL which determines bullet seating depth. Bullet seating depth determines pressure. The OAL that works for me, might not work for you.
jepp2 is offline  
Old December 24, 2012, 09:46 AM   #6
jwrowland77
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 23, 2012
Location: Conway, Arkansas
Posts: 1,398
Ok I just measured the part that was in the case, and it looks like there is .150 inside the case.

When I set my seater to .971, I ran it through all three of my .380 an there was no setback. I racked the slide pretty hard to see if it would setback any but it stayed right where it was. I pulled the bullet and it appeared the only thing holding it in was neck tension. There's a slight bulge where the bullet is seated, where I can actually see it on the case. I measured at the top of the case with the round in and it measured .370. Is this about right?

The Speer manual had to OAL as .970. I'm wondering if this is because its a round nose instead of a flat point?

Thoughts.
jwrowland77 is offline  
Old December 24, 2012, 09:56 AM   #7
spacecoast
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 14, 2009
Location: Sunshine and Keystone States
Posts: 4,461
I use 2.7 gr. of Titegroup for a mild load, 3.7 gr. of Unique for a warmer load. This goes for 95 gr. lead and JHP, and 100 gr. plated bullets. OAL is 0.98" on the RN bullets, 0.95 on the JHPs.

It would also help to know what kind of gun(s) you are loading for. I stay mild for my 90 year old colt, more defense-oriented loads for my LCP.
spacecoast is offline  
Old December 24, 2012, 10:03 AM   #8
jwrowland77
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 23, 2012
Location: Conway, Arkansas
Posts: 1,398
Space,

I am loading for a Walther PK, Bersa Thunder and Taurus PT738
jwrowland77 is offline  
Old December 24, 2012, 10:31 AM   #9
tkglazie
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 3, 2011
Posts: 558
My .380s enjoy N320 under 95-100gr bullets, be they lead, plated or jacketed. Depending on the bullet, the charge is between 2.9-3.3gr at .975-.980

Very clean, very accurate with a nice felt recoil.

HP38 is a close second.
tkglazie is offline  
Old December 24, 2012, 10:32 AM   #10
jwrowland77
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 23, 2012
Location: Conway, Arkansas
Posts: 1,398
Quote:
Originally Posted by tkglazie View Post
My .380s enjoy N320 under 95-100gr bullets, be they lead, plated or jacketed. Depending on the bullet, the charge is between 2.9-3.3gr at .975-.980

Very clean, very accurate with a nice felt recoil.

HP38 is a close second.
Might have to check those out. Current pistol powders on hand is Titegroup, Unique and AutoComp.
jwrowland77 is offline  
Old December 24, 2012, 10:55 AM   #11
tkglazie
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 3, 2011
Posts: 558
I have shot AC but TG and Unique have a great rep for sure in .380/9mm for sure.

N320 is pricey, but in that charge range you are looking at well over 2000 rounds per pound, or about a cent and a half a round. I usually figure a nickel a round covers pound and primer in handgun loads (no .44 loading done here).
tkglazie is offline  
Old December 24, 2012, 10:56 AM   #12
jwrowland77
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 23, 2012
Location: Conway, Arkansas
Posts: 1,398
Sweet. How was AC? I haven't done a workup yet in AC. I like TG and Unique so much.
jwrowland77 is offline  
Old December 24, 2012, 11:03 AM   #13
tkglazie
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 3, 2011
Posts: 558
Quote:
Originally Posted by jwrowland77 View Post
Sweet. How was AC? I haven't done a workup yet in AC. I like TG and Unique so much.
Sorry, thick-thumbed typo. Meant to say I havent shot AC

Unique and TG I have shot but not loaded for. Both seemed good.
tkglazie is offline  
Old December 24, 2012, 11:05 AM   #14
jwrowland77
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 23, 2012
Location: Conway, Arkansas
Posts: 1,398
Ah ok. Completely understand that. Lol
jwrowland77 is offline  
Old December 26, 2012, 01:18 AM   #15
highrolls
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 20, 2009
Location: already given
Posts: 115
I really hear what jwrowland's original question was. The situation aint getting better either. Search as many references as you can find, putting real weight to the test ranges like Lyman's and the powder manufacturer's data.

Sooner or later, you just have to make a decision. Make it as safe as you can. Meaning that wherever possible, include a safety margin. And you get that for free with the 380 auto. Most of the 380 mags I have seen really constrain the OAL to the internal magazine dimensions. Set your OAL to very near that dimension but use all of it you can. For example, I am loading for two Bersa 380's, Using 95 gr rainiers very close in shape and size to the magtechs you wish to use. At an OAL of 0.985, they are too far out to smoothly cycle in the magazines. At 0.980, they cycle great. That is the OAL for that bullet in my magazines. If this exceeds the load data suggested OAL, you get a safety margin, however slight.

More recently, I began testing the Montana Gold JHP 95 gr. Without going thru the methods, I settled on this set of test ranges. Magazine set OAL 0.965.

Alliant Bullseye 2.3 grs to 2.8 grs
Alliant Unique 2.5 grs to 3.1 grs
Alliant Power Pistol 3.5 to 4.0 gr
Ramshot Silhouette 4.1 to 4.5 gr

I have yet to find any adverse symptoms from cases in either gun, nor have I found a starting load that fails to at least cycle the guns. I did not list velocities but have them for every tenth grain charge increment for every powder and bullet combination. Likewise, statistically sampled (10 round) for every mass loading I do.
highrolls is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:44 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.12576 seconds with 9 queries