true or false??

[splitshot]

  am currently reading a novel which states that a 380 auto can be shot in a 9 mm.  true or false?  mike w

[Bob33]

Sort of, but not in the way you think.

The .380ACP is 9x17 and is also called a 9mm Kurtz or 9mm Short. The much more common 9mm Luger is 9x19 and is not interchangeable with a 380.

[Bofire]

I bet it would "fire" depending on the chamber fit.

[splitshot]

  so people who are crying about not having 9 ammo to shoot could buy the less popular 380, right  mike w

[Mike450r]

  so people who are crying about not having 9 ammo to shoot could buy the less popular 380, right  mike w

No

[splitshot]

  if you reload, are the bullets interchangeable?  mike w

[Bob33]

A firearm is designed to fire a specific caliber. It has exact dimensions measured in thousandths of an inch, and being off by 1/1000 of an inch can have disastrous consequences. Different cartidges headspace differently. Pressures are different and may rupture a barrel or lodge a projectile. The chamber is designed to hold that specific ammunition and no other, with rare exceptions. If you wish to mix and match you are, simply put, a fool.

[jackelope]

A firearm is designed to fire a specific caliber. It has exact dimensions measured in thousandths of an inch, and being off by 1/1000 of an inch can have disastrous consequences. Different cartidges headspace differently. Pressures are different and may rupture a barrel or lodge a projectile. The chamber is designed to hold that specific ammunition and no other, with rare exceptions. If you wish to mix and match you are, simply put, a fool.

But aside from all that, even though they're completely different, is it still ok?

[splitshot]

  you can shoot a 38 sp. in a 357 even though t  38 is shorter.  the same application i s here.  the 380 is shorter than the 9 and has less powder.  mike w

[Bob33]

A firearm is designed to fire a specific caliber. It has exact dimensions measured in thousandths of an inch, and being off by 1/1000 of an inch can have disastrous consequences. Different cartidges headspace differently. Pressures are different and may rupture a barrel or lodge a projectile. The chamber is designed to hold that specific ammunition and no other, with rare exceptions. If you wish to mix and match you are, simply put, a fool.

But aside from all that, even though they're completely different, is it still ok?

[Wazukie]

.380 will fire in a 9mm, yes, just like a 9mm will fire in a Makarov.  But the Makarov will not fir in the 9mm and the 9mm will not fire in the .380  I wouldn't advise doing it though.  Like Bob said, It'd be follish to do. 

[splitshot]

  i totally agree,  got lots of ammo and just learned some stuff tonite, thank you.  mike w

[BigGoonTuna]

  you can shoot a 38 sp. in a 357 even though t  38 is shorter.  the same application i s here.  the 380 is shorter than the 9 and has less powder.  mike w

the 38spl and 357 are rimmed, 380 and 9mm are rimless.  bad idea trying to shoot 380 out of a 9mm.

it would probably be like chambering a 308 shell in a 30-06 rifle.

[lee]

  you can shoot a 38 sp. in a 357 even though t  38 is shorter.  the same application i s here.  the 380 is shorter than the 9 and has less powder.  mike w

the 38spl and 357 are rimmed, 380 and 9mm are rimless.  bad idea trying to shoot 380 out of a 9mm.

it would probably be like chambering a 308 shell in a 30-06 rifle.

I agree wid' Tuna.

Since both the 9mm and 380 head space off of the case "mouth" it would be possible fer the 380 to fall the extra 2mm  inta the chamber when loaded. The firing pin may not set it off.

Me

[Fisherdave10]

  you can shoot a 38 sp. in a 357 even though t  38 is shorter.  the same application i s here.  the 380 is shorter than the 9 and has less powder.  mike w

No.  Straight (ish) walled semi-auto casings like .380, 9mm, .40 and .45 all headspace off of the case mouth.
Rimmed cartridges in a revolver do not.  They headspace on the rim, so the area in front of the case mouth is fairly unimportant.

A .380 in a 9mm might fire if the extractor in the extractor groove holds the case head against the breach with enough pressure but it isn't meant to be.  Just no.

[12Gauge]

  you can shoot a 38 sp. in a 357 even though t  38 is shorter.  the same application i s here.  the 380 is shorter than the 9 and has less powder.  mike w

the 38spl and 357 are rimmed, 380 and 9mm are rimless.  bad idea trying to shoot 380 out of a 9mm.

it would probably be like chambering a 308 shell in a 30-06 rifle.

I agree wid' Tuna.

Since both the 9mm and 380 head space off of the case "mouth" it would be possible fer the 380 to fall the extra 2mm  inta the chamber when loaded. The firing pin may not set it off.

Me

Especially when the body of the 9mm is .384 and the .380 is .373, Also the rim of the 9mm is .394 and the .308 is .374; Yup could go in the chamber deeper than expected.

Under worst case scenario and that is the only ammo available I would take the chance to fire it

[JackOfAllTrades]

I am tempted to lock/edit this thread, as there are posts suggesting that it is possible. Thankfully, those that know better have responded with explanations as to why NOT to attempt shooting .380acp cartridges in a gun designed for 9mm parabellum.
 
Realize that while the bullet is the same diameter, the 380 brass is thinner. Combined with a slightly smaller case diameter, smaller rim diameter, likely not allowing the extractor to hold the case in a false headspace/hold to the breech face. With a smaller neck diameter, shorter case that won't headspace correctly, you'd have a case that would just about rattle in the 9mm chamber. If, and I say 'if' again, the 380 would fire in a 9mm chamber, the pressure would be relieved since the case would expand to the much larger chamber walls, releasing much of the pressure that would be intended to push the bullet into the lands of the barrel. Lack of pressure, then the bullet sealing in the lands could lead to a presure spike or not enough pressure build to push the bullet out the barrel. I don't have a 9mm/380 cartridge and 9mm magazine/clip handy, but I don't think the magazine lips will hold 380 cartridges. The shorter cartridge will likely not feed through the action reliably. The 380acp will likely not develope enough pressure to cycle the 9mm/gun action as most of them are blow back designs requiring enough pressure to combat recoil spring pressure.
 
-Steve
 
 

[300rum]

I watched a guy shoot multiple 9mm's through a .40.  Boy, where those funny shaped brass!  The pistol cycled a few times and then jammed. 

[Bofire]

  Possible does not mean wise.

[cwuwildcat]

I've got a confession on this topic.  I've shot two rounds of .380 through my Glock 26, unintentionally.  For those that don't know, the 26 is a 9mm.  I was at the range, and loaded my 9mm from a box of what I thought was 9mm ammo.  It wasn't.  It was a box of .380 which was in a box identical to the box of 9mm I'd also brought along. 

I didn't look close enough and loaded my mag.  Fired one round and it stove piped.  Thought to myself, "that's weird.  It's never done that before".  I cleared the stuck empty, kind of looked down the chamber and saw light down the pipe and a hole in the target I was aiming at.  Loaded another round and fired.  It went bang, stove piped again.  I thought, "two times is not an accident".  Looked at the headstamp and saw the problem immediately.  I never felt more stupid or lucky.  Taught me a good lesson, not to get lazy or assumptive of what I'm shooting.

Like was said earlier, just because you CAN do something doesn't mean that you SHOULD do it. 

[DoubleJ]

I've got a confession on this topic.  I've shot two rounds of .380 through my Glock 26, unintentionally.  For those that don't know, the 26 is a 9mm.  I was at the range, and loaded my 9mm from a box of what I thought was 9mm ammo.  It wasn't.  It was a box of .380 which was in a box identical to the box of 9mm I'd also brought along. 

I didn't look close enough and loaded my mag.  Fired one round and it stove piped.  Thought to myself, "that's weird.  It's never done that before".  I cleared the stuck empty, kind of looked down the chamber and saw light down the pipe and a hole in the target I was aiming at.  Loaded another round and fired.  It went bang, stove piped again.  I thought, "two times is not an accident".  Looked at the headstamp and saw the problem immediately.  I never felt more stupid or lucky.  Taught me a good lesson, not to get lazy or assumptive of what I'm shooting.

Like was said earlier, just because you CAN do something doesn't mean that you SHOULD do it. 

I don't know why people hate glocks so much.  Load the wrong ammo and it still goes bang and puts a hole in what you're shooting at

[YellowDog]

I've got a confession on this topic.  I've shot two rounds of .380 through my Glock 26, unintentionally.  For those that don't know, the 26 is a 9mm.  I was at the range, and loaded my 9mm from a box of what I thought was 9mm ammo.  It wasn't.  It was a box of .380 which was in a box identical to the box of 9mm I'd also brought along. 

I didn't look close enough and loaded my mag.  Fired one round and it stove piped.  Thought to myself, "that's weird.  It's never done that before".  I cleared the stuck empty, kind of looked down the chamber and saw light down the pipe and a hole in the target I was aiming at.  Loaded another round and fired.  It went bang, stove piped again.  I thought, "two times is not an accident".  Looked at the headstamp and saw the problem immediately.  I never felt more stupid or lucky.  Taught me a good lesson, not to get lazy or assumptive of what I'm shooting.

Like was said earlier, just because you CAN do something doesn't mean that you SHOULD do it. 

I don't know why people hate glocks so much.  Load the wrong ammo and it still goes bang and puts a hole in what you're shooting at

The reason why is because Smith & Wesson's look so much better and will do the same thing.   

In all seriousness, I too have accidentially fired ONE .380 round in a S&W Model 3913 chambered in 9mm.  Keep in mind this was an accident and I would never suggest that someone try to duplicate this act on purpose.  I was shooting very light hand loads with cast bullets and one .380 was apparantly mixed in the box.  It fed though the magazine, fired, jammed and I noticed it when I extracted the empty.  The case was not noticeably swelled or damaged in any way.  In any event, it is possible but there is no way I would do it on purpose.

[splitshot]

  i am not trying it.  got each set of ammo for each gun and thats that!.  thanks guys for the info,  was interesting.  mike w

[brush hunter]

  i am not trying it.  got each set of ammo for each gun and thats that!.  thanks guys for the info,  was interesting.  mike w

Good idea, but none the less this thread will go on for a while. Some people think it's ok, some don't.  Some people blow their faces and fingers off, some won't!

[boneaddict]

  you can shoot a 38 sp. in a 357 even though t  38 is shorter.  the same application i s here.  the 380 is shorter than the 9 and has less powder.  mike w

 

Some people blow their faces and fingers off, some won't!

Quote of the month!

[jyerxa]

I'll shoot 44 specials in my 44 mag.

I'd shoot 38's in a 357 if I had one.

I will not shoot 22lr in my 22mag.

And that is it for me.

[cwuwildcat]

This is a good article on what can happen when you load the wrong round in a semi auto!  You'll need to go to the link to see the photo to have a little context of the story.

http://modernserviceweapons.com/?p=3116&utm_source=feedly

"As you can probably tell from the photo above, something is very wrong here. What you see is a .40 caliber case that almost made it out of a .45 caliber barrel. What you cannot see is the .45 bullet that is lodged in the barrel behind the .40 case. The analysis of the event points to the following scenario: a .40 round was inadvertently loaded into the .45 magazine and managed to be chambered and fired. The pistol cycled but did not extract the .40 case, loading a .45 round behind it. The .45 round was fired and drove the .40 case down the barrel and almost out. It appears that the empty case acted like an umbrella in the wind and expanded to the point where it engaged the barrel rifling (visible in photo). This provided enough resistance to plug the barrel, and subsequently bulge the barrel to the point where the slide and barrel were locked so hard that they could not be moved, even by repeated application of a ballpeen hammer.So, what do we learn from this? In the immediate sense, the shooter learned that his pistol was strong enough not to blow apart in his hand. More to the point, we should learn that attention to detail is incredibly important. The agency had transitioned from .40 to .45 in the past year. The ammo for that day’s training was from factory new cases. It is unknown if the .40 round was left over in some of the shooter’s gear or if possibly someone picked it up off the ground at the range and added it to the ammo table. We will likely never know.This type of mix-up is fairly common, especially with agencies that transition from 9mm to .40 or .40 to .45, as well as with entities that use multiple calibers simultaneously, such as 9mm subguns and .40 pistols. While this does not make the event acceptable, it simply highlights the need to stay vigilant at the range."

[Wazukie]

Just DO NOT try to fire a 9x18 in a pistol designed for a 9x17 or 9x19, bad things WILL happen. 

[sirfunkeybut]

I just had an epiphany!!! when I go to buy ammo for my 9mm I buy 9mm, not .380.