can u use 380. cal bullets in a ap9 9mm?

Question

i just wanted to know if 380.cal would work in a ap9 9mm or just 9mm cal bullets work in it only

Answer 1

I reload both 9mm and .380 cal. Some time ago I was loading up some 9mm stuff. After loading 100 rounds I always look the rounds over (quality control) I found about a dozen add looking rounds. I had somehow mixed a few .380 cases in the 9mm box. The overall length of the rounds was the same as the 9mm rounds. I got curious if they would perform in my gun. I decided to try them out in my old Taurus 96. I chronographed the rounds. My regular 9mm rounds clocked in at about 1100 fps. The ".380 longs" came it at 700 fps and jammed the gun. They would feed but not eject. They also put an amazing amount of unburned powder down the barrel. The short case and lightly held bullet did not give the powder enough time to fully ignite. It also took me forever to get all the crude out of my chamber and barrel.

Answer 2

Bound's hubby here: The .380 has many proper names. In the US, the proper name is .380 ACP. In Europe, it is called the 9x17mm or 9mm Corto or Kurz, which stands for 9mm short. The 9m (Luger) is also known as the 9x19mm. The bullet for both the 9mm and the .380 are the same diameter (0.355"). The only difference between the bullets is the weight of the projectile. The .380 bullet generally runs between 85 and 90 grains. The bullet for the 9mm generally weighs between 115 and 147 grains. A bullet for the .380 could be loaded into a 9mm cartridge. Now, if you are asking if the .380 cartridge could be fired in a 9mm firearm the answer is no. Both the .380 and the 9mm head space on the case mouth, not on the rim. The biggest difference between the 9mm and the .380 is the case length. If you've tried to fire a .380 in a 9mm firearm chances are very good that the cartridge will not fire. Because when you squeeze the trigger and the hammer falls the firing pin will push the cartridge forward 2 milimeters at which point the cartridge case will stop sliding forward but the firing pin will not have enough force or travel distance to detonate the primer. Therefore, the .380 should not be fired in a 9mm handgun even though the bullet is still 9mm in diameter. Good luck and good shooting.

Answer 3

While the .380 ACP is sometimes refered to as a 9mm short, there are other substantial differences. The head space problem has already been addressed; but the 9mm parabellum (luger) is actually slightly tapered while the .380 ACP is a straight wall case. The rim diameters are different diameters (.374" for the .380 and .394 for the 9mm) and that might create real problems in certain firearms. The bullets (projectiles) are the same diamter and can be used in either round if your are hand loading, but the 9mm Makarov is a completely different cartridge with a different diameter bullet (projectile). So, the answer is no and doing so might even be dangerous.

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
can u use 380. cal bullets in a ap9 9mm?
i just wanted to know if 380.cal would work in a ap9 9mm or just 9mm cal bullets work in it only

Answer 5

380 And 9mm

Answer 6

You can use the same bullets for reloading, but you can't reliably shoot .380 ammo in a 9 mmP.

Both cartridges headspace on the cartridge casemouth. The .380 is 2 millimeters shorter than the 9 mmP so unless the extractor managed to catch the cartridge and hold it against the bolt-face, the firing pin won't be able to hit the primer hard enough to fire the cartridge.

I'd not want to rely on that sort of hit-or-miss ignition for defense. Buy the proper ammo.

Doc

Answer 7

I know for a fact (I tried it) that while the .380 and 9mm Mak and 9mm are all based on the same cartridge, they may chamber and fire, but it ain't safe. For one, the smaller bullet won't seat fully in the chamber, and the larger caliber will jam into the rifling of the barrel, making it impossible to clear it, and the chamber will be dangerously overpressurized.

Answer 8

The bullets work, but the cartridges don't. Both cartridges headspace off the rim, so case length is critical. You'll find that it's a rule that rimless cartridges won't allow substitutes.
You'll find it enjoyable and useful to learn some of the technical details of the shooting sports, including the difference between a bullet and a cartridge, and what headspacing is. When you get into an argument over whether secant or tangent ogives are a better idea, you've gone too far!

Answer 9

No, they're shorter it won't work. I think it may be possible to get a .380 pistol to chamber 9mm makarov rounds, but this is extremely dangerous as they have much higher pressure.

Fire the round the pistol was designed for. There are not many cases of interchangability between rounds with semi-automatic pistols.

Answer 10

no only the Millie although your right in the fact that a .380 is just a short 9 mill the casings arnt made to the same tolerance and our not compatible. while the amount of bullets that are 38cal/9mill or necked down versions the only one i know that is capable of using 2 different rounds is the 357 which can shoot 38 rounds but not vice verca