I noticed over time that converting an 9mm auto pistol to .380 Cal actually added a shot. Some autos don't adapt well because the .380 rim is different than the 9mm rim, and some guns -- the Browning Hi-Power for example -- require a lot of tinkering to get them anywhere near reliable functioning. Other auto pistols like the Glock series, or the Beretta 92 series, or the 1911's using fully-supported Clark/Para Ramp barrels with either internal or external extractors seem to work VERY well. The S&W 3rd Generation series also works fabulously in .380 Cal. The 9mm is illegal for civilian ownership in Mexico, but the .380 Cal is legal, can be registered (especially if marked .380 ACP) and gives a person the power of a 9mm +P (142 grain LSWC bullet at around 1050 fps), along with the advantage of an extra shot per magazine.
This S&W Model 3904 was my nearly constant companion for years until I moved back to Canada to suffer a few years to increase my retirement funds. The regular 9-shot Model 3904 magazines held 10 rounds of .380 Cal giving me an 11 shot gun, and still reliable too. Jackie's 6904 below it uses 13-shot doublestack magazines that held 14 rounds of .380 Cal making it a 15-shooter. A neat gun that....
I noticed using the 1911's with Chip McCormick 10-shot magazines, the mag could tightly fit 11 making the gun a 12-shooter. But, sometimes it caused a nose-diving jam on the first shot so I usually didn't try to use the gun that way. A jam isn't worth it.
Just this week, we were out at the San Miguel range with George's Beretta 92FS. The magazines were standard Mec-Gar 15-rounders, but they fit 16 bullets each making the gun a 17-shooter. I realize there are flush-fit 17 or 18 shot mags out there, but it's interesting all the same.
This S&W Model 3904 was my nearly constant companion for years until I moved back to Canada to suffer a few years to increase my retirement funds. The regular 9-shot Model 3904 magazines held 10 rounds of .380 Cal giving me an 11 shot gun, and still reliable too. Jackie's 6904 below it uses 13-shot doublestack magazines that held 14 rounds of .380 Cal making it a 15-shooter. A neat gun that....
I noticed using the 1911's with Chip McCormick 10-shot magazines, the mag could tightly fit 11 making the gun a 12-shooter. But, sometimes it caused a nose-diving jam on the first shot so I usually didn't try to use the gun that way. A jam isn't worth it.
Just this week, we were out at the San Miguel range with George's Beretta 92FS. The magazines were standard Mec-Gar 15-rounders, but they fit 16 bullets each making the gun a 17-shooter. I realize there are flush-fit 17 or 18 shot mags out there, but it's interesting all the same.
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