The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Handguns => Topic started by: Dudley on March 24, 2008, 10:16:52 PM
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Hi everyone, I am new to this site and have a question that I have been tring to get answered for several weeks. I know that if you purchase a 357 you can shoot 38 specials in it. The new Ruger SP101 in the 327 you can also shoot 32 specials along with others and the 454 you can shoot 45's. So here is my question I just purchased a Taurus 905 9mm revolver that uses moon clips. Can I shot 380's in this revolver. The 380 has been called the 9mm short by Browning and others. They use the same size bullet .355. I want to thank you all for taking time to read this and any response would be welcomed. Thanks Terry
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I don't know the answer but it sure is an interesting question!
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i call my gunsmith and he said " the gun will shoot 9mm, .380 , and even 9x18 Macroff..........probably a few i have not thought of, then again if is not for you tell them to call Taurus or question them via the net."
Hope this helps ya man.
tex
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Thanks Texcabiler and others for responding, I called Taurus today and ask the same question. I was give to, what sounded like a young femail, who I had to explain three times what I was asking. I made sure that she understood that I was talking about a revolver and not a semi-auto. After a short pause she said that the 380 was too small to use. I explained that the 380 was a .355 the same as the 9mm, but was shorter cartridge. She still gave me the same answer. After all the research I have done I can not see any reason why this would not work and be safe. Thanks again and anyone else who has an answer please respond. Terry
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Gotta love that level of versitility, especially if it uses the same moon clips. Ruger used to make an Sp 101 in 9mm but that was a long time ago. Shame, I could see a lot of different applications for a 9mm revolver.
That customer service lady might not be familier with the gun because I just checked the site and apparently the line has been discontinued.
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Just a couple of things to think about...9s and 380s are tapered cartridges, not straight-walled like revolver cartridges. Even though they are the same bullet diameter, the shorter cartridge may have excessive slop at the case mouth when inserted in the cylinder. The second is the 9x18mm Makarov is a .365 bullet diameter.
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I have determined that customer service is NOT the same as technical support. I have been going around with Kel-Tec on one of their products with unreliable results, until one gets to the right person who knows. Still trying. Mac.
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My thing is you'd have to use moon clips for it in 380. If I rememeber correctly (a stretch this early) the 9mm revolvers I've seen didn't always require the moon clips and the cylinder was bored out to hold the round in place at the case mouth. Putting the shorter 380 in it the round would slip out of place and away from the firing pin. Plus like CZShooter said, I think that the difference in diameter even if using the clips would affect accuracy to the point of not being worth it. The round would bounce down the remaining difference then hit the forcing cone at varying angles.
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That makes sense to me.
Mac.
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Thanks again you are correct, the 9mm Taurus revolver comes with moon clips, I have not had time to check it out but the idea about the tapered wall makes sense to me. I will have to load a moon clip and see how the 380 fits into the cylinder. Thanks again for the responses. Terry
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I don't know personally. But, I did hear two gentleman at a gunshow talking about this same thing believe it or not. And one gentle man said you couldn't because the .380 would slide around when shooting. He did not mention anything about moonclips, perhaps they would hold .380's in place. I dunno though.
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Bad idea. If it's a 9, use 9s.
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Bad idea. If it's a 9, use 9s.
Agreed.
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I agree that after some consideration and checking it is a bad idea. I talked to a gun smith and he was concerned about blow back gases burning your hands and face. The 38 and 357 both have the same size case, but the 357 is just longer. The 9 and 380 are not hte same size even with shooting the same size bullet .355, It was something I was thinking about and I agree it is not worth the chance of hurting myself or damaging the revolver just to burn up some old ammo.
Thanks everyone for your comments. At least it was something to think about. Dudley
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Can anyone tell me how these shoot? Or any other experiences? I found a used one at a local gun shop and put it on layaway. It was at a good price...and looked new. I dry-fired it through all 5 cylinders, and the trigger was butter-smooth. I thought it was cool...but would I have been better off with a M85 in .38spl? I already reload 9s...as that is what I shoot for IDPA...so I figured that into the equation.
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Can anyone tell me how these shoot? Or any other experiences? I found a used one at a local gun shop and put it on layaway. It was at a good price...and looked new. I dry-fired it through all 5 cylinders, and the trigger was butter-smooth. I thought it was cool...but would I have been better off with a M85 in .38spl? I already reload 9s...as that is what I shoot for IDPA...so I figured that into the equation.
You already reload for the caliber, and with "Moon Clips" it should be faster to reload than a .38.
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my quesiton is why would u want to fire 380's out of a 9mm revolver in the first place? 9mm is cheaper ammo and easier to get a hold of... plus as far as ballistics are concearned its a more effective calibur
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The only reason I asked the question was because I have about 250 rounds of 380 ammo that I reloaded for my wife's 380. She has traded it in on a Ruger SP101 so I have the ammo and just wanted to shoot it up. Once it was gone that would be the end of it. Plus I was just interested in if it could be done safely. Thanks for all the responses. Dudley
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Hey Dudley...have you shot the revolver yet? I'm curious how you like it.
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If you look at the dimensions of the .380 and 9MM there is a difference. There is basically a .020" difference at bottom of the case (forgot names of different areas of a case, sorry) between .380 and 9MM. At case mouth there is a .007" difference. In the groove where half-moon clip is attached, there is around .020" difference, maybe too much. I wouldn't try it. I get my information from the Sierra reloading manual.
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CZ Shooter, I have shot about 100 rounds through it as of last week. I have only been shooting it between 7 and 10 feet. What I would consider the shot I would have to take in the house. I can shoot a good group with it, I have shot 5 shots and had them all touching which I think is good with a 2" barrel. I will say that it has some recoil and makes lots of noise. I would not want to shoot 100 rounds all at one time, but I did not buy it for that. In all I am very pleased with the 905, 9mm. Thanks Dudley