I got tired of paying the high prices for .380 carry loads to practice with and worked them up with Accurate No. 5 and Power Pistol being the two best performers after extensive work ups and chronograph time using an old Interarms PPK (3.3" barrel). Hornady's 90 grain XTP hollow point showed the least total spread and deviations seated to exactly 0.950 with AA#5 averaging 1013 FPS with 5.2 grains of powder.
The Power Pistol load using the 90 grain XTP seated @ 0.950 behind 5.4 grains pushed it an average of 1028 FPS.
Those are absolutely max loads both in terms of powder charge and minimum COL's, the Power Pistol load has a pretty sharp muzzle flash compared to the #AA 5 load which has almost none at all.
Proper seating plug profile in your die is really important putting these together if you're so inclined. Loads of this nature are not for the inexperienced or those making use of bargain priced tooling and powder measures that don't own a chronograph. ~Just don't do it if that sounds like you. Dropping the COL's from inconsistent seating depth's or any bridging of powder charges will have you in trouble and overpressure immediately if they don't stay within spec. (Dillon's reversible contour .380 seating die insert is perfect for the XTP profile btw) My barrel chamber produces fired cases with 11.57 grains of water capacity using Winchester brass for making these, if your's are less keep in mind that's going to affect pressure increases as well.
I got tired of paying the high prices for .380 carry loads to practice with and worked them up with Accurate No. 5 and Power Pistol being the two best performers after extensive work ups and chronograph time using an old Interarms PPK (3.3" barrel). Hornady's 90 grain XTP hollow point showed the least total spread and deviations seated to exactly 0.950 with AA#5 averaging 1013 FPS with 5.2 grains of powder.
The Power Pistol load using the 90 grain XTP seated @ 0.950 behind 5.4 grains pushed it an average of 1028 FPS.
Those are absolutely max loads both in terms of powder charge and minimum COL's, the Power Pistol load has a pretty sharp muzzle flash compared to the #AA 5 load which has almost none at all.
Proper seating plug profile in your die is really important putting these together if you're so inclined. Loads of this nature are not for the inexperienced or those making use of bargain priced tooling and powder measures that don't own a chronograph. ~Just don't do it if that sounds like you. Dropping the COL's from inconsistent seating depth's or any bridging of powder charges will have you in trouble and overpressure immediately if they don't stay within spec. (Dillon's reversible contour .380 seating die insert is perfect for the XTP profile btw) My barrel chamber produces fired cases with 11.57 grains of water capacity using Winchester brass for making these, if your's are less keep in mind that's going to affect pressure increases as well.
Great, informative post. I have no desire to push the envelope with my .380 range/training loads and fortunately picked up enough factory carry loads before the crisis to keep me supplied indefinitely. But trophyhunter's post is a great reminder if how quickly these small pistol loads (in particular) can go south on you if you aren't meticulous with your process.
I'm using berrys plated 95 or 100 with unique at about 3.0.
We're those 95gr bullets in the 9mm? Are the bullets that much shorter than 115, that typically have a 1.10 - 1.12 min OAL? 1.04 OAL seems very short and potentially high pressure.I just returned from testing .380 and 9mm loads at the range today. I was using for the first time a Bayou 95gn coated bullets and AA#2. No smoke and very clean...
.380 Sig p238
OAL = .98
#2 3.3gn for 843 fps
#2 3.5gn for 885 fps
9mm Glock 35 with Storm lake barrel conversion - great for steel
OAL = 1.040
#2 4.4gn for 1194 fps
We're those 95gr bullets in the 9mm? Are the bullets that much shorter than 115, that typically have a 1.10 - 1.12 min OAL? 1.04 OAL seems very short and potentially high pressure.