Lyman 49th .380ACP recipies seem low...

[DJ Skillz]

Compared to other sources I've checked for .380 loads with Unique, the recipies in Lyman 49th book seem real low. I've cross checked them with Lee, Alliant, and a few internet sources.

Has any one used the Lyman recipies for .380ACP? Did they even cycle?

I loaded 100 rounds to the Lyman minimum specs and 150 rounds to Alliant's minimum specs, which is above the Lyman maximum. I suppose I'll find out this weekend when I test them out.

[cjskalka]

I load mine with 2.9gr of Unique under a 105gr lead SWC. -Chris

[XDRoX]

I've never loaded with Unique, but you're probably right with your gut feeling about them being light. Most loads I've come across with 380 have been light. It takes a lot to push many of the modern uber tiny 380's.

I know that my LCP takes a healthy charge to get it to function 100% reliably.
I don't have my books in front of me. It if you're interested in a great W231 load let me know and I'll check on it for you.

Unique meters so inconsistently I'd be leery of using it for such a small cartridge. But then again Unique is so forgiving I'm sure you'll be fine.

What charge are you using?

[DJ Skillz]

I've never loaded with Unique, but you're probably right with your gut feeling about them being light. Most loads I've come across with 380 have been light. It takes a lot to push many of the modern uber tiny 380's.

I know that my LCP takes a healthy charge to get it to function 100% reliably.
I don't have my books in front of me. It if you're interested in a great W231 load let me know and I'll check on it for you.

Unique meters so inconsistently I'd be leery of using it for such a small cartridge. But then again Unique is so forgiving I'm sure you'll be fine.

What charge are you using?

My next powder will be W231, so I will probably take you up on that. I've noticed the inconsistency of Unique, especially with the Lee PPM. Because of that, I've been checking the loads every 5 rounds or so.

I'm using Barry's 100gn plated bullets. My first 100 loads going off the Lyman manual were 2.3gn of Unique, Lyman's minimum charge for a 95gn FMJ (they don't list a 100gn projectile).

After doing a little more research, my next 150 loads were 3.5gn Unique. This was the minimum charge according to the Speer manual and well below Alliant's published maximum (4.6 or 4.8 gn IIRC).

[XDRoX]

That is quite a range with Unique.

Regarding W231/HP38, I know a commercial reloader. His load is 3.2gr under 100gr bullet.

I've loaded about 1k with this data. I used 100gr Berry's plated hollow base bullets which I'm extremely pleased with. Out of these 1k rounds I got 3 failures to eject. So my next 1k rounds will probably be 3.3gr or 3.4gr.

My LCP has been 100% with factory ammo which feels way hotter than my loads, so I'm assuming I need to bump it up a little. Even though 3 malfunctions out of 1k isn't bad, I use this pistol for SD, so I want something to work 100% of the time.

Once again, I can't say enough good good things about Berry's new HB design. If you have a chance try 'em. The accuracy is unreal even with small calibers like 380 in super short barrels with poor sights

Hope this helps.

[CEDaytonaRydr]

A lot of loads in Lyman's 49th seem low to me. Maybe they're playing it safe...

[sjg1966]

A lot of loads in Lyman's 49th seem low to me. Maybe they're playing it safe...

Yes this ^^^^. I think they are low from what I have tried.

Steve

[j.primo]

Yes. I tried a load before with Unique and Universal before and I forget which powder didn't cycle my LCP. One of the loads might have been from Lyman's.

I now use 2.3 of Titegeoup under a 100gr cast or copper plated bullet with good results.