Trouble finding a .380 load.

fshfindr · August 4, 2013, 10:34 AM

I am looking at purchasing a .380 mold. I like the lee molds and they have a TL356-124-TC that I like for tumble lubing but I can't find a load for Unique which is all I have right now. I have the Lee and Lyman books and I've looked at handloads.com and M. D. Smith. M.D. Smith has a load for 120 grains RN with 2.2-2.8 grains of Unique. If I do this I will probably use 2.5 grains. The gun is a 9mm Makarov, converted to .380. If you have other sources of info please let me know. All comments are appreciated. Thank you.

Richard L.

reloader28 · August 5, 2013, 07:56 AM

The Lee 358 125 RF shoots very good in 380's.

fshfindr · August 5, 2013, 01:50 PM

Reloader 28, do you have to size them? I have never had to size my .38's, I just lube & load. Do you fire as 358-125 as 38 Spec. also? If you fire in your 38 or 357 what loads do you use? I have never used a .38 spec. or .357 round in anything but. Does that mean that I can fire .380's in the .357? I know that is a lot of Q's but this is all new to me. All I really want is loading data my .380. Until now I have only used 90 grain factory FMJ bullets in the .380 but I want to try a heavier round.

**Unclenick** · August 5, 2013, 03:35 PM

In general, you can shoot cast bullets a little bit oversize, and I often get best accuracy at about 0.002" oversize in a chamber that can accommodate rounds being that much fatter at the case neck and still feed reliably. But with cast bullets even being slightly undersized can be disastrous for accuracy and greatly increases lead fouling by allowing gas cutting by bypassing gases.

You won't need to size the .356 TC bullet unless it jams when feeding. They shoot best as-cast, as long as that fits your chamber, IME.

A pause for the COZ · August 5, 2013, 03:52 PM

Here is the one I use.
LEE 105gr swc .358. Depending on your barrel. You can shoot these sized at .358 or size them down if you like.
I can shoot these at .358 out of my Taurus 738. But it seems to like them sized at .357 better.

fshfindr · August 5, 2013, 06:07 PM

Now that's what I call good info. I'll order the 358-125RF for the .380 and maybe even try some in the .38. My TC358-148 wad cutter mikes to .359" and my TL357-158 SWC mikes to .357". Both will drop into the .380 chamber. My .380 FMJ's mike to .355" so I guess they wont be accurate in the .38. As usual, the forum comes thru. Gentleman, I thank you.

Richard L.

Clark · August 6, 2013, 01:15 AM

I load 380 to 3 levels, and make up my own loads for me.
The lowest level is the same performance as Buffalo Bore advertised 380 +P performance.

That lowest level corresponds to a Kel-Tec P3AT or Ruger LCP with thin chamber walls, low slide mass, low recoil spring force, 0.965" max OAL, and dominantly 0.270" of feed ramp intrusion into the chamber support.

The higher levels have increased chamber wall thickness, increased slide mass, increased recoil spring force, longer magazine width for longer OAL, and less feed ramp intrusion. Notice how locked breech vs blow back does not affect capability.

I like Power Pistol for 380.
90 gr for the lowest level.
115 gr for medium.
158 gr for the highest.

reloader28 · August 6, 2013, 08:32 AM

I use Bullseye. 2gr for 380 and 4gr for 38spl.
I do lube/size them .358. I think mine drop out at .359.

This shoots good in 7 different 380's that we've tried them in. A couple years ago I got a 100gr Ranch Dog mold and now usually use it instead for 380 because of a bigger meplat. It also shoots good in 38spl, but Ranch Dog shut down the doors and are no longer avaliable.

fshfindr · August 6, 2013, 09:35 AM

I was on the Midway site and found that 358-125-RF was out of stock. I didn't order anything else. Now this AM I'm looking again and I woke up. Looking at the Lee brochure, I already have TC357-148WC so why buy anything else. But as I sit here I held the WC up against the .380 shell and it does not look like there is enough space for powder. But I can use the TL357-158 SWC, which I also have, since it doesn't go in as deep. Lee says that the starting load is 4.1 gr. in a .38 spec. of Unique but that seems a little steep and may not fit. Maybe I'll start with 3gr. Still learning! Still grateful for the advise.

fshfindr · August 7, 2013, 06:01 PM

The OAL for the .380 is .984. There was no problem dropping it into the chamber. But due to the shape of the SWC it was too tight a fit in the magazine. I had to take ⅛" off the OAL to get them to fit into the magazine and to get them to cycle thru the gun. In a couple of days, I'll take a few to the range and I'll report to you.

fshfindr · August 11, 2013, 02:54 PM

I made up 8 rounds of .357-158 SWC With 2.5 grains of Unique. I took them to the range on Sat. First I just loaded 1 rd. in the mag, then 2 then the rest. They all fired fine and cycled fine. I guess I have my new .380 round. I will try 3 grains next time. Thank you guys.

August 4, 2013, 10:34 AM	#1
fshfindr Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2013 Location: South Jersey Posts: 188	Trouble finding a .380 load. I am looking at purchasing a .380 mold. I like the lee molds and they have a TL356-124-TC that I like for tumble lubing but I can't find a load for Unique which is all I have right now. I have the Lee and Lyman books and I've looked at handloads.com and M. D. Smith. M.D. Smith has a load for 120 grains RN with 2.2-2.8 grains of Unique. If I do this I will probably use 2.5 grains. The gun is a 9mm Makarov, converted to .380. If you have other sources of info please let me know. All comments are appreciated. Thank you. Richard L. __________________ Richard L. Last edited by fshfindr; August 4, 2013 at 10:55 AM.

August 5, 2013, 01:50 PM	#3
fshfindr Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2013 Location: South Jersey Posts: 188	Reloader 28, do you have to size them? I have never had to size my .38's, I just lube & load. Do you fire as 358-125 as 38 Spec. also? If you fire in your 38 or 357 what loads do you use? I have never used a .38 spec. or .357 round in anything but. Does that mean that I can fire .380's in the .357? I know that is a lot of Q's but this is all new to me. All I really want is loading data my .380. Until now I have only used 90 grain factory FMJ bullets in the .380 but I want to try a heavier round. __________________ Richard L.

August 5, 2013, 03:35 PM	#4
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	In general, you can shoot cast bullets a little bit oversize, and I often get best accuracy at about 0.002" oversize in a chamber that can accommodate rounds being that much fatter at the case neck and still feed reliably. But with cast bullets even being slightly undersized can be disastrous for accuracy and greatly increases lead fouling by allowing gas cutting by bypassing gases. You won't need to size the .356 TC bullet unless it jams when feeding. They shoot best as-cast, as long as that fits your chamber, IME. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

August 5, 2013, 06:07 PM	#6
fshfindr Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2013 Location: South Jersey Posts: 188	Now that's what I call good info. I'll order the 358-125RF for the .380 and maybe even try some in the .38. My TC358-148 wad cutter mikes to .359" and my TL357-158 SWC mikes to .357". Both will drop into the .380 chamber. My .380 FMJ's mike to .355" so I guess they wont be accurate in the .38. As usual, the forum comes thru. Gentleman, I thank you. Richard L. __________________ Richard L.

August 6, 2013, 01:15 AM	#7
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	I load 380 to 3 levels, and make up my own loads for me. The lowest level is the same performance as Buffalo Bore advertised 380 +P performance. That lowest level corresponds to a Kel-Tec P3AT or Ruger LCP with thin chamber walls, low slide mass, low recoil spring force, 0.965" max OAL, and dominantly 0.270" of feed ramp intrusion into the chamber support. The higher levels have increased chamber wall thickness, increased slide mass, increased recoil spring force, longer magazine width for longer OAL, and less feed ramp intrusion. Notice how locked breech vs blow back does not affect capability. I like Power Pistol for 380. 90 gr for the lowest level. 115 gr for medium. 158 gr for the highest. __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?

August 5, 2013, 07:56 AM	#2
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 1,061	The Lee 358 125 RF shoots very good in 380's.

August 5, 2013, 03:52 PM	#5
A pause for the COZ Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2012 Location: Braham, Minnesota Posts: 1,314	Here is the one I use. LEE 105gr swc .358. Depending on your barrel. You can shoot these sized at .358 or size them down if you like. I can shoot these at .358 out of my Taurus 738. But it seems to like them sized at .357 better.

August 6, 2013, 08:32 AM	#8
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 1,061	I use Bullseye. 2gr for 380 and 4gr for 38spl. I do lube/size them .358. I think mine drop out at .359. This shoots good in 7 different 380's that we've tried them in. A couple years ago I got a 100gr Ranch Dog mold and now usually use it instead for 380 because of a bigger meplat. It also shoots good in 38spl, but Ranch Dog shut down the doors and are no longer avaliable.

August 6, 2013, 09:35 AM	#9
fshfindr Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2013 Location: South Jersey Posts: 188	I was on the Midway site and found that 358-125-RF was out of stock. I didn't order anything else. Now this AM I'm looking again and I woke up. Looking at the Lee brochure, I already have TC357-148WC so why buy anything else. But as I sit here I held the WC up against the .380 shell and it does not look like there is enough space for powder. But I can use the TL357-158 SWC, which I also have, since it doesn't go in as deep. Lee says that the starting load is 4.1 gr. in a .38 spec. of Unique but that seems a little steep and may not fit. Maybe I'll start with 3gr. Still learning! Still grateful for the advise. __________________ Richard L. Last edited by fshfindr; August 6, 2013 at 09:42 AM.

August 7, 2013, 06:01 PM	#10
fshfindr Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2013 Location: South Jersey Posts: 188	The OAL for the .380 is .984. There was no problem dropping it into the chamber. But due to the shape of the SWC it was too tight a fit in the magazine. I had to take ⅛" off the OAL to get them to fit into the magazine and to get them to cycle thru the gun. In a couple of days, I'll take a few to the range and I'll report to you. __________________ Richard L.

August 11, 2013, 02:54 PM	#11
fshfindr Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2013 Location: South Jersey Posts: 188	I made up 8 rounds of .357-158 SWC With 2.5 grains of Unique. I took them to the range on Sat. First I just loaded 1 rd. in the mag, then 2 then the rest. They all fired fine and cycled fine. I guess I have my new .380 round. I will try 3 grains next time. Thank you guys. __________________ Richard L.