[kmw1954]

Got out today and was able to finally really test some new loads I'd made up for my 9mm and the 380. These were all done with two powders that I hadn't used before and the Berry's 124gr Hollow Base Flat Point and the 115gr X-TREME RN in 9mm and the X-TREME 100gr in the 380.

I had used the Ramshot Silhouette in the 380 with the X-TREME and it works very well so most of the testing was done with AA#5. What I found is that Starting load was more consistent than the mid-load but still not as nice as the Ramshot. So for the 380 that makes the AA#5 and the HP-38 loads I've made and shot and found disappointing.

I found my PT92C does not like any of the Starting loads with any bullet with the AA#5. Was having all sorts of cycling problems and stovepipes with both the RN X-TREME and the Berry's. Now I was able to shoot some of the 115gr X-TREME 115gr RN previously that were loaded a little heavier and they fired and cycled just fine. Those got shot by mistake when the wife and I were out last and had to share a lane.

The 124gr Berry's were not loaded beyond the Starting load so now I will have to jack them up a bit and see what happens.

Just as a note my PT92C really likes the Berry's 124gr Hollow Base Flat Nose with both the Ramshot Silhouette and the HP-38.

 

[kmw1954]

I am at this point very pleased with the loads I'm getting from the HP-38 and am starting to appreciate the Ramshot just as much. My own opinion of HP-38 is that it's been clean burning for all I've loaded in 9mm. For the 380 with a 100gr bullet not so much, regardless of the load level.

Going to load up some more 9mm with a medium load of the AA#5 and see how it works. I am rather sad that I didn't get a chance to try those loads in the wife's XD but she gets testy when I take her guns!

 

[kmw1954]

Thanks GreenWolf70,
I have a load that I found both I and my gun like with the 100gr bullet. That is with Ramshot Silhouette between 3.9 to 4.2 gr., the 3.7gr starting load was nice and cycled well but as I moved up the charge the groups got smaller. Max load with this powder is 4.4gr but I haven't ventured there as I quit at the 4.2gr load. Another nice thing about this load is that my Lee disk measure drops it right at 4.1gr., right at the sweet spot!

 

[kmw1954]

gbusmech, I have been loading mine on the turret press because I'm only loading 100/150 at a time. I do now have the shell plate to do it on my Pro1000 and may just load a bunch and be done for awhile. As for the load I've tried the HP-38 in this with the 100gr X-TREME bullet with 2.9gr, 3.0 and 3.1 and none were very accurate. I read many times that people are using HP-38/231 and doing very well with it so I don't know why mine doesn't like it.

 

[kmw1954]

The first powder I tried in .380 was W231/HP38 and when I got to 3.2gr with a 95gr LRN it was handily out-shooting the factory stuff in three guns, so I just stopped there.

See, another example of a happy customer. But I still cannot find a load with HP-38 and a 100gr bullet then my gun likes. Haven't tried a lighter bullet yet either though I am thinking of trying a 100gr cast lead item.