carterbeauford
member
Is it safe to fire .380ACP in a gun chambered for 9MM?
.380ACP in a 9MM?
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jessicalois
Member
Whirlwind06
Member
no
I'm going to go out on a limb and advise that it's best to fire the caliber stamped on the side of the slide and only that caliber. IMO, you should stay out of trouble that way. I wouldn't fire any caliber out of any gun except calibers it was designed for. Sure, .380 is 9mm Kurz or "short" (9x17), but that doesn't necessarily mean a 9x19 will fire 9x18 or 9x17.
Just my $.02
Just my $.02
M2 Carbine
member
The bullet diameter is the same.355 but the .380 case is 2mm shorter and much smaller diameter at the base.
The 9mm is a tapered case and the .380 case is straight walled.
If the firing pin does reach the .380 primer and fire the .380 there will probably be some blow back but there won't be any damage to the gun. The power of the .380 is a good bit less than the 9mm and the bullet is lighter also.
So while you can't call it safe, you could get burned powder in your face, it's not unsafe like the gun might blow up.
The 9mm is a tapered case and the .380 case is straight walled.
If the firing pin does reach the .380 primer and fire the .380 there will probably be some blow back but there won't be any damage to the gun. The power of the .380 is a good bit less than the 9mm and the bullet is lighter also.
So while you can't call it safe, you could get burned powder in your face, it's not unsafe like the gun might blow up.
carterbeauford
member
I know better, figured it was worth asking because:
Some random dude shows up at my work, must be a friend of one of our mechanics, because one of them pulls me aside and says hey you want to buy some guns? There stands this unkempt looking dude who I have never seen before in my life. Getting right down to business...
yo I got a 9MM for sale.
what kind?
Hi-Point.
I'll pass.
yo I got some .380 ammo for sale too.
I don't own anything chambered in .380, thanks.
yo you can shoot .380 in a 9, I do it all the time.
thanks, good day.
cliff notes: random dude shows up and says he shoots .380 in his 9MM Hi-Point and I don't have the heart to call him out, even though I've never heard of anyone doing this, ever, so I err on the side of caution and ask my colleagues.
Some random dude shows up at my work, must be a friend of one of our mechanics, because one of them pulls me aside and says hey you want to buy some guns? There stands this unkempt looking dude who I have never seen before in my life. Getting right down to business...
yo I got a 9MM for sale.
what kind?
Hi-Point.
I'll pass.
yo I got some .380 ammo for sale too.
I don't own anything chambered in .380, thanks.
yo you can shoot .380 in a 9, I do it all the time.
thanks, good day.
cliff notes: random dude shows up and says he shoots .380 in his 9MM Hi-Point and I don't have the heart to call him out, even though I've never heard of anyone doing this, ever, so I err on the side of caution and ask my colleagues.
jessicalois
Member
lol, that sounds sketchy as hell
briansp82593
Member
and i can guess what that hi point was used for...
carterbeauford
member
probably not IDPA.
Diamondback
Member
...most likely SASS cowboy action shoot events.
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Car Knocker
Member
Actually, a 9mm Browning High Power will feed and fire .380 ACP quite nicely. The slide cycles well, also. As in 9mm, the extractor holds the case against the breech face, so the firing pin doesn't extend out any further.
Interestingly enough, 9mm brass shortened 1/10" but loaded to proper OAL works just as well as standard length 9mm brass. The extractor provided the headspace, not the case mouth.
Results courtesy of youthful experiment 40 years ago.
Interestingly enough, 9mm brass shortened 1/10" but loaded to proper OAL works just as well as standard length 9mm brass. The extractor provided the headspace, not the case mouth.
Results courtesy of youthful experiment 40 years ago.
seeker_two
Member
How about in the 9mm cylinder for a Blackhawk .357? I'm curious if, in a SHTF situation, you could get away with it.... 
I've seen a 380 fired in a S&W auto where it fed and was held by the extractor. Gun fired but brass expanded and locked up the gun making it really hard to pull the slide back. No damage to gun or shooter but not something you want to do for fun.
The 9mm in the Blackhawk cylinder headspaces on the case mouth so the 380 would jusr fall in the cylinder. It might work if you put the 380 in the chamber of the cylinder and pointed the gun straight up so the firing pin might hit the primer hard enough.
Professor K
Member
C'mon...
I guess in a blowback operated gun, .380 would work better than one with a locking mecha, thus why it works in his Hi-Point.
Yes it will work - but no it is not a good idea.
I accidentally did it once. Wasn't paying close enough attention when I mixed up some reloads and a few .380's got stuck in my 9mm bag. It didn't do any damage, it just didn't feel right when I shot it. The case stovepiped and then I saw what had happened.
Embarassing to admit - but hey - you asked.
I've heard that .357Sig does the same thing when fired in a .40SW gun. Although in that case things are a little different.
I accidentally did it once. Wasn't paying close enough attention when I mixed up some reloads and a few .380's got stuck in my 9mm bag. It didn't do any damage, it just didn't feel right when I shot it. The case stovepiped and then I saw what had happened.
Embarassing to admit - but hey - you asked.
I've heard that .357Sig does the same thing when fired in a .40SW gun. Although in that case things are a little different.
sketchy
Yeah, sounds shady as it comes. A guy that I briefly knew (worked casual labor for me) offered to sell me a NAA 22 mag revolver for $50, I asked him where it came from and he told me not to worry that it didnt have any bodies on it.
That was that.
Also, I pay more for .380 than I do for 9mm so I can't imagine subbing it out unless the S had really HTF and that's all I had.
Yeah, sounds shady as it comes. A guy that I briefly knew (worked casual labor for me) offered to sell me a NAA 22 mag revolver for $50, I asked him where it came from and he told me not to worry that it didnt have any bodies on it.
That was that. Also, I pay more for .380 than I do for 9mm so I can't imagine subbing it out unless the S had really HTF and that's all I had.
My experience has been that no pistol chambered for 9mm Parabellum (9x19, 9mm Luger) will work at all reliably with .380 ACP. The usual result is a short cycle and/or a jam, plus an expanded case. I would do it only in an emergency.
(In spite of much nonsense that has been written by people who should know better, the Astra Model 400 will NOT function with .380 ACP. It was made for one cartridge, the 9mm Largo, and if it accepts or operates with any other caliber, it is coincidence.)
Jim
(In spite of much nonsense that has been written by people who should know better, the Astra Model 400 will NOT function with .380 ACP. It was made for one cartridge, the 9mm Largo, and if it accepts or operates with any other caliber, it is coincidence.)
Jim
Polish_Pounder
Member
I saw someone shoot .380 out of a 9mm Taurus during my CCW class in Detroit. It fired, but would not cycle the slide. I helped the guy get the case out and told him it was the wrong cartridge. He complained that he grabbed some ammo sitting around and it fit, so it wasn't his fault. I decided to let it go. Next magazine he loads he can't get a second round into. He forced the round in backwards, and I had to use a knife to get it out. Of course, this also wasn't his fault. The scariest thing about it, he passed that class. Everyone passed, even though about 8 people were downright scary with a gun. Did I mention that half the class came armed and had to turn over their firearms to the cop teaching the class until we got to the range portion? I love Detroit.
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