loading 380, and 9mm with same bullets?? - Page 1

Armory » Reloading

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - loading 380, and 9mm with same bullets??

Posted: 8/23/2016 1:08:03 PM EDT

I've loaded 9mm for a while now, so I'm pretty good at it

Got a couple of 380 guns I've picked up, and damn the ammo is high, even the cheap perfecta shit at wally mart, like $12 for a box

Anyways, I got to thinking what is the difference in 380 and 9mm bullets? weight?? The diameters are the same at .355 right?? I mean the 380 is 9x17, or 9mm short, or 9mm Corto, it's a true 9mm right?? From what I can figure out in my Lyman book they are both .355?? Now obviously I'm not loading a 124gr bullet in a 380, but would a 115gr bullet work?? Could you load a 90gr bullet for a 380 in a 9mm??

I'm just thinking here I might be able to kill 2 birds with one stone on my buying if I can use one bullet in 2 calibers??...

Posted: 8/23/2016 1:19:23 PM EDT

[#1]

Quoted:
I've loaded 9mm for a while now, so I'm pretty good at it

Got a couple of 380 guns I've picked up, and damn the ammo is high, even the cheap perfecta shit at wally mart, like $12 for a box

Anyways, I got to thinking what is the difference in 380 and 9mm bullets? weight?? The diameters are the same at .355 right?? I mean the 380 is 9x17, or 9mm short, or 9mm Corto, it's a true 9mm right?? From what I can figure out in my Lyman book they are both .355?? Now obviously I'm not loading a 124gr bullet in a 380, but would a 115gr bullet work?? Could you load a 90gr bullet for a 380 in a 9mm??

I'm just thinking here I might be able to kill 2 birds with one stone on my buying if I can use one bullet in 2 calibers??...

View Quote

I HAVE SEEN SOME 90S RANGE BULLETS IN 9MM OFFERINGS. Sorry about the Caps lock.

Not the other way around though.

Posted: 8/23/2016 1:29:44 PM EDT

[#2]

I've seen info on as heavy as 120 gr bullets. Recoil is supposed to be "unpleasant."

Posted: 8/23/2016 3:22:56 PM EDT

[#3]

So they are the same, just different grain of bullets?

Posted: 8/23/2016 3:40:33 PM EDT

[#4]

use the right tool for the job

in this case the job is bullets

ETA:

the best choice for 9mm will not be the best choice for 380, and vise versa

.

Posted: 8/23/2016 3:45:25 PM EDT

[#5]

I have used 115gr XTPs in .380. Worked pretty well, however the length of the bullet did create a crease in the case.

Posted: 8/23/2016 4:09:05 PM EDT

[#6]

115 and 124 grain bullets take up too much space inside the small short .380 cases. You could do it but not advised. Plenty of inexpensive .380 bullets. Some try 100 grain bullets in 9MM but again not the right bullet weight for 9MM.

Posted: 8/23/2016 4:11:02 PM EDT

[#7]

I think the reloading manuals only go up to 95 grains for .380. >removed< that's not how to post in a technical forum. You can get your point across saying that in a nice way. dryflash3

Posted: 8/23/2016 5:46:46 PM EDT

[#8]

The Lyman manual has load data for 115 grain JHP bullets and 120 grain cast bullets in the 380 Auto.

The Sierra manual has load data for their 115 grain bullets in the 380 Auto.

The Western Powders load guide has data for 115 grain bullets in the 380 Auto.

Any 380 bullet can be loaded in the 9mm Luger. Most all manuals have data for that.

Posted: 8/23/2016 6:54:42 PM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
use the right tool for the job

in this case the job is bullets

.

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RMR sells .380 bullets at reasonable prices.

Posted: 8/23/2016 7:24:23 PM EDT

[#10]

Walk in the park, since yes, 380 and 9mm both use a .355" bullet.

Hell, I cast 120gr lee bullets that are sized to .356" after powder coating, and it runs fine through the 380 as well.
For such out of the lyman 4th edition,

Posted: 8/24/2016 5:06:54 PM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:
Walk in the park, since yes, 380 and 9mm both use a .335 .355" bullet.

Hell, I cast 120gr lee bullets that are sized to .336 .356" after powder coating, and it runs fine through the 380 as well.
For such out of the lyman 4th edition,

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=98270&d=1393735054

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Fify

OP if you want to load both I'd go with something in the 100 grain range

Posted: 8/24/2016 5:47:20 PM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:

Fify

OP if you want to load both I'd go with something in the 100 grain range

View Quote

Why, the 380 is not going to be shot much, so focus on the 9mm for bullets instead.

Hence, with the 120gr bullet load in the 380 for the few shots it going to be range shot, will get you used to the heaver recoil of the 120gr rounds; so when you are using it for defense with lighter bullets defense ammo, will be able to rock and roll with it isntead.

Hence short of something like a Beretta 84 that has some weight and a larger grip area that you can lay down some tight groups, most 380 pocket pistol are just a brutal PITA to shoot long term and your just spraying Minute of Barn door angle with instead.

Posted: 8/24/2016 11:07:38 PM EDT

[#13]

.380 is constrained by length - most bullets intended for 9mm either go too deep into the case or the nose is too long for use in .380. Some 115gr flat point or hollow points bullets will work in .380, and some 124gr may even work. Data is hard to find. There's usually no problem using 95gr FMJ bullets intended for .380 in 9mm Luger.

Posted: 8/25/2016 2:04:02 AM EDT

[#14]

I don't even come close to running one bullet for 9mm alone (3x147gr, 3x124gr, 1x115gr), and have been running 100gr projectiles for .380, but also have some 95gr XTP's kicking around.

Excellent results with the 100gr Berry's.

~g

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - loading 380, and 9mm with same bullets??

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