Can .380 Auto ammo be fired in a .38 revolver?

Reader question, asked February 2026

Short answer: No. Don’t do it.

The details

  • .380 ACP is a rimless pistol cartridge. A revolver chamber holds a cartridge in place by its rim, so the round can slide too far forward.
  • You’ll likely get misfires, and you risk split cases and hot gas escaping out the back of the cylinder.
  • Only shoot the cartridge stamped on the barrel, or an approved one, such as .38 Special in a .357.

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