H380

[gdolby]

Hi everybody, hope everyone had a good independance day. Mine was great looked through several reloading manuals for loads for my .243. The one that caught my eye called for H380 w/ the nosler 55gr ballistic tip and the 85 gr partition. Anybody use these or similiar? shoot straight and good day.....B

[bigjeepman]

gdolby ...

I shoot a .243 a lot and have primarily been using Varget until I decided to give H-380 a try. I am very pleased with some of my test groups. You mentioned the 55gr BT and 85 partitions. My rifle just doesn't seem to care for any bullet less than Sierra's 60gr HP. From there, I have tried 65gr V-Max, 70gr Nosler BT, and 80gr Nosler BT. All of my groups with the V-Max, 70gr Noslers, and the 80gr Noslers have shrunk with H-380. I do not judge a load by a single 3 or 5 shot group but several groups over a period of several weeks. I figure that temperature and other conditions will change and I am looking for a load that will perform in most conditions.

Here are some of my H-380 results at 100yds:

80gr Nosler  ... 38.5gr ... 2.65 oal ... 3041fps ... less than .500" ... 5 shots

70gr Nosler ... 40gr ... 2.65 oal ... 3160fps ... less than .500" ... 3 shots

65gr V-Max ... 44gr ... 2.65" oal ... 3568fps ... less than .500" ... 5 shots

The best of these was the 65gr V-Max which also grouped under .600" ( 3 shot group) at 200 yds. The 80gr Nosler load is a minimum load and I have not tried any other load with that bullet.

I do not own a chronograph and the velocities are manual numbers. I was pretty satisfied with Varget loads that I was getting but kind of excited now about H-380 loads.

[ras308]

I don't have my old manual here, will H380 work in my .308?

[ricciardelli]

http://stevespages.com/308_13.html

[ras308]

Thanks.  Have a great weekend!!!

[gdolby]

thanks for the info. I have shot quite  a variety of ammo through mine and so far it has performed well with all. if I get the groups you mentioned that would be great if not cross that bridge when I get there. thanks again and good shooting

[Jim M]

I always use H380 in my 308 with 150 grain bullets.  It accurate and it measures out beautifully.

[Possum]

Does anyone using H380 use the magnum primers.  I have been using large rifle CCI primers and now I am going to re-work the loads up using magnum primers.  I am shooting pistol barrels and the question is when using the ball powders should we use the mag. primers?  Seems like the loads with 380 and large rifle primers are a little finnicky about temp.

[longwinters]

In my reloading books it is not uncommon for them to specify magnum primers with H380.  I have quite a bit of it, but in 243 was not happy with the load densities being so low.  

Long

[dave375hh]

I've quit using H-380 due to wide variation in burning rate from one can(lot#) to the next. I shot the best 5 shot group I ever shot with 40gr Bal tips and H-380 in my 22-250 a .137(4-5 shot groups avg. .244). the next can I bought avg 200fps slower over the cronograph and didn't group worth a danm. Conditions and temp were very close to the same the only difference was the lot# of the powder. I switched to H-414 and get more consistant results now in the 22-250 & .308.

[gdolby]

well I hope I dont have that trouble but I appreciate the heads up thanks and good shooting.

[oso45-70]

Gdolby,
Some thing you might want to look at is by useing H335 you will reduce your pressure by about 3,000 cup for about the same velocity. H414 would be about the same. For years I used H380 and found out my brass life was not good so swichted to H335 & blc2, This is true in the 22-50
and the 243 and 6mm. Come by some time and we can go over the books. Have a good day.................Joe............

[gdolby]

thanks for the information and invite. been busy sorry for the late reply. will take you up on your offer.Thanks again and good shooting Bill