Question about 380 vs 9mm.

[Twiki357]

I recently collected an assortment of brass at my local range. While sorting it, I came across some “small” brass with a 9mm head stamp, but are within all the size dimensions for 380. The head stamp is a manufacture of “S&B” and caliber marked as “9mm Br.C.” I recall having read something about the 380 being labeled in Europe as 9mm short. The cases are brass with boxer, not Berdan, primers. I was wondering if anyone has run into these and are they really 380’s.

 

[Bernie Lomax]

Could be 9mm Makarov. AIUI, 9mm Mak is a lot more common in Europe than here and most of the companies that manufacture it are European (Sellier & Bellot is a Czech company.)

 

[918v]

The 9mm Br.C. stands for 9mm Browning Court, aka the .380 Auto.

 

[gamestalker]

I picked up about 500 or so rounds of 9mm brass at my shooting spot a couple of weeks ago. When I was sorting I found 15 or 20 that were the same as what you just described, but until just now I wasn't sure of what the deal was. My first thought was someone has trimmed 9mm down to .380 specification.

 

[northark147]

The 9mm Br.C. stands for 9mm Browning Court, aka the .380 Auto.

Yep, I have ran into these, Ive shot quite a few boxes of them. The brass is pretty good brass for reloading too.

 

[cfullgraf]

The 9mm Br.C. stands for 9mm Browning Court, aka the .380 Auto.

Actually, it is "corte" which is Italian for short. I guess the auto spell correction routine did not know the difference.

Sometimes 380 ACP is also known as 9mm Kurz.

 

[northark147]

Actually the S&B box says court... maybe S&B is using auto correct for packaging and thier website.... it is also known as Kurz.. In any case its all .380

http://www.sellier-bellot.cz/pistol-and-revolver-detail.php?ammunition=9&product=66

 

[cfullgraf]

I stand corrected. Maybe "court" is short in Czech--or what ever the language they speak over there.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

you should collect in a seperate bag, .380 brass costs more actually than 9mm Para. likely you could sell/trade it.

 

[northark147]

Lol He never said He was looking to get rid of it.. I'd love to have it, its fine reloading brass for my Miss Elsie P.

 

[kingmt]

I wish I'd find more of it.

 

[GLOOB]

My first thought was someone has trimmed 9mm down to .380 specification.

Can't be done. But luger can be trimmed down to 9x18 specification. So you may find 9x19 marked brass that's 1mm too short. If you don't notice when the expander fails to hit them, then you probably will notice during seating, when it looks like your cartridge comes out way too long!

 

[oneounceload]

On the side of my 1934 Beretta, (made in 1942), it is "corto", for short - which we know as the 9X17 or 380ACP, while the box of S&B ammo I have says "court"............

 

[jcwit]

Beretta==Italy
Sellier & Bellot==Czech Republic

 

[rfwobbly]

Exactly. What we call "380" is actually 9x17mm. Thus the "9mm short" designation. 9x18 being "Makarov" and 9x19 being "Luger".

There are also 9x21, two different 9x23's and a 9x25. But who's counting.

 

[jcwit]

Don't forget the 9mm Largo.

 

[Twiki357]

Thanks guys. I’ll just add it to my stock pile of 380. That way, after I fire it and pick it up, I can confuse myself again. GLOOB – Yup. Got a couple of those too.

 

[Hondo 60]

The .380 is known in Europe as a 9mm Kurz.

Kurz = short (in German)

 

[Clark]

I worked with a guy who said his Makarov was a 9mm.
The next week it blew up in the hand of his fiancé at the range and she was injured.

They broke off the engagement and he quit and left town. Not because of that. He had lots of other problems.

 

[Shadow 7D]

clark, his Mak was 9mm
BUT it's like saying that
.380
.38APC
.38Super
.38 S&w
.38 Special
.357 mag

And of course, 9x19
9 Police
9 Steyr
9x23
are all 9mm
and they are... about .355-.357~
but the 9mak is a different beast, being .365...

Point is, it's best to check to make sure you got the right 9mm.

 

[ironhead7544]

They did make some Makarovs in 9x19 but function was not good. Dropped from production quickly.

 

[bloominonion]

.380 Auto is also known as:
.380 ACP
9x17
9mm short
9mm Browning

All of the above are the exact same thing, just depends on where it came from.

Also, as stated above, the 9mm luger cannot be trimmed down to be a 380 as the 9mm luger is a tapered wall case, and the 380 is a straight wall case.

 

[rfwobbly]

All of the above are the exact same thing, just depends on where it came from.

They all came from the mind of John M Browning !!

 

[oneounceload]

clark, his Mak was 9mm
BUT it's like saying that
.380
.38APC
.38Super
.38 S&w
.38 Special
.357 mag

And of course, 9x19
9 Police
9 Steyr
9x23
are all 9mm
and they are... about .355-.357~
but the 9mak is a different beast, being .365...

Point is, it's best to check to make sure you got the right 9mm.

All of which makes the difference between "caliber" and "cartridge" that much more important to understand

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

actualy S&B brass is some good reloading stuff. many loads (maybe as many as 8-10) of .380acp and .32acp I've got from it and no primer pocket loosening