Casting for the 380 ACP

[Josh]

I made the leap into the micro pistol world with the purchase of a Ruger LCP Max. The local shop was having a helluva sale and my wife wouldn't let me pass it up. It's been on my list for a good pocket sized handgun to conceal in legal locations that are not as firearm friendly as I'd like.

Anyway, 10+1 or 12+1 of a 380 ACP might not be much, but it's way better than the 9x19 sitting on my nightstand.

I think I need convincing to reload (and cast) for the 380, I don't have any of the tools or components to reload nor the bullet mould. Is it worth the trouble to try and save pennies when reloading the 380? I'm figuring I'll save about 10 cents a shot (with 1x brass costing $30/K) with a break even point of 1,750 rounds. So unless I can unlock some terminal performance that I can't get with factory loads, I'm really not sure.

 

[Winelover]

With the component shortage nowadays, the last thing I want to do is start reloading for a new to me caliber. The 9mm is the smallest diameter, I load for. Have two micro compact nines. Beretta Nano and Kahr CM9.

BTW, do have the LCP II, in 22 LR. Cindy takes it on her woods walks on our acreage.

 

[Rushcreek]

I recently bought a standard LCP- the deal was too good to pass up.
So far, I’ve loaded it with 90 gr XTP (that I already had) over AA#2 and it works perfectly.
Yesterday I cast some Lee 38-105 swc to try just for grins.
It’s an angry little thing, but when I pay close attention to staging the DAO trigger while concentrating on the little bitty front sight- it delivers on target.
I just bought a Hogue grip sleeve for it.
The pink one was half price- luckily I’m secure in my manhood

 

[Wiresguy]

I use the Accurate Molds 35-098S for the .380. It feeds well in my Browning 10/71 and is accurate from that gun.

It also worked well in the Glock 42 with an Alpha Wolf barrel, but that gun went away when I got the Browning.

The Browning 10/71 is a bit of an abomination that resulted from GCA68 as it was modified from it’s earlier svelte incarnation to meet the new import regulations. For me it is simply a fun range shooter.

Why reload for the 380? Sketchy ammo availability is a good reason, but as a caster and reloader I can tailor my loads to my gun and save a bit of money.

 

[Dusty Bannister]

I do not know how much checking you did to find the price of a quantity of factory ammo. I checked this site and found nearly all are presently in stock with a price range of $370.00 (FMJ) to $480.00 (JHP) per thousand rounds. This does not include sales tax and shipping.

380 Ammo for Sale at Widener's

Don't miss this in-stock line-up of 380 ammo for sale today at Widener's. Bulk and defensive 380 ACP rounds at cheap prices today!

www.wideners.com

If I did not already have several molds in the appropriate weight for the 380, I would look seriously at the Lee 95 grain flat nosed bullet. If you purchase the factory ammo, and save the brass, you will be shooting the same load for practice and social purposes so there is no change over later. Plus, you can shop for used equipment while you are building a supply of brass and breaking in the gun.

 

[Rick]

I lost all interest in the 380 several years ago when I read an article on how effective a heavy winter coat was as a bullet proof vest against the 380.

 

[Dusty Bannister]

While I agree with the lack of penetration through clothing, the proximity of the other party and one or two shots in the face will likely stop the attack.

 

[Bret4207]

I have a 90gr FN mould, NEI I think, that I loaded for my Astra Constable 380 some years back. Killed 2 coyotes with it very nicely. The 380 isn't a power house, but then neither are a lot of other rounds that people depend on. As was said, a couple shots to the face would be very likely to stop pretty much anyone. Bad guys wearing super heavy winter coats are probably not a huge concern since most BG's tend to stay inside in the worst of winter. But hey, you could always run into a Cossack I suppose.

BTW- if you are going to load for the 380, think about a way to control brass loss. On a paved range it's not bad. In grass more than 1/4" it disappears like chocolate cake at a Weight Watchers convention!

 

[Josh]

I lost all interest in the 380 several years ago when I read an article on how effective a heavy winter coat was as a bullet proof vest against the 380.

The modern ammunition of today doesn't stop on heavy clothing, going through 4 layers of denim most loads penetrate 10-13 inches. That isn't a ton of penetration, but 11 ish rounds dumped rapidly is a show stopper on most days.

 

[Josh]

I do not know how much checking you did to find the price of a quantity of factory ammo. I checked this site and found nearly all are presently in stock with a price range of $370.00 (FMJ) to $480.00 (JHP) per thousand rounds. This does not include sales tax and shipping.

380 Ammo for Sale at Widener's

Don't miss this in-stock line-up of 380 ammo for sale today at Widener's. Bulk and defensive 380 ACP rounds at cheap prices today!

www.wideners.com

If I did not already have several molds in the appropriate weight for the 380, I would look seriously at the Lee 95 grain flat nosed bullet. If you purchase the factory ammo, and save the brass, you will be shooting the same load for practice and social purposes so there is no change over later. Plus, you can shop for used equipment while you are building a supply of brass and breaking in the gun.

I found a company that sells 380 using plated bullets for $230-250/k with shipping deals that are had around $6 pretty often. Company is called LAX Ammo. They sell new and reman, with the reman being the cheapest obviously.

If I could find a cheap source for brass, I'd possibly hop on board. The problem being cheap brass. I've got places I can shoot on hard surfaces, I personally feel the best bullet for the 380 would be a very soft 95 gr FN cast at close to 1,000 fps. Plenty of expansion and penetration. I'm really on the fence about spending $150 bucks on just supplies for a gun I plan on shooting 100 rounds every 2 months or so.

 

[Dusty Bannister]

If you are buying your bullets, you only need powder and primers and the correct die set. Buy enough factory to get started and save the brass. Then shop for your reloading dies which will likely turn up used and save some $ there. I hate depending upon market availability and the uncertainty ahead.

 

[hporter]

Unless you need to buy a conversion kit for a Dillon, a set of Lee dies is not that big of an investment.

Having said that, I don't shoot the two LCP's I have that much. I think I still have 10 boxes loaded and ready to go.

But if you do load for it, the Lee 95 grain bullet (or the NOE 100gr) work great in the LCP.

 

[CZ93X62]

The 380 ACP......I'll save most of the commentary about why I don't have one at present. I did have them running around for some time, but the acquisition of an East German Makarov in the early 1990s rendered the 380 ACP into relegation as a pocket goblin stopper.

The principal 'Problem' with the 380 ACP is one that it shares with the 32 ACP and the 9 x 19 Parabellum--the ammo is significantly underloaded by American makers. In European ammo like GECO and RWS the 380 will run its 95 grain FMJ bullets at 900 FPS from barrel lengths like those found on Walther PP, Beretta 84F, and Colt Government Model pistols. (That Colt is a jewel, it is a locked breech toggle-link system). I owned those pistols and others, and the Euro ammo performed like it was supposed to. That is the first key to performance in the 380 ACP--full-value ammo.

Next question--bullet type. JHPs are all the rage in designer carry ammo these days. News flash--they don't expand in animated targets reliably, so don't bother with them--go for penetration.

FMJ/RN designs have been the ticket for over 100 years in 380 ACP, but we can do a lot better as casters. Use a truncated cone or round flat nose casting form of 95-100 grains and run that critter at 900 FPS (or as close to it as you can get safely with those short little barrels). Size the bullets to throat diameter, which in my experience is .357"-358" rather than the spec'd .355".

 

[Hawk]

I load the .380.
I'll check what I have when I get home
Meanwhile. https://www.ar15.com/forums/Armory/My-380-loads/42-508826/

 

[popper]

Worth it? Probably not. Do you really expect to shot it that much? I cast for 9mm but don't shoot it much, carry pistol. Mostly factory ammo. Lost a Star 380 40 yrs ago, nice little pistol.

 

[CZ93X62]

The pocket blowbacks are like pocket 38s--carried much and shot little by most owners.

I am a crank and a heretic, though--I probably have close to 3,000 rounds through both my Walther PP in 32 ACP and my East German Makarov in 9 x 18 Mak. I have carried both for some years--so I stay sharp with them.

About a year ago I came upon a Glock 43, which is about the same size and weight as the Makarov. That Baby Glock throws a heavier bullet just a bit faster, while the Mak holds another round in the mag. Tough call.

 

[RBHarter]

It's $40-45 for dies and $80-120 for a mould , though presumptuous on my part you probably have the rest of the stuff to load it . So you're in the first round you load about 5 trips to the range with factory ammo running 30-40 per box on the shelf . I don't shoot the 380s much . The example available is a point and click deal and at 100' a skinny guy has about a 75% chance of a clean miss if he turns side ways .

With that said why wouldn't you load for 380 it's just and extension 357 , 38 , 9mm .

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Love mine!!

HECK YEA, you should cast & load for it!!!

The LEE 95g is a DANDY lil booger!! Power Pistol safely exceeded 1000 fps, BUT for size/longevity reasons I throttle it back to low 900's.

 

[Josh]

The pocket blowbacks are like pocket 38s--carried much and shot little by most owners.

I am a crank and a heretic, though--I probably have close to 3,000 rounds through both my Walther PP in 32 ACP and my East German Makarov in 9 x 18 Mak. I have carried both for some years--so I stay sharp with them.

About a year ago I came upon a Glock 43, which is about the same size and weight as the Makarov. That Baby Glock throws a heavier bullet just a bit faster, while the Mak holds another round in the mag. Tough call.

Nice thing about the LCP is that it's a locking breech handgun, no different than a Glock. They also have slide rails like a 1911. This should make for a pretty durable handgun that I'm not afraid to shoot quite a bit.

When comparing the LCP Max to the Glock 43 (wife's carry gun) there's a significant enough size difference that you'll notice quickly. I'm not adverse to shooting the handgun a good bit on regular intervals to make sure I'm proficient. Luckily that skill shouldn't be too hard to keep sharp as it's basically a micro glockish handgun.

 

[Tomme boy]

I like the lee 105grswc bullet and the lee 120gr tc in my lcp.