All my reference books list .380 Auto bullets as .355 diameter. Somewhere in the distant past I acquired 2 bags (100 each) of Winchester bullets. The label reads 380 cal 95 gr. FMJ component bullet (B380MC95). They are FMJ, flat tip, with lead exposed at the bottom of the base. THEY MEASURE .358! Does anyone know if they are safe to use? I have 2 modern .380 handguns and an old Colt Pocket Model. Please advise. Mike

They may work but I would not trust them in my 380ACP. If they were sized .356" I might work up a mild load and see how they performed. Elmer Keith shot some .458" diameter bullets in a second generation Colt M1873 chambered in 45LC and the first three rounds shot ok, but the fourth round blew the cylinder apart. That is just .004" oversized for the groove diameter of his gun as the 45LC 1873 didn't adopt the .452" groove diameter until after WWII. JMHO

I don't mean to insult you, but was your caliper or micrometer zeroed before you measured?

I ask because from time to time my caliper wanders.

If that is their actual measurement, I sure wouldn't shoot them!

B L O'Connor, Thanks, you got it right. No insult taken; I've done dumber things. Rather ask a dumb question than blow up a good gun and it's owner. :-)

Just a hint on checking calipers I learned in the machine shop.

Clamp the jaws on your shirt and slip them off. That cleans them to the metal.
It don't take much grit, or a piece hair etc to make a bad reading.

George

Good tip. Thanks.