Difference between 380 & 380 ACP?

Question

I have a fairly new Walther pistol which accepts 380 ACP, 95 FMJ (aka 9mm Kurtz) rounds.

I've always used Winchester's 380 ACP rounds for my pistol, but today, I was at a sports store, and I noticed that there was a box of 380, 95 FMJ made by Winchester, which cost half of what a box of 380 ACP would be.

As the same manufacterer made both of these types of ammo, I am wondering then if these two are two completely different calibers? Or are they compatible with each other?

Answer 1

You were probably looking at box of Winchester Silvertip .380s and a box of Winchester .380 FMJ rounds. The FMJ rounds should be in a white box and are considered the 'practice' rounds that will work universally in any .380 acp pistol. Both are the same, except that the higher priced ammo is premium defensive ammo that sometimes jams in old .380 pistols not designed for anything but FMJ cartridges. Try a box of each. Both are chambered for your pistol. If you pistol jams with the hollow point ammo switch to Remington brand. Remington makes a hollow point round designed to feed even in pistol originally designed only for FMJ ammo, ball ammo.

Best.

H

Answer 2

A 380 is a 9 mm with a case length of 18 mm. What we call "9 mm" is 9 mm with a case length of 19 mm. That little bit of difference makes the 380 a weaker round. Weaker than the 9 mm and weaker than the 38 Special. It is a borderline gun, usually used as a back up gun or a concealed carry gun. It is popular right now (past six months) because it is one of the few ammos that is easy to get. Everything else is in short supply. As far as "slightly bigger than a 22 LR". Going up from the 22 LR you have the 22 Mag and the 25 Auto. The 380 is more in line with the 9 mm and 38 Special.

Answer 3

None. .380 ACP and 9mm Kurz are the same caliber. There are dozens of companies that manufacture .380 ammo.

Answer 4

They are not only compatible..They are identical and one and the same...........
There is only one American 380 ACP caliber pistol ammunition....... In Europe it is referred to as 9mm Kurtz (German) or 9mm Corto (Italian)

What you probably saw was a box of Winchester "White Box" pistol ammunition. It is promotional FMJ ammunition and will function in ANY 380 or 380 ACP firearm. The white box ammunition is less expensive by comparison, but just as high quality as any modern factory loaded ammunition available here in the U.S.

Answer 5

They are the same. But I would drop that girly pistol and get a real mans gun something in 45 acp.

Answer 6

As the above posters stated, there is no difference.

Answer 7

J D said it best except for 380 blows! get a 9mm!

Answer 8

None, they are one and the same.

Answer 9

One & the same.* Buy em.*