Thread: 380 & 9mm
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Old 11-23-2010, 11:30 AM
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SMSgt SMSgt is offline
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The .380 and 9mm Luger use the same diameter bullet (.355) but different length cases (9x17mm for the .380; 9x19 for the Luger, and of course powder loads). In all likelyhood, the Luger case would not fit the .380 chamber due to its 2mm longer case. Because the Luger operates at a much high pressure, it would be dangerous to fire it in a .380 even if the tolerances were loose enough to allow it to fit.

On the flip side, the .380 will fit into the luger chamber, and if the extractor holds the case against the breech face, it probably will fire. Still, it's not a good idea to mix ammos and chambers, the exceptings being .38 in .357, .44 Spec in .44 Mag, and the like.

The .38 Spec uses a .357 diameter bullet, and it's doubtful teh .38 case would fit any of the small round chambers. Neither the rimless .380 case or 9mm case would properly fit the .38 Spec chamber. You might get one to fire, but you might also do the same by holding the round in a closed fist and hitting the primer. But do you want to?

The 9mm Makarov is a totally different animal. Its bullet is .365 in diameter, and firing it in any of the above chambers is asking for a disaster. I haven't done a "drop test" to see if it would even fit, but I doubt it.

Last edited by SMSgt; 11-23-2010 at 11:33 AM.
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