380ACP Blown Up!

[The_Shadow]

Well the story starts with I just picked up a Ruger LCP380ACP, I was wanting to try the 125 grain Cast Devastator with this little cartridge, so I went against my better judgement and use a 4.0 grain loading of Winchester Auto Comp based of a 100gr FMJ loading (it would have been a much shorter bullet).
Anyway I had to shorten the COAL to allow function in the magazine.

I should have completely done a work up instead of jumping in with this load...The first shot did feel strong for this light pistol, but tried as I might I couldn't find the spent brass.  Everything looked good with the pistol so I lined up a second shot and boom!  The magazine guts blew out into my left hand, found that casing with a hole blown out at the feed ramp.
If I would have found the first casing I would have stopped! (eventually it was found back on the 15 yard line, I was firing from the 5 yard line.)





380 ACP
125Gr Lyman Devastator cast HP
4.0 grains Winchester AutoComp
CCI 550 COAL 0.9475"
Velocity 1st shot was 1038 fps the second was 1037 fps

Bottom line Live and Learn!

[Centimeter]

That could have been a painful lesson to learn! I hope it wasn't an expensive one.

[The_Shadow]

The frame is a non serial numbered part, I will call tomorrow to see if they have them available and how much for one.

Being a non serial numbered it can be sold as a separate part and non firearm.  Big plus! 

[Centimeter]

Good deal; I hope there's no hassle in getting them to send another one.

[Pablo]

The frame is a non serial numbered part, I will call tomorrow to see if they have them available and how much for one.

Being a non serial numbered it can be sold as a separate part and non firearm.  Big plus! 

Thanks for being Honest. Some folks would have tried the warranty route.

Maybe I missed it (it's early here) - how damaged was the gun itself? Pics?

[4949shooter]

Glad you're okay Shadow!

[Intercooler]

Glad you're okay! We always said it will more than likely happen one day. Hopefully it will be minor in cost.

[Intercooler]

Is .380 brass as strong as 9mm? Seems like a pretty hot load versus what we have seen in 9mm. Support is good?

[Pinsnscrews]

Glad you were not injured.

Other than the magazine, is there any other damage at all to the LCP?

[The_Shadow]

Yes the polymere frame did develop a small crack, I could possibly shoot it that way...however I did send the LCP to Ruger after the lady said that they wouldn't sell me the frame.  It wasn't what I wanted to do, but it's headed to them.  We will see what happens...

I have been investigating several things since this happened and last night while deciding on the next attempt to load these little cases.

The brass I was using was PPU and MFS, both of which have a small indented ring section leaving a raised area where the primer's flash hole is.  While I still had too much powder and primer for this heavy and long bullet in this little cartridge, I also have to wonder if the shape and construction also played into the failure. This shape could have also focused the overpressure as well as allowed the side walls to be thinner down lower in the casing's head. The thin area that low places the weaker section further back where there is less case head support at the feed ramp.

I have looked at other cases like Winchester and they are flat across the bottom.

I'll give this a little more study, and have reduced the loading considerably for the next testing!

More to follow!

[The_Shadow]

This is what I'm working with, it's alot to stuff inside!  Not much room for error!  BTW these are Winchester cases and I will say they are a little thicker than the PPU and MFS cases especially in the web!

[my_old_glock]

Well the story starts with I just picked up a Ruger LCP380ACP, I was wanting to try the 125 grain Cast Devastator with this little cartridge, so I went against my better judgement and use a 4.0 grain loading of Winchester Auto Comp based of a 100gr FMJ loading (it would have been a much shorter bullet).
Anyway I had to shorten the COAL to allow function in the magazine.

380 ACP
125Gr Lyman Devastator cast HP
4.0 grains Winchester AutoComp
CCI 550 COAL 0.9475"
Velocity 1st shot was 1038 fps the second was 1037 fps

Bottom line Live and Learn!

You used a longer heavier bullet, set it deeper in the case, and then used the same powder charge as a lighter bullet.

That's like 4 strikes



.

[Intercooler]

I'm sure Ruger will fix you up. I can vouch for how good that unwritten warranty is.

[Pinsnscrews]

Try the load data for the Barnes TacXP all copper 85gr bullet. It very well could be the same length as that component.

[The_Shadow]

Actually the pull down from Buffalo Bore with the Barnes 85gr and the 100gr cast showed 4.6 grains, but I haven't tested them.  But they were said to be used in the Ruger LCP