loading .380 is my LabRadar that far off

[five.five-six]

Lyman 50 lists 90gn JHP max load bullseye 2.9 grains 970FPS

I loaed up 14 rounds with SIG V-Crown .355 90 grain. Average FPS 824 FPS, ES 37.25 SD 11.47, fair enough but I'm 146 FPS under published with a 3.25" barrel, I'm testing with a 2.5" barrel. Subjectively, the gun shoots very soft with this load.


Should I try a different powder? I have 231, 700X and AA#2. I don't think AA#5, green dot or blue dot would be good choices.

[Elgatodeacero]

You are probably getting correct readings.

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/380auto2.html

Alliant Power Pistol powder might get you a few more fps, but 2.5 is a pretty short barrel.

[five.five-six]

You are probably getting correct readings.

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/380auto2.html

Alliant Power Pistol powder might get you a few more fps, but 2.5 is a pretty short barrel.

Great link! Thanks, I wish I could find +p load data.

[ar15barrels]

Lyman 50 lists 90gn JHP max load bullseye 2.9 grains 970FPS

I loaed up 14 rounds with SIG V-Crown .355 90 grain. Average FPS 824 FPS, ES 37.25 SD 11.47, fair enough but I'm 146 FPS under published with a 3.25" barrel, I'm testing with a 2.5" barrel. Subjectively, the gun shoots very soft with this load.


Should I try a different powder? I have 231, 700X and AA#2. I don't think AA#5, green dot or blue dot would be good choices.

I put a 90gr sierra HP over 2.9gr of bullseye in quickload and had to reduce the case capacity to get the velocity up to 961fps which was where I maxed out the PSI limit.
The standard test barrel length is 3.75", not the 3.25" that you mentioned.
When I shortened the barrel to 2.5" on that load, velocity drops to 864fps.
Your bullet length might be shorter than the 90gr sierra which would change the velocity you get if you are matching the lyman 0.925" loaded OAL.

[NeilMo]

For accuracy and highest velocity, Titegroup is my powder of choice for 380. 90 grain XTP's chrono right around 1000fps through my 2.75" Bodyguard. Of your available powders, 231 would probably give the highest velocity.

[five.five-six]

I put a 90gr sierra HP over 2.9gr of bullseye in quickload and had to reduce the case capacity to get the velocity up to 961fps which was where I maxed out the PSI limit.
The standard test barrel length is 3.75", not the 3.25" that you mentioned.
When I shortened the barrel to 2.5" on that load, velocity drops to 864fps.
Your bullet length might be shorter than the 90gr sierra which would change the velocity you get if you are matching the lyman 0.925" loaded OAL.

Lyman 50 says 3.25, that’s where I got that length. My OAL is within a few thousandths of published OAL. I’m 40 FPS under what quick load gives you and that could be a number of other factors like humidity and bar, which I do not know. Temp was about 73F


EDIT, I was hanging on to that keg of 700X for you, just need to figure out how to get it to you and what to trade for.

[five.five-six]

For accuracy and highest velocity, Titegroup is my powder of choice for 380. 90 grain XTP's chrono right around 1000fps through my 2.75" Bodyguard. Of your available powders, 231 would probably give the highest velocity.

[NoHeavyHitter]

Using a 90gr JHP sounds like a defensive load. If so, I'd look at working up a load using Accurate Arms as it is a low-flash powder well suited to night time shooting as there is less chance of blinding flash hampering your vision. As a bonus, AA powders meter well - which is something you want in a such a small shell.

[five.five-six]

Using a 90gr JHP sounds like a defensive load. If so, I'd look at working up a load using Accurate Arms as it is a low-flash powder well suited to night time shooting as there is less chance of blinding flash hampering your vision. As a bonus, AA powders meter well - which is something you want in a such a small shell.

I’ve only used AA#2 and AA#5 and they both meter like a dream.


And yes, this is for my EDC

[Bumslie]

What are you willing to do for some 231?

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[heavyhaulin818]

Check BRUNO SHOOTERS SUPPLY, they had TITEGROUP about a week ago.

[five.five-six]

What are you willing to do for some 231?

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[five.five-six]

Check BRUNO SHOOTERS SUPPLY, they had TITEGROUP about a week ago.

[Sandspider500]

According to saami maximum service pressure for 380 is 21,500 psi. A 90gr xtp loaded to .960 OAL over 3gr of bullseye is around 12,900 psi, you could bump it up a bit. If you want more juice, unique, universal and power pistol will give it. The same 90gr xtp loaded to same oal with 4gr of unique is 14,000 psi. Same bullet same OAL with 4.8gr of power pistol is at max 21,500 psi. The 90gr xtp is .435 long, the sierra 90gr jhp 8100 is .423 long and a 90gr speer gold dot is .435 long. Alliant has online data. Their gold dot load with bullseye loaded to .970 reduced by 10% exceeds your Lyman max load. I'm my opinion, which doesn't mean much, the Lyman data is old and it's weak sauce.

[Sandspider500]

Take a look in western powder 8 load manual if you have it, they have data up to 21,000 psi if you wanted to try aa2 or aa5