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Does anyone here load this? Reason I ask is that I got some today at the store and loaded some .380 100gr Berry's RNHB bullets with 4.0gr, set to .960 OAL, and I thought the Chrono was crazy, so I increased to .980 OAL and it got even worse, from 799fps to 1390fps. I though there's no way in hell, got some of the same loads that I had done with AA #5, and they all ran within 35fps of each other. 

 I came in, scratched my ass and head, loaded some 9mm with 5.9gr under Speer 115gr GDHP, ran them thru my 92FS, and they where all within 20fps, top was 1215fps.

 Could the hollow base on the bullet be whats messing this up? But the spread is unreal. There where no popped primers, no flattened primers and recoil on my G42 felt the same on each round.

 I've been wondering if the sun shining over the house had any effect on the chrono. The house faces west and the back is on the east side, which is where I shoot from, but I had the sun shades on the chrono. 

 I may try again on Sunday, but will wait until after church lets out. I wuz just wondering.

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Never used that powder,

 

The sun reflecting off the bullet will trick the crono.

 

When the sun is out I put a cardboard "roof" over it with small holes at the sun visors as to shade the path of the bullet.

 

I've heard (but never tried ) that you can use a sharpie marker to blacken the bullet so it doesn't catch the light.

 

Good luck

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I really like CFE 223 for the rifle calibers it is suitable for. It meters very well.

 

 

I think the main thing is .380 uses such an infinitesimal amount of powder that even tiny volumetric variations will screw you up. As will weight variations. The small total, makes even smaller margins of error. The best bet IMO is to choose the bulkies powder listed for a given load that uses a fine powder grain type.

 

4 grains for 380? well your powder measure will have a tiny cavity, and any powder that clings will be a substantial percent of the total. You probably also have a very short barrel, for most pocket 380s. So if the powder burn rate is even slightly slower you will lose even more consistency. possibly reducing charge weight and working back up with magnum primers could have more consistent ignition- so long as your little pistol will dent them firmly.

 

I suggest looking up the powders on hand and choosing the one with the largest volume per starting charge.

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I agree that 380 is really to small of a round to meter with most powders today.

But I like a perfect round ever time so I seldom load by volume.

It's slower but it is for enjoyment and the wife never shoots more that 200 rounds at the range anyway.

Have not found any CFE pistol, as soon as it comes up on gunbot it is gone. You have to watch it 24/7 if you want to get any pistol powder at all.

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Thanks Guys,

 

 I loaded some more on Sunday night and made me a "roof" with cut outs for the sun shields. I tried it again on Monday and the loads where running from 890 to 925. Only thing I can figure is that the sun was playing with the chrono.

 I try to check the powder dump on these about every 10 loads or so, and they are staying from 3.9 to 4.0 gr, so the powder dumps are OK. And for just plinking and playing out back, these will work just fine. Also going to use the G42 to "graduate" the grandkids from the P22 up to some thing a little bigger, as they become more comfortable and experienced in shooting. They can burn thru some 22lr in a heart beat.

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Even if you want to load by weight, bulkier powders will triclke more precisely. Larger volume will also improve case efficiency and therefore consistency.

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