9mm short?

bad seed · December 29, 2012, 10:10 PM

is it possible to fire a .380 cartridge through a 9mm?

Cheapshooter · December 29, 2012, 10:21 PM

May be possible, but not practical, reliable, advisable, or wise!
Shorter answer......NO

chris in va · December 29, 2012, 10:26 PM

The case headspaces on the mouth, so the shorter 380 round won't chamber in a safe manner.

DON'T do it.

**Mike Irwin** · December 29, 2012, 11:15 PM

Your question could be read in one of several ways...

Other's have answered correctly that it's not a good idea to try to fire a .380 through a 9mm.

However, 9mm Short (the title of your thread) is but one name for the what we known as the .380 Auto.

In Europe you will see guns chambered for .380 marked 9mm Corto (Spanish), 9mm Kurz (German), or 9mm Browning Short (England).

It's possible that you have a gun marked 9mm Short or 9mm B Short. If that is the case, then yes, the .380 Auto WILL chamber and fire just fine in a gun so marked.

qwiksdraw · December 30, 2012, 11:38 AM

The 380 round is also known as 9X17.

Just out of curiosity, while I had my 9MM barrel out for cleaning I checked to see if the 380 would seat in the barrel. It didn't...too wide.

Rainbow Demon · December 30, 2012, 12:25 PM

The Astra model 400 in 9mm Bergman/Largo has been safely fired with the .380 cartridge and the 9x19 as well as several other 9mm/.38 rimless or semi rimmed cartridges, this being a blowback pistol relying on a extra heavy spring rather than a locked breech recoil operated autoloader.

If the extractor holds the rim solidly the firing pin should reach the primer.

Chamber dimensions of individual pistols will govern whether the cartridge will chamber.

Downsides are that if the case is pushed deeper in the chamber by the primer cup on ignition then you might get a blown primer, or the casehead may slam back against the breechface hard enough to break a firing pin tip or damage the breechface or extractor slot.

So while this combo may pose no danger to the shooter, it may cause damage to the pistol, at least if done repeatedly.

**Aguila Blanca** · December 30, 2012, 01:31 PM

I won't go into why, but I have intentionally fired .380 ACP through both a 9mm Hi-Power and through a 1911 using both a 9mm barrel and a .38 Super barrel. It's a bit tough on the extractor because the case is "headspacing" (if we can still use that term) on the extractor hook, but aside from that it worked.

I don't make a practice of it. It was done in the pursuit of a very specific investigation I was involved in at the time.

I don't think it's unsafe, but I don't recommend it.

December 29, 2012, 10:10 PM	#1
bad seed Junior Member Join Date: January 28, 2012 Posts: 3	9mm short? is it possible to fire a .380 cartridge through a 9mm?

December 29, 2012, 10:21 PM	#2
Cheapshooter Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 8,306	May be possible, but not practical, reliable, advisable, or wise! Shorter answer......NO __________________ Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING!

December 29, 2012, 11:15 PM	#4
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	Your question could be read in one of several ways... Other's have answered correctly that it's not a good idea to try to fire a .380 through a 9mm. However, 9mm Short (the title of your thread) is but one name for the what we known as the .380 Auto. In Europe you will see guns chambered for .380 marked 9mm Corto (Spanish), 9mm Kurz (German), or 9mm Browning Short (England). It's possible that you have a gun marked 9mm Short or 9mm B Short. If that is the case, then yes, the .380 Auto WILL chamber and fire just fine in a gun so marked. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

December 29, 2012, 10:26 PM	#3
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	The case headspaces on the mouth, so the shorter 380 round won't chamber in a safe manner. DON'T do it.

December 30, 2012, 11:38 AM	#5
qwiksdraw Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2012 Posts: 534	The 380 round is also known as 9X17. Just out of curiosity, while I had my 9MM barrel out for cleaning I checked to see if the 380 would seat in the barrel. It didn't...too wide.

December 30, 2012, 12:25 PM	#6
Rainbow Demon Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2012 Posts: 397	The Astra model 400 in 9mm Bergman/Largo has been safely fired with the .380 cartridge and the 9x19 as well as several other 9mm/.38 rimless or semi rimmed cartridges, this being a blowback pistol relying on a extra heavy spring rather than a locked breech recoil operated autoloader. If the extractor holds the rim solidly the firing pin should reach the primer. Chamber dimensions of individual pistols will govern whether the cartridge will chamber. Downsides are that if the case is pushed deeper in the chamber by the primer cup on ignition then you might get a blown primer, or the casehead may slam back against the breechface hard enough to break a firing pin tip or damage the breechface or extractor slot. So while this combo may pose no danger to the shooter, it may cause damage to the pistol, at least if done repeatedly.

December 30, 2012, 01:31 PM	#7
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 18,459	I won't go into why, but I have intentionally fired .380 ACP through both a 9mm Hi-Power and through a 1911 using both a 9mm barrel and a .38 Super barrel. It's a bit tough on the extractor because the case is "headspacing" (if we can still use that term) on the extractor hook, but aside from that it worked. I don't make a practice of it. It was done in the pursuit of a very specific investigation I was involved in at the time. I don't think it's unsafe, but I don't recommend it.