Pocket full of fun: .380 Auto

[Sommerled]

My next gun is going to be the new Ruger .380 auto. It looks like something that I can get the wifie to always have in her purse because it is light and small. Even a little gun is better than none at all if you are in need of one.

I've loaded many thousands of 9mm but never the .380 auto. Would those with experience with this cartridge please chime in with their comments about loading this round? Such as bullet, powders, idiocyncracies that make a difference for reliability, etc...

Your comments?

 

[geocole]

I reload for the 380
95gr RN bullet FMJ. I bought some Magtech, but any will do
Tite-group powder, Speer book #13 2.7-3.1, I used 2.9
Bullseye Speer book 3.0-3.3 I use 3.1
COL or AOL .970
Light taper crimp, just remove the bell.
Shot in a T380 Bersa with no problem. Shot 500 so far.

Hope this helps.

 

[rickomatic]

http://www.downrange.tv/player.htm

Here is a great video review of the new Ruger LCP .380.

 

[Dave R]

I reload for my P-3AT. Have tried both Unique and Titegroup powder. Have used both Oregon Trails Laser Cast 95gr. and Berry's 100gr. bullets.

Reloading .380acp is not much different than 9mm. You want to keep your powder charges pretty accurate,and your overall length pretty accurate. That's about it.

ETA: I also shoot the reloads in a PPK clone in .380. Cost savings for reloading .380acp are significant.

 

[71Commander]

Handling the little cases. Had to buy a special loading block for them.

 

[xsquidgator]

I've reloaded about 500 rounds for my Bersa 380. Like has been mentioned, be a little more careful with being accurate powder measuring. I've gone as high as 4.0 grains of W231 under a 95JSP but the starting loads are around 3 grains. So a 0.2 grain variation is more significant than it would be for a higher pressure and larger volume case.

Love the cost savings! 380ACP is one of those expensive ones to buy, so making my own for less than 10 cents each is terrific. Plain jane lead bullets for 380 are reasonably priced, I got 500 or 1000 100LFPs for I think 4 cents each.

The only gripe I have is being more careful to separate and keep separated the 380 brass from the 9mm brass. But the good thing is that hardly anyone reloads 380, so if you find someone at the range shooting it, they probably don't reload it and will probably let you have their brass.

Don't know about the Ruger, but I did find out the hard way that I had to keep the OAL to about 0.960" or less in order for the rounds to fit in Bersa Thunder380 magazines.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

I own a .380 now and have had 2 others in the past. I loaded for all and do now. Bullseye for me is the powder to use and Lee powder thru expander and a dipper. IMO the Lee powder measure doesn't do well with small amounts of powder (does fine with stick rifle powder tho). a good slug is the Rem. 88 gr JHP it feeds 100% and shoots great.
I prefer the pistols in .380 over a .38 5-shot for concealment. my hands are too large for the Walther but some really swear by it. the CZ83 is fine piece. I shot a new Thunder a cop had bought for his off-duty carry and was favorably impressed also.