9mm & .38 super boolits the same?

[BamBam-31]

I just ordered 6000 125gr. JHP Zero 9mm bullets from Angus at Ghostholster.com, and I was sent half my order: 3000 125gr. JHP .38 super Zero bullets. I called the sales guy at Ghostholster, and he said the bullets would work.

Okay, I may be nitpicking, but I REALLY liked the 9mm bullets. They shoot like a dream out of all my 9mm's. Are the .38 supers different enough to affect accuracy? I believe the .38's are .356 in diameter, while the 9mm's are .355. Shape looks to be about the same, can't really tell. Should I load some up and see first, or should I return the shipment and ask for 9mm's?

TIA.

[buffybuster]

Diameter-wise they will work fine.

9mm and .38Super have the same nominal bore dimensions.

[BamBam-31]

Thanks. Anyone else have experience shooting .38 super bullets in a 9mm?

[gose]

It will probably be ok and I've shot the 125gr bullets with great results.
Some 9mm barrels might be tight, ie, slightly under .355, and if so you might get higher pressure when using .356 bullets.
However, if the barrel is slightly too big, you might actually get better results, accuracy-wise, with the .356 bullets.
If you want to be safe, you should have the exact diameter of your barrel checked before using the .356 bullets and at the very least you should err on the side of caution when working up your loads.

[yellowfin]

Get yourself a .38 Super and enjoy

[buffybuster]

The ONLY time that "38Super" bullets will not work in a 9x19 barrel is when that barrel is a Custom Fitted Match barrel with a Match Chamber (Not Drop In barrels). Some years ago, a friend had Bar-Sto make a Match Barrel to his spec's. It had a tight throat and a .354" bore and would only accept .355" bullets. It regularly shot 1-1/2"@50yds (10shot w/ rest).

Every OEM barrel that I have seen had no issues with using .356"-.357" bullets. Actually most Beretta 9mm bores are .357-.358. The only OEM barrel that I have run across that is consistently slightly undersize (.354-.355) is the SIG P210, but the throat is loose enough to take .356-.357 bullets.