Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
| Member |
I have reloaded all my own for over 50 years. Only recently (because of very high cost of 380 ACP) and my increased use I have been reloading 380 ACP ammo. I never incurred black carbon smudges the likes of which I’ve been getting with these 380 fired cases. I’m using TightGroup powder which I have been using for years, and never gotten blackened cases on the 9mm, or 38 rounds that I’ve loaded in the past. Any idea what’s causing this? | ||
|
I Deal In Lead |
Light pressure loads where the brass isn't expanding enough to completely fill the chamber so the gasses are coming back down the side of the case. | |||
|
| Member |
Thanks for the reply ………….sounds completely logical, but my load is near max. I guess I could bump it up a bit. Oops! I just looked my load of 2.8 gr. TiteGroup is max for 100 gr. Jacketed bullet. | |||
|
| I Deal In Lead |
If max is 2.8, what were you using? | |||
|
Prepared for the Worst, Providing the Best |
Flash-LB is right on the money. I'm always a little shy of going too hot with Titegroup as it doesn't take much to go over pressure, and that powder does tend to leave a very sooty residue on the brass if you don't get a complete case seal. I still use it in certain low-volume applications (.32 ACP in particular), but I've moved away from it for most. I don't load .380, but with it's small case capacity I do think Titegroup could be a workable choice if you can find the right load for your gun. | |||
|
| I Deal In Lead |
I'm with you. I like something a little slower for the smaller case stuff like .380 | |||
|
| Member |
I have had good luck with Red Dot powder in 380 cases.....just a thought. | |||
|
| Member |
I use Hodgdon Universal in .380. A bit slower than TiteGroup. PCThis message has been edited. Last edited by: PCWyoming, | |||
|
| I Deal In Lead |
I use Unique in .380 It's slow enough to pretty much fill the case to the bullet seat line. | |||
|
| Member |
I cooked up 100 rounds ^^^ of Unique today and I’ll try them out this week at the range. I’ll report back if I get good results | |||
|
| Prepared for the Worst, Providing the Best |
Love me some Unique. I'm honestly starting to wonder why I mess with anything else anymore for handguns. It works in just about anything I load, burns consistently, meters well, supports mild to pretty stout loadings (not case-fill sensitive), and is reasonably clean. I've even been using it in some cast-bullet loadings for some of my mil-surp rifles lately with great results. It works in everything from .32 S&W Long to .45-70! | |||
|
semi-reformed sailor |
My wife’s 380 leaves smudges with Unique. I really don’t worry, I’m gonna clean it anyway. "Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor.” Robert A. Heinlein “You may beat me, but you will never win.” sigmonkey-2020 “A single round of buckshot to the torso almost always results in an immediate change of behavior.” Chris Baker | |||
|
| Moderator |
My thought too. Is this an issue? __________________ "Owning a handgun doesn't make you armed any more than owning a guitar makes you a musician." -Jeff Cooper | |||
|
| I Deal In Lead |
Nope, it's not an issue at all. It won't hurt anything. | |||
|
| Member |
I realize that and I’m really not worried about it it’s just that I’ve been reloading since 1972 and can’t recall any of my reload cases looking that carboned up. I loaded some more rounds and added a bit more crimp and ended up having two light strikes which was probably caused by the crimp because when I did the clunk test the rounds were seated deeper into the barrel. | |||
|
| I Deal In Lead |
The .380 headspaces on the case mouth, so you changed headspace when you crimped more. All you need is a light taper crimp on these little guys, just enough to iron out the small amount you opened up for charging the case. | |||
|
| Powered by Social Strata |
 | Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |
|
© SIGforum 2024