A few questions

[Bubber]

I have been reloading for several rifle chamberings for a number of years but I have never loaded for any pistols. I have been shooting a .380 for a few years now and it just kills me to buy ammo for it. So it is time that I begin loading for it as well. I have a set of carbide dies and will buy whatever fodder I decide on in a week or so once I have some free time. 

Does anyone have any warnings or advice for me before I start? Whatever tips yall can give me would be appreciated.

[jhalcott]

  If the .380 head spaces on the mouth like the .45Auto, be sure to function test the ammo BEFORE you need it. I have a bunch of ammo that will not chamber in my gun.I have been taking it down and reloading it PROPERLY a box or 2 at a time when I get the chance. A friend loaded it for me about 2 years ago. It is either to long or not crimped right(or both).

[MnMike]

If you are using the gun as a self defense weapon, save a few of the factory rounds to keep in the gun. You do not want to explain to a lawyer in court why you were such a creep that you needed to hand load a super duper murder round to kill or damage the (son, husband, etc) of his client.

For range use, enjoy your reloads.

mike

[flyboy]

Yeah, What MnMike said!

[coyotejoe]

Because the .380 has a very small powder capacity I suggest you be very careful in measuring charges, a small variation in the load can make a big difference in pressure. I load for every gun I own but finally decided reloading the .380 just wasn't worth the bother. My Kel-Tec is not a target pistol so working up an "accuracy load" is hardly a reasonable objective and for serious use I doubt I could improve on some of the better factory loads. I use cheap fmj ammo for practice and and Winchester silvertips for carry ammo. It's too durn hard to find the little cases in the grass and weeds where I shoot anyhow, I maybe find one out of three. Still, I do pick up any I find and now have a coffee can full of mixed brass.

[beemanbeme]

In the FWIW dept, a lawyer made a post to the effect that a search he made showed that reloaded ammo had never been an issue in any home defense trial.  He did suggest for what it was worth that you refer to your shotgun as a "bird gun" when describing it however. 

[Bubber]

Because the .380 has a very small powder capacity I suggest you be very careful in measuring charges, a small variation in the load can make a big difference in pressure. I load for every gun I own but finally decided reloading the .380 just wasn't worth the bother. My Kel-Tec is not a target pistol so working up an "accuracy load" is hardly a reasonable objective and for serious use I doubt I could improve on some of the better factory loads.

I work with a guy who owns and loads for almost anything I can think of. He warned me it would be a project in frustration for me but me being the person I am, I have to try it anyway if for no other reason than the principal of it. It is very likley that I get to the same point as you and just go back to buying them.

Thanks for all advice though.