reloading: Lehigh and PPU for sidearms
overview
This was the first real use of some new equipment:
I fumbled a bit getting started with the new press. It has an included “prime on lowering” setup that I’m not sure I like. I might use the Ram prime with this press. I suspect I’ll like the familiar “prime on raising” setup better.
Then I crushed a few .380 cases trying to seat a Lehigh dummy round1 to length. At first I thought it was insufficient case mouth flare or oversize projectiles but that wasn’t it. I had the dies set up for the C-frame press and never considered it would be different on the new (and same manufacturer) press. Re-adjusted the dies, reset the lock rings and all is well.
I played with the powder measure and got it dialed in for the different powder charges. Since I was only making a few rounds with each throw weight it really wasn’t practical but I wanted to learn how to work with it. After these test rounds I’ll be making actual shooting rounds so the thrower will add value there.
Lots of folks complain about the Lee beam scale but I rather like it. Very Lee: clever but slightly wonky design that can be manufactured easily and sold inexpensively. My kinda people.
.380 - Lehigh Penetrator and PPU HP
On this test batch I want to see how the rounds cycle in the tiny LCP
- 94gr Prvi Partizan JHP over 2.7gr of win231
- 94gr Prvi Partizan JHP over 2.9gr of win231
- 90gr Lehigh Extreme Penetrator over 3.2gr of win231
The JHP are loaded into the low-to-mid 800fps range out of the 2.75” barrel. I doubt they will expand (ever) in .380 so there is no real reason to drive them hard.
The Penetrators are loaded to ~900fps. Oddly enough I picked the Lehigh so they wouldn’t overpenetrate. Round nose and especially flat point tend to overpenetrate badly in .380 unless loaded very lightly. The fluted “external hollowpoint” tip of the Penetrator seems to stop at ~16” in 10% ballistic gelatin. Right on the money.
The primerless rounds in the case are dummies (see above).
9mm - PPU JHP
- 94gr Prvi Partizan JHP over 4.1gr of win231
- 94gr Prvi Partizan JHP over 4.3gr of win231
- some leftover 124gr Berry’s RN over 4.0gr of win231 to chrono in the carbine
The PPU are loaded to ~1000fps out of a 3.1” subcompact. I suspect they will expand at that velocity (as seen here). Velocity jumps to ~1300fps out of the 16.5” carbine, for 436ft-lbs of energy. I suspect they will come apart at that velocity.
For comparison, the PPU JHP were $0.17/ea. Berry’s JHP are $0.13/ea and can only be pushed to ~1200fps and will never expand. The PPU won’t be my carry ammo but it would do a good and economical job against zombie hordes.
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a dummy is an empty case with a projectile seated in it to the correct length. This makes die setup easier later with that particular bullet. ↩