.380 Not Good Defensive Caliber??
- Thread starter rlight
- Start date
- Status
labworm
US Veteran
Always wanted a NAA .22 short, never got around to buying one.
I also have like yourself the PPK, Colt Government and Sig P238 in .380, all excellent shooters and easy to carry. Also have the PPK in .32 ACP
johnnyflake
Member
I carry a Sig P238 (.380) - daily 24/7 - with a 7 round mag & 1 in the tube, cocked and locked, in a front pocket holster. I also carry two spare mags in my cell phone pouch.
This is the ammo I carry:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3b3ZGmZuT0
At face to face distances, I have no concerns!
This is the ammo I carry:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3b3ZGmZuT0
At face to face distances, I have no concerns!
.32 PPK........ how were you influenced????? LOL
I carried a .380 PPK for years as my suit gun...... replaced it with a 3913 in 1990...... still does Tux duty >>>LOL
Last year picked up a .32 PPK/S with 4 mags for less than $400 ....just couldn't resist....
I carried a .380 PPK for years as my suit gun...... replaced it with a 3913 in 1990...... still does Tux duty >>>LOL
Last year picked up a .32 PPK/S with 4 mags for less than $400 ....just couldn't resist....
labworm
US Veteran
Only took me about 20 years looking at the Walther PPK before finally buying the 2.
The .32 is so pleasant to shoot, the .380 I get a kick out of.
Don't wear a Tux, I prefer a Zoot suit.
For many years I carried a .25 Colt Vest Pocket when nothing else fit the situation.
I have since retired that and carry a .380 LCP, but I have a 380 PPK that I carried as well.
Those were my easy grab and go guns, normally I carry my Glock 27 or mye Smith Md#36
I see nothing wrong with it.
I have since retired that and carry a .380 LCP, but I have a 380 PPK that I carried as well.
Those were my easy grab and go guns, normally I carry my Glock 27 or mye Smith Md#36
I see nothing wrong with it.
M3Stuart
Member
Welcome to the forum!
FYI: on other forums this type of thread is known as a 'caliber war'. Fortunately, you're on a very polite forum.
That said; any of them will do a job on the bad guy. So do not worry about the caliber, ammo, type of gun, etc. Just start with whatever YOU are comfortable with. Over time, your tastes will probably change and you will likely find yourself going up or down in calibers. You'll perhaps switch from semi-auto to revolver.
Don't worry about it.
FYI: on other forums this type of thread is known as a 'caliber war'. Fortunately, you're on a very polite forum.
That said; any of them will do a job on the bad guy. So do not worry about the caliber, ammo, type of gun, etc. Just start with whatever YOU are comfortable with. Over time, your tastes will probably change and you will likely find yourself going up or down in calibers. You'll perhaps switch from semi-auto to revolver.
Don't worry about it.
Last edited:
Budnjax
Absent Comrade
380 is a bad choice for numerous reasons.....
Let's face it, most any handgun round is a poor stopper. If you knew you were going to be in a gunfight or other shooting situation would you choose a handgun? I think not. Most anyone familiar with rifles will tell you that a 30/30 Winchester round is only a marginal deer cartridge. Deer are typically around 175 pounds, about the same as the average man. So if a 30/30 which produces many times the energy of a 380 is only a marginal caliber, what does that make the 380? But, there's another factor: the gun you have with you when you need it is far better than the Howitzer you have back in the shed. If a 380 is the biggest gun you are likely going to carry all that's left is finding the best, most reliable ammo for it. I prefer the 32 acp round over the 380 based on the reliability factor. I've had numerous 380 guns over the years, including various Walthers and Sigs, most of which would just not consistently feed and chamber a round. The same guns in 32acp I have found to be much more reliable. So, even though the 32acp is of lesser power I would choose it due to the reliability issue alone (a 44 magnum that is not reliable every time you pull the trigger is worthless as a defensive piece....are you going to trust it to go "bang" 100% of the time?) I really can see no reason to buy a 380 caliber gun today. Why? because you can get a 9mm gun in the same or close to the same size and weight and the 9mm is much more powerful and frequently much more reliable than a 380...the ammo is also more readily available and costs less than 380 ammo, in most cases. I really don't see why anyone would really want to buy a 380 since there are so many other, even cheaper, options that are much better to own.
Let's face it, most any handgun round is a poor stopper. If you knew you were going to be in a gunfight or other shooting situation would you choose a handgun? I think not. Most anyone familiar with rifles will tell you that a 30/30 Winchester round is only a marginal deer cartridge. Deer are typically around 175 pounds, about the same as the average man. So if a 30/30 which produces many times the energy of a 380 is only a marginal caliber, what does that make the 380? But, there's another factor: the gun you have with you when you need it is far better than the Howitzer you have back in the shed. If a 380 is the biggest gun you are likely going to carry all that's left is finding the best, most reliable ammo for it. I prefer the 32 acp round over the 380 based on the reliability factor. I've had numerous 380 guns over the years, including various Walthers and Sigs, most of which would just not consistently feed and chamber a round. The same guns in 32acp I have found to be much more reliable. So, even though the 32acp is of lesser power I would choose it due to the reliability issue alone (a 44 magnum that is not reliable every time you pull the trigger is worthless as a defensive piece....are you going to trust it to go "bang" 100% of the time?) I really can see no reason to buy a 380 caliber gun today. Why? because you can get a 9mm gun in the same or close to the same size and weight and the 9mm is much more powerful and frequently much more reliable than a 380...the ammo is also more readily available and costs less than 380 ammo, in most cases. I really don't see why anyone would really want to buy a 380 since there are so many other, even cheaper, options that are much better to own.
Don't worry about it, we have a few people on here that can get a little touchy.
Actually, the Beretta Jetfire Bond used was 25cal. The PPK Major Boothroyd gave him is 7.65m/32cal. There's a story behind the change, pretty sure it's been detailed elsewhere here.
Protected One
Member
sub-moa
US Veteran
Actually, the Beretta 418 James Bond used was 6.35/25acp...
66 shooter
Member
For some reason the most feared weapon I had when I worked the streets was my Taser. Whenever I unholstered my sidearm it didn't seem as though anyone was impressed that much, unless it went bang, but when they saw the Taser and the red dot, everybody usually quit, it seemed nobody really wanted to take the 5 sec. ride. Go figure.
Lots of good information here
http://smith-wessonforum.com/concealed-carry-self-defense/358306-2-questions-re-380-ammuntion.html
http://smith-wessonforum.com/concealed-carry-self-defense/358306-2-questions-re-380-ammuntion.html
I'm going to chime in here only because I choose a 9mm over a .380 for my carry gun based on reasons that had nothing to do with ballistics. Price and ease of finding ammo. Having said that, a good friend has several .380's and I've shot all of them and I still like shooting my Shield more than any of his .380's, which include a Bersa Thunder, Bersa Thunder CC and a Taurus TCP.
I am far more accurate with my Shield9 than I am with any of the others, and their recoil is far more snappy. His EDC is his Thunder CC and his Wife's is the TCP. She likes it and is comfortable with it and that's all that really matters.
If it wasn't for price and availability, I probably would have ended up with a Thunder CC as my EDC because it's not bad to shoot and size.
I am far more accurate with my Shield9 than I am with any of the others, and their recoil is far more snappy. His EDC is his Thunder CC and his Wife's is the TCP. She likes it and is comfortable with it and that's all that really matters.
If it wasn't for price and availability, I probably would have ended up with a Thunder CC as my EDC because it's not bad to shoot and size.
Brian41
Member
I have a couple 380s and one 32 acp that I sometimes carry. I normally will carry a J frame in 38 special though as being just a bit bigger it has a bigger bullet. Then too though it has only 5 shots so a drawback to everything small to conceal carry.
The only thing I've shot with a 380 was a feral cat and it didn't go far. I do know from my wife's experience in a big city OR the 380 and smaller bullets have done a lot of damage and usually have taken the fight out of her patients.
As stated already the gun you do take with you is much better than the bigger one you left behind. I know I carried my 32 before and after my back surgery as it was small and light. Sure sometimes I wished for bigger but it was enough weight for me to carry at the time and made me feel protected.
The only thing I've shot with a 380 was a feral cat and it didn't go far. I do know from my wife's experience in a big city OR the 380 and smaller bullets have done a lot of damage and usually have taken the fight out of her patients.
As stated already the gun you do take with you is much better than the bigger one you left behind. I know I carried my 32 before and after my back surgery as it was small and light. Sure sometimes I wished for bigger but it was enough weight for me to carry at the time and made me feel protected.
cmort666
Member
"Worthless"? No.
Are there better choices, depending upon the application? Yes.
Would I carry a .380? For pocket carry, absolutely. In anything bigger than a Walther PPK/S? Nope. At that point it needs to be a 9x19mm or bigger.
Is .380 optimal? No, but I'd use it in a small enough gun. I'd NEVER carry a .32acp.
Are there better choices, depending upon the application? Yes.
Would I carry a .380? For pocket carry, absolutely. In anything bigger than a Walther PPK/S? Nope. At that point it needs to be a 9x19mm or bigger.
Is .380 optimal? No, but I'd use it in a small enough gun. I'd NEVER carry a .32acp.
Shorty 45 MK2
Member
I wouldn't call it the best out there but if you can get good hits with it at speed and with one and two hands I don't see why not.
Mostly it depends on what you are doing at the time, I rather have a snub .38 if I'm attacked in an elevator than a Browning M2 .50 HMG but if I'm being shot at 100+ yards I'd want the .50!
The biggest thing is do YOU have confidence in the pistol and ammo you are using.
I was talking to a friend who thinks I'm horribly out gunned with my 7+1 compact .45 and two spare magazines, (didn't tell him that also carry a six shot .38 snub from time to time.) granted he thinks that a striker fired double stack 9mm is the best and only pistol that someone should use for SD. 
We can and will be discussing this probably as long as there is internet forums.
Where's the pop corn?
Mostly it depends on what you are doing at the time, I rather have a snub .38 if I'm attacked in an elevator than a Browning M2 .50 HMG but if I'm being shot at 100+ yards I'd want the .50!
The biggest thing is do YOU have confidence in the pistol and ammo you are using.
I was talking to a friend who thinks I'm horribly out gunned with my 7+1 compact .45 and two spare magazines, (didn't tell him that also carry a six shot .38 snub from time to time.
) granted he thinks that a striker fired double stack 9mm is the best and only pistol that someone should use for SD. We can and will be discussing this probably as long as there is internet forums.
Where's the pop corn?
Florida J Frame
US Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2008
- Messages
- 1,051
- Reaction score
- 816
It's really pretty simple. Carry the biggest gun that:
A: You will carry all the time
B: You can shoot well
A: You will carry all the time
B: You can shoot well
- Status
