Powder chose for 380 defensive loads.

Which of these 3 powders is best for cast .380 acp self defense loads?

  • Universal

  • Auto Comp

  • Tight Group

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Mitty38

Mitty38

Well-Known Member
Ben running 3.4 grains of Universal, under a 90 grain powder coated bullet in my .380. For practice ammo.
Do not currently have a working chronograph (yes, I shot it), but this round seems a little slow for self defense.
What I was wondering ...

I have 2 other powders, unopened on the shelf.
One is Auto Comp and the other Tight group.

I want to work up a self defense load . So I can load up a couple hundred rounds, with a cast 90 grain bullet. It must work OK, both in my Bersa Thunder and my LCP.

So thinking want to keep pressures down, but velocities a bit higher then I am getting. Still keeping it in a pie plate at 21 feet.
So which one would be the most advantages to use for this. Universal, Auto Comp, Or Tight Group.
Which powder do you think would serve me best? What are some of the disadvantages- advantages, of one over the other???
 
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Winelover

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
I don't own a 380 and never used any of the three powders you mentioned. I also don't carry reloads in my CC pistols, either. The ammo manufactures have all the ballistics down pat. One can never improve on their offerings with cast bullets. IMO.

That being said, I do practice with cast bullets in all my CC pieces. I pick the bullet weight, closest to what factory offering, I intend to use for defensive purposes. Powder choice matters little to me, as long as the bullet impacts the target to the same POA. Loading manuals are full of combinations. Pick one and see what it does in your guns.

I have my own range and a couple of chronographs...............yet I very rarely chronograph any of my loads. I currently have five 9mm semi auto pistols. All will operate, up to my standards, with every different bullet/powder combination I load. Not about to have ammo specific to each pistol...........that would be a disaster, waiting to happen. Currently, casting five different bullet weights/designs.............. 115 RF( solid and HP), 125 RN, 130 TC, 138 RF and 150 TC. YMMV.
 
Rick H

Rick H

Well-Known Member
I use WW 231 in the 380 behind NOE 92 gr RN, Lee 102 gr RN, or the Lee 95 gr. RF that Ranch Dog designed. They function fine in my Brother's Taurus 738(?) and my old OMC Backup. Velocities run in the mid 900's in these short barreled pistols. I have chrono'ed Winchester, and Remington 90 gr. HP ammo and find they run just a tic over and under 900 fps and neither HP will open in water jugs.
I would much prefer the Ranch Dog flat point to either factory HP load if I had to depend on it. I don't carry a 380 for self defense, my need for a back up gun ended when I retired.
 
Joshua

Joshua

Taco Aficionado/Salish Sea Pirate/Part-Time Dragon
Bullseye always works!

Sorry, but I don’t reload .380. I just wanted to be the first one to say it. Seems that as I search the internet for cast load data, this statement always pops up. In my mind it’s turned into a cliché. I resisted buying Bullseye because I saw it stated so often.

Josh

p.s. In all seriousness when you run them all through the Hogdons online load database with a 90gr jacketed bullet, Auto Comp has the highest velocity of the three powders listed. I don’t think that I would be able to tell the difference if I was shot with any of these.
 
Will

Will

Well-Known Member
I agree try the auto comp and whenever you are able to find a pound of Alliant power pistol give it a whirl.
 
358156 hp

358156 hp

At large, whereabouts unknown.
Umm, whichever one gives you the highest velocities with the best accuracy at your expected distances, multiplied by 1.5? I'm not trying to be mean, but I recommend you try all three choices on hand and see which one pleases you.
 
CZ93X62

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
380 ACP got some usage by my former client population, most of that with 95 grain FMJ/RN. I don't recall any of the JHPs being expanded (n = 10-12). I think I would opt for a truncated cone bullet design if 380 ACP was my carry tool, a 95 grain design loaded to European specs--900 FPS. RWS or GECO might load such rounds, I know both used a TC FMJ in their old 9 x 18 Ultra loads 50 years ago--95 grains x .355" diameter, near-Makarov ballistics (about 1025 FPS). I think with the 32 and 380 ACPs, emphasize penetration potential rather than expansion likelihood in ammo choices. Both are pretty marginal stoppers, and come from a day when more recipients were going away rather than coming at you or in your face.

I last messed around with the 380 ACP 30+ years ago. I used WW-231 and Bullseye to load it with. Once my East German Makarov arrived, the 380s went down the road. The Mak's performance makes it worth carrying--in a pinch. I rate it about even with the S&W 642 38 Special. One nice thing about oncoming cooler weather--it is easier to choose better artillery and you can dress around it.
 
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Mitty38

Mitty38

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the input. Guess I will try the Auto Comp. Seems like Auto Comp is the hot rod of the bunch for .380 Fiver says he would not use tight group... Good enough for me.
Probably should
Have been a bit clearer of my intent. But trying to avoid the political.
I have factory defence ammo but only 40 rounds.I and my wife always carry the ,380' always.. My wife is really good with hers compared to the other pistols.
Cosidering the current state of things, and the difficulty getting supplies.Thing is the 380's are well trained with and always with us.Even when we carry something else. So thinking an extra mag on our person. And a couple hundred extra rounds placed in the truck.
Figure with if I am going to load up a bunch of .380 90 grains that I have left, then I may as well. Make them as usable for defence as possible with what I have at arm's length.
So Auto Comp it is, thank guys.
 
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Mitty38

Mitty38

Well-Known Member
Ok loading up 10 -90 grain PC, with a coat of BLL.for, a little more anti leading asurance.
COL .96 - 4 grain Auto Comp, cci spp's
That is the average start of most jacketed loads. It will start me at about 900 fps according to most of the published Dara I can obtain.
Have to go help a guy make summer sausage tonight. But....
Hopefully will get out tomorrow to try these out, in both the .380's
 
358156 hp

358156 hp

At large, whereabouts unknown.
I'm not a TiteGroup fan by any means myself. I know many people like it, but that day I overheated my 686 with the stuff in a match and softened and distorted the inner shells of my Hogue rubber grips was the end of it for me. Too much nitro for my tastes.
 
Mitty38

Mitty38

Well-Known Member
Outpost75 said:
The topic also begs the question, why is the OP carrying handloaded ammunition for defense anyway?
Click to expand...
Read #9
I only have 40 rounds of store bought. For my wife and I to share. You can not buy .380 at the moment. Unless you are Bill Gates or something.lol
It is just in case.
I figure that if things are so bad that I use my factory stuff. Then my practice ammo is loaded good enough to be effective, and not just mouse fart stuff.
Figure if SHTF After I shot up 1 mag of store prerolled, then legality issues won't be matering to me when I slam home a second mag of home made.
 
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