Mauser .380 acp improvements?

[Sunbeam63]

Dear Forum,


I own a Mauser HSC .380 ACP built in 1976. It appears to be in great shape still, and is a good shooter, with very few instances of misfeeding. I like the gun as a shooter, and don’t feel the need to get a 32 ACP, but I know the .380 ACP is a bit much for this gun and will ultimately damage the gun. Is there any improvements that can be made to increase the longevity of the gun?

[vlim]

Get a .32 acp barrel. These guns can easily be.swapped from
.32 to .380 and vice versa.

[Sunbeam63]

Thank you - is it just the barrel? The magazine, extractor, recoil spring, etc, will work fine with .32 acp?

[Martin Keogh]

Yes, you just need a .32acp barrel.  I've read on this site that the WW2 .32acp barrels won't work with the .380 post-war guns, but I just returned from the range today after proving mine working.  I'm about to post my range report.


But other than barrel, I was able to get 7 rounds .380 or 8 rounds .32acp in the same magazine using the same recoil spring, just swap the barrels, which I did at the bench at the range with my fingers.  I was skeptical...  but it worked perfectly.


Interesting enough, I did have FTF issues when I loaded 7 or 8, popped the magazine, and topped the magazine off.  Didn't matter the caliber, it FTF the first round and then worked fine after that.


But putting in a full magazine and shooting (without topping off) was 100% reliable today.  I probably shot 100 .380 and 100 .32, divided between the HSc w/ two barrels, and a KelTec P3AT .380 and a KelTec P32 .32 acp.


My gun is an Interarms US import from maybe '68 or so, serial # 01.17016.