Author Topic: 380 conversion?  (Read 804 times)

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Offline shotgunner

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380 conversion?
« on: November 05, 2007, 11:46:06 AM »
I have a large quantity of .380 ammo. Is there a conversion for a 1911 or even a Browning Highpower? I have thought of buying a gun in 380 just to use it up but this might be more cost effective. Shotgunner
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Offline Mikey

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Re: 380 conversion?
« Reply #1 on: November 05, 2007, 12:28:35 PM »
shotgunner:  I'm not aware of 380 conversions for the 1911, 'cause I would love to have one but just have never run across any information on one.  You can get the 1911 in 9mm but using 380 ammo in a 9mm chamber is not recommended; I think it could be dangerous.  I think you would blow cases and possibly break the extractor, at the least. 

The 380 is termed the 9mm Short by some ammo makers but its not a 9x19mm short case.  The 9mm is .391 at the base and tapers to .380 at the case mouth, 19mm later.  The 380 is, more or less, a straight case beginning at .374 and going to .373 at the case mouth.  So there's enoough difference to create a dangerous situation.

All that being said, if you have a 9mm Browning or 1911 you can probably get a 380 barrel made for it by someone, possibly Bar-Sto, Clarke, Ed Brown, or others.  You could also contact some of our sponsors to see if they may have anything like that.

But, since ya'll said you had thought about buying a 380 then why on earth would I ever wanna try and talk you out of one more gun when you definately need it to shoot up all that ammo.  I'm sorry, what was I thinkin'?????

Get the 380.  Mikey.

Offline rbwillnj

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Re: 380 conversion?
« Reply #2 on: November 06, 2007, 01:44:38 AM »
Get a Colt 380 Government model.  It's not a 1911, but looks like a 1911 that got hit with a shrink ray.  Nice little CC gun.