Settle a dispute here. .380 _> 9mm Or 9mm ->.380

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Anyhow While talking about my buddies . 380 we got into the age old discussion about what can be used in a . 380 besides a . 380 round. I said that 9mm alltho close to . 380 it can not be fired thru his gun. But if his was 9mm and he had to . 380 can be fired but will have a lower velocity due to blow by. Now that I think about it I may be wrong but figured I would Shoot this one out and see how it went LOL! What do I know I am a . 45 and . 357 kinda guy.

 

[SRadke]

9mm should be slightly smaller than . 380 but I don't know about length, case shape, etc. I'm more of a shotgun guy.



-Scott

 

[guava]

The 380 and 9 mm are essentially the same bullet diameter. (thousanths of an inch don't coun't. Bullet weight is smaller in the 380. Shell case length is shorter for teh 380.



Think of it as a 38 revolver vs a 357. I've never tried shooting a 380 calibre through a 9mm. I don't think the shell would seat correctly in the chamber. It would work but poorly IMO only. Probably lots of pressure problems preventing getting off a second shot.

 

[Mike Ellis]

The case of the . 380 is quite a bit smaller so it would not chamber correctly in a regular 9mm firearm, the firing pin would likely not reach the primer. If it DID reach the primer, it might lead to a ruptured and stuck case given the dimensions available for expansion.



A 9mm won't chamber in a . 380, the case is too big. Overseas they call the . 380 the "9mm Kurz" which means "9mm short" (if my memory hasn't failed).

 

[SLindblom]

guns should never be loaded with anything but the caliber they are chambered for. (That being said, I shoot . 38 through my . 357's and . 45 Colt through my . 454 Casull, but have never tried . 380 in a 9mm). They take different size case holders (according to the Speer reloading manual) so even if it did chamber and fire, it probably wouldn't extract/eject.





http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/p380acp.html

 

[Jengle]

Mike Ellis is correct, the . 380 is the 9mmkurz or, short. So, diameter is the same, but the . 380, being shorter, takes a lighter weight of bullets than can be used in the 9mm. Since the case headspaces off the mouth of the case, it should not be fired in the 9mm.

 

[The patriot]

I have fired 380's in a 9mm pistol (by accident) and it CAN be done.

The extractor, if tensioned correctly, should hold the 380 against the breechface.

This was in my Taurus 92, which I still own, and never once as much as hiccuped at any ammo I've ran through it. Even the wrong ammo.



Eric



BTW both bullets are . 355 diameter. Same.

The meteric nomencature (sp?) for 380 is 9x18 (I think) and 9mm parrabellum is 9x19.

 

[KBennett]

You guys are correct. Don't shoot a different round in a gun than what it is marked for.



I accidentally fired a 9mm in my Sig P226 chambered for . 40S&W once. I filled the magazine with a 9mm that got mixed in with . 40 reloads.

It chambered and fired OK but stovepiped when it ejected. I pulled the case out and it had expanded to the size of the chamber with a small split.

It hit the target at 25 feet about 4" to the left.

 

[RT66DOC]

Why would you want to do that?



What Jengle said.

 

[c-hawk]

Originally posted by RT66DOC

Why would you want to do that?



What Jengle said.

I Agree.



The 38 vs. 357 comparison isn't exactly the same. The typical revolver type rounds headspace off the rim, so the shorter case isn't a big deal.



In the semi-auto type rounds, they headspace off of the front edge of the casing. IF it works, it would only be the ejector holding the round to the breech face. I wouldn't try it, especially since 9mm is cheaper to buy than 380 anyway.



Chris

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Guys it's not like "Cool A cheap way out let's load up!" Kinda thing. It was a discussion on a "What if you were caught out in a 3rd world battle and found a pile of ammo and you had YOUR (Jim's) Gun" kinda thing.



Revolvers are a different story alltogether.

 

[BV]

Originally posted by ToolManTimTaylor

Guys it's not like "Cool A cheap way out let's load up!" Kinda thing. It was a discussion on a "What if you were caught out in a 3rd world battle and found a pile of ammo and you had YOUR (Jim's) Gun" kinda thing.



Revolvers are a different story alltogether.

I agree with the use what's correct but in a survival situation - All bets are off and I will use what ever is available.



BTW - I too run 38's threw my 357.

 

[KBennett]

Originally posted by ToolManTimTaylor

Guys it's not like "Cool A cheap way out let's load up!" Kinda thing. It was a discussion on a "What if you were caught out in a 3rd world battle and found a pile of ammo and you had YOUR (Jim's) Gun" kinda thing.



Revolvers are a different story alltogether.

OOOOOH!

In a survival situation all bets are off. I'll put a rock and a firecracker in the gun if it will fit.

 

[Jengle]

Think about it, if the case is using the case mouth to headspace off of, it will be shoved to the front of the chamber, with a gap between the face of the slide and the primer. Howzatsposedtowork? If the case is gripped by the ejector, you have that gap at the front to jump, possibly damaging the gun. Now you have a metal rock in your hand. Again, why?

Survival situation, if that ammunition was that available, take a gun off a body that fits it. Besides in that sort of situation, the full 9mm round would be the more widely available one anyway. Ah, forget it.

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Originally posted by KBennett

I'll put a rock and a firecracker in the gun if it will fit.

OMG THAT was good!

 

[JLEONARD]

I have a Ruger Blackhawk convertable that will shoot . 357 / . 38 AND..... 9mm when I change cylinders.....

A little extra versatility is always a bonus!

 

[NETim]

This is why I run a 45 ACP. Eliminates a lot of confusion. It goes BOOM and I'm happy.



Tim