9x17?

[altagunguy]

I have a Husky semi auto pistol. Just got it from an estate. Some of these guns were converted to 9X17 (380 ACP). Is there an easy way to tell if it is 9X17 or 9X19? Should I send it to a gunsmith? Previous owner had many other handguns some in both calibres so I could not tell by his ammunition.

 

[SDC]

If this is the pistol I'm thinking of (a Swede 1903 M07, with a magazine that has a long slot on its left side), the original chambering should be 9mm Browning Long, which isn't interchangeable with 9x19, 9mm Luger, 9mm Para, etc. Because that's a hard round to find, a lot of the ones that came to North America were converted to 380 Auto; the case length on a 9mm Browning Long is .80", and only .68" on the 380 Auto (AKA 9mm Browning Short/Kurz).

 

[altagunguy]

You are correct about everything. How do I know if the gun has been converted to .380?

 

[SDC]

I'd take the barrel out, and use a pair of calipers to see how deep the case mouth is in the chamber (you should be able to see it as a little ledge); from that point back to the barrel hood should be .68" if it's in .380, and should be .80" if it's in 9mm Browning Long.

 

[altagunguy]

Thanks for your help.