.380 RNFP reload help

[PapaCdAh]

Hey Cal Gunners,

I am helping a friend and will be doing some .380 reloads.

He gave me some Xtreme .380 - 100 RNFP projectiles. All my manuals do not have any info on these .380 - 100 RNFP projectiles.

The manual shows 2.9-3.1 grains for powder HP38 or Win 231 for regular 100 grain FMJ.

What is everyone using RNFP projectiles?

TIA

[NeilMo]

HP38 works great with 100gn or heavier bullets in 380. If those Xtreme's will chamber at an oal of .945"-.950" then 3 grains of HP38 should be a good load. If they have to seat shorter, reduce the load by .1 grain for every .010". I've had great results with HP38 with 102gn RN and 105gn SWC from 2.6 up to 3.3 grains.

[Raiderh20boy]

I have been using WIN231 for my 380 reloads. 3.1-3.2 gn with a OAL of .959-.961 with the Xtreme 100 RNFP. Both my wife and I are very comfortable with this in our SIG 238s.
In the Xtreme reloading manual they show Alliant Power Pistol which is SLIGHTLY SLOWER BURNING RATE to the HP38-WIN231 with 4.2 and OAL .950 .

[ar15barrels]

Hey Cal Gunners,

I am helping a friend and will be doing some .380 reloads.

He gave me some Xtreme .380 - 100 RNFP projectiles. All my manuals do not have any info on these .380 - 100 RNFP projectiles.

The manual shows 2.9-3.1 grains for powder HP38 or Win 231 for regular 100 grain FMJ.

What is everyone using RNFP projectiles?

TIA

HP38 and 231 are excellent powders for the 380.
Quickload says:

Cartridge          : .380 Auto (9mm Kurz)
Bullet             : .355, 100, LEADEx FN 18C000921C FPRS
Useable Case Capaci: 4.986 grain H2O = 0.324 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 0.850 inch = 21.59 mm
Barrel Length      : 4.0 inch = 101.6 mm
Powder             : Hodgdon HP38

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 4.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-40.0   39     1.50    518      60    5264    924     64.8    0.953
-36.0   42     1.60    549      67    5889   1022     67.5    0.904
-32.0   44     1.70    579      74    6568   1122     70.2    0.859
-28.0   47     1.80    609      82    7288   1224     72.7    0.818
-24.0   49     1.90    639      91    8057   1328     75.1    0.780
-20.0   52     2.00    669      99    8891   1433     77.4    0.746
-16.0   55     2.10    699     109    9792   1538     79.5    0.713
-12.0   57     2.20    729     118   10763   1643     81.6    0.684
-08.0   60     2.30    758     128   11806   1747     83.5    0.656
-04.0   62     2.40    787     138   12927   1851     85.4    0.629
+00.0   65     2.50    816     148   14126   1954     87.1    0.602
+04.0   68     2.60    845     159   15410   2055     88.7    0.578
+08.0   70     2.70    873     169   16782   2154     90.2    0.556  ! Near Maximum !
+12.0   73     2.80    902     181   18246   2251     91.6    0.535  ! Near Maximum !
+16.0   75     2.90    930     192   19809   2345     92.8    0.515  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+20.0   78     3.00    957     203   21474   2436     94.0    0.497  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba     65     2.50    864     166   16645   2052     93.6    0.560  ! Near Maximum !
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     65     2.50    761     128   11748   1794     78.4    0.655

Cartridge          : .380 Auto (9mm Kurz)
Bullet             : .355, 100, LEADEx FN 18C000921C FPRS
Useable Case Capaci: 4.986 grain H2O = 0.324 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 0.850 inch = 21.59 mm
Barrel Length      : 4.0 inch = 101.6 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 18500 psi, or 127 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 102 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
Vihtavuori N320                    100.5      2.7     0.18     940    97.4    18500    2392   0.519  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Universal                  102.0      3.0     0.20     939    90.3    17918    2621   0.538  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N330                    102.0      3.1     0.20     924    89.3    17207    2531   0.532  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant BULLSEYE                    90.7      2.8     0.18     920    82.0    18500    2478   0.526  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant GREEN DOT                  101.0      2.6     0.17     919    96.3    18500    2327   0.537  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant RED DOT                    102.0      2.3     0.15     917    99.4    18346    2218   0.538  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Silhouette                  88.2      3.5     0.23     914    76.9    18500    2445   0.526  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester WAP                      88.4      3.5     0.23     912    76.3    18500    2430   0.527  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 231                      82.8      2.9     0.19     909    90.8    18500    2296   0.531  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Zip                         74.4      2.9     0.19     909    90.8    18500    2296   0.531  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon HP38                        73.2      2.8     0.18     907    91.8    18500    2267   0.531  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 540                      81.0      3.8     0.25     898    69.8    18500    2354   0.531  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Longshot                    83.1      3.8     0.25     898    69.5    18500    2355   0.531  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot True Blue                   82.2      3.8     0.25     898    69.6    18500    2350   0.531  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon TiteGroup                   66.5      2.5     0.16     896    97.8    18500    2096   0.536  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N310                     79.4      2.1     0.14     896   100.0    18500    1826   0.532  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon HS-6                        87.8      4.0     0.26     895    66.7    18500    2340   0.532  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate Nitro 100                  93.2      2.2     0.14     894    95.6    18500    2145   0.534  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate No.5                       79.6      3.8     0.24     893    63.9    18500    2353   0.533  ! Near Maximum !
Norma R1                           102.0      2.4     0.15     889   100.0    17131    1994   0.561  ! Near Maximum !

[sofbak]

^^^Curious as to why you ran q-l with a OAL of .850?
Min range of OAL in BoLee is 0.955 to 0.980

[robert101]

Randal provides great information.
My approach is very different and specific to my 380 DBA. I shoot 100 grn projectiles with Unique 2.4 to 3.7 grains or Bullseye 2.3 to 3.1 grains.

I realize you didn't ask about those powders. I'm only offering my table.

[ar15barrels]

^^^Curious as to why you ran q-l with a OAL of .850?
Min range of OAL in BoLee is 0.955 to 0.980

At 0.980" OAL, the bullet is only seated into the case by 0.130" which is not much.
I like to have at least 2/3 the bullet diameter of bullet length holding the bullet in the case.

So with a 0.356" dia bullet, I want at least 0.237" of seating depth.

[sofbak]

^^^ Ok. So what is the benefit/advantage of your "2/3" technique?

[ar15barrels]

^^^ Ok. So what is the benefit/advantage of your "2/3" technique?

Good bullet hold.
Bullets not getting knocked off the end of loaded cases.

[sofbak]

Ok. I guess you could add "saving powder on a per-round basis" too. Cuz at least for .380 auto, it seems the 2/3 technique requires powder weights substantially lower than published mins to stay in the safe pressure range.

[Raiderh20boy]

Just curious what would the numbers be on Quickload if you used suggested OAL of .955 ?

[NeilMo]

There's a reason that minimum oal of a 380 is .910". Sinking a 100gn FP to an oal of .850" is just idiotic and some very bad advice. Most 380 projectiles don't even have a bearing surface equivalent to 2/3 their diameter so where's the logic in that. .120" to .150" seating depth is where most fall, including factory ammo, and all that's needed.

[Sandspider500]

.380
Case length .677
Bullet lengths
Speer up GD 90gr .435
Speer tmj 95gr .44
Speer JHP 100gr .461
Sierra jhp 90gr .423
Sierra fmj FN 95gr .415
Rainier rn 95gr .437
Rainier hp 100gr .46
Nosler hp 90gr .403
LeadX fn 100gr .429
Hornady xtp 90gr .450
Hornady fmj 100gr .507
Lee 356-102-1r .462
Lyman 358242 92gr .46

[sofbak]

I don't load .380, but I did look at my 180 gr .40 s&w and 225 gr .45acp projectiles. These are both truncated cone bullets.

Both are approx .618 in length, if I tried this "2/3" seating depth there would be no cylindrical bearing surface at the case mouth. Since I use the lee fact crimp die to put a very slight roll into the crimp, this won't work for me. Not even sure if
it would feed with the rim of the case mouth exposed so to speak.

I'll stick with published safe oal data and leave the 2/3 technique to quick-load practitioners.

[NeilMo]

Since a picture's worth a thousand words, here's a cutaway of a 380 case with a 90gn Gold Dot seated to a depth of .200". You can see at this depth that the base of the bullet is right at the point where the brass starts to taper and get thicker. At that point the brass is .002" thicker than the case mouth. At a point just past Randall's seating depth of .237" the brass is .015" thick. The deeper the bullet is seated past about .195" or so, the worse a case is going to bulge and create other problems.

Now take the bullet example from the above QL example which has a length of .429" along with a case right in the middle of spec at .675" . Seating to the SAAMI minimum of .910" will put the bullet's base at a depth of .194" and at a point just before the case starts it's taper. Coincidence? I don't think so.