Ironicaintit
Member
For what it's worth, I like 90gr bullets motivated by Bullseye, at the top end of what the books say is okay. Ive clocked them @ 950-1000fps from a Sig 238
I do that. Have done the same since I first started loading as I had accumulated over 6K of fired 9mm. I started saving my 9mm brass about 20 years before I started reloading...in the hope that one day I'd find a mentor (never did). I could kick myself for throwing away all of the 390 Auto cases I picked up by mistake. When I started loading 380 Auto I had to purchase brass for the purpose. However, I received gifts from shooters in another forum that started me with over 700 380 Auto cases.so i take it that you should separate your empty brass out by manufacturer
Heck after loading 45 Colts for the last few months, going back to 9mm seems tiny. I offered to load some .380 for my bro but he just bought ammo in bulk and didn't feel it was worth his time. Me, I enjoy reloading as a hobby.Yes, the secret is to have tiny fingers! I don't, and yes, I do reload .380.... with much cussing when I drop a case charged with powder.
Nope.Is there any secret to reloading .380 compared to other auto reloads, like 9mm, 38 super, or 45 acp?
I just acquired a 380 and was wondering,
To date I still currently load 380ACP on my Turret Press with no bullet feeder. The one thing I suggest, if you have "fat fingers" like me, is Berry's Hollow Base 95 grain bullets. The reason is that because of the hollow base, the bullet length is longer than other bullets used for 380ACP. Easier to pick up off the bench and put in the flared case for seating for my hands and fingers.Is there any secret to reloading .380 compared to other auto reloads, like 9mm, 38 super, or 45 acp?
I just acquired a 380 and was wondering,
Yup! I also load 32 ACP, obviously smaller than 380ACP. It goes slower on the turret press for me as it is a little more challenging to manipulate those little bullets but so worth it. Both 380 and 32 are awesome to shoot, especially with Beretta Cheetahs.funny part is the smaller bullets can be loaded in 380,9mm, and 38 super. In fact in Germany 380 is called 9 mm kurtz (short)
In Europe it is also called "9mm Kurz" or "9x18"
This is incorrect information and can cause issues. 380/9x17 is NOT the same as 9x18. In fact trying to resize a 9x18 case in 380 dies could lead to a stuck case. The 9x18 uses a 0.365" diameter bullet versus 0.355" or 0.356" diameter bullets that 380/9x17, 9mm, 38 Super, and 9mm Largo use. And if you manage to size a 9x18 case without issues, it will most likely be too long to properly headspace in a 380 chamber without trimming first.
I have aa2 and RMR fmj .355dia. 95 gr. Bullets For my lcpmax, how much of the bullet will actually be inside the case? I see oal from .960 to .980 and thats for same fmjrn bullet, shouldn't we measure what goes inside instead of coal? ConfusedI use Titegroup, AA#5 and Zip for my .380 ACP ammo .... 90/95 grain bullets
But .32, (7.65x17) .380, (9x17), 9x18 Makarov, and 9x19 are very hard to tell apart from eachother when you're standing up and looking at them on the ground
a double charge of w231 will overflow the case, fyi.
murf
a double charge of w231 will overflow the case, fyi.
murf
But not AA2
AA #2 is good stuff in .380, and meters as good as it gets. W-231 is also very good though, I'd be happy with either one. Both are lightly colored and easy to see in the case when looking for mistakes before seating a bullet.