I've killed lots of coyotes in north Mississippi, most of them with .22 LR using both rifle and pistol. Never had a problem putting them down.

Unfortunately, I've had to kill a few dogs too and only when absolutely necessary. A couple of big aggressive curs I put down with a .40 and it stopped them quickly. Another I shot with a .357 and it was DRT. Just me, but a .380 wouldn't be my go to aggressive dog round.

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All of this feedback has been extremely helpful, and upon hearing it all I've decided to err on the side of caution by carrying my M&P40 Shield.

It's a little inconvenient and possibly a bit uncomfortable to go for walks in the Summer wearing cargo shorts rather than a pair of drawstring jogging shorts, but I'd much rather sweat from the heat than be sweating out of anxiety over the thought that my LCP might not be enough if I get attacked by a pack of wild dogs or something.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

Way too many dog owners think their dog's are angels. I don't trust them; the people or the dogs.

Lightest 38 I have is a 642, 20.6 ounces loaded.
Lightest 9mm is a Kahr, 20 ounces, 6+1 rounds.
Ruger LCP Max, 14.3, 10+1 rounds.
That 380 is a lightweight!
I need to get some JHP ammo for mine.
Only thing I ever shot is Ball!

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The first round should be rat shot. Hard to miss with that. It won’t kill and if they are determined,it will slow them down for the second shot. I remember when I was a kid, my uncle let me shoot a stray with rat shot. He said the dog, for years, would call to see if I was there before he would come around.

If it is such a menace that it needs shooting, it deserves to be put down, not wounded. Many years ago, I shot a stray dog with the Speer plastic bullets to keep it from trying to get to my dog in a fenced back yard. It did deter the stray, but the plastic bullet didn't penetrate the haunch, where it was hit. Shooting a dog with penetrating shot could cause legal problems.

Shooting a dog with rat shot could easily get you a vacation, free publicity, and an orange jumpsuit. You'd probably meet some new friends and have the opportunity to get some low-cost tattoos.

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I knew as soon as I hit submit a Karen would chastise me for the rat shot comment. I look at it like everyone is debating what caliber is best to kill a dog, at least if the dog makes it home with some shrapnel wounds that’s better than killing it. If the dog keeps coming, the second shot should be a real one. As far as getting an orange suit,what’s going to happen if the OP blasts Poochy in the middle of the road in the neighborhood or worse yet a ricochet off of the asphalt.
When I did it,I was 12 years old. That was 50 years ago on my uncle’s farm.

Lol!! That’s me on the far right with Paco & my homeys.












Not really.


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I don’t know where you live, but to answer your question, I’ve killed a wild hog with a.380 so I don’t see a coyote fairing much better. If it was me, I’d just keep rocking one of your .40s and call it a day.

Get yourself a couple or three Great Peronese dogs and the coyotes will not come around.


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Rabid coons can be hell on wheels for sure.

Last one I kilt was with a Mini14 & it took 3 shots of 55 gn sp ammo before it gave it up.


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Hopefully, we all learn from the mistakes of our youth. If you don't want any contradictory opinions, just don't post.

The biggest canine threat I face is my dog’s bad breath.
Don’t think .380 ACP would help.

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Shot placement is everything.

In this discussion I am surprised nobody has speculated what caliber of firearm that charmless governor of South Dakota famously used on her dog and her goat. I guess shot placement is a lot easier when the target is just sitting there looking at you.

I've killed many plain old coons, non rabid, with a single well placed round of .22 Short 29 gr RN from an old cut down Winchester model 67 single shot rifle.

Rabid Raccoons are kinda like Zombies in the movies. They just keep coming until you get a headshot.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

Would NOT be my choice but something is better than nothing.

Not a belly gun, .380.

So, I have something to share here today that I think is worth mentioning due to the fact that there were a number of people who recommend and carry Pepper Spray.

I can't give too many details here because not only do I not have them all because I wasn't there, but also for the sake of privacy. Early this morning my brother got into a situation in which he had to use Pepper Spray on a pair of dogs.

The good news is, it caused the dogs to break off their attacking and run off. The bad news is, when the spray hit the dogs, one of them immediately attempted to shake it off and it spattered all over my brother.
He's alright now, but he told me that it burned like heck. He compared the immediate sensation to being spattered by scalding hot liquid, then his eyes, nose, throat, lungs, and even his bare skin immediately reacted with an extremely painful burning sensation which he was at a loss to describe because he couldn't compare it to anything else he'd ever felt. He couldn't keep his eyes open for long, but he was able to make his way back inside and to the shower, but by that point his eyes had swollen shut, and he said that trying to rinse it off actually made it worse at first. After about an hour the swelling went down and he was able to open one of his eyes, but for a long while afterwards his vision was blurred.

He told me that he also had his Ruger LC9S in his pocket and sort of wishes he had just shot them instead. He told me multiple times that while the Pepper Spray was obviously effective, that he would never use it again due to the experience, expressing concern over the fact that it's just as likely to incapacitate you as it is an attacking animal, as well as the possibility that more vicious dogs might not have broken off their attack, and that in his state he wouldn't have been able to further defend himself had he needed to.
His closing comments on the subject where — and I quote — "It's definitely better than nothing. It's effective. It obviously works. But if I had a choice... Between it or a gun... I'd rather just use a gun."

Granted, I never had any intention of carrying Pepper Spray, but after hearing this I'd never even consider it.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

If .380 was "enough" Elmer would not have given us the 357, 44, or 41 magnum.

Elmer didn't go to the gym.

That's the one!!

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None of the aforementioned cartridges were developed with Coyotes, Dogs, or even Wolves in mind. They were designed for larger predators.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

I think that statement was said tongue in cheek! But ole Elmer was a hoot...LOL

Maybe, but the point is still valid and some may not "get it".
Just to be clear: from everything I've read, the .357 was developed to penetrate engine blocks and windshield "safety glass" so LEO's could stop prohibition-era gangsters - not canines.
Likewise the .44 cartridges were developed for large game hunting - not for stopping dogs.

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I want to see that. Urban legend, ain't gonna happen.

If a .40 S&W 180 grain JHP was not effective against a mad pitbull I doubt a .380acp would.

Ayy experiece out there with stun guns and (wild or not) dogs? I know that pretty much any animal in my house will run to the absolute far reaches of the house when I ‘shoot” the thing - even without touching them. I’d suspect they’d run like heck just at the sound of that “zz, zz, zzzzz.”

actually Elmer only played a part in the 357 development. Phil Sharpe was a big mover and shaker on the 357. ...and I think it was automobile Bodies they wanted to penetrate...Not engine blocks as has often been said. Auto bodies in the 30s were in a whole other world than the ones of today. Winchester developed the pointed copper plated bullets to do engine blocks...that didn't work either. But, they looked good for sales

All well and good - the point being made was that no one was focused on stopping canine threats when developing ANY of the magnum cartridges.
Putting aside all posts focused on semantics and being pedantic...

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Mention was made earlier about the .30 carbine and it's round. Over about 2 weeks back in the 1960's I met 2 (or 3?) gents who served in the South Pacific during WWII. All had lost some part of their left hand. They were charged by sword wielding Japanese and only got off one round of the FMJ military ball. They were forced to use the carbine as a field expedient quarter staff until someone else solved their problem. One by a buddy with a Thompson.

I think it was that last guy who also had a picture of him and his late opponent, showing a bullet wound about at the bottom of the chest cavity (military aiming point).

While a handy item and-with good expanding bullet ammunition-a viable choice for a defensive firearm, ya gotta hit the threat in a vital area.