Gunsnwater
Member
Yesterday it was 38 all day long. Today its dependent on the load. Both have gotten better but the 380 has improved the most. What you have to answer is what are you best at using? Oh and what ammo can you find.
Which cartridge is more effective for self defense - 38 Special or 380 Auto?
- Thread starter jdickson397
- Start date
And I think this is just hocus pocus muddy water science.
The .38 has much more momentum than the .380! Throw away the fake science 'energy' and 'one-stop-shots' and look at which round has more momentum and oomph.
Okay, if the energy chart thumpers don't believe me...
Shoot a thick phone book with a .38 and then with a .380. Or a metal plate, or anything at your range...
The .38 will rock that sucker a lot more than the .380! It's no different with a person. The bad guy will be rocked more by the .38!
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Delos
Member
Itty bitty bullets have a place
You can put a lot more powder and more bullet into a .38 Special than the itty bitty shell of a .380.
Any time you can put more powder and more bullet in a gun it is better. Unless you have some special itty bitty ankle holster you really love.
One shot stops is a deep subject. There seems to be no two people with the same size adrenal glands. No two people on the same illegal drug combination in their system at same time.
However when You are walking down an Alaska stream, when salmon coming in to mate, lay eggs, and die….. Grizzly bears think every stream belongs to them. And unless you have the right rifle they usually do.
Over penetration is considered a bad thing in crowded cities. Out on the ranch it is not. Is it better to shoot half way through the lower body mass of an armed Alpaca rustler -- or shoot all the way through busting his spine or kidney or hipbone.
Ask yourself if you would go hunting Polar Bear with a 30-30. Some people have and still do.
As one hunting writer once stated “yes you can hunt elephants with a .270 rifle. However if you do not have a great first shot he might get really angry and charge. If so you have about a 7 inch triangle target (eye level?) bouncing up and down charging you.
If you shot him with a 458 magnum, and it stimulates a charge, you can shoot another anywhere in his head and he will go down at least long enough to throw your bolt again.
A bit like people and 45 acp or bigger. (Okay 45 acp or .357 mag or 40 S&W or bigger).
You can put a lot more powder and more bullet into a .38 Special than the itty bitty shell of a .380.
Any time you can put more powder and more bullet in a gun it is better. Unless you have some special itty bitty ankle holster you really love.
One shot stops is a deep subject. There seems to be no two people with the same size adrenal glands. No two people on the same illegal drug combination in their system at same time.
However when You are walking down an Alaska stream, when salmon coming in to mate, lay eggs, and die….. Grizzly bears think every stream belongs to them. And unless you have the right rifle they usually do.
Over penetration is considered a bad thing in crowded cities. Out on the ranch it is not. Is it better to shoot half way through the lower body mass of an armed Alpaca rustler -- or shoot all the way through busting his spine or kidney or hipbone.
Ask yourself if you would go hunting Polar Bear with a 30-30. Some people have and still do.
As one hunting writer once stated “yes you can hunt elephants with a .270 rifle. However if you do not have a great first shot he might get really angry and charge. If so you have about a 7 inch triangle target (eye level?) bouncing up and down charging you.
If you shot him with a 458 magnum, and it stimulates a charge, you can shoot another anywhere in his head and he will go down at least long enough to throw your bolt again.
A bit like people and 45 acp or bigger. (Okay 45 acp or .357 mag or 40 S&W or bigger).
Capt.Jim
Member
I say "depends" where you place the shot...
A 9 mm between the eyes will have much more stopping power than a 44 magnum shot placed on BG's foot!
A 9 mm between the eyes will have much more stopping power than a 44 magnum shot placed on BG's foot!
Delos
Member
It depends
It might be an even call? A 44 mag to foot is probably not going to leave much foot left.
I say "depends" where you place the shot...
A 9 mm between the eyes will have much more stopping power than a 44 magnum shot placed on BG's foot!
It might be an even call? A 44 mag to foot is probably not going to leave much foot left.
revolvergeek
Member
I think that all other things being equal .38 spl is a superior cartridge because of shooting a heavier bullet at similar or higher velocity so you have a chance of good penetration and useful expansion both. Too many of the .380 loads on the market seem to either give very limited expansion and ok penetration or spectacular expansion and very limited penetration. There are many .38 spl loads, basically any of the popular duty or defense loads in the last 15-20 years, that seem to me to give a better balance of performance. Personally, I MUCH prefer .38 spl.
That doesn't mean that it is always the best choice for a particular situation though. Some people might shoot faster and more accurately with a .380 auto than a .38 airweight snub, so for them the .380 might functionally be more effective.
That doesn't mean that it is always the best choice for a particular situation though. Some people might shoot faster and more accurately with a .380 auto than a .38 airweight snub, so for them the .380 might functionally be more effective.
venomballistics
Member
38 special has more potential.
the key here is to understand the ammo for each.
in a 380 you have a very tight budget. So much so that penetration can become an issue if an expanding bullet is used. Some, including myself, advise the use of FMJ ammo to those who must concede down this far.
38 special typically throws a 158 RN with far more energy.
It has a wider budget to play with and if its typical RN bullet is your base line, you might find that it over penetrates.
as a result, both are reliant upon surgical shot placement and will display similar results.
However, if some of the 38's penetration is traded for expansion, it may be balanced to provide a larger wound with adequate penetration to an overall advantage.
I would advise taking up reloading so as to give yourself access to a wide range of test samples to figure out what that balance point is
the key here is to understand the ammo for each.
in a 380 you have a very tight budget. So much so that penetration can become an issue if an expanding bullet is used. Some, including myself, advise the use of FMJ ammo to those who must concede down this far.
38 special typically throws a 158 RN with far more energy.
It has a wider budget to play with and if its typical RN bullet is your base line, you might find that it over penetrates.
as a result, both are reliant upon surgical shot placement and will display similar results.
However, if some of the 38's penetration is traded for expansion, it may be balanced to provide a larger wound with adequate penetration to an overall advantage.
I would advise taking up reloading so as to give yourself access to a wide range of test samples to figure out what that balance point is
I'll repeat what has already been mentioned. 
Generally speaking.......................
A .380 is a round for an automatic
A .38 special is for a revolver.
Power about even, a tad more in a .38 with a heavier bullet.
What do you want to carry? an auto or a revolver? Which are you more accurate shooting ?
Generally speaking.......................
A .380 is a round for an automatic
A .38 special is for a revolver.
Power about even, a tad more in a .38 with a heavier bullet.
What do you want to carry? an auto or a revolver? Which are you more accurate shooting ?
sac-gunslinger
Member
Jinx, I think you have presented the most cogent argument in the thread. If I can, please let me state it a different way....
"If you believe in the ability of the round you carry to protect you, then it will!"
I have read articles for over 50 years on which round is the most effective. The articles follow the current fashion of the pistoleros. Fashion? Not science? Nope, it is fashion. Most recently, the 40 S&W became fashionable. I think the 40 has gone beyond the fashion stage and we are back to recognizing its limitations.
I have carried primarily 38 Special and 45 ACP over the years, even some 9mm. I now only carry 38 Special. Why? Because I am most comfortable with it. I know how to make the revolvers I own work properly, the 38 will do what I want it to. Can't ask for more than that, and I do not have to try to keep up with changing fashion.
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shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
Yes, I agree that fashion is a factor. So is what manufacturers compensate gun magazines to push in print, in the form of heavy advertising money if nothing else.
There's a lot of science available, some of it oddly contradictory depending on the study you read.
But I've owned .40's, 9mm's, .357's, .32 ACP's, and .38 Specials. I keep coming back to the .38's because I trust their track record, revolver simplicity and reliability, and my ability to shoot them without worrying about a less-than-ideal grip if some thug is all over me.
If somebody wanted to give me a .380 I'd be happy to try it, but I'm not familiar with it and would still carry a .38 J-frame.
There's a lot of science available, some of it oddly contradictory depending on the study you read.
But I've owned .40's, 9mm's, .357's, .32 ACP's, and .38 Specials. I keep coming back to the .38's because I trust their track record, revolver simplicity and reliability, and my ability to shoot them without worrying about a less-than-ideal grip if some thug is all over me.
If somebody wanted to give me a .380 I'd be happy to try it, but I'm not familiar with it and would still carry a .38 J-frame.
Delos
Member
The bigger cartridge with more powder
The original post said “which cartridge”.
I would point out that the 9mm cartridge is similar to 38 special when the same bullet weights are used.
In Europe they call the .380 by the name 9mm short.
So the original question is similar to asking what is better a 38 special or a .357 mag.
What is better a 44 special or a 44 magnum.
The original post said “which cartridge”.
I would point out that the 9mm cartridge is similar to 38 special when the same bullet weights are used.
In Europe they call the .380 by the name 9mm short.
So the original question is similar to asking what is better a 38 special or a .357 mag.
What is better a 44 special or a 44 magnum.
Waywatcher
Member
The cartridge is inseparable from its platforms, and thus this discussion inevitably entails semi-auto vs revolver.
The revolver is more reliable than most every .380 semi auto, and launches a much heavier bullet (158) at similar velocities to the .380's lightweight 95 grain slug.
Not a hard decision in my mind.
oberon
Member
.38 special.
I am partial to the Federal Nyclads.
I have a couple boxes left.
They are no longer in production.
I am partial to the Federal Nyclads.
I have a couple boxes left.
They are no longer in production.
badge 851
US Veteran
Me too, particularly in Airweight® revolvers. Federal® still makes the Nyclad® 125gr HP standard pressure. I just bought 4 boxes a week ago. My wife (64) really enjoys shooting Nyclad®s because of their low recoil.
samuelrp
Member
This is what they call a rehtorical question.
Delos
Member
In the real world
I want to know if a 380 is better than a .22 magnum? You can buy a .22 magnum firearm in any barrel length you want. That sucker really cranks.
I want to know if a 380 is better than a .22 magnum? You can buy a .22 magnum firearm in any barrel length you want. That sucker really cranks.
DR505
US Veteran
Well, no one can measure "stopping power" since it does not exist. In order to kill, a bullet does it's work by exsanguination or central nervous system disruption. Period. "Stopping power" is a myth. A bullet that stays in its target but does not cause massive bleeding/cns disruption is worthless. A bullet that goes right through the target, yet causes massive hemorrhaging or destroys the cns will work fine.
I was involved in a case in Chicago in the early 80's where three guys conducting a home invasion shot the homeowner 6 times in the chest with a .38 special. He chased them off with a baseball bat and then called an ambulance. The bullets all stuck in his pectoral muscles and didn't make it to blood bearing organs, major vessels, or the cns. He survived to testify just fine, even though all 6 rounds dumped ALL of their energy into his body.
Don't buy in to "stopping power." There is no such animal.
OP
jdickson397
Member
Wow, this has turned into a really interesting discussion. Keep it coming and thanks to all who participated.
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