Any favorite .380 loads

dsv424 · June 17, 2009, 04:46 PM

I just purchased a Walther PPK and was wondering if anyone had any good loads for this gun. I noticed when using factory rounds that the gun stings that junction between your thumb and finger and I'm not sure if it is because of the new recoil or the fact that it is a stainless frame. Any light loads would be appreciated. Thx

jamaica · June 17, 2009, 11:02 PM

Any "Mouse Gun" I have ever shot does that to me. I find that if I put the finger on the trigger such that the trigger is half way between the end of the finger and the first joint, it won't bite.

I really don't think it is the recoil, it is just a wimpy 380 after all, but perhaps just our big fingers. My wife never has the problem.

gb_in_ga · June 17, 2009, 11:19 PM

Sad thing is, I used to have a really good factory duplication load for .380 ACP. Accurate, very reliable. I remember that it used the 90 gr Rainier copper plated LRN and HP-38 (or W231, same thing) as the powder, but I can't remember the charge anymore. It was 3ish grains (3.1? 3.2?), but I can't remember what it was exactly. That's because I handed over all of my .380 ammo, dies, components and notes to a relative when I handed down to him my Bersa Thunder .380 back a couple of years ago as part of an upgrade on my part.

I would assume that you could reduce that load gradually and find something that was both light recoiling as well as strong enough to work the action.

BTW -- where do you shoot? I'm not that far away, ya' know. I shoot at the Garland Public range on Pleasant Valley Rd.

KAB55 · June 17, 2009, 11:38 PM

I'm loading 3.3 gr of Win 231 (WSP primer) for the 100gr Berry plated bullet and the same for the 95gr Montana Gold JHP in my Walther PPK. Very comfortable to shoot, no bite as you describe. Crono's to about 800 fps + or - 50 for both bullets. Now if I could just find a load for my LCP that chrono's to a decent fps ( the above only gives me about 400 fps from the LCP).

dsv424 · June 18, 2009, 09:40 AM

Thx for the info guys. I was beginning to think no one shoots .380. I posted this query on 2 different forums and was getting no response at all. BTW, gb I do shoot at the Garland Public Range and also Target Master on Jupiter. Small world huh.

Ron · June 18, 2009, 09:54 AM

I'm shooting 3.0 grains of Unique under a 105 grain cast round nose out of my Sig232. Its a fun plinking load.

res45 · June 18, 2009, 09:59 AM

For any of you guys and gals that like to shoot lead out of your 380 Missouri Bullets has a nice cast bullet now.

http://www.missouribullet.com/result...5&secondary=27

dsv424 · June 18, 2009, 12:41 PM

res45, I have'nt reloaded with lead yet but after visiting that link you sent I am very much tempted to try. I have a couple of questions though:
1. Does the lead become a problem after a while as far as cleaning?
2. And do you crimp these the same as you would a jacketed bullet?

DaveTrig · June 18, 2009, 12:54 PM

dsv -
I just loaded 500 rounds each of 9mm and 380 with lead bullets. Costs a few cents less per round, but there is more cleanup. I also find the smoke from the lube quite bothersome. I shoot in a well ventilated indoor range, but still feel like I have the smell of that smoke in my sinuses for the rest of the day. So from now on, I stick with plated.

Just my $0.02.

res45 · June 18, 2009, 02:08 PM

Quote:

1. Does the lead become a problem after a while as far as cleaning?

Generally not a problem in pistols with traditional rifling,as long as you keep the MV within the limits of the bullets hardness which in your case the 380 is between 900 and 1000 fps. with a max load,you will probably find that your most accurate load will be below that. I shoot about 20 cast to ever 1 jacketed bullet I load,I get very little if any leading and what I do get i clean with a 50/50 mix of Hoppe's and Kroil oil. Most of the smoke associated with cast bullet has to do with the lube used on the bullet I've had no issues with smoke.

Quote:

2. And do you crimp these the same as you would a jacketed bullet?

For cast bullets used in revolvers like 38/357 etc. you use a roll crimp,for cast bullets in auto loaders you use the same taper crimp as you would with a jacketed or plated bullet since the case head spaces on the mouth and not the rim. Plated bullets are a nice compromise in cost between cast and jacketed if shooting lead is an issue. I shoot Berry's plated bullets in my 9mm revolver and like them a lot I can push them up to max 9mm velocity with no issues but the most accurate loads are not always the fastest.

By the way i don't shoot a 380 I have a PA-63 chambered in 9 x 18 Mak which is in between the 380 and 9mm it gets a steady diet of cast bullet all the time and cost me about $4.50 per 50 to load I can't even buy the cheap Russian ammo for that and it's a lot more accurate and pleasant to shoot.

dsv424 · June 18, 2009, 04:26 PM

Well I have everything I need to reload this round except the dam dies! I can't find Lee 3 die sets anywhere. Simply frustrating.

FrankenMauser · June 18, 2009, 09:09 PM

One of my latest loads is:
Berry's Plated 100gr HBRN
2.9gr HP-38/W-231
Win SP primers
OAL was developed specifically for my pistol (and is now smudged in my notes)......

Gatofeo · June 18, 2009, 10:24 PM

"Mouse Gun" ... "Wimpy .380" ... hmmmmm
I hardly consider a 90-grain jacketed hollowpoint bullet at 1,000 fps (maximum reload) as a mouse gun or wimpy.
Anyone hit with such a load, or even the factory load, will die if they do not seek treatment.
My Walther PPK in .380 is my "light clothes" gun. It slips into the front pocket of my jeans or shorts and is unnoticeable.
Sure, I'd often prefer to carry my 1911 .45 or Browning Hi-Power in 9mm, but such handguns are far too large to comfortably carry concealed.
I like the PPK. I've not experienced hammer or slide-bite with it. It's relaible, accurate and deadly at typical defense shooting distances.
Bullet placement is King. A hit with a .22 is better than a miss with a .44.

dsv424 · June 19, 2009, 10:21 AM

Gatefeo, its not a slide bite or hammer problem just a stinging sensation in the groove between my thumb and finger.(Maybe I'm just acting wimpy or something) It's not all that bad just kinda irratating. I love the gun and it does feel comfortable in a front pocket for carry. It does pack a good punch.

gb_in_ga · June 19, 2009, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Well I have everything I need to reload this round except the dam dies! I can't find Lee 3 die sets anywhere. Simply frustrating.

FWIW, what I had was a Lee 4 die set. No, come to think of it, it wasn't. It was a 3 die set and I bought the FCD extra. Anyway, the FCD is a godsend in that caliber, at least when loading ammo for my Bersa, which was really picky about ammo. Using the FCD and keeping the OAL on the short side really did work well, from the standpoint of reliability. Better than factory, for that matter.

Whatever die set you end up with, go on ahead and do yourself a favor. Get the FCD, too.

Stargazer · June 20, 2009, 03:32 AM

I use 4.4 grs. of Unique under a 90 gr. Sierra JHP. I get about what the premium rounds get, 965 FPS from the Ruger LCP. Very comparable to Speer Gold dots or Federal Hydra-Shoks. This is a full case so no chance of a double charge ever. Please reduce this load and work up slowly as 4.6 grs. is shown as max in some manuals.

dsv424 · June 20, 2009, 04:33 PM

gb, I ended up ordering the 3 die set from Lee and 2 days later I ordered the FCD(you must have been reading my mind). Well I got the 3 die set today and of course I can't wait til the FCD arrives because whenever I get a new set of dies I clean them and start making bullets for my new caliber like its a new toy.

June 17, 2009, 04:46 PM	#1
dsv424 Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2008 Location: Dallas, Tx. Posts: 266	Any favorite .380 loads I just purchased a Walther PPK and was wondering if anyone had any good loads for this gun. I noticed when using factory rounds that the gun stings that junction between your thumb and finger and I'm not sure if it is because of the new recoil or the fact that it is a stainless frame. Any light loads would be appreciated. Thx

June 17, 2009, 11:19 PM	#3
gb_in_ga Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2005 Location: Pensacola, Fl Posts: 3,093	Sad thing is, I used to have a really good factory duplication load for .380 ACP. Accurate, very reliable. I remember that it used the 90 gr Rainier copper plated LRN and HP-38 (or W231, same thing) as the powder, but I can't remember the charge anymore. It was 3ish grains (3.1? 3.2?), but I can't remember what it was exactly. That's because I handed over all of my .380 ammo, dies, components and notes to a relative when I handed down to him my Bersa Thunder .380 back a couple of years ago as part of an upgrade on my part. I would assume that you could reduce that load gradually and find something that was both light recoiling as well as strong enough to work the action. BTW -- where do you shoot? I'm not that far away, ya' know. I shoot at the Garland Public range on Pleasant Valley Rd. __________________ COME AND TAKE IT http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/batgon.htm Formerly lived in Ga, but now I'm back in Tx! Aaaand, now I'm off to Fla... Last edited by gb_in_ga; June 17, 2009 at 11:42 PM.

June 18, 2009, 09:59 AM	#7
res45 Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2007 Location: NC Posts: 753	For any of you guys and gals that like to shoot lead out of your 380 Missouri Bullets has a nice cast bullet now. http://www.missouribullet.com/result...5&secondary=27 __________________ The Reloaders Network discord Channel https://discord.gg/Nafuzht

June 17, 2009, 11:02 PM	#2
jamaica Senior Member Join Date: March 24, 2006 Location: Northern Utah Posts: 705	Any "Mouse Gun" I have ever shot does that to me. I find that if I put the finger on the trigger such that the trigger is half way between the end of the finger and the first joint, it won't bite. I really don't think it is the recoil, it is just a wimpy 380 after all, but perhaps just our big fingers. My wife never has the problem.

June 17, 2009, 11:38 PM	#4
KAB55 Member Join Date: April 2, 2009 Posts: 23	I'm loading 3.3 gr of Win 231 (WSP primer) for the 100gr Berry plated bullet and the same for the 95gr Montana Gold JHP in my Walther PPK. Very comfortable to shoot, no bite as you describe. Crono's to about 800 fps + or - 50 for both bullets. Now if I could just find a load for my LCP that chrono's to a decent fps ( the above only gives me about 400 fps from the LCP).

June 18, 2009, 09:40 AM	#5
dsv424 Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2008 Location: Dallas, Tx. Posts: 266	Thx for the info guys. I was beginning to think no one shoots .380. I posted this query on 2 different forums and was getting no response at all. BTW, gb I do shoot at the Garland Public Range and also Target Master on Jupiter. Small world huh.

June 18, 2009, 09:54 AM	#6
Ron Member Join Date: February 7, 2009 Location: The SunShine State Posts: 74	I'm shooting 3.0 grains of Unique under a 105 grain cast round nose out of my Sig232. Its a fun plinking load.

June 18, 2009, 12:41 PM	#8
dsv424 Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2008 Location: Dallas, Tx. Posts: 266	res45, I have'nt reloaded with lead yet but after visiting that link you sent I am very much tempted to try. I have a couple of questions though: 1. Does the lead become a problem after a while as far as cleaning? 2. And do you crimp these the same as you would a jacketed bullet?

June 18, 2009, 12:54 PM	#9
DaveTrig Member Join Date: May 11, 2009 Location: Putnam County, NY Posts: 96	dsv - I just loaded 500 rounds each of 9mm and 380 with lead bullets. Costs a few cents less per round, but there is more cleanup. I also find the smoke from the lube quite bothersome. I shoot in a well ventilated indoor range, but still feel like I have the smell of that smoke in my sinuses for the rest of the day. So from now on, I stick with plated. Just my $0.02.

June 18, 2009, 04:26 PM	#11
dsv424 Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2008 Location: Dallas, Tx. Posts: 266	Well I have everything I need to reload this round except the dam dies! I can't find Lee 3 die sets anywhere. Simply frustrating.

June 18, 2009, 09:09 PM	#12
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,775	One of my latest loads is: Berry's Plated 100gr HBRN 2.9gr HP-38/W-231 Win SP primers OAL was developed specifically for my pistol (and is now smudged in my notes)......

June 18, 2009, 10:24 PM	#13
Gatofeo Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2004 Location: Remote Utah desert Posts: 224	"Mouse Gun" ... "Wimpy .380" ... hmmmmm I hardly consider a 90-grain jacketed hollowpoint bullet at 1,000 fps (maximum reload) as a mouse gun or wimpy. Anyone hit with such a load, or even the factory load, will die if they do not seek treatment. My Walther PPK in .380 is my "light clothes" gun. It slips into the front pocket of my jeans or shorts and is unnoticeable. Sure, I'd often prefer to carry my 1911 .45 or Browning Hi-Power in 9mm, but such handguns are far too large to comfortably carry concealed. I like the PPK. I've not experienced hammer or slide-bite with it. It's relaible, accurate and deadly at typical defense shooting distances. Bullet placement is King. A hit with a .22 is better than a miss with a .44.

June 19, 2009, 10:21 AM	#14
dsv424 Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2008 Location: Dallas, Tx. Posts: 266	Gatefeo, its not a slide bite or hammer problem just a stinging sensation in the groove between my thumb and finger.(Maybe I'm just acting wimpy or something) It's not all that bad just kinda irratating. I love the gun and it does feel comfortable in a front pocket for carry. It does pack a good punch.

June 20, 2009, 03:32 AM	#16
Stargazer Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 506	I use 4.4 grs. of Unique under a 90 gr. Sierra JHP. I get about what the premium rounds get, 965 FPS from the Ruger LCP. Very comparable to Speer Gold dots or Federal Hydra-Shoks. This is a full case so no chance of a double charge ever. Please reduce this load and work up slowly as 4.6 grs. is shown as max in some manuals.

June 20, 2009, 04:33 PM	#17
dsv424 Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2008 Location: Dallas, Tx. Posts: 266	gb, I ended up ordering the 3 die set from Lee and 2 days later I ordered the FCD(you must have been reading my mind). Well I got the 3 die set today and of course I can't wait til the FCD arrives because whenever I get a new set of dies I clean them and start making bullets for my new caliber like its a new toy.