+1 on the VV powders
To be honest, unless you are casting your own lead bullets I agree with those that say just shoot plated or jacketed. For .380/9mm it is easy to stay in the 7-8cent range for plated, and 9 cents for jacketed. The lead that I shoot I do so for accuracy reasons, not cost. My SR1911 and my wife's SP101 prefer lead so lead they get. I am phasing out the lead in my .380s/9mms because I am seeing the same or better results with plated.
To be honest, unless you are casting your own lead bullets I agree with those that say just shoot plated or jacketed. For .380/9mm it is easy to stay in the 7-8cent range for plated, and 9 cents for jacketed. The lead that I shoot I do so for accuracy reasons, not cost. My SR1911 and my wife's SP101 prefer lead so lead they get. I am phasing out the lead in my .380s/9mms because I am seeing the same or better results with plated.