Ammo question

Clarentavious

February 11, 2012 11:47

Ok, this may sound stupid, but I have never really understood the difference between .38 Special and .38 Special +P. I have had only a limited amount of experience with a .38 Special for starters. I guess I just need to know what the difference between the two is, does +P have to be shot through a "special" type of .38 revolver and can I shoot +P through a .357 revolver?

Thanks!

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  Clarentavious

  February 11, 2012 11:47

  Let me see, how to put the question. Is it true, that if you use one type of ammo for target, and a different ammo to hunt with that the weight should be the same For instance!! If you use 158 grain lead nose to practice with then you should use 158 grain jhp to hunt with. Is this correct? Seems to make sense, since both weights are equal so you should hit target in the same place, taken into consideration windage and elevation. Thank you for any information.

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  nmyers

  February 11, 2012 12:02

  No. Both cartridges headspace on the case mouth. The .380, known in Europe as "9mm Corto" (9mm short), would probably drop down into the chamber of your pistol.
  
  In addition, some autos do not completely surround the case head, &, even if you were to get the .380 round to fire, you would risk catatrophic failure. I don't know about you, but I'm too busy to spend a day lying on my back in the ER while a plastic surgeon digs pieces of metal out of my face.
  
  Only fire the factory-correct round in any firearm.
  
  Neal

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  mark christian

  February 11, 2012 12:47

  It won't work...Or at least it won't work safely. It will not work because the case of the .380acp (17mm) is shorter than the 9mm Luger (19mm) which means that the .380 will go too far into the chamber. Typically the firing pin will not strike the primer because the .380 is 2mm further into the chamber than the 9mm...But sometimes it will reach. In the situation if the extractor somehow catches the groove of the .380 it may or may not be strong enough to hold the case while the firing pin strikes the primer. the issue is that the case is basically unsupported at this point and all sorts of nasty things can happen...None of them good for your pistol! Even in the best situation where nothing happens, you won't get more than a single round fired before the gun jams.

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  Riomouse911

  February 12, 2012 14:02

  I had a guy on the range fire one .380 in a sig 226 9mm, it was tossed into an ammo can full of 9 and he didn't notice. It fired, but didn't cycle the slide. I guess the extractor was able to hold it against the breechface hard enough for the firing pin to whack the primer. I have also seen this happen at a drive-by shooting crime scene where some mope fired .45 GAP in a .45 auto gun. The witnesses said the gun kept jamming on him.
  
  Maybe you can find an amigo to swap your .380 for 9mm.
  
  Everyone here will say that you should only fire rounds in arms actually chambered for that round... for good reason. Keeps ya safeer on the range!..[8D]

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