.

380 ACP 1

.380 ACP
.380 ACP

A .380 ACP pistol cartridge by Sellier & Bellot.

Type Pistol

Place of origin  United States

Production history

Designer John Browning

Manufacturer Colt's Manufacturing Company

Produced 1908

Specifications

Case type Rimless, straight

Bullet diameter .355 in (9.0 mm)

Neck diameter .373 in (9.5 mm)

Base diameter .374 in (9.5 mm)

Rim diameter .374 in (9.5 mm)

Rim thickness .045 in (1.1 mm)

Case length .680 in (17.3 mm)

Overall length .984 in (25.0 mm)

Maximum pressure 21,500 psi (148 MPa)

Ballistic performance

Bullet weight/type Velocity Energy

90 gr (6 g) JHP 1,000 ft/s (300 m/s) 200 ft·lbf (270 J)

95 gr (6 g) FMJ 980 ft/s (300 m/s) 203 ft·lbf (275 J)

Test barrel length: 3.75

[1]
Source(s): Federal Cartridge

The .380 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) pistol cartridge is a rimless, straight-walled pistol cartridge developed by
firearms designer John Browning. The cartridge headspaces on the mouth of the case.[2] It was introduced in 1908 by
Colt, and has been a popular self-defense cartridge ever since. Other names for .380 ACP include .380 Auto, 9mm
Browning, 9mm Corto, 9mm Kurz, 9mm Short, and 9×17mm. It is not to be confused with .38 ACP, 9mm
Makarov or 9mm Luger.
.380 ACP 2

Design
The .380 ACP cartridge was designed for early blowback pistols which
lacked a barrel locking mechanism. The locking mechanism that is
found on most other pistols is not necessary for the .380 because of the
round's relatively weak bolt thrust when fired. The recoil spring and
the mass of the slide are enough to buffer the recoil energy of the
round. This simplifies manufacture of pistols chambered for such a
round, generally thereby lowering the cost. It also permits the barrel to
be permanently fixed to the frame, which promotes accuracy. There
have, however, been a number of locked-breech pistols chambered in
Yugoslavian "9 mm Kratak" (9 mm Short)
.380 ACP. There have also been some diminutive submachine guns,
cartridges, FMJ.
such as the Ingram MAC-11[3] and vz. 83.[4]

Uses
The .380 ACP has experienced widespread use in the years since its introduction. It was famously used by many
German officers during World War II in the Walther PPK, as well as by Italian forces in the M1934 Beretta.
However, as a service pistol round, its power did not provide suitable penetration for combat. It did find use as a
backup gun due to low recoil, and is popular in the civilian market as a personal defense round. The .380 ACP round
is considered suitable for self-defense situations, and as a result, it has been a viable choice for concealed carry
pistols. The combination of decent penetration in close range defense situations with light recoil has made it a viable
round for those who wish to carry a small, lightweight handgun that can still provide adequate defense.[citation needed]

Performance
The .380 ACP is compact and light, but has a relatively short range and
less stopping power than other modern pistol cartridges.[5] According
to gun author Massad Ayoob, "Some experts will say it's barely
adequate, and others will say it's barely inadequate."[6] Even so, it
remains a popular self-defense cartridge for shooters who want a
lightweight pistol with manageable recoil. It is slightly less powerful
than a standard-pressure .38 Special and uses 9 mm (.355 in) diameter
bullets. The heaviest bullet that can be safely loaded into the .380 ACP The .380 ACP compared to a 9mm Luger
is 115 grains (7.5 g)[citation needed], though the standard has long been cartridge.
85, 90 or 95 grains (5.5, 5.8 or 6.2 g). The .380 has had something of a
recent upsurge in popularity with the increase of concealed carry laws, as have the compact and inexpensive pistols
that make use of it. Popular pistols chambered in .380 ACP include, but are not limited to the Colt Mustang
pocketlite, Llama Firearms Micromax, SIG Sauer P238, Beretta .380, Walther PPK/S, Walther PK380, Bersa
Thunder 380, CZ 83, SIG Sauer P230/P232, Kel-Tec P-3AT, Smith & Wesson BODYGUARD 380, Diamondback
DB380, Kahr P380, Ruger LCP and Taurus TCP 738. Glock also produces models in .380, though they are not
available to the U.S. market because they do not earn enough "points" for importation under Federal law.

The wounding potential of bullets is often characterized in terms of a bullet's expanded diameter, penetration depth,
and energy. Bullet energy for .380 ACP loads varies from roughly 190 to 220 ft·lbf. The table below shows common
performance parameters for several .380 ACP loads. Bullet weights ranging from 85 to 95 grains are common.
Penetration depths from 6.5 inches to 17 inches are available for various applications and risk assessments.
.380 ACP 3

Manufacturer Load Mass Velocity Energy [7] [7]

Expansion Penetration PC TSC
(grains) (ft/s) (ft•lbf) [7] [7]
(in3) 3
(inches) (inches) (in )

ATOMIC Bonded JHP 90 1100 241 0.64 12.0 NA NA

Ammo

Cor-Bon JHP +P 90 1050 220 0.58 9.0 2.38 15.7

Federal HydraShok 90 1000 200 0.58 10.5 2.77 21.0

JHP

Winchester Silvertip JHP 85 1000 189 0.63 6.5 2.03 10.6

CCI/Speer JHP 88 1000 196 0.36 17.0 1.73 9.1

Hornady XTP 90 1000 200 0.44 11.8 1.73 9.1

Federal FMJ 95 955 193 0.36 17 1.73 8.7

Key:
• Expansion – expanded bullet diameter (ballistic gelatin).
• Penetration – penetration depth (ballistic gelatin).
• PC – permanent cavity volume (ballistic gelatin, FBI method).
• TSC – temporary stretch cavity volume (ballistic gelatin).

Synonyms
• .380 Auto
• 9mm Browning
• 9mm Browning Short
• 9mm Corto
• 9mm Court
• 9mm Kratak
• Kratka 9 (Devetka)
• 9mm Kurz
• 9mm Scurt
• 9mm Short
• 9×17mm

References
[2] Wilson, R. K. Textbook of Automatic Pistols, p.241. Plantersville, SC: Small Arms Technical Publishing Company, 1943.
[6] Ayoob, Massad. (2007) The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery. (http:/ / books. google. com/ books?id=wiiUeexIMLIC& pg=PA97&
dq=. 380+ minimum+ self-defense) Krause Publications. Page 97. ISBN 0-89689-525-4.
[7] Marshall and Sanow, Street Stoppers, Appendix A, Paladin 2006 ISBN 978-0-87364-872-1

External links
• Colt Automatic Pistols Website ([Link]
• Article on Defensive Use of .380 ACP from American Rifleman ([Link]
aspx?id=1388&cid=32)
• [Link] .380 ACP vs various target videos ([Link]
• Ballistics By The Inch .380 ACP Results. ([Link]
Article Sources and Contributors 4

Article Sources and Contributors

.380 ACP  Source: [Link]  Contributors: 777sms, Adamrush, Alansohn, AliveFreeHappy, Angusmclellan, Arrkhal, Asams10, Atirador, Barney
Gumble, Bcaff05, Bfreund422, Biblbroks, Billfreund, BillyTFried, Billyfishzwei, Bobblewik, BokicaK, Boris Barowski, Bschermerhorn, Bullmoosebell, Burmiester, CaroleHenson,
CyberpunkRonin, D.E. Watters, Dale Arnett, DanMP5, Dean Cascio, Deavenger, Duanepk, ElbowLick, Emediarifleman, Epbr123, Francis Flinch, Friday, Gaff, GameJunkieJim, Gene Nygaard,
Gogo Dodo, GregorB, Greyengine5, HandThatFeeds, Hoplophile, Jeff 8, Jersey emt, Jhnmdahl, Jimp, Justin5117, Kalgari, Kekator, Kevin Rector, Koalorka, Krispos42, Lightmouse, Liko81,
MachIV, Maclyn611, Major tom, Malis-cs, Mattdenn, Meswiss, Michael Courtney, Miguel Escopeta, Mrriddle27, Mtruch, Naddy, Nemo5576, Nihonjoe, Nukes4Tots, Oberiko, Phil1988,
Pichpich, Qat727, ROG5728, Riddley, Robertgreer, S.R. Heller, SQL, SarahStierch, SeanNovack, Secarius, Shashenka, ShelfSkewed, Slovakjoe, Smiteri, Snoopy'07-EN, Stealthound,
Surv1v4l1st, TeamZissou, The Thing That Should Not Be, Thernlund, Thewellman, Tim Barber, Timothylord, Tobyc75, Trekphiler, Ve3, Willking1979, Wmahan, WookieInHeat, WotWeiller,
Yaf, Zolotros, 136 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

File:380 ACP - FMJ - SB - [Link]  Source: [Link]  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Malis
File:US flag 45 [Link]  Source: [Link]  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Abjiklam, Cycn, Homo lupus, Jacobolus,
Zscout370
File:9mm [Link]  Source: [Link]  License: GNU Free Documentation License  Contributors: Original uploader was Major tom at
[Link]
File:380 Auto vs 9mm [Link]  Source: [Link]  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Original: Ryan D. Larson /
TeamZissou Crop: Nukes4Tots at [Link]

License
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
//[Link]/licenses/by-sa/3.0/