Ok so I started off making 50 rounds. First time I ever loaded .380.
OAL .970
3.0 gr Titegroup
93 gr LRN (messured several diameters =.355)
Using the Lee seatng die I put an ever so slight crimp to prevent the round being jammed down into the case during the operation of the pistol. I have had several different pocket .380s that all put smiley faces in the face of the bullet during normal operation.
These rounds chambered fine in my Bersa Thunder so I looked closer at what was happening in the TCP. What I found was the bullet was coming in contact the lands and grooves of the barrel. My crimp would not allow the bullet to jam into the cartridge which caused the gun not to returned to battery.
I shortened the OAL (3gr is not max) to .955 which kind of took care of the problem. I am afraid to go an shorter, but the bullet is still getting hung up in the lands and grooves. The extra space does allow the gun to fully seat the round.
Just out of curiosity I measured the diameter of some factory rounds I have sitting around and they all measured .353.
I was under the impression 9mm and .380 used the same diameter bullet??
OAL .970
3.0 gr Titegroup
93 gr LRN (messured several diameters =.355)
Using the Lee seatng die I put an ever so slight crimp to prevent the round being jammed down into the case during the operation of the pistol. I have had several different pocket .380s that all put smiley faces in the face of the bullet during normal operation.
These rounds chambered fine in my Bersa Thunder so I looked closer at what was happening in the TCP. What I found was the bullet was coming in contact the lands and grooves of the barrel. My crimp would not allow the bullet to jam into the cartridge which caused the gun not to returned to battery.
I shortened the OAL (3gr is not max) to .955 which kind of took care of the problem. I am afraid to go an shorter, but the bullet is still getting hung up in the lands and grooves. The extra space does allow the gun to fully seat the round.
Just out of curiosity I measured the diameter of some factory rounds I have sitting around and they all measured .353.
I was under the impression 9mm and .380 used the same diameter bullet??