.38 special through a 9mm barrell?

tr fox

I know that a 9mm can be fired through a .357 barrell because I have a Ruger Blackhawk that has interchangable cylinders that will perform that function. However, I was wondering about the reverse; firing a .38 special through a 9mm barrell.

I am assuming that since 9mm is .002 in smaller than a .38 special, that is why the 9mm can go through the .38, but probably not the other way around.

Is that correct? because the .38 special is .002 in larger, that it would be dangerous to fire it through a 9mm barrel?

Otherwise, I was thinking of trimming some .38 special cases to 9mm dimensions, loading with .38 special wadcutters and firing them through my 5 shot, double action snubbie Tauras 9mm revolver. That way I could use the hand ejector to eject the fired rounds as compared to having to use moon clips or to finger pull each 9mm round out of the cylinder when having to reload.

Or what about trimming some .38 special cases to 9mm dimensions, and loading with a 9mm bullet?

Any advice?

Mr. Gunz

Ahh...no I wouldn't try it, mixing ammo with guns is always a bad idea. It would most likely be safe, but you cases would get stuck or might not even fit due to the 9mm being a tapered case and the 38 being straight.


In short NO[;)]


Be Safe!

tr fox

quote:Originally posted by Mr. Gunz
Ahh...no I wouldn't try it, mixing ammo with guns is always a bad idea. It would most likely be safe, but you cases would get stuck or might not even fit due to the 9mm being a tapered case and the 38 being straight.


In short NO[;)]


Be Safe!


Dang, I had forgotten about the tapered/straight case thing. Thanks for the reminder.

Mossbergboogie

I really dont think it is a good idea because .38 is really .357 inches and 9mm is .355 inches

grdad45

At least if you DO try it, we want pics!

JackiePapers

For what its worth... A friend of mine when I was a kid used to shoot .380's through his dad's P-38... bullets sure went through the barrel! [:D]

Edit.. Come to think of it .380 IS 9mm ain't it? [:I] Never mind... Duh!

dfletcher

I don't want to encourage this sort of behavior, but if the only thing stopping you from trimming & using the 38 SP cases is that the chamber is tapered for the 9mm, won't full length sizing them in a 9mm die take care of that? Then you can use a 38 SP expander to flare the mouth, seat your .357 diamter bullets & watch the fireworks so to speak.

I'm betting that those lead bullets - which are actually .358 diameter - at 800 fps or so would be no problem to seat in the case or to shoot out of the 9mm barrel.

Tailgunner1954

358 diameter lead bullets will work through a 355 barrel, with all the standard crevats of working up your load. I've seen published data for 148gr lead in the 9mm, and at one time I've run them through my P-08.

Trim off some of your 38spl brass, and run it through your 9x19 dies. What your trying to make is basicly the old "9mm Federal" (9x19R) case. NOTE: The case wall thickness/taper may become a problem, something to watch out for.

tsr1965

Based on the assumption that the bore dimensions of a 9MM barrel follow suit with bullet diameter compared to the .357/38 dimensions, it would not be the smartest thing in the world to attempt. I am sure if you wanted to shoot the wad cutters thru your 9mm barrel, all you would have to do is swap the expander plugs in your 9mm die to the one of the .357 die. It works with the 9MM going down the .357/38 barrel as the bullet is smaller than the bore dimensions. Another way to look at it, is the 7.62x39 round. The bullet is actually a .310-.311 diameter. Some ammo makers in this country load with the .308 diameter bullets. Yes the rifiling still grabs the bullet, but accuracy in general suffers.

Back to the 9MM barrel with 38's...I would imagine accuracy would be wonderful, but is it really worth the possibility of exploding a gun with high pressures?

Hawk Carse

Rim thickness of a shortened and sized .38 Special would be less than 9mm rim plus clip and unless there were plenty of firing pin protrusion, ignition might be spotty. Or you could trim the .38s so precisely that they headspaced on the case mouth like the 9mms and the rim was only for extraction.

I don't know if you could use .358" bullets. You might have to expand the cases so much to seat them that the cartridges would not chamber freely. A tight case neck is a greater source of excess pressure than a slightly oversize lead bullet. Of course you could load 9mm bullets in your .38 short brass.

Hey, run the tests and you tell us if it works.
Y'all be careful, now, you hear?

jonk

Let's put it this way. IF you could get the bullets to chamber, and IF you use lead bullets, and IF you full length size in a 9mm die and flare with a 38 die....then yes it would be safe with LEAD bullets. I use 358 lead 125 grainers in both 38 special and one of my 9mm handguns, no issues.

I also do something similar to what you are suggesting with an old belgian gun I have chambered in 380 revolver. Not that I shoot it much, and only with blackpowder, but just food for thought. I trim the 38 special to 38 revolver specs and go from there.

tr fox

All good and interesting replies. It is often fun to think of such unusual ideas and get friendly, knowledgeable feed back.

I'm thinking I will spend my time doing something more conventional.

gunnut505

C'mon TR, you have to know that 9mm is about the cheapest round out there, why try to invent another combo? Heck, 38spl go for about $8 a box with wadcutters already in 'em!
I just think that experimentation without cogitation causes the antis to smile widely!
You younger posters out there don't try this at home, or the range, or in your garage!

TR: if you need more .38 cases; I have thousands!