resize 380 acp

[Beelzy]

Sorry guys, let me try again. I found this thread because it seemed that others may be having problems using 9mm dies to load 380 ACP. I have newly primed brass and when I seat the bullets - and I just tried a few more a couple of minutes ago, a bulge appears at the seating depth. The Sierra 9mm .355 90 grain JHP do it every single time. I have not been able to seat one that will work. The Hornady 9mm .355 90 grain XTP work about 50 % of the time. Just taking these two bullets in particular, with minimal seating force, and normal seating depth for a 380 ACP to fire in multiple weapons, a bulge appears almost like the case is not wide enough for the bullet. The mouths have been beveled properly. Any thoughts or advice besides 380 ACP dies, which I will get as soon as I can find them. Not sure if that is the problem though. From what I have read, the 380 ACP case dimension, even the width is slightly smaller and the 9mm is tapered and the 380 straight walled.

Look Bud, knock it off with the loading 380 with 9mm dies.......seriously.

[Beelzy]

I am having a hard time understanding all that is going on. Maybe break it down to smaller amounts of information and add a few pictures.

Big fan of picture books I take it.........Curious George rocks!

[Bill Steele]

Sorry guys, let me try again. I found this thread because it seemed that others may be having problems using 9mm dies to load 380 ACP. I have newly primed brass and when I seat the bullets - and I just tried a few more a couple of minutes ago, a bulge appears at the seating depth. The Sierra 9mm .355 90 grain JHP do it every single time. I have not been able to seat one that will work. The Hornady 9mm .355 90 grain XTP work about 50 % of the time. Just taking these two bullets in particular, with minimal seating force, and normal seating depth for a 380 ACP to fire in multiple weapons, a bulge appears almost like the case is not wide enough for the bullet. The mouths have been beveled properly. Any thoughts or advice besides 380 ACP dies, which I will get as soon as I can find them. Not sure if that is the problem though. From what I have read, the 380 ACP case dimension, even the width is slightly smaller and the 9mm is tapered and the 380 straight walled. WTKaiser, I just saw your response. I hear you and that is what I am trying to figure out. I just assumed the 9mm / 380 as I have for the 38 / 357 and 40 /10 mm. It sounds like there is quite a difference, at least I think I am seeing it between the 9mm and the 380. It seems like others have been successful and I had been with Nosler 115 JHPs, but they are a little heavy. The right bullets are the ones I am trying to use. Just need the right dies.

So you are using a 9mm Luger sizing die? The belling, seat and crimp dies should work fine, but I would recommend at least a 380 sizer and of course a proper 380 shellholder.

If the bulge is not off center, that is, the bullet makes a bulge evenly all the way around, that in itself shold not be a problem. It is an indication your sizer is a little tight for the brass thickness you are loading. If the bulge is on one side, it means the bullet is going in crooked, usually a seating stem to bullet meplat incompatibility and/or the case is off center in the shellholder (see getting the proper shellholder above).

Again, notwithstanding the heckeling from the cheap seats, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Good luck, have fun.

[gkjconsulting]

Bill, thanks for the info, the bulge is not even, so yes they are off center. I am using a universal Lee 380 shell holder. I have found a 380 carbide sizing die. No luck finding a set. If you think the 9mm seating die is not the problem I will get the sizer. Attached is a picture of three I tried to seat. Yes, they are off center, but I was gentle and it seems the case just will not accept the bullet.

[JagerDog]

Look Bud, knock it off with the loading 380 with 9mm dies.......seriously.

Or 115gr for that matter.

This place has gotten really scary lately.

[Bill Steele]

Bill, thanks for the info, the bulge is not even, so yes they are off center. I am using a universal Lee 380 shell holder. I have found a 380 carbide sizing die. No luck finding a set. If you think the 9mm seating die is not the problem I will get the sizer. Attached is a picture of three I tried to seat. Yes, they are off center, but I was gentle and it seems the case just will not accept the bullet.

It doesn't seem to be a sizing die issue, at least I have never seen anything like this that had anything to do with the sizer.

It looks like the case is crushing down. It might be that the 9mm seater die has too much space between the case and the die body, allowing the bullet to cant as the case gives way.

Another possibility might be the seating stem is causing/forcing the bullet to cant as it is seated, causing the bulge on one side. If your die has as reversible/changeable stem, maybe try the wad cutter seating plug (flat plug).

Good luck.

[gkjconsulting]

Thanks Bill, I will give that a shot and see if it works. Believe me guys, if I could find 380 dies I would buy them. Just trying to solve a problem with what I have. The Nosler 115s and the Magtech 70 grain full copper seat just fine, but neither are optimum for the 380, but that tells me they are a slightly smaller diameter.

[JagerDog]

They might have a bit more lead on them, but I seriously doubt their sizing is off. Get some micrometers/calipers...and please shoot at the other end of the range.

FWIW, I see no data on 115's (or 70) in .380. How did you establish this load?

[wtkaiser]

Their diameters should all be REAL CLOSE to .355, otherwise they aren't meant for the .380. Even .357s are too big (not that you would shoot them in any 9mm cartridge)

[paul0660]

Props to you guys, but this is why I pay $17 for 9mm and .38 NEW. Not worth the trouble.

[xbimmers]

Make sure you check the length of fired .380 brass. They are known to stretch. Sometimes you have to get the case trimmer out!

[gkjconsulting]

This is new Starline brass I am using. After extensive efforts, I have come to the conclusion - after measuring the REAL diameter of the bullets: The Magtech 77 gr is slightly less than .355 or .354 which is why it seats loosely, the Nosler and the Hornady are truly .355 and I switched shell holders to an RCBS 223 / 380 Auto and solved that problem. The Sierra is actually .356 and hence the seating problems. As for loading data, Accurate Arms lists an 80 gr Barnes copper bullet using AA # 5 at a max of 4.0 gr. I started loading the Magtech 77 gr bullet with 3.5 gr and went up to 3.8 gr with no problems (*** Note: be careful, there is a much different set of loading data for all copper bullets). For Nosler 115 gr: since minimum loading data for AA #5, is 4.3 gr for a 95 grain, I started at 3.5 and worked it up to 4.0 gr and settled on 3.8 gr. The Sierra 90 gr JHP will have to wait until I can find some 380 ACP dies and troubleshoot with sizer die, otherwise I have no idea what to do except to call Sierra and say hey guys I have 10 boxes of bullets that say .355 and are really .356 and bulge every case I try to seat a bullet in. Without 380 ACP dies, I suspect the first thing they would say is that you are using the wrong seating die. The pistols I am using are a Beretta 84 FS, two Sig Sauer P238s and a Colt Government Model. The Beretta will allow you to seat the bullet to the length of the magazine and feed reliably, the other 3 require seating to factory specs to feed properly. Also, just to clarify on the shell holder: I was using a Lee Universal Number 4 for the 223 / 380 Auto. I also had an RCBS Number 10 223 / 380 Auto. Switched to RCBS and seating was much better as I believe the Lee was a little loose. I just back ordered a set of RCBS 380 Auto Carbide dies from Midway. No place in the country has any in stock I can find. Ebay has some pricey used and new non-carbide, used carbide, and new sets all the way up to $ 120. A set of new Lee Carbide has current bid of $ 105 and I am not paying that. BTW, I just received a notice of product availability for 100 ct. new unprimed Remington 7mm-08 brass priced at $ 51.99 from Midway - imagine that !!!

[biogenic]

Make sure you check the length of fired .380 brass. They are known to stretch. Sometimes you have to get the case trimmer out!

Thanks for the tip.