380 ACP LRN

OEF-Vet · March 5, 2012, 08:06 PM

I picked up some 95 gr round nose cast bullets at a gun show but I can't seem to find any load data. I'm looking to use Bullseye or HP-38 and work up a light plinking load.

Thanks in advance

slugoo · March 5, 2012, 08:45 PM

for my 380 I use 2.9--3.1 bullseye and it is very accurate in my little ruger.
for 231 I use 2.9--3.2 and it is not as good as bullseye, 231 is the same as HP-38. This is with the 95 grain LRN and I use mostly bullseye.

poline · March 5, 2012, 09:34 PM

( CAUTION: The following post worked in my pistol, this does not mean it will work in yours. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.)
I, too, wanted to shoot LRN in my .380 and could not find data for the 95gain lrn. What I did find was data for the 100gain LRN in the Lee manual:
Accur#2 3.2 gains, Velocity FPS 841. Starter load.

This is the way it worked out!
95 gain LRN
3.2gains Accur#2
1/4 turn regular crimp
bell, after crimp .370
Over all length .968---------Minimum OVER ALL LENGTH .950
No pressure signs ( fold over ridge on primer)
Recoil light to firm
FPS:
HIGH 1061 FPS
LOW 988 FPS
AVG 1028 FPS
ES 73 FPS
SD 22 FPS
"It was very accurate!"
I'm not that happy with the ES and the SD. An I would like a slow avg speed, this is just for target shooting, no need to be ruff on pistol or shooter!
At this time I'm settling for this, because I do not know what else to do.
Hope this is of some help.

poline · March 5, 2012, 09:49 PM

( CAUTION: The following post worked in my pistol, this does not mean it will work in yours. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.)
I, too, wanted to shoot LRN in my .380 and could not find data for the 95gain lrn. What I did find was data for the 100gain LRN in the Lee manual:
Accur#2 3.2 gains, Velocity FPS 841. Starter load.

This is the way it worked out!
95 gain LRN
3.2gains Accur#2
1/4 turn regular crimp
bell, after crimp .370
Over all length .968---------Minimum OVER ALL LENGTH .950
No pressure signs ( fold over ridge on primer)
Recoil light to firm
FPS:
HIGH 1061 FPS
LOW 988 FPS
AVG 1028 FPS
ES 73 FPS
SD 22 FPS
"It was very accurate!"
I'm not that happy with the ES and the SD. An I would like a slow avg speed, this is just for target shooting, no need to be ruff on pistol or shooter!
At this time I'm settling for this, because I do not know what else to do.
Hope this is of some help.

poline · March 5, 2012, 09:51 PM

Sorry, about that double post!

poline · March 5, 2012, 10:36 PM

(CAUTION: The following post includes load data that is from a 2001 manualUSE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information)
My first post was from the Lee 2007 manual and I used it in my .380.
The following is from the 2000 Lee manual:
95 gain bullet ( IT ONLY SAYS 95 GAIN BULLET, NOT LEAD OR FMJ)
95 GAIN BULLET
HP38
3.0 to 3.2 gains
884 fps
I'll have to think about this one, myself. I have not used it.

sourdough44 · March 6, 2012, 06:08 AM

I would be in the area of 3.2 grains of HP-38/win 231 with that bullet.

OEF-Vet · March 7, 2012, 09:01 PM

Thanks guys,
I will be trying out the load poline discovered and sourdough44 seconded since I have the components on hand. I also will be trying

95 gr LRN:
Bullseye: 2.1 gr @ 695 fps 11,000 cup to 2.8 gr @ 890 fps 15,800 cup
OAL: 0.915

Provided via another forum.

I will let you know how I made out after the weekend.

OEF-Vet · March 11, 2012, 03:42 PM

Well the Bullseye load worked out very well. I didn't get a chance to try out the HP38 load because I only had 50 primers. Thought I had more but it was a box of rifle I had not pistol. Any way all 50 rounds shot 5 shot groups at varying speed functioned and grouped well. Best group being 1.75" at 10 yards. Not bad freehand out of a 2.75" barrel. Other groups spread out to 5" or so but I am pleased with these results considering my intention was to get a low recoil practice load the ran through the weapon well and that's exactly what I got. These were a pleasure to shoot out of my Bodyguard 380.

zxcvbob · March 11, 2012, 04:10 PM

I've used a max load of Unique (I don't remember the OAL so I don't want to list the load data), and 3.0 grains of International Clays. The recoil from the Unique load was fierce; it's what I would carry if I carried the .380.

3 grains of International is also close to a max load, but somewhat lower energy and more pleasant to shoot.

231 (AKA HP-38), Bullseye, Green Dot, Titegroup, American Select, and Universal all should be good powders in .380

March 5, 2012, 08:06 PM	#1
OEF-Vet Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2011 Location: Backwoods, PA Posts: 284	380 ACP LRN I picked up some 95 gr round nose cast bullets at a gun show but I can't seem to find any load data. I'm looking to use Bullseye or HP-38 and work up a light plinking load. Thanks in advance __________________ Jim "If a man does his best, what else is there?" - General George S. Patton Jr

March 7, 2012, 09:01 PM	#8
OEF-Vet Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2011 Location: Backwoods, PA Posts: 284	Thanks guys, I will be trying out the load poline discovered and sourdough44 seconded since I have the components on hand. I also will be trying 95 gr LRN: Bullseye: 2.1 gr @ 695 fps 11,000 cup to 2.8 gr @ 890 fps 15,800 cup OAL: 0.915 Provided via another forum. I will let you know how I made out after the weekend. __________________ Jim "If a man does his best, what else is there?" - General George S. Patton Jr

March 11, 2012, 04:10 PM	#10
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	I've used a max load of Unique (I don't remember the OAL so I don't want to list the load data), and 3.0 grains of International Clays. The recoil from the Unique load was fierce; it's what I would carry if I carried the .380. 3 grains of International is also close to a max load, but somewhat lower energy and more pleasant to shoot. 231 (AKA HP-38), Bullseye, Green Dot, Titegroup, American Select, and Universal all should be good powders in .380 __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

March 5, 2012, 08:45 PM	#2
slugoo Member Join Date: May 3, 2011 Location: Littleton Colorado Posts: 78	for my 380 I use 2.9--3.1 bullseye and it is very accurate in my little ruger. for 231 I use 2.9--3.2 and it is not as good as bullseye, 231 is the same as HP-38. This is with the 95 grain LRN and I use mostly bullseye. Last edited by slugoo; March 5, 2012 at 08:59 PM.

March 5, 2012, 09:34 PM	#3
poline Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2009 Location: Richmond,Va Posts: 292	( CAUTION: The following post worked in my pistol, this does not mean it will work in yours. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.) I, too, wanted to shoot LRN in my .380 and could not find data for the 95gain lrn. What I did find was data for the 100gain LRN in the Lee manual: Accur#2 3.2 gains, Velocity FPS 841. Starter load. This is the way it worked out! 95 gain LRN 3.2gains Accur#2 1/4 turn regular crimp bell, after crimp .370 Over all length .968---------Minimum OVER ALL LENGTH .950 No pressure signs ( fold over ridge on primer) Recoil light to firm FPS: HIGH 1061 FPS LOW 988 FPS AVG 1028 FPS ES 73 FPS SD 22 FPS "It was very accurate!" I'm not that happy with the ES and the SD. An I would like a slow avg speed, this is just for target shooting, no need to be ruff on pistol or shooter! At this time I'm settling for this, because I do not know what else to do. Hope this is of some help.

March 5, 2012, 09:49 PM	#4
poline Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2009 Location: Richmond,Va Posts: 292	( CAUTION: The following post worked in my pistol, this does not mean it will work in yours. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.) I, too, wanted to shoot LRN in my .380 and could not find data for the 95gain lrn. What I did find was data for the 100gain LRN in the Lee manual: Accur#2 3.2 gains, Velocity FPS 841. Starter load. This is the way it worked out! 95 gain LRN 3.2gains Accur#2 1/4 turn regular crimp bell, after crimp .370 Over all length .968---------Minimum OVER ALL LENGTH .950 No pressure signs ( fold over ridge on primer) Recoil light to firm FPS: HIGH 1061 FPS LOW 988 FPS AVG 1028 FPS ES 73 FPS SD 22 FPS "It was very accurate!" I'm not that happy with the ES and the SD. An I would like a slow avg speed, this is just for target shooting, no need to be ruff on pistol or shooter! At this time I'm settling for this, because I do not know what else to do. Hope this is of some help.

March 5, 2012, 09:51 PM	#5
poline Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2009 Location: Richmond,Va Posts: 292	Sorry, about that double post!

March 5, 2012, 10:36 PM	#6
poline Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2009 Location: Richmond,Va Posts: 292	(CAUTION: The following post includes load data that is from a 2001 manualUSE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information) My first post was from the Lee 2007 manual and I used it in my .380. The following is from the 2000 Lee manual: 95 gain bullet ( IT ONLY SAYS 95 GAIN BULLET, NOT LEAD OR FMJ) 95 GAIN BULLET HP38 3.0 to 3.2 gains 884 fps I'll have to think about this one, myself. I have not used it.

March 6, 2012, 06:08 AM	#7
sourdough44 Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2007 Location: WI Posts: 621	I would be in the area of 3.2 grains of HP-38/win 231 with that bullet.

March 11, 2012, 03:42 PM	#9
OEF-Vet Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2011 Location: Backwoods, PA Posts: 284	Well the Bullseye load worked out very well. I didn't get a chance to try out the HP38 load because I only had 50 primers. Thought I had more but it was a box of rifle I had not pistol. Any way all 50 rounds shot 5 shot groups at varying speed functioned and grouped well. Best group being 1.75" at 10 yards. Not bad freehand out of a 2.75" barrel. Other groups spread out to 5" or so but I am pleased with these results considering my intention was to get a low recoil practice load the ran through the weapon well and that's exactly what I got. These were a pleasure to shoot out of my Bodyguard 380.