For a bunch of years my handgun shooting has been about zilch. The little bit was revolvers, but with my pursuing a Concealed permit, I bought a .380. The first problem was if I'm very lucky, I might find 10% of my brass. (Don't have that problem with revolvers). Hard to pick out the .380 from all the 9mm at the range. So I had 15 cases and wanted to load them. My loading blocks were too deep. Solved this problem by using the tray the ammo came in and dropping a small screw into each hole so the brass would protrude instead of fitting flush. I bought Lee carbide dies, (Store didn't have RCBS which I normally buy) but I do like the dies. I do like the fact that with the carbide dies I didn't have to lube the cases. Next problem was data. Different sources of data was all over the place and deciding which one to trust was a problem. BTW I settled on 3.4 grains of Unique with a 90 grain bullet. Some data had 4 grains starting and 4 grains was over max some sources. I'd appreciate hearing what load others are using with Unique and 90 grainers. I use a Belding & Mull measure and have to funnel each case. There is probably a shallow funnel out there, but mine were deep enough that the case went all the way in, leaving nothing to hold onto. But I got them charged and had put a very slight flare on the case, so bullet seating went pretty smooth. When I test them, I'll only be able to check that they aren't too hot as my pistol shooting with that small gun precludes any real determination of accuracy.
Loaded my first .380 ACP
- Thread starter carpetman
- Start date
Can't help with the 380, I've never loaded for it or shot it.
KHornet
Well-Known Member
Brad is right about the LCP throwing brass just about every direction with no rhyme or reason. Bought it as a CC, and house gun. Find that a lot of 380 shooters don't bother to pick up the brass: fine by me. It is fairly cheep anyway. Carpet man is right about data being all over the place. I load 3.5 gr. of unique under 90 and 102 bullets. Would like a larger frame 380 that does not toss brass every which way but Sunday. If I find one, might have to buy it, but for now the LCP is fine. Will probably shoot, MAybe couple hundred rounds max a year. It is adequate for 7-10 yds shooting, and as a get off me gun. Kind of fun loading the little ones, and it is cheap to shoot.
Rick, thanks for asking, my grandson did fine in the class. BTW you might have visions of him being a kid, doesn't seem possible but he is 25 and has twin sons of his own. He has had almost zero experience with handguns, but does very well with rifles. He shot the .380 and I shot a Mod 66 4 inch S&W revolver and I only outscored him by 4 points. With that much advantage, I'd say he outshot me.
Had my fingerprint appointment yesterday and all needed paperwork for my permit has been submitted. Grandson has his fingerprint appointment on Friday and the last piece of his paperwork is in today's mail. Sure is a lot of red-tape to do something that is supposed to be our right. Fairly steep price tag on it too. The class cost $75 each. My permit was $25 as I'm a veteran, but they charge an additional couple of bucks service charge. Grandson is not a veteran so his permit was $140 plus about $5 service charge. The fingerprint service charges $10 apiece. It also required a box of ammo each to qualify, can't count that as would have probably shot it anyways. In Texas, the Dept of Public Safety issues the permit and they are the ones that issue driver's license. Both, look pretty much the same. You would think they would have fingerprint and photo service, but a company is used for that. Don't know how much delay will be involved now that it is all submitted.
KHornet
Well-Known Member
Good on you AND your Grandson Carpetman. Looks like your process is a bit more complicated than Ne. If you are not familiar with it, there is an app that you can put on a smart phone called "Legal Heat". Covers the CC factors of all states reciprocity etc, and is updated frequently. I highly recommend it.