Who reloads for .380?

[Donny1]

Because I just put one in jail

I got it for a pocket gun and I don't expect to shoot it a ton but I would like to load for practice rounds and carry with boxed SD ammo. I'm currently loading 9, 45, 38spl, .223 and 12ga so I know a little just would like some advise or details about loading .380.

[Kokopelli]

[Donny1]

Cool, thanks. I have 231 on hand.

[tabascoz28]

My friend hates shooting his LCP, loves that it weighs nothing. I always pick up 380 brass by accident at the range and have to throw away later, 9mm is the smallest pistol caliber I have.

[CSACANNONEER]

I load .380. I started because I had a 5 gal bucket of brass and needed a reason to load it. I ended up buying a used Hi Point and ended up loving it. Now, I carry a P238 sometimes so, I use the same reloads for both guns while practicing. It's really no different than loading 9mm or just about any other straight walled cartridge. Anyway, what would you like to know?

[Abenaki]

I load for my 380.

I have only loaded cast for it.

102 grain round nose from Lee.

I refuse to load for any thing smaller that the 380. It can be a pain.

Take care
Abenaki

[Donny1]

Anyway, what would you like to know?

Really just wondering if HP's are viable for SD, ie, penetration, expansion. I know RN will have adequate penetration, the videos I've seen on the Extreme penetrators from Lehigh Defense looks interesting and the bullets are sold through Midway.

Just noticed the name is the same as the Xtreme copper plated I load, but not the same company?

[CSACANNONEER]

Really just wondering if HP's are viable for SD, ie, penetration, expansion. I know RN will have adequate penetration, the videos I've seen on the Extreme penetrators from Lehigh Defense looks interesting and the bullets are sold through Midway.

Just noticed the name is the same as the Xtreme copper plated I load, but not the same company?

When it comes to HPs, the first thing you need to do is make sure they feed reliably in your firearm with EVERY magazine. That said, there's a lot of info about .380s for SD on the internet. I tend to carry factory Speers Gold Dot .380 because, one of my CCW students said he did hours of research hand they performed the best. Are you really thinking of reloading HPs for SD? If so, you might want to do some research about using reloads for SD.

[bubbapug1]

Lucky gun did a complete ballistics test in various 380 Bullets. The hollow points do work. Some brands work better than others.

Better a 380 in your shorts pocket than a 1911 left at home.

[Donny1]

Are you really thinking of reloading HPs for SD? If so, you might want to do some research about using reloads for SD.

I have. I don't know which road you're asking about, Liability or Reliable road, but I would like to load and practice with as close as possible to what I will carry without breaking the bank. I would likely carry "boxed" ammo.

Practicing with $1 a round ammo is not an option.

[ARDude]

For my self defense guns, I use reloads with the same approximate grain and velocity for practice, as my factory SD ammunition.

[NoHeavyHitter]

I'm a big fan of the MagTech 85gr JHP. I haven't shot anybody, so I can't vouch for how well they work. I can tell you that the very same 85gr JHP loaded in 9mm (over *7.8gr of Unique) is an incredibly potent round that pushes close to 1700 fps in a pre-B CZ-75.

*Hornady's #3 manual lists 7.9gr of Unique under their 90gr JHP as a max book load.

Loading any of the SD rounds normally sold in boxes of 20 will save you LOTS of money. But I'm pretty sure that you already know that...

[robert101]

Yes, I load .380. Great little cartridge. My suggestions are the do's and don'ts:
Don't crimp too much.
Don't bell too much.
Do watch the powder load variance.
Do watch the bullet seating depth.
Do plunk test every so often.

I think I pay more attention to .380 loading than any other cartridge.

[BajaJames83]

I load it mostly over 100gr xtreme plated bullet. But have loaded a bunch of different bullets. It's the smallest I load and it is small.

[the86d]

At least you all are picking up your brass, so we don't mistakenly pickup .380, thinking it is 9mm...
I HATE .380 shooters that don't pickup brass...

Can you reload 115-124gr 9mm projectiles safely in a .380 firearm, if that is all you have on-hand, or are they too long to feed reliably?

I used .380 plated projectiles in 9mm cases during the last 9mm projectile shortage, w/ a 9mm medium-high charge w/no issues.