.380 ACP VS .380 AUTO

[ICEHOLEPOKER]

Hi Guys,

I just bought my first .380 and decided on the Ruger LCP.
The barrell says .380 auto. Is there a difference between auto and ACP?
I'm trying to decide what practice and carry ammo to get.
Can I use either, or do I need to buy .380 auto?

Thanks,
Jim

[mythaeus]

Jim, they are the same. ACP = Automatic Colt Pistol. There are several other names for this caliber and they are listed here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.380_ACP (.380 Auto, 9mm Browning, 9mm Corto, 9mm Kurz, 9mm Short, and 9x17mm).

Good luck with the LCP. A few tips:
1. To better control mouse guns like LCP, wrap the weak hand's index (and middle if needed) finger around the trigger guard.

2. Watch the mag release, you may inadvertently eject the mag by bumping it in your pocket or even when shooting.

3. Watch the extended mag base, if you have it. If you shot it enough, putting pressure downward on the mag base can cause it to come loose after each shot.

Welcome to the forum.
Al

[knight0334]

Yup^.. same thing.

[Ppeter1666]

I will refer to a Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading Rifle-Pistol forth edition first printing 1991 Volume one. Specifically pages 541-542 as related to the .380 Automatic (9mm Kurz) and pages 549-551 38 ACP sorry I could not find an ISBN number

I take umbrage with many who post regarding the equivalence of the .380 Auto found stamped upon the popular LCP which I own and the venerable .380 ACP as noted by the pages in Hornady's reloading manual again, as noted above.

In fact these loads are considerably disparate and if confused may end in personal injury. Most ammunition found today for so-called .380ACP is 90 grain .380 Auto ammunition . A true .380 ACP according to this manual can hurl 125 grain bullets at speeds which match the equivalent 9 mm loads for 124 grain bullets found on page 547. Anyone attempting to locate such ammo will find the search empty as many have confused the rounds mostly due to industrial subterfuge. My LCP is clearly marked .380 auto Not .380 ACP. Any soul who mistakes these two and loads the maximum takes their life in their hands.

[ByblosHex]

I just call them short nines. That really throws people off.

.380 AUTO and .380 ACP are the same. One name gives credit to it's creator, one does not. Additionally .38 AUTO, .38 ACP, .38 Special and .38 SUPER are entirely different rounds altogether.

[Rundownfid]

I will refer to a Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading Rifle-Pistol forth edition first printing 1991 Volume one. Specifically pages 541-542 as related to the .380 Automatic (9mm Kurz) and pages 549-551 38 ACP sorry I could not find an ISBN number

I take umbrage with many who post regarding the equivalence of the .380 Auto found stamped upon the popular LCP which I own and the venerable .380 ACP as noted by the pages in Hornady's reloading manual again, as noted above.

In fact these loads are considerably disparate and if confused may end in personal injury. Most ammunition found today for so-called .380ACP is 90 grain .380 Auto ammunition . A true .380 ACP according to this manual can hurl 125 grain bullets at speeds which match the equivalent 9 mm loads for 124 grain bullets found on page 547. Anyone attempting to locate such ammo will find the search empty as many have confused the rounds mostly due to industrial subterfuge. My LCP is clearly marked .380 auto Not .380 ACP. Any soul who mistakes these two and loads the maximum takes their life in their hands.

Zeros have meaning. The .38 Super, is indeed a much more powerful round than the .380 Auto. Was the original question about that cartridge your post would be more relevant. If you could get a 38 Super sized round in a .380 you are strong enough not to need a handgun, just choke the bad guy to death.

[Dave_n]

You will also find people who will say that their 9 mm will feed 38s. What is forgotten is that the 9 Largo chambering will fit the 38 ACP and the 38 Super, but be very careful to engage brain before pulling trigger. Another one that causes a little angst at times is the British 380 designation, particularly if shown as 380/200. This is the UK Army load for Webley MkIVs (from WWII era) and the Enfield revolvers from the same time period. It is effectively the Colt New Police or the S&W 38 with a 200 grain cartridge. Dave_n

[Ppeter1666]

Perhaps Honady's manual is wrong. I'm not sure how 38 super, 38 special etc entered into this. I admit I did type 380 ACP instead of 38ACP. There is no such confusion in case length as some have pointed out nor zeros. There is simply no such thing as a .380ACP. While I have not reloaded a 380 auto yet I have loaded a 45 ACP. There is ample room for more powder. Perhaps my meaning has been lost, I did not imply a .900 case being force chambered into a .680 case chamber, did I say that? I think I was implying that there was a potential to overload a .380 auto based upon .38ACP data knowing the 45ACP has extra volume. Why was there a rsh to ridicule ad resume I somehow got it wrong Did any of you actually look it up? Just in case,so you know I did not confuse the the 38 super in my ignrance those lads begin on page 552.

Forget I mentioned it. Very cordial f you fellows.

[mythaeus]

Perhaps Honady's manual is wrong. I'm not sure how 38 super, 38 special etc entered into this. I admit I did type 380 ACP instead of 38ACP. There is no such confusion in case length as some have pointed out nor zeros. There is simply no such thing as a .380ACP. While I have not reloaded a 380 auto yet I have loaded a 45 ACP. There is ample room for more powder. Perhaps my meaning has been lost, I did not imply a .900 case being force chambered into a .680 case chamber, did I say that? I think I was implying that there was a potential to overload a .380 auto based upon .38ACP data knowing the 45ACP has extra volume. Why was there a rsh to ridicule ad resume I somehow got it wrong Did any of you actually look it up? Just in case,so you know I did not confuse the the 38 super in my ignrance those lads begin on page 552.

Forget I mentioned it. Very cordial f you fellows.

Please see information on the .380ACP here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.380_ACP

I don't think the Hornady's manual is wrong, you just misread/mistyped and thus confused .38ACP (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.38_ACP) with .380ACP. That's all that's been pointed out here. Whether you believe it or not, the .380ACP does exist and it is exactly the same as .380Auto. If you still don't think they do, you may want to write Hornady and tell them to stop making these: http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/30305762-1.html, or the newer Zombie Zmax version of it: http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/2H90083-1.html . Whether or not these are effective against zombies is still debatable

Welcome to the forum. What good is a welcome without a little hazing right?

Al

[Ppeter1666]

Well it seems I'm to eat humble pie. Thanks to all especially Al for providing links and the generosity of all that responded. Zeros do indeed have meaning here. If I offended anyone please accept a sincere apology. Thanks Jim, I will stick around as I can obviously earn something. I will be back for some more advice. Take care and good wishes to you all. Thanks for welcoming me, my honor.