Does anyone have a list of compatible cartridges?

[Cyrano]

This is likely going to sound dumb and/or silly to the longtime handgunners around here, but I am just getting started with handguns bigger than .22LR and I was taught that the only stupid question is the one you don't ask.

I'm not talking about the famous .38 Special - .357 Magnum thing, where a pistol chambered for the latter can fire the former as well. It's other compatible pairs I'm wondering about, mainly to decide which pistols to pursue insofar as ammo availability. I don't see any sense in owning a pistol you cannot get ammo for easily, and I'd like to find one that has ammo I can afford to practice and plink with.

For instance, I know that .32 ACP = 7.65mm. And I know that .25 ACP = 6.25mm (not that I have any interest in that round). But does 9 x 18 Makarov = 9mm Kurz? Or does it equal .380 ACP?

How safe is it to fire something like the Colt Model 1917 or S&W Model 1917 chambered in .45 Long Colt with .45 ACP in moon clips or half-moon clips? And could you in theory fire a .410 shot shell from either one? I know the Taurus Judge can do it, and the Judge is chambered for .45 Long Colt.

I know that there are .45 Long Colt cartridges that can shoot birdshot. Erle Stanley Gardner, the creator of Perry Mason, pioneered research into pistol caliber shotshells back in the 1960s for his Model 1917 and CCI does make shot cartridges for them now.

And yes, I know it's properly .45 Colt, not Long Colt - but that's how Dad taught me to remember the difference between .45 ACP and .45 Colt, so please don't start in on that!

What I'd love is a table showing which millimeter cartridges equal American ACP cartridges that interchange with them, but I can't seem to locate one. Any help would be appreciated.

[Mooseman684]

Lots of questions.. first NEVER try to chamber or fire a round in a weapon designed for one specific Cartridge.
9X18 Makarov cartridge is NOT a 9mm Kurz or a .380 acp. (however 9mm kurz and .380 acp are the same as is the 9mm corto and the 9mm Browning short...they are the same cartridge.)
I suggest you buy a book Called "Cartridges of the World" as it is invaluable as a resource to answer your Questions.
As far as a Colt 1917, They are , as far as I know only chambered for .45 ACP with Moon clips or .45 auto rimmed (Obsolete) Cartridges...Not for the Longer .45 Colt.
I would Never Fire a .410 shotshell thru one even if it would fit, which it Won't ! Only thru guns Chambered .45 LC/ .410.
CCI and Thompson Center both made various shotshell Cartridges for certain applications and in the Case of the Contender, they had screw-on shot chokes for the barrels designed to shoot shot.
There are many Metric designations for American Cartridges..! examples would be .308= 7.62X51
30/06 = 7.62 X 54 ( NOT "R" for rimmed which is Russian) . .223= 5.56X45.
Basically however Most cartridges that are U.S. and named as such are all in separate Categories and NOT interchangeable. Some Like the .40-85 Ballard and the 40-90 Ballard are the same case just different Loadings.
Some Like the .280 Remington are now Called 7MM Express Remington...same just different name Now.
I hope this give you some answers to your Question, but these types of questions Scare me as to what someone May try to attempt with disasterous Results.
Rich

[billy]

i found a list of uncompatable rnds. on the SAAMI website but i dont know how to get it here.

[Cyrano]

Mooseman, thanks for sharing your knowledge. As I said, this is why you ask such questions. Now I know that 9x18 Makarov is proprietary, and 9mm Kurz = .380 ACP. So if I buy a .380 ACP pistol and later happen on a bargain in 9mm Kurz cartridges, I can stock up on ammo knowing it will work in the weapon - or vice versa, just making sure not to run +P ammo through them if they aren't rated for it. (A modern .380 might be, but a 9mm Kurz amost certainly would not be.)

What pistols are/were chambered for 9mm Corto or 9mm Browning Short?

[BattleRifleG3]

9mm Corto and 9mm Browning Short I believe are the same thing as 380 and 9x17mm Kurz.

[DANA]

Try

http:// yarchive.net/gun/ammo/cartgidge_interchange.html

DANA

[Cyrano]

Thanks, Dana! That's exactly what I am looking for. Please note that "cartridge" must be spelled correctly in the URL line for this to work.

Everyone ought to print this out hand keep it somewhere. This list could come in right handy in a SHTF scenario. It hasn't put me off wanting a PA-63 in 9 x 18mm Makarov, but it has made me much more interested in .380 ACP/9mm Kurz pistols.

Thanks, everyone. All the help is really appreciated.

Thanks, Dana! That list is exactly what I wanted. One thing: "cartridge" must be correctly spelled in the URL line to find this list online.

Everyone ought to print the list out and keep copies of it in your range bag and your Grab & Go kit. Knowing which metric cartridges fit which guns will be a very useful thing to know in a SHTF scenario.

Knowing which cartridges are compatible with which weapons hasn't stopped me from wanting an FEG PA-63 in 9 x 18mm Makarov for plinking; but it has increased my interest in .380 ACP/9mm Kurz pistols.

Thanks to everyone for sharing your knowledge. It's very much appreciated.