.380 Reloading

EnderW23 · March 5, 2011, 12:17 AM

I would like to know your guys opinion on whether or not you think it is cost effective to reload .380s ...

Sevens · March 5, 2011, 12:27 AM

It's less cost effective now than it was 2-3-5 years ago, but it's still saving money if you buy your components in bulk. If you can work with cast lead, it'll save you a bunch. If you cast your own, it's so cheap that you'll find money in a pants pocket that you didn't know you had!

Yes, I reload .380.

Dave R · March 5, 2011, 01:05 AM

Yes, its cost effective. I just checked my price, based on buying components at full retail locally. Berrys plated bullets. I'm at $7.99 per 50. I see factory ammo at $15 and up, so I'm around half price.

DiscoRacing · March 5, 2011, 06:24 AM

I was just looking at the prices yesterday to get set up for .380. Quite a few guys here have em and I was thinking of loading em.

Yes it does appear to be cost effective.

alloy · March 5, 2011, 06:59 AM

Extremely.
I use 95 grain Montana Gold jacketed projectiles at $60 for 500.
Universal Clays powder 2100 rounds per pound

Bout $8.00 per 50

Sevens · March 5, 2011, 08:42 AM

With the price I paid for my powder when buying 8 pounds, and including the hazmat fee...
With the huge primer buy that I also paid hazmat for, and waited thirteen months to get...
With the latest purchase of 100gr Berry's plated RN bullets I got, including shipping...
And the brass that I'm not counting since I didn't pay for that...

I have it down to $6.00 per 50 round box.

I could take it down cheaper with cast lead, but don't want to. And I don't cast my own.

If I cast my own and could call my bullets "free" (depends on how you look at it...) then I could have a 50-rd box down under three bucks.

Pilot · March 5, 2011, 08:55 AM

I use 95 grain copper washed bullets for my .380 that I reload. Yes it saves money as WWB .380 is around $31 for 100 rounds, so over $15 per box of 50. I can make mine for at least half that.

reloader28 · March 5, 2011, 09:33 AM

HA, WOW

Since I aint had my 380's long, I just figured my cost.
I cast my own boolits so it figures to .036/round.

The .03 is for primer, the .006 is for a max load of Bullseye.

You know what? I'll throw in another penny per round just cause I'm a nice guy.
Thats makes it .046/round or $2.30/50 rounds (with the extra penny

)

medalguy · March 6, 2011, 12:10 AM

Agreed. I load .380 for around $7.50 per 50, and I'm still seeing factory ammo around here for $20 a box. I was at a gun show today and I saw it for $50 a box.

FrankenMauser · March 6, 2011, 04:20 AM

I'm loading .380 Auto for about $4.50/box at current prices.

But... I bought most of my components before the commodities market went crazy, and before the Obama hoarding. So, my actual cost of about $1.75/box will go on for some time (I have enough components to load .380 for several years - or possibly more than a decade).

wwmkwood · March 6, 2011, 07:39 AM

Replacing lost brass keeps my 380 costs up. My Sig spits them all over the place and they are little buggers.

FrankenMauser · March 6, 2011, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Replacing lost brass keeps my 380 costs up. My Sig spits them all over the place and they are little buggers.

My .380 isn't horribly erratic, but does 'string' the cases - anywhere from 20 feet away, to a few feet away - based on how many rounds are in the magazine.

Even with a 25% loss rate for my own brass, I generally find enough range brass to break even or come out on top.

huntinaz · March 6, 2011, 03:04 PM

Quote:

I would like to know your guys opinion on whether or not you think it is cost effective to reload .380s ...

$7-$8 per box of 50 is what it costs to reload it. Our opinions don't have anything to do with it, those are the numbers. Shop around for deals and you can do better than that, as others have pointed out. So yes, it is indeed cost effective.

rdmallory · March 6, 2011, 04:57 PM

Need to add in the cost of band-aids.

You get the loader going good your going to pinch a finger or two.

crowbeaner · March 6, 2011, 09:06 PM

There is a local sporting goods store on Clemson Blvd. here that sells 20 rounds of HP ammo for $27.00 and tax. You bet you can save money reloading the 9mm Kurz. I see 50 rounds going for $30.00 and up for FMJ all the time. IF Wally World gets any for $19.00 a box, it's long gone with the first guy or gal that sees it. I figure .08 per case, .10 a bullet, .04 a primer, and even using 5.1 grains of AA #5, I can load HPs for around $10.00 a box and that's buying EVERYTHING. I can and do cast boolits for it also. A 102 grain Lee bullet over 3.0 of Titegroup shoots well.

March 5, 2011, 12:17 AM	#1
EnderW23 Member Join Date: February 13, 2011 Location: West Virginia Posts: 41	.380 Reloading I would like to know your guys opinion on whether or not you think it is cost effective to reload .380s ... __________________ You can't have my guns, but you can have my bullets.

March 5, 2011, 12:27 AM	#2
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	It's less cost effective now than it was 2-3-5 years ago, but it's still saving money if you buy your components in bulk. If you can work with cast lead, it'll save you a bunch. If you cast your own, it's so cheap that you'll find money in a pants pocket that you didn't know you had! Yes, I reload .380. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

March 5, 2011, 01:05 AM	#3
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2000 Location: Idaho Posts: 6,073	Yes, its cost effective. I just checked my price, based on buying components at full retail locally. Berrys plated bullets. I'm at $7.99 per 50. I see factory ammo at $15 and up, so I'm around half price. __________________ I am Pro-Rights (on gun issues).

March 5, 2011, 06:24 AM	#4
DiscoRacing Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2008 Location: milton, wv Posts: 3,640	I was just looking at the prices yesterday to get set up for .380. Quite a few guys here have em and I was thinking of loading em. Yes it does appear to be cost effective. __________________ Desert Eagle Alliance Group Launcher Extraordinaire ______ ----Get Busy Live'n.....Or....Get Busy Die'n......Red -------They call me Dr. Bob,,,, I have a PhD in S&W

March 5, 2011, 08:42 AM	#6
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	With the price I paid for my powder when buying 8 pounds, and including the hazmat fee... With the huge primer buy that I also paid hazmat for, and waited thirteen months to get... With the latest purchase of 100gr Berry's plated RN bullets I got, including shipping... And the brass that I'm not counting since I didn't pay for that... I have it down to $6.00 per 50 round box. I could take it down cheaper with cast lead, but don't want to. And I don't cast my own. If I cast my own and could call my bullets "free" (depends on how you look at it...) then I could have a 50-rd box down under three bucks. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

March 5, 2011, 08:55 AM	#7
Pilot Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2000 Posts: 4,193	I use 95 grain copper washed bullets for my .380 that I reload. Yes it saves money as WWB .380 is around $31 for 100 rounds, so over $15 per box of 50. I can make mine for at least half that. __________________ Pilot

March 5, 2011, 09:33 AM	#8
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 1,061	HA, WOW Since I aint had my 380's long, I just figured my cost. I cast my own boolits so it figures to .036/round. The .03 is for primer, the .006 is for a max load of Bullseye. You know what? I'll throw in another penny per round just cause I'm a nice guy. Thats makes it .046/round or $2.30/50 rounds (with the extra penny)

March 6, 2011, 12:10 AM	#9
medalguy Senior Member Join Date: August 31, 2009 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,033	Agreed. I load .380 for around $7.50 per 50, and I'm still seeing factory ammo around here for $20 a box. I was at a gun show today and I saw it for $50 a box.

March 6, 2011, 04:20 AM	#10
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	I'm loading .380 Auto for about $4.50/box at current prices. But... I bought most of my components before the commodities market went crazy, and before the Obama hoarding. So, my actual cost of about $1.75/box will go on for some time (I have enough components to load .380 for several years - or possibly more than a decade). __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

March 6, 2011, 07:39 AM	#11
wwmkwood Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 110	Replacing lost brass keeps my 380 costs up. My Sig spits them all over the place and they are little buggers.

March 6, 2011, 04:57 PM	#14
rdmallory Senior Member Join Date: February 10, 2009 Location: Deltona FL Posts: 953	Need to add in the cost of band-aids. You get the loader going good your going to pinch a finger or two.

March 6, 2011, 09:06 PM	#15
crowbeaner Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 1,943	There is a local sporting goods store on Clemson Blvd. here that sells 20 rounds of HP ammo for $27.00 and tax. You bet you can save money reloading the 9mm Kurz. I see 50 rounds going for $30.00 and up for FMJ all the time. IF Wally World gets any for $19.00 a box, it's long gone with the first guy or gal that sees it. I figure .08 per case, .10 a bullet, .04 a primer, and even using 5.1 grains of AA #5, I can load HPs for around $10.00 a box and that's buying EVERYTHING. I can and do cast boolits for it also. A 102 grain Lee bullet over 3.0 of Titegroup shoots well. __________________ If you want your children to follow in your footsteps, be careful where you walk. Beware the man that only owns one gun; he probably knows how to use it. I just hope my ship comes in before my dock rots.