Years ago, we were removing an above ground swimming pool that was partially in ground, and there was a snake. My moms boyfriend got his pistol and we shot it. While I was holding it, I noticed it said .380 acp. Later when putting it away, I saw the box of ammo and it said 9mm. Pretty sure it was Luger but could be wrong. Is that a possible substitute for .380?
.380 v 9mm
- Thread starter TeeJay37
- Start date
CanonLyles
Single-Sixer
I have seen .380 ammo that said "9mm kurz" (short in German) on the base of the case. 9mm Luger (parabellum, 9x19, 9mm NATO, etc) is a little longer and more powerful than .380 ACP. Otherwise, same diameter... I THINK.
.380 ACP and 9mm Luger are not interchangable. Think .38 spl vs. .357 mag., but for semi-autos.
.380 ACP and 9mm Luger are not interchangable. Think .38 spl vs. .357 mag., but for semi-autos.
9mm luger is 9x19, .380 acp is 9x17.
There are enough different 9mm rounds available that one should always be careful when buying 9mm ammunition to make sure they get the right thing. IIRC there are about 5 different 9mm cartridges.
There are enough different 9mm rounds available that one should always be careful when buying 9mm ammunition to make sure they get the right thing. IIRC there are about 5 different 9mm cartridges.
Iron Mike Golf
Blackhawk
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2010
- Messages
- 945
The bullet diameter is the same, but the case of the 9mm parabellum is greater diameter. It has thicker walls and a slight taper.
You will also see some European .380 auto brass that is stamped 9mm BrC.
You will also see some European .380 auto brass that is stamped 9mm BrC.
Take your 380 gun and try to drop a 9mm luger round in the chamber. It won't go. Won't go in the magazine either. Despite popular opinion, the 380 is not really a 9mm. It's shorter and not as large around. Hold both together and you'll see the difference.
exavid
Hunter
I wondered how they measured up so just went out in the garage and checked out a 380 and 9mm both unfired and fired. Both are Winchesters. I made the measurements with a Starrett dial caliper. I measured at the base which is the shell rim diameter, the mouth of the shell and the thickness of the brass at the open end of the shell.
Base: Mouth: Shell wall Thickness:
380 .370" .372" .008"
9mm .387" .372" .010"
So the main differences are a slightly smaller diameter rim, and a thinner case for the 380. The 9mm has a wider rim by 17 thousandths of an inch and 2 thousanths of an inch wider at the base. Even though the 9mm has a thicker shell and the same diameter bullet the shell mouth measures the same as the 380 does probably due to tighter crimping on the 9mm.
Base: Mouth: Shell wall Thickness:
380 .370" .372" .008"
9mm .387" .372" .010"
So the main differences are a slightly smaller diameter rim, and a thinner case for the 380. The 9mm has a wider rim by 17 thousandths of an inch and 2 thousanths of an inch wider at the base. Even though the 9mm has a thicker shell and the same diameter bullet the shell mouth measures the same as the 380 does probably due to tighter crimping on the 9mm.
ballcoach16
Bearcat
You can fire .380 rounds in your 9mm weapon (i've done it before while target shooting with both calibers by mistake), but why would you want to. :D
exavid
Hunter
I'm surprised that the 380 will fire in the 9mm. I just tried a 380 in my SR9. It seats a lot lower in the chamber, low enough that the chamber loaded flag stays down. The firing pin must reach further into the chamber than I thought.
With most semi autos, the new round slides up UNDER the extractor as it chambers, so if you have a strong extractor, it could in theory hold the case back against the bolt face with enough force that it could be fired.... Hate to think what thats going to do to the the chamber though... :shock:
380 will fire in my P95, but of course it will not cycle... I've been warned not to do this though because you can split the case on the round and since the slide will come back some you can end up with a bad thing happening.
Yankee2500
Blackhawk
In sorting hundreds of pounds of brass from the range I purchase from I have seen 40S&Ws fired from 45 autos, 9mms fired from 40s and 380s fired from 9mms. The 9mm fired from a 40 caliber is the most common.
I will try and post some pics of the cases later.
The far left is a 32auto fired from a 380. the next is a 9mm fired from a 40S&W and the two on the right are 40S&Ws fired from a 45acp.
John
I will try and post some pics of the cases later.
The far left is a 32auto fired from a 380. the next is a 9mm fired from a 40S&W and the two on the right are 40S&Ws fired from a 45acp.
John
No CCW in Illinois
Bearcat
In Europe, the 380 is called 9mm Kurz. In German, "Kurz" means "short". This is similar to our 22 short vs 22 long vs 22 long rifle. A 380 is not meant to shoot 9mm parabellum, what we normally call "9mm".
Yankee2500
Blackhawk
It's not really like the 22LR, Long & Short,CB & BB because they can all be fired from the same chamber. It's more like the 22Mag & 22LR, close but not interchangeable.
Here are the dimensions of the 380 auto and the 9mm.
John
Here are the dimensions of the 380 auto and the 9mm.
John
Spike12
Bearcat
And just to keep things really confused...
9mm Makarov (SP?) is 9x18
9mm Makarov (SP?) is 9x18
Spike12
Bearcat
Well, ya, isn't the point of making it x18?
GhosT
Blackhawk
This post is gonna get me in trouble.....
Over a decade ago...I got rid of my .380 autos.
I determined back then...the 9mm was THE SMALLEST round I would choose for self defense .
JMHO of course.
Over a decade ago...I got rid of my .380 autos.
I determined back then...the 9mm was THE SMALLEST round I would choose for self defense .
JMHO of course.
exavid
Hunter
I can't argue that a 9mm is better than a 380 but then a .44 mag is a lot better than a 9mm. A shotgun is better yet but all of these will work adn a 380 will do the job. It's a lot easier to carry a 380 in the summer when wearing shorts, in fact it's a lot easier to carry my little LCP any time. I'm not planning on holding off a whole platoon, mainly just want a pistol as a deterrant. Just having it in your hand is likely to change the whole complexion of a confrontation without any shooting going on. If it comes to needing to fire a few well placed 380s will most likely discourage most people.
GhosT
Blackhawk
exavid,
Good answer to my post.
I would argue with...
"a .44 mag is a lot better than a 9mm"
I would never pick one of my .44 magnums over my 9mm for self defense.
I might choose one of my .357's or my .40 though :wink:
I just personally choose the 9mm as my personal minimum defense round.
Countless bad guys have dropped from a .380
Countless others...tend to do major damage before they drop!
LOL,
Forgive me for my personal choice
:lol:
Good answer to my post.
I would argue with...
"a .44 mag is a lot better than a 9mm"
I would never pick one of my .44 magnums over my 9mm for self defense.
I might choose one of my .357's or my .40 though :wink:
I just personally choose the 9mm as my personal minimum defense round.
Countless bad guys have dropped from a .380
Countless others...tend to do major damage before they drop!
LOL,
Forgive me for my personal choice
:lol:
Sal1950
Blackhawk
VERY dangerous to be firing 380's in a 9mm chamber, DON'T DO IT.
Sal
Sal
I am confused........I have been firing guns, rifles as well as hand guns for almost 40 years and I have NEVER put the wrong bullets in a gun. Never thought about it, never considered it, never even wondered to see if it would fit or work! I am just not understanding how anyone could be so irresponsible or just plain STUPID!!! I am just not getting this train of thought.......
.380 in a 9mm......40 out of a .45......what the??????
.380 in a 9mm......40 out of a .45......what the??????
