380 ACP bullet in a 38 Special?

[Gun Geezer]

For reasons that will not be discussed (because it is embarrasing) I happen to have 500 each 380 ACP bullets. They are 100 gr Berry's Plated.

.355" diameter.

I know 38 Special is .357" diameter.

Can the 380 ACP bullets be safely loaded into 38 Speical brass and shot with reasonable plinking accuracy?

No big loss either way. Just need to do something with them.

:banghead:

 

[MutinousDoug]

Safely? Yes, although you may experience difficulty with a lack of neck tension to hold the bullet in the case. You could try sizing your cases without using an expander die.
Reasonable plinking accuracy? Unlikely. Depends on your gun and your definition of "reasonable plinking accuracy".

 

[Gun Geezer]

But, I wouldn't need the expander die!

 

[NWcityguy2]

Give it a try, it will be safe. Barrels run all over the place size wise so .002 difference won't destroy accuracy in and of itself. Some 9mm barrels are .357+ and nobody is the wiser because all they shoot is jacketed bullets. I'm not promising accuracy but a slightly small bullet won't ruin it all by itself.

 

[SEE IT LIKE A NATIVE]

Couldn't you use the 9mm sizing die with the .38 cases ? I was thinking you might have to use the tapered crimp dies from 9mm instead of a roll crimp . I don't even know if this can be done as I do not have 9mm dies , it is just something you might try ! Kevin

 

[NWcityguy2]

Looking at Berrys .380 bullets they are probably .356 not .355. At least they should be.

 

[hovercat]

Seat them deep, or you will have a lot of squibs. I tried this, trying to be cheap. I ended up re-seating them almost flush with the case mouth.

 

[FROGO207]

Someone here would be willing to buy them from you so you could then get the correct ones I bet. How well they will work is at best a crap shoot IMHO. Good excuse to get that 380 that you have been putting off buying for a while you know.

 

[NWcityguy2]

You would have to seat those backwards to get them close to flush with the case mouth.

 

[Gun Geezer]

Someone here would be willing to buy them from you so you could then get the correct ones I bet. How well they will work is at best a crap shoot IMHO. Good excuse to get that 380 that you have been putting off buying for a while you know.

I like the way you think!

 

[Gun Geezer]

You would have to seat those backwards to get them close to flush with the case mouth.

So load them like a wad cutter? Makes sense, I guess.

 

[NWcityguy2]

See if you can't load them normally first, thats my recommendation.

 

[hueyville]

It will work but suggest you put them back for the day you end up with a .380 or trade them. Back about 25 years ago I experimented with 88 gr 9mm hollow points in .357 cases. Will not give the charge I worked up to but was using compressed loads of slower pistol powder and running them through a 12" Dan Wesson. I was getting spectacular velocities and bullet expansion. Ran through over 30 combinations to get any kind of consistent accuracy but was never great. The attempt was to come up with a real long range varmint combo.

 

[joneb]

In my younger years I would have smacked them with a hammer and resize to .357".
I like FROGO's solution
There outta be someone that would buy these from you ?
I would try working up a hot load using Bullseye.

 

[kingmt]

Unless it was face to face or they we're really cheep shipping would make out hard to resale. If it is a good deal let me know what you have & I may take them.

 

[HighExpert]

I would put them on gunbroker.com and sell them. I have been reloading for many years and have found that doing stupid things will generally net stupid mistakes with less than pleasant consequences. It is not worth it. Squibs, over pressure loads and just generally dirtying up your gun is not worth it.

 

[kludge]

I'd take them. PM me a price. Flat rate shipped USPS.