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Old September 9, 2020, 08:54 AM   #1
vulcan73
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115 JHP's in 380Auto?

Greetings...I typically load 380s in 90, 95 and 100 grain JHP's and FMJ's with various powders, however, I decided to try using 115 JHP's in 380Auto. The only load data I can find on this combination is in Lyman's manual (49th Edition). Anyone have experience with 115 grain JHP bullets in 380? suggested loads? Lyman has load data using Bullseye, 700-X, Win 231 (HP38), Red Dot, HS6, SR7625 and Power Pistol. I have all these powders, except Power Pistol, on hand. My test gun 380s are a Bersa M95 (steel frame), Beretta 84FS and Browning BDA380.
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Old September 9, 2020, 10:44 AM   #2
Schlitz 45
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I have loaded 115gr FMJ's in 380 Auto before. It's not any different than using 147gr in a 9mm. I can't remember the powder charge but i did use Tightgroup-have to check my records & did find published load data for this. They shot & functioned without any issue.
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Old September 9, 2020, 11:01 AM   #3
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Well, I'm sure the slugs will go down the barrel, mostly curious if anyone has any velocity data. I've loaded 20 each with HS6 and Bullseye and will test them shortly. The actual bullets are RMR's 115 MPR's which I use in 9mm along with their 124 version.
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Old September 9, 2020, 02:35 PM   #4
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Why JHP? They wont expand well at 380 velocities.
I believe you would be looking at sub-900 fps.
There is a reason why Hogdgen Reloading Data Center does not show any 115 grain bullet loads. Too heavy for the cartridge. Personally, I would rather have the lightest and fastest Barnes Copper bullet. 80 grains at 1000 fps.
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Old September 9, 2020, 03:24 PM   #5
nhyrum
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Originally Posted by Marco Califo View Post
Why JHP? They wont expand well at 380 velocities.

I believe you would be looking at sub-900 fps.

There is a reason why Hogdgen Reloading Data Center does not show any 115 grain bullet loads. Too heavy for the cartridge. Personally, I would rather have the lightest and fastest Barnes Copper bullet. 80 grains at 1000 fps.
Sometimes it's just about blasting ammo, being made with components on hand (not saying this is the op's intentions) a while back I contemplated loading 75 grain 000 buckshot in 380, since they mic'd .356. powdercoated I'm sure they're do fine, accuracy wouldn't be great, but just to burn powder and send lead down range for basically free... Why not.

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Old September 9, 2020, 03:36 PM   #6
vulcan73
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Thanks for the replies...Here's where I'm going with this...many times, I wished my Beretta 84FS, Browning BDA380 and Bersa M95 were 9mm guns. To me they are the perfect size for a metal framed 9mm...but...nooooo...they are 380's. So, if I shoot 115 JHP's in a 9mm of any type, metal, polymer, big, small, etc, why not in my big 380's. Of course, the 380 round is low pressure as compared to a 9mm round and therefore much less velocity, muzzle energy and stopping power. I know that. I was hopeful that someone had chronographed a 115 out of a 380, that would tell me plenty about it's terminal performance.

Anyhow, I went to my range and blasted several rounds of 115 JHP's from my Beretta, Browning and Bersa plus I also fired several rounds of typical 90-100 grain 380's with mostly BE86, HS6 and HP38. The felt recoil of the 115's with Bullseye and HS6 was significant as compared to the much milder 90-100 grain rounds. I'm not using felt recoil as a quantitative measure of energy but it sure seemed like they had a lot more energy going downrange. How would the 115's expand in a jell test? I have no idea.

My 380 carry gun is a P238 but I seldom actually carry it. I prefer a 9mm as a minimum (Shield 9, Kahr PM9, CZ75Compact or full size CZ75BD, Ruger SR9C, Ruger 9E), in 40S&W it's the Shield 40, Springfield XD Mod 2 Subcompact, Ruger SR40C, SR40 and of course I can't leave out the 45ACP: Ruger SR45, XD Mod 2, 45 Subcompact, Kahr CW45, Taurus PT945 and PT145 Mil Pro (hand cannon), Shield 45, M&P 45C.

Bottom line: I think I'll forgo the idea of using a 115 JHP out of my 380's and concentrate on finding a metal frame 9mm that is similar in size to the 84FS, BDA380 and M95. Right now that gun is looking like a S&W 6906, gen 4 semiauto.

Last edited by vulcan73; September 9, 2020 at 03:43 PM.
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Old September 9, 2020, 04:01 PM   #7
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Quote:
I was hopeful that someone had chronographed a 115 out of a 380, that would tell me plenty about it's terminal performance.
Speer Manual no.11 (1987)
.380ACP
115gr TMJ and Hollow point

Test gun
Browning
4.5" barrel

10 loads listed max loads all between 949 and 997fps.

SO, from a 4.5" barrel, expect max to be between 950 and 1000fps. What does your 9mm 115gr JHP do at those speeds? If it opens up properly and penetrates enough, fine. If not, you are wasting that hollow point bullet in a .380.

Do keep in mind, are your "big" .380s locked breech or blowback guns?
Size isn't as important as pressure and how the gun handles it. There is a sound reason why nearly all 9mms are locked breech designs, and it is due to size. There are a few blowback 9mm pistols, but they are large compared to most locked breech systems.
You can get a "380 size" 9mm these days, if that matters...
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Old September 9, 2020, 04:14 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by 44 AMP View Post
.

You can get a "380 size" 9mm these days, if that matters...
The sig 938 comes to mind. But I'd rather shoot a titanium 44 mag snub nose than 380 sized 9. At least you can get all your fingers on it. My pinky usually still hangs fat on 380's even with mags with the pinky extension

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Old September 9, 2020, 06:41 PM   #9
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Again...thanks for the comments. I search my archives and found load data going back to the mid-80s published by Dupont, Hodgon and Winchester, nothing from Speer. Very little data was on the 380 for any bullet. In today's world, carrying is a big deal and really small 380's and 9's are the rage.

When I got my P238, the P938 was not yet on the market. If it was, I would opted for the 9 over the 380. No plans today for a metal micro 9, I know the manufacturers are going nuts trying to get them to market but I'll stay with my Shield 9 and PM9 for the micro sized 9 even if they are polymer. My ultimate goal is a metal frame 9 with an OAL of less than 7". I once had a Bersa Ultra Compact 9/40 that was the right size but got I stupid and traded it for the Browning BDA380. Even though it was a well done gun and DA/SA, the trigger throw was too long for me. I stopped using it and decided to use it as a trade in for the BDA380.

Those S&W 6906's really have my attention.
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Old September 9, 2020, 06:57 PM   #10
nhyrum
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Magnum research makes a compact 1911 in 9mm with it looks like as short as a 3.5 ish inch barrel. Desert eagle 1911 c is what it's called.

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Old September 9, 2020, 07:55 PM   #11
vulcan73
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Quote:
Do keep in mind, are your "big" .380s locked breech or blowback guns?
The Bersa (I should correct the model to M85, not M95) is blowback, the Beretta and Browning are locked breach.

Quote:
Desert eagle 1911 c is what it's called.
Thanks for the tip but money is an issue. That's actually what got me thinking of the possibility of using one of 'big' 380's as cheap metal frame 9 by using a 115 JHP in 380 as pseudo 9. Yes, it does fire and cycle in all three guns but it's not the same energy/velocity/terminal performance that the bullet will give you out of a high pressure 9mm load.

The S&W 6906 at say $500 will ultimately cost me $600-650 (price, shipping, transfer fee, tax, CC fee). That's a bitch when you are an old guy living on Social Security. I might just abandon the entire idea of that metal 9 and use my Rossi 462, 357Mag, 6 round revolver. That is one sweet gun.
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Old September 15, 2020, 05:00 AM   #12
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I goofed, I can't edit my posting above so I'll toss in this new posting: both the Beretta 84 and Browning BDA380 are blowback guns, not locked breach.

I'm now leaning towards a S&W older compact 9mm, namely a 669 or a 6906, SS models, I can live with the blue versions. I committed to a 6906, police trade in but the seller now tells me they don't have any so my order is canceled. Although I prefer the 6906 (3rd generation), I can live with the 669 (2nd generation), in fact, the 669 has a slightly shorter OAL. Given a clean, seasoned 6906 and 669, I'd go with the less expensive one.
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Old September 15, 2020, 08:34 AM   #13
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I use this one all the time........with 3.1 gr of Unique.



https://load-data.nosler.com/load-data/380-auto-acp/
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