New Gun - 380

[Cherokee]

This is the Browning 1911-380 I bought for fun shooting. I'm using the Lee 95 RF sized .357 and lubed with the Lee stuff right now but waiting on a new mold from Accurate. The gun is fun, low recoil and accurate with the Lee bullet and 231 powder but the short blunt nose will jamb on the barrel hood from time to time. The reduced size did require a modification to my usual 1911 grip; my thumb can not ride the safety, I have to hold the thumb down around the grip screw; otherwise I don't get a good enough grip to depress the grip safety.

 

[Ian]

That looks like a pocket full of fun to shoot if you have a good way to harvest the empties.

 

[Cherokee]

It does throw the empties back a little but not as scattered as some 380's. I also have a 50 cal ammo can full of brass so losses are not critical. It's really an easy cartridge to load for, been doing it for 40+ years.

 

[KHornet]

Good looking little pistol Cherokee. Only have one 380, a Ruger LCP, bought for the wife but she doesn't like it, so it is my get off me gun. It is the brass throwingest gun I have ever seen, and brass is tossed in about a 360 degree circle, regardless of the ammo it shoots. Fun gun, but if I shoot 100 rounds, will be lucky if I can find 70-75 empties. However, brass is pleantiful. Been shooting the Lee 102, but may have to try the 95 lee.

 

[Cherokee]

I have the original Ruger 380 (the KelTech) and it does the same thing, plus any brass that is found is mangled. I have other 380's that are much better with the brass. I haven't tried the Lee 95 RF bullet in the KelTech so I don't know how it feeds/functions in that gun.

 

[KHornet]

Have had no problem with mangled brass, only well scattered!

 

[Pistolero]

The P3AT does toss the brass! Not much of a fun gun to target shoot with, too. It is one
of those guns that is "a good tool", it is excellent for pocket carry and spends a good bit of
time there.
The 1911 version looks like it would be a lot better to take to the range and just use for
fun.

Bill

 

[KHornet]

Like I said before, 380's are get off me guns. I like pocket carry as well.
Paul

 

[Cherokee]

Thought I would share some results with the Browning using the Accurate 35-100B bullet. Cast @ 103 gr from 3/3/94 alloy, sized .358 and lubed with CR, powered by a dose of 231. This is 20 rounds at 7 yd this morning:

Excluding the high one, that's 1.83" for 19. I guess I'll keep that load, but I still got one smokestack out of the 50 rounds fired this morning. Still need to solve that problem.

 

[Ben]

Try .2 gr. increase and see if the smoke stack problem continues.

That is a deadly accurate .380 load.

Ben

 

[freebullet]

I was really excited about that new browning when I first read about it. The plastic grip frame turned me off but, it looks like a dandy gun.

I pocket carry the p238. Been running the Lee 102 & 95rf. The 380 does better than most give it credit for on soft tissue targets. I put 2 jacketed 90gr hp's in the broadside of a wounded buck while Turkey hunting. One shot completely passed through and the other shot left the jacket in the hide on the opposite side. He dropped on the second shot and, it was a big deer. I wouldn't volunteer to take one internally.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Cherokee]

The plastic grip frame is not a problem for me, don't even notice that, works fine with over 800 rounds thru it so far and I plan on a lot more.

 

[KHornet]

Darn good for a 380. Better than I am capable of with my LCP Ruger, but I need
more practice with it. Doubt I have over 200 rounds thru it.

 

[freebullet]

The plastic grip frame is not a problem for me, don't even notice that, works fine with over 800 rounds thru it so far and I plan on a lot more.

I doubt any of us would have a problem with it. I'm sure it will last many lifetimes. I didn't intend for the plastic frame comment to sound derogatory. I do like the gun quite a bit and it appears your doing well with it.

 

[Cherokee]

freebullet - no offense taken at the plastic comment. I would have preferred an alloy or steel frame.

 

[kenneth]

Nice gun. They do what theyre supposed to. I have a 9-19 european. I Hate to run after the emties, don't really use the gun because of this. But. Theyre great guns, often no malfunktions

 

[Cherokee]

Ben - I increased to load to 3.2 gr and still had a vertical smokestack out of 50 rounds. I also tried 2.9, same thing.

 

[Ben]

You're at 3.2 grs.
What is maximum ?
Have you tried faster powders like B'Eye ?

Ben

 

[35 shooter]

Ahhh, James Bond's favorite pistol cal. Looks like you got an accurate one.
Nice looking too.

 

[Cherokee]

Ben - According to Lyman, 3.2 is the max. I will try dropping below the 2.9 tried earlier. 231 is my standard powder for 380, don't have any BE but might try WST that I do have. Jacketed loads with 231 work fine, its just the cast that don't.