9mm vs. 380 ACP

[ipser]

I've been realoading 9mm for a long time and am thinking about reloading 380 ACP too.

As I understand it, they are both the same diameter but MidwayUSA distinguishes the bullets. Most of the 380 ACP are listed as 355 diameter, same as 9mm. But a few are listed as 356 diameter, the same as 38 sp/357.

(And I'm only looking at copper plated lead, not unplated lead bullets).

Can anyone explain the difference between 9mm bullets and 380 ACP bullets (and, for that matter, 38 special bullets)? Is it just weight (and length) and marketing? Or is there a substantial difference?

[Bill Steele]

I've been realoading 9mm for a long time and am thinking about reloading 380 ACP too.

As I understand it, they are both the same diameter but MidwayUSA distinguishes the bullets. Most of the 380 ACP are listed as 355 diameter, same as 9mm. But a few are listed as 356 diameter, the same as 38 sp/357.

(And I'm only looking at copper plated lead, not unplated lead bullets).

Can anyone explain the difference between 9mm bullets and 380 ACP bullets (and, for that matter, 38 special bullets)? Is it just weight (and length) and marketing? Or is there a substantial difference?

No difference in 9mm, 380 acp, other than you will see the lighter 90-95gr ones labeled 380 acp bullets.

.357 mag and 38 Special are generally .357 and .358.

[mif_slim]

Haha, funny because I just said the exact thing to my brother and I open this topic up on my phone...

[drdarrin@sbcglobal.net]

There is no difference in bullet diameter, just in weight. The bullets intended for the 380 tend to be lighter and thus shorter, because of the OAL of the round. That is not to say you can't load, say 115 gr bullets; I have, but you have to watch the length. Finding load data for the heavier bullets in 380 can be an issue as well.

[ipser]

Thanks everyone. I plan to stick with standard bullet weights but I do have another question: is there any reason I can't use my 9mm dies to reload 380 ACP (with proper adjustment, of course)?

[ipser]

.357 mag and 38 Special are generally .357 and .358.

I have to correct myself: after reading the above I looked again and it was a "38 super", not "38 special" that was listed 356 diameter.

[ojisan]

9 is slightly tapered, .380 is straight walled.
You need different dies for each one.

[ipser]

9 is slightly tapered, .380 is straight walled.
You need different dies for each one.

Bummer, thanks.