380 Auto Extreme Penetrator loads

[Bill Steele]

I was wondering if anyone in the Calguns reloading community has played around with load development using those Lehigh Extreme Penetrator projectiles in 380 Auto.

The Underwood +P 90gr versions seem to really deliver impressive performance, but at a buck forty a round, becomes kind of cost prohibitive even to get a decent reliability profile worked up, much less stay proficient.

If anyone has done any work with this projectile (or any other heavy for caliber projectile) in 380 where max velocity was the aim, I would love to hear about your results. I think I will buy some of the Lehigh bullets and give it a go, starting points would be really welcome.

[robert101]

I'm interest in this topic as well. I don't have any starting data for the Lehigh bullets. I would think starting with the published Speer, Sierra, or Hornady data would work. Just a guess on my part though. A chronograph would be helpful as well. Good topic.

[Bill Steele]

I'm interest in this topic as well. I don't have any starting data for the Lehigh bullets. I would think starting with the published Speer, Sierra, or Hornady data would work. Just a guess on my part though. A chronograph would be helpful as well. Good topic.

When I look at the Underwood velocity data, they are loading outside anything in the book (I haven't found any +P data though). What I need to do is get some, measure the bearing surface (I suspect a 90gr all copper is going to have a longer bearing surface than a 90gr FMJ, perhaps something more like an XTP, which has to effect the pressures some and velocity).

It also looks like the mid-range burn rates powders seem to get the 380 going best (unlike 40S&W and say, Longshot).

I think I will also pull an UW and see if I can ascertain the powder and load density they are using on their +P loads. Historically, UW has used off the shelf powders. Hope they still are doing that..