question from the uneducated

[Bertha Venation]

Maybe this belongs in the lounge, but I figured I'd get a better response here. Is a .38 the same thing as a .380?

To try to get closer to topic, here's where I stand: I don't own any, but am curious about guns and follow the fight over them. The Chuck Heston mentality makes me :puke:. I know, as another thread active this morning shows, that many gun owners/advocates think "Democrat = wants to take away my guns" because I heard it ad nauseum on a local community, largely conservative MB. Whenever I'd say that that was BS, the usual response was, "Okay. You're the exception. The VAST majority of you Dems want to take away my guns." :eyes:

[jhfenton]

1. No, they are different calibers

The .38 Special is a revolver caliber that is actually .357 inches in diameter. The name is a historical relic. It is the little brother to the more powerful .357 Magnum.

The .380 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) is a short 9mm (.355 inches) by 17mm cartridge. You often find pocket pistols chambered in .380.

The .38 Special is typically loaded with heavier bullets and has a much longer case. Still, there is not too much difference in ballistics with standard loadings. .38 Special also comes in +P, high pressure, loadings that fall somewhere in between the standard .38 Sp and the .357 Magnum. .357 Magnum revolvers can fire .38 Sp and .38 Sp +P cartridges.

[Mikimouse]

3. Sorry, you beat me by a few seconds-redundant post on my part

though, my post was more simplistic.

[jhfenton]

5. Nah, I'm just wordy.... (eom)

[Mikimouse]

2. same bullet diameter, different case length

The .380 is a cartridge designed for an autoloader, while the .38 was originally designed as a revolver cartridge (the .357 magnum revolvers can use .38 special cartridges interchangably-cuts down on the cost of practicing).

[jhfenton]

4. Pro-Gun Democrats

I am also an exception, being an avidly pro-self-defense Democrat. I'm an NRA-certified firearms instructor (Basic Pistol and Personal Protection), and I own a variety of handguns, rifles, and shotguns.

Don't feel bad. Being pro-self-defense and pro-RKBA is the real liberal position. I've never understood how mistrusting and disarming law-abiding Americans became the "progressive" position.

[Wcross]

6. Right on jhfenton

"Being pro-self-defense and pro-RKBA is the real liberal position. I've never understood how mistrusting and disarming law-abiding Americans became the "progressive" position."

I couldn't agree with you more. Gun control advocates are misguided in my opinion. Until the gun grabbers focus on the real issues regarding gun violence, I will continue to oppose them.

It's the criminals stupid!