i have some bullets to reload my 9mm and i have some bullets to reload my 38spl NOW the question (my micrometer battery is dead) can the bullets for the 9 be used to reload the 380? OR can the 38 bullets be used to reload the 9? im not home so i dont have any of my books or papers with me.... thanks
380-38-9mm question
- Thread starter poor man
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Para Cassatt
Member
Not knowing exactly what you have , I can say that some light weight 9mm bullets can be used in 380. I have loaded the Hornady 115 gr. XTP and the Speer 9mm 125 gr. swaged lead bullet both in 380. Be sure to use the proper data and make a dummy load to see if they'll fit your gun.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Yes, and No.
.380 / 9mm jacketed bullets are normally .355" dia.
.38 / .357 bullets for revolvers are normally .357" dia.
9mm bullets are normally heavier then .380 ACP bullets.
And .38/.357 revolver bullets are normally heavier then auto pistol bullets.
So, you best go home and sort out what you have, and what they all go in.
And stop by Walmart or somewhere and pick up a couple spare batteries for your measuring instrumentation.
It never hurts to have a spare!
rc
.380 / 9mm jacketed bullets are normally .355" dia.
.38 / .357 bullets for revolvers are normally .357" dia.
9mm bullets are normally heavier then .380 ACP bullets.
And .38/.357 revolver bullets are normally heavier then auto pistol bullets.
So, you best go home and sort out what you have, and what they all go in.
And stop by Walmart or somewhere and pick up a couple spare batteries for your measuring instrumentation.
It never hurts to have a spare!
rc
rfwobbly
Member
Classic question.
► The diameter of the bullet must be sized to fit the barrel.
► The weight and shape of the bullet must be right for the firearm's action.
• 380 and 9mm bullets are generally too loose for the 38/357 barrel.
• 9mm bullets are generally too heavy to shoot in the non-locking action of a 380.
• 38 bullets usually have the wrong nose shape ("Ogive") to follow the feed ramp of an auto pistol.
► The diameter of the bullet must be sized to fit the barrel.
► The weight and shape of the bullet must be right for the firearm's action.
• 380 and 9mm bullets are generally too loose for the 38/357 barrel.
• 9mm bullets are generally too heavy to shoot in the non-locking action of a 380.
• 38 bullets usually have the wrong nose shape ("Ogive") to follow the feed ramp of an auto pistol.
LiveLife
Member
For fun, I have used 9mm 125 gr .356" lead RN bullets for .38 Spl plinking loads. They worked, but the accuracy was not as good. 
I tried some .38 Spl 125 Gr HP plated Power Bond bullets in 9MM, and they worked just fine. It was a test to see if they would work in a pinch.
I loaded them at 1.050 average OAL and used 4.9 Grs SR-4756 and got an average 1050 (Go figure) FPS in low 90's temps.
Use this load at your own risk.
I loaded them at 1.050 average OAL and used 4.9 Grs SR-4756 and got an average 1050 (Go figure) FPS in low 90's temps.
Use this load at your own risk.
JLDickmon
Member
yeah, the mic takes just a regular button battery.. couple bucks at Walgreens..
gamestalker
member
I thought jacketed 38 spcl. bullets we are .357" ?
And if referring to .380 / 9mm jacketed bullets they are .355" ?
As for plated or lead don't those vary according to application barrel fit?
I'm not an expert, but if it is all jacketed then a .355", or .380 / 9mm bullet is going to be too small for the case, and, or, barrel for .357 / 38 spcl ? And then the other way around if using .357" bullets (38 spcl.) for 9mm would be .002" to large.
GS
And if referring to .380 / 9mm jacketed bullets they are .355" ?
As for plated or lead don't those vary according to application barrel fit?
I'm not an expert, but if it is all jacketed then a .355", or .380 / 9mm bullet is going to be too small for the case, and, or, barrel for .357 / 38 spcl ? And then the other way around if using .357" bullets (38 spcl.) for 9mm would be .002" to large.
GS
Clark
Member
I use .358" 158 gr LSWC bullets in one 380.
I use .355" 115 gr JHP in all 380s.
As long as the cartridge will drop into the chamber and fall out, there do not seem to be problems.
Problems occur when the chamber is hard to close.
I have not done many experiments with 380 hard to cartridges in chamber, but I have with 9mm, and I am sure the principal is the same.
If the bullet is pinched and can't get started moving forward until the pressure is high, then that delay causes the powder to burn faster [relative to bullet position] and a pressure spike results.
But a moving bullet seems to swage down to a tighter bore without a change in pressure.
This is counter intuitive, but well documented in Ackley's 1966 book and I have verified it.
I use .355" 115 gr JHP in all 380s.
As long as the cartridge will drop into the chamber and fall out, there do not seem to be problems.
Problems occur when the chamber is hard to close.
I have not done many experiments with 380 hard to cartridges in chamber, but I have with 9mm, and I am sure the principal is the same.
If the bullet is pinched and can't get started moving forward until the pressure is high, then that delay causes the powder to burn faster [relative to bullet position] and a pressure spike results.
But a moving bullet seems to swage down to a tighter bore without a change in pressure.
This is counter intuitive, but well documented in Ackley's 1966 book and I have verified it.
gamestalker
member
9mm and .380 auto can be intechangd prviding the weight is within existing data for each. An example is a 90 gr. .355" jacketed bullet will function for either 9mm or .380.
As for 38 spcl., jacketed bullets are .357" in diameter and are not able to be reloaded in 9mm or .380.
LSWC bullets or other non jacketed bullets are a whole different story, to which I have no experience, background, or knowledge pretaining to.
GS
As for 38 spcl., jacketed bullets are .357" in diameter and are not able to be reloaded in 9mm or .380.
LSWC bullets or other non jacketed bullets are a whole different story, to which I have no experience, background, or knowledge pretaining to.
GS
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Mmmmm?
In your bench photo.
Why are you measuring bullets in MM instead of .001" of an inch??
9.01, 9.08, and 9.09 are pretty meaningless to most reloaders, when American bullets measure .335" .356" .357. & .358".
There is a button on your calipers to change from metric to inch measurements.
rc
In your bench photo.
Why are you measuring bullets in MM instead of .001" of an inch??
9.01, 9.08, and 9.09 are pretty meaningless to most reloaders, when American bullets measure .335" .356" .357. & .358".
There is a button on your calipers to change from metric to inch measurements.
rc
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
I know how to do it.
I just should have too.
rc
I just should have too.
rc
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