ok ,i have not fired any 380 but considering there size and weight i thought maybe they would be a decent CCW . but a friend sayed he shot at a drum type barrel and the bullets bounced off, can this be true and if so i wouldnt consider getting one. any have any thoughts?
.380 annd CCW
- Thread starter crittar
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
handgunner356
Member
He must not of hit it on center. Really most consider the .380acp as a minimum for self-defense, a lot more than a .22 or .32 but half the energy of 9mm. The new .380s' out there are great for concealed carry, small, lightweight easy to carry and something you'd be more likely to have with you all the time. They do have a sharp recoil in the fixed barrel models like the PPK, and require a firm hold to avoid feed failures.
I love these stories (more like "fables") about the supposed anemia of the .380 ACP cartridge. One of the so-called experts at a local gun store had one about someone being shot with a 380 and, when he later was arrested, having the bullets fall out of his jacket when he unzipped it. Blah blah blah. It's a load of hooey.
Out of a short barrel (say around three inches), the typical defense-grade 124-grain hollowpoint 9mm travels at about 1000-1100 fps (give or take). Out of the same length barrel, the typical defense-grade 90-grain hollowpoint .380 ACP travels at about 900-1000 fps. Yes, when you work out the math, accounting for both the difference in velocity and the difference in mass, the 380 has about 50% of the energy of the 9mm, but that doesn't make it comparable to a spitwad, which seems to be the "moral" of these stories.
In my opinion, the pocket-sized 380s are great for concealed carry: small, thin, light, and, in many cases, enjoyable to practice with at the range.
LouisianaJoe
Member
Better than a rock! 
I carry a LCP. It is light, thin, and not noticeable in my pocket.
I would be carrying a .380 bodyguard if they had been available when I bought the Ruger.
As far as caliber, the .22 has killed a lot.
I carry a LCP. It is light, thin, and not noticeable in my pocket.
I would be carrying a .380 bodyguard if they had been available when I bought the Ruger.
As far as caliber, the .22 has killed a lot.
Robinett_11B
US Veteran
When I started with a pocket carry piece, I chose the LCP first. I loved it, lightweight, thin, accurate, fun, etc. Then I bought a 442 and the LCP started collecting dust, and was sold shortly thereafter. I'd guess you'd be just about as well armed with either the LCP or a 5-shot snub. They make better ammo nowadays...it's not 1953 anymore, defense loads have come a long way. I'd rather carry something with more power, but I never felt too undergunned when I went out w/ just a .380 or .38....
Fishinfool
Member
A compact pocket .380 that you have with you is a lot better then the .bulky 45 you left home....
What a great saying. I'll be stealing that one to use on other sites...lol
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2007
- Messages
- 27,669
- Reaction score
- 21,359
Welcome to the Forum. If you have some shooting experience but do not own a suitable CCW, my suggestion is to find a range that rents several types (.380, .38/.357, 9 mm, possibly .40 S & W) and try them before buying. All will require practice to be effective, but if you have large hands many newer .380s are very small and may be difficult for you to use. I think it is better to spend $50 on a range trip and find out you don't get along with a certain gun/caliber before spending $400 on a gun you cannot shoot effectively.
If you already own a potential CCW in one of the calibers listed above, the simplest answer is lots of ammo and practice.
I bought one .380 in my lifetime (AMT Backup), but never carried it. After testing a few rounds, I had lots of second thoughts....
I will qualify this by saying that recent ammo developments might change my mind today. Something like Glasers or Hornaday Critical Defense, has possibilities. Still, it would have to be a BUG, never my primary weapon.
Hornady Manufacturing Company :: Ammunition :: Handgun :: Choose by Caliber :: 380 Auto :: 380 Auto 90 gr Critical Defense®
I will qualify this by saying that recent ammo developments might change my mind today. Something like Glasers or Hornaday Critical Defense, has possibilities. Still, it would have to be a BUG, never my primary weapon.
Hornady Manufacturing Company :: Ammunition :: Handgun :: Choose by Caliber :: 380 Auto :: 380 Auto 90 gr Critical Defense®
Last edited:
bmcgilvray
Member
Quote:
"Originally Posted by Fishinfool View Post
A compact pocket .380 that you have with you is a lot better then the .bulky 45 you left home....
What a great saying. I'll be stealing that one to use on other sites...lol"
Yeah, this saying has made the rounds for years now. In my view, it has a collary: Perhaps you shouldn't have left that bulky .45 at home.
If you are ever actually faced with gunfighting, you could come to rue the day that you sacrificed all on the alter of easy convenience and so must rely on a stunted, hard to shoot, and piddly pistol.
I have a runt .380 but do my best to contrive to hide something in which I have real confidence rather than depend on it for everyday carry. While the .380 could do to" get 'em off of me" at powder-burning range it really isn't a confidence-inspiring round. It isn't equal in application to a .38 Special with a stiff +P 158 grain lead semi-wadcutter no matter what sort of data is trotted out by fans.
I'm old fashioned but will take the bulk and weight of a good K-Frame or full-sized 1911 and leave the .380 home whenever possible.
I will say that the .380 can penetrate, even at long distance. I once shot mine through 4 thicknesses of galvanized, corrugated, trash can layers, the target being two old trash cans stacked one within the other. Distance was 165 yards. By using the first 6-round magazine for ranging shots, 4 of the 6 shots in the second magazine hit the stacked garbage cans.
"Originally Posted by Fishinfool View Post
A compact pocket .380 that you have with you is a lot better then the .bulky 45 you left home....
What a great saying. I'll be stealing that one to use on other sites...lol"
Yeah, this saying has made the rounds for years now. In my view, it has a collary: Perhaps you shouldn't have left that bulky .45 at home.
If you are ever actually faced with gunfighting, you could come to rue the day that you sacrificed all on the alter of easy convenience and so must rely on a stunted, hard to shoot, and piddly pistol.
I have a runt .380 but do my best to contrive to hide something in which I have real confidence rather than depend on it for everyday carry. While the .380 could do to" get 'em off of me" at powder-burning range it really isn't a confidence-inspiring round. It isn't equal in application to a .38 Special with a stiff +P 158 grain lead semi-wadcutter no matter what sort of data is trotted out by fans.
I'm old fashioned but will take the bulk and weight of a good K-Frame or full-sized 1911 and leave the .380 home whenever possible.
I will say that the .380 can penetrate, even at long distance. I once shot mine through 4 thicknesses of galvanized, corrugated, trash can layers, the target being two old trash cans stacked one within the other. Distance was 165 yards. By using the first 6-round magazine for ranging shots, 4 of the 6 shots in the second magazine hit the stacked garbage cans.
Last edited:
Erich
Member
This seems like it comes up once a month. 
This lengthy thread may be of interest:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/ammo/98508-380-load-calling-erich.html
This lengthy thread may be of interest: http://smith-wessonforum.com/ammo/98508-380-load-calling-erich.html
USAF385
US Veteran
^^^^ Great thread.. I have that one bookmarked.
The problem with .380 currently is that in available loads you can have sufficient penetration ( 12" or more in calibrated ballistic gelatin according to the FBI standard) to reach vital tissues, or you can have reasonably reliable expansion, to maximize bleed out, but you can't have both. You need both if you want to stop the fight as quickly as possible. Maybe someday some engineer will figure out how to make it happen.
To get both sufficient penetration and reliable expansion in the same load now you have to step up to 9x19 or .38 Spec +P.
IMO a .380 is better than no handgun at all, and arguably better than .22 LR, .25 ACP, or .32 ACP, but I would think long and hard before choosing a .380, with all the slim lightweight 9mm autos and airweight j-frame +P .38s available now.
Yes a .380 will kill a human, given time and great bullet placement, and so will a .22 Short, but that's not the point. The point is to stop the fight, quickly, and that's quite a different matter.
To get both sufficient penetration and reliable expansion in the same load now you have to step up to 9x19 or .38 Spec +P.
IMO a .380 is better than no handgun at all, and arguably better than .22 LR, .25 ACP, or .32 ACP, but I would think long and hard before choosing a .380, with all the slim lightweight 9mm autos and airweight j-frame +P .38s available now.
Yes a .380 will kill a human, given time and great bullet placement, and so will a .22 Short, but that's not the point. The point is to stop the fight, quickly, and that's quite a different matter.
Last edited:
Watch the video. The demo ammo is .380: Hornady Manufacturing Company :: Ammunition :: Handgun :: Choose by Caliber :: 380 Auto :: 380 Auto 90 gr Critical Defense®
Last edited:
Fishinfool
Member
I agree, a properly loaded .40 or .45 is great. Problem is, a lot of guys, and girls just will not go thru the hassle of carrying a larger, holstered weapon on them on a daily basis. A .380 is not my first choice in a defensive round, but if you have it with you (which is the point), and you practice double taps, you are still way ahead of the game..
Larry
azasadny
US Veteran
My biggest point about carrying concealed is that you MUST have the gun that you WILL CARRY all of the time. Many people buy a full-size gun and then don't carry it because it's not comfortable, prints, etc... My wife carries a Ruger LCP and I carry a S&W 3913 and the Sig P239. I have bigger, heavier guns, but they don't fit the "concealed carry" requirements as well for me as these two... just my humble opinion
5906fan
Member
can't recollect ever seeing any doubter say they would stand at 50' heavily dressed to 'test' the effectiveness of the .380acp 95-100 gr jhp out of 3.5" barrel.
doubt I ever will.
doubt I ever will.
