Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association
Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 22
  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Yardley, Pennsylvania
    (Bucks County)
    Posts
    2,691
    Rep Power
    21474850

    Default Need help type of caliber friends gun

    My friend just inherited a gun and it states 9 m/m (380). Is it 9mm or 380?

    I’ll post a picture when I get home. It’s a 1911 Llama
    "I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery." Thomas Jefferson

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Glockin, Pennsylvania
    (Montgomery County)
    Posts
    4,464
    Rep Power
    21474851

    Default Re: Need help type of caliber friends gun

    Not positive, but sounds like .380ACP which is also known as 9mm Kurz (short) or 9x17. Whereas 9mm Luger or Parabellum is 9x19. 9mm Kurz is the more European name of what us Americans call the .380 Automatic Colt Pistol.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Chester/ Clinton, Pennsylvania
    Posts
    410
    Rep Power
    19877139

    Default Re: Need help type of caliber friends gun

    could be wrong, but a 380 is a shorter 9mm. Kinda like a .22cb is shorter then .22lr

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Reading, Pennsylvania
    (Berks County)
    Age
    53
    Posts
    820
    Rep Power
    21474849

    Default Re: Need help type of caliber friends gun

    Quote Originally Posted by jthrelf View Post
    Not positive, but sounds like .380ACP which is also known as 9mm Kurz (short) or 9x17. Whereas 9mm Luger or Parabellum is 9x19. 9mm Kurz is the more European name of what us Americans call the .380 Automatic Colt Pistol.
    What he said .....excellent description. Technically you can fire a .380 cartridge out of a 9mm chambered firearm ( more than likely will not cycle) you cannot do the reverse without damaging the firearm.
    Fortuna audaces iuvat
    "Who is John Galt?"
    Deus Vult

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Belly of the BEAST, Pennsylvania
    (Montgomery County)
    Posts
    2,387
    Rep Power
    21367481

    Default Re: Need help type of caliber friends gun

    Quote Originally Posted by jthrelf View Post
    Not positive, but sounds like .380ACP which is also known as 9mm Kurz (short) or 9x17. Whereas 9mm Luger or Parabellum is 9x19. 9mm Kurz is the more European name of what us Americans call the .380 Automatic Colt Pistol.
    Is spot on!

    Also known as 9mm Short, 9mm Corto, and 9mm Browning Court.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    East side of the ANF, Pennsylvania
    (Elk County)
    Posts
    7,019
    Rep Power
    21474859

    Default Re: Need help type of caliber friends gun

    Quote Originally Posted by jthrelf View Post
    Not positive, but sounds like .380ACP which is also known as 9mm Kurz (short) or 9x17. Whereas 9mm Luger or Parabellum is 9x19. 9mm Kurz is the more European name of what us Americans call the .380 Automatic Colt Pistol.
    Was er gesagt.

    Noah
    Wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Yardley, Pennsylvania
    (Bucks County)
    Posts
    2,691
    Rep Power
    21474850

    Default Re: Need help type of caliber friends gun

    Here's the photo---sorry for the late reply and thanks for the awesome explanations:

    9MM-380.jpg
    "I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery." Thomas Jefferson

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    The cold, dark, void, Pennsylvania
    (Clearfield County)
    Posts
    4,072
    Rep Power
    21474852

    Default Re: Need help type of caliber friends gun

    Quote Originally Posted by Grizzlytrap View Post
    could be wrong, but a 380 is a shorter 9mm. Kinda like a .22cb is shorter then .22lr
    Yes and no, they use the same diameter bullet but the .380 case is slightly smaller in diameter.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Richboro, Pennsylvania
    (Bucks County)
    Posts
    3,053
    Rep Power
    21474851

    Default Re: Need help type of caliber friends gun

    Quote Originally Posted by raxar View Post
    Yes and no, they use the same diameter bullet but the .380 case is slightly smaller in diameter.
    Correct. A .380 has a smaller rim. When I am reloading every now and then a .380 case gets mixed up with the 9 mm and it usually pops out of the shellholder or jams something up. I don't think any of the .380 cases made it to the end (which is good).

    FYI there is another 9mm out there that some people mix up. The 9x18 Makarov. It uses a slightly larger diameter bullet (.365 vs .355) but the rim is the same as a standard 9mm. All you have to do to make 9x18 brass from a 9mm case is to size it and trim it 1mm. Performance wise the 9x18 is slightly hotter than the .380.

    So summing it up what most of us just call a "9mm" is officially a 9mm Parabellum or a 9x19 (metric designation). But for some reason it is called a 9mm Luger in the US. And don't forget the 9mm Nato that is loaded to a higher pressure. Consider it a 9mm+p so don't shoot it in and older pistol. Clear?

    The 9x18 Makarov is 1mm shorter with a larger diameter bullet, and the .380 is a 9x17 with a smaller diameter case.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    FTKC, Pennsylvania
    (Butler County)
    Posts
    1,790
    Rep Power
    6141749

    Default Re: Need help type of caliber friends gun

    When he see's the price of 380 ammo he'll wish it was 9mm luger

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Introducing friends of friends to firearms
    By Kingkowboys in forum General
    Replies: 35
    Last Post: February 1st, 2020, 12:55 AM
  2. Replies: 2
    Last Post: August 4th, 2013, 07:34 PM
  3. Replies: 13
    Last Post: April 27th, 2010, 10:51 PM
  4. MILITARY FRIENDS -VS- CIVILIAN FRIENDS
    By larrymeyer in forum General
    Replies: 17
    Last Post: February 21st, 2008, 01:25 PM
  5. PA whitetail deer; ammo type & caliber ???'s
    By kmrcstintn in forum General
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: November 15th, 2007, 01:54 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •