Is there one?  I was told there was.  Maybe someone is just yanking my chain?

Case length and rim.

.38 is longer and rimmed, designed for a revolver.  .380 is short and designed for a self-loading pistol.

yeah a .38 is a rimmed revolver round, and a .380 is a shortened 9mm parabellum/luger round

Quoted: yeah a .38 is a rimmed revolver round, and a .380 is a shortened 9mm parabellum/luger round

yep .380 is 9X17mm

.38 is usually used in revolvers and is a long, rimmed case.

.380 is kinda like a mini 9mm

.380


.38 special


My apologies for beign lazy

One would probably hurt more than the other.

Quoted: One would probably hurt more than the other.

Which one?  The mooning pic kinda hurt a bit....

Quoted: .38 is usually used in revolvers and is a kind long, rimmed case. .380 is kinda like a mini 9mm .38 special glarp.atk.com/press/press_release/hi_res/Speer_38_Special%20+P_135gr.JPG .380 www.courter.org/guns/ammo/380acp.jpg

I think you got pwn3d

how embarrassing , lemem fix it...

Quoted: Is there one?  I was told there was.

Yes.  It's .000

Actually, sWs2 covered it.  I think .380 is also called 9mm Kurz (short), but don't know for sure.

Quoted: Quoted: One would probably hurt more than the other. Which one?  The mooning pic kinda hurt a bit....

.38 is slightly more potent.  Reccomend the .380 though for extra capacity.  Specific models in mind?

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: One would probably hurt more than the other. Which one?  The mooning pic kinda hurt a bit.... .38 is slightly more potent.  Reccomend the .380 though for extra capacity.  Specific models in mind?

Nah, I just happened to shoot a .380 colt today.  Amd I wanted to know what the difference was between it and a .38.  I'm still shopping for what I want.

Quoted: Quoted: Is there one?  I was told there was. Yes.  It's .000 Actually, sWs2 covered it.  I think .380 is also called 9mm Kurz (short), but don't know for sure.

yep 9mm Kurtz

.380 bullets are sposed to be 0.356 inches diameter.  As are most 9mm.

38 spl bullets are supposed to be 0.357" dia.

But a makarov 9mm uses a 0.363" bullet and there are some other larger 38 bullet diameters,  like 38 SW or 38 Colt.

Or something.

".380" and ".38" in usual conversation in this country mean .380 ACP and .38 Special respectively.

The .380 is a little problem because there are several cartridges of similar size and similar bullet diameter, but they are not the same cartridge.  Don't worry about it too much, buy ammo that matches the markings on the barrel of your gun, and if you have doubts about a salesman's advice, check with someone else before you buy.

Other names for the .380 ACP, none of which are in common usage in the US:
9mm Browning Short, 9mm Kurz, 9mm Corto, and 9X17mm.  Anyone that calls the cartridge one of those names in casual conversation is just trying to impress with their uber "knowledge".  The time to know the difference is when dealing with foriegn firearms and ammuniton that may be marked that way, or in other technical discussion where that detail may be important.

Here's as good a discussion as any about the choice of .38 Special or .380 ACP for a personal protection firearm.  
www.hipowersandhandguns.com/38specialor380acp.htm

In case you haven't figured it out, the "diameter" designation for a cartridge is not necessarily the actual dimension of the bullets used in that ammunition.  For a few examples:  .223 Remington uses 0.224 inch diameter bullets, .300 Winchester Magnum uses a 0.308 inch diameter bullet, .380 ACP uses a 0.355 inch diameter bullet, .38 Special uses a 0.357 diameter bullet, and so on.  [The diameters for cast bullets will most likely be different (one or two thousandths) than these listed for jacketed bullets.]  All of this is esoterica to you unless you reload, although it's not necessarily irrelevent as it's important to know the fact so you can keep yourself out of trouble, less important to know the details.

Keep trying every different handgun and caliber you can get your hands on, and don't let anyone try to steer you to a gun that's "just right for you".  You will be able to sort that out on your own soon enough.  Even if you make a mistake in a handgun purchase it's not the end of the world because you can trade it for another gun without losing your shirt in the deal.

You can shoot either out of a Phillips & Rodgers Medusa.

Quoted: Even if you make a mistake in a handgun purchase it's not the end of the world because you can trade it for another gun without losing your shirt in the deal.

What AeroE said...heck, that's half the fun, trying different ones until you find the one that likes you.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Is there one?  I was told there was. Yes.  It's .000 Actually, sWs2 covered it.  I think .380 is also called 9mm Kurz (short), but don't know for sure. yep 9mm Kurtz

my deutsch-fu is weak, but I think kurrz literally translates into short

You guys are all off base.  The difference between a .38 and a .380 is the 0.

Just don't buy anything until you test drive a Kahr P9.

.380 has a zero on the end of it, DUH!

Quoted: You guys are all off base.  The difference between a .38 and a .380 is the 0.

Scroll back up a bit.  I told him the difference was .000, so that's pretty close to 0.