Loading Mixed Brass .380

[Donny1]

I recently started loading .380 and I had some serious issues on the first attempt.

I have loaded many thousands of 9mm, 45acp, 38spl without issue, but when I started loading .380 I was getting some bulged cases, sometimes even crushing them a bit. I backed off and examined my process and eventually discovered that .380 cases are pretty fragile in general compared to the others. I then sorted headstamps and carefully adjusted the dies and got good results. Another thing I did was to expand them a bit more than usual.

I load all the others with mixed brass and I want to do this with .380 as well for range ammo. Today I went back at it and learned some things. 9mm, 45acp etc are much more forgiving, subtle differences in the .380 cases make a huge difference. I found that certain headstamps are the issue and all of those are slightly thicker at the case mouth. The ones that load perfectly are .009-.010 and the problem ones are .0105-.011. Such a small difference but it changes the finished round from perfectly smooth with no bulges, to a very slight to moderate deformation in the copper plating depending on headstamp. These are Berry's 100gn copper plated bullets.

I also could feel the difference in sizing, flaring and seating. I'm using a LEE 3 die set with no FCD. The seating/crimp die is set just enough to straighten the case, not really crimp.

No problems with these:

RP
Federal
S&B
FC
WIN
Blazer
PMC
A USA

Problem cases were:

SIG
LAX
MXT
CBC
GECO
PERFECTA
SPEER

All of the problem cases seemed like they were harder and rough in the sizing die. FYI all the cases were lubed with the lanolin mix than I use all the time. I measure 20 bullets and they are all perfectly consistent in size at .356

After all this I loaded 500 rounds of excellent range ammo so it was a good day.

I'm not sure if jacketed or lead, or something else would be less finicky. Unfortunately I started doing this under lockdown and the once fired, mixed brass was all I could get.

What is your experience with .380 brass/loading?

[ar15barrels]

After all this I loaded 500 rounds of excellent range ammo so it was a good day.

[robert101]

I find that they need the right flare to accept the bullet. If the case mouth is very tight problems arise. Lastly, yes I do seat bullets and then crimp in two separate steps. Other than these minor issues with setup, I don't see much of a problem. .380 does take a little more attention to die alignment as does the powder dispenser. A slight variation in charge really affects pressure as there is not much powder to dispense.

[Donny1]

I find that they need the right flare to accept the bullet. If the case mouth is very tight problems arise. Lastly, yes I do seat bullets and then crimp in two separate steps. Other than these minor issues with setup, I don't see much of a problem. .380 does take a little more attention to die alignment as does the powder dispenser. A slight variation in charge really affects pressure as there is not much powder to dispense.

Oddly this is the only Lee die set I have without the FCD.

[Donny1]

I'm curious if the extra .001, .0356 on the Berry's makes a difference. Most .380 bullets are .355. I wouldn't think it would make a difference but who knows as copper "plated" in neither lead nor fmj.

I read SAMMI spec is .3565 - .003 so either is within that but it doesn't say what type bullet.