.380 ACP

typePistol

service
used_by
wars

designerJohn Browning
design_date
manufacturerColt's Manufacturing Company
production_date1908
number
variants

is_SI_specs
parent
case_typeRimless, straight
bullet.355
neck.373
shoulder
base.374
rim_dia.374
rim_thick.045
case_length.680
length.984
rifling
primer

is_SI_ballistics
bw190
btype1JHP
vel11000
en1200
bw295
btype2FMJ
vel2980
en2203
bw3
btype3
vel3
en3
bw4
btype4
vel4
en4
bw5
btype5
vel5
en5
test_barrel_length 3.75
balsrc Federal Cartridge


The ".380 ACP" (Automatic Colt Pistol) pistol Cartridge (weaponry)cartridge is a Rim (firearms)rimless, straight-walled pistol cartridge developed by firearms designer John Browning. 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 "9x17mm".

Design
The .380 ACP cartridge was designed for early Blowback (arms)blowback pistols which lacked a barrel (firearms)barrel locking mechanism. The locking mechanism that is found on most other pistols is not necessary for the .380 because of the round's low breech pressure when fired. The recoil spring and the mass of the slide itself 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 .380 ACP. There have also been some diminutive submachine guns, such as the Ingram MAC-11 and SkorpionVariantsvz. 83.

Performance
The .380 ACP is compact and light, but has a relatively short range and less stopping power than other modern pistol cartridges. 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 is , though the standard has long been 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 the Walther PPWalther PPK/S, Bersa Thunder 380, Kel-Tec P-3AT and Ruger LCP. 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 Gun_Control_Act_of_1968Import_RestrictionsFederal law.

Synonyms

.380 Auto
9mm Browning
9mm Browning Short
9mm Corto
9mm Court
9mm Kratak
9mm Kurz
9mm Scurt
9mm Short
9x17mm

cartridge.

See also
References


External links

en.wikipedia.org