can 9mm (9x19) be reloaded with .380 (9x17) dies as is the case for .38Sp and .357 mag?

I sometimes think of changing course and going with a small 9 instead of getting another .380. But I have a bunch of brass/ bullets/ dies already for the .380, it would be nice to not have to buy new dies if I do change.

Geno

I just made the change from a .380 to a 9mm (Kahr PM9)and considered the same question. Found that 9mm is cheap to buy compared to other handgun rounds. I've found them on sale for $10/50. It would cost me at least $6 to reload them. Decided it wasn't worth my time.

Good question about the .380/9MM . I honestly don't know. I quit loading 9MM and .45 ACP some 20 years ago.

380 is a (relatively) straight wall case, 9 Para is tapered.
Don't think it'll work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty9cpz3wvFg

Short answer is no.
Just get a Lee carbide 4 die set an rock on.

The answer is NO. 9mm Luger is a tapered cartridge, and the others are straight wall.

Wanna bet on that?

Valsdad,

Weeellllllllllll...in a pinch you could probably size just a quarter inch or so of the 9mm case to hold the bullet, in effect "neck sizing" it like you would a bottle necked rifle case. But you wouldn't be sizing the base of the 9mm which will cause issues sooner or later.

So the best answer is: Buy 9mm dies.

.380
Neck diameter .373 in
Base diameter .373 in

.38 Special/.357
Neck diameter .379 in
Base diameter .379 in

9mm
Neck diameter 0.380 in
Base diameter 0.391 in

The .380 is .373 at the neck, but .374 at the base... Look it up..

The base just above the rim is .373, the rim is .374.
The .380 is a straight wall case.

9mm won't be tapered when it goes through that little carbide washer from rim to base.

Ok, I stand corrected.

I checked 4 reloading manuals and only ONE shows the diameter of the shell just above the rim, and it shows .374 while the mouth shows .373.. The book must be wrong.


That said, I just miked a Federal LE .380 ACP. The mouth is .373 and the base is .370!!!

WTH?

The base of a 9mm is about .02 wider than the 380. Resizing it with a 380 die will make it too small. They don't use the same shell holder either.

9mm carbide dies don't use just a simple ring like straight-wall rounds (at least mine don't, and they shouldn't). The carbide sizing portion is longer, and tapered.

Yeah, but what happens to a 9x19mm case when you put it through a carbide ring at the orifice of a sizing die?

It is the fairly straight.

And it sure beat a tapered steel die that needs lube.

Thanks all,

lots of good info, I think if I do go 9mm I'll get new dies.

I can look at the money spent as Geno's "stimulus program"

Geno