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This should bring the handloaders out on a slow news night..

The souce of your confusion is in thinking of the numerical designation as a strict caliber, or bullet diameter (actually, the dimension between the grooves of a rifled barrel, but that's more detail that you asked after.)

These are cartridge designations -- properly, the .38 Smith & Wesson similar to the .38 special, aka the .38 Smith & Wesson Special, designed by that company, and for years a standard cartridge for police in the US. The case diameter is .379", with a bullet diameter of .357". (As a poster above noted, this is the same case diameter as the .357 Magnum, more properly known as the .357 S&W magnum.) IOW, you can use a .38 S&W Special cartridge in a .357 Magnum revolver, but not the other way around. Also, since this was designed for a revolver, it has a "rimmed" case, ie, a pronounce lip that sticks out at the bottom of the cartridge, to keep the rounds from falling out of the cylinder when you load them.

The .380, on the other hand, was designed for semi-auto handguns, and thus uses a 'rimless' case. (OK, I know that there are semi-autos out there chambered for rimmed ammunition, but that's too esoteric for this post.). Interestingly enough, this cartridge is most commonly referred to in this country as the .380 ACP (Automatic Colt Product/Pistol), but is also referred to in reloading manuals as the 9mm Corto, 9mm Kurtz, and, in English speaking countries, the 9mm Short. It has a case diameter of .374, and a .355 diameter bullet.

This is a long way round of saying that your friend at the range gave essentially correct information, but left out all of the extraneous detail that would let you understand the answer, rather than accepting it blindly.

BTW, you don't have to take my word for it. The information above comes from the Lyman Reloading handbook (happened to be closest), 47th edition.

Regards,
Absalom

but that's too esoteric for this post.

Nothing is too esoteric for someone that has approached us for information. Explain about the Sig .357 autoloader. Because I don't understand why they did that. ;>)

/john

indexing

Bumped and bookmarked.
There is a lot of information on this thread, and I am grateful. Now.... would you be so kind as to explain what "gauge" means as it pertains to shotguns? What is the difference between a 10 gauge, a 12 gauge, and a 22 gauge shotgun? I have always wondered why the lower the gauge, the bigger the barrel.
Thanks.