The best gun to carry is one you can shoot and works properly. I have seen dead people killed by 22s 12ga shot guns and yes 380s. some were a little messed up more than others but they were indeed all dead. Carry the 380 if you like it, can shoot it, and its functions well.
.380 Not Good Defensive Caliber??
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" a worthless choice"..... not exactly .....
The best? Not exactly.
Better than the bread knife at your favorite restaurant ? Yes
Better than your car keys in the parking lot, after dinner. Yes
Better than that tiny little pencil in the pew at church? Yes.
Better than a #2 can of Peas at the grocery store? Yes.
Better than a paper cup of black coffee at the gas station/convenience store? Yes
Better than a mug of hot chocolate at a cafe in Sidney Australia? Yes
That's just my opinion!!!!!!
Make up your own mind ...... "but don't leave home without it!"
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First rule for participating in a gunfight: Have a gun.
I carry either a Kel Tec P-32 in a back pocket holster or a P3AT in my front pocket with a pocket clip every day. I'm thinking about a NAA .22 WMR to change things up. Self defense situations are often close up nasty messes. Caliber doesn't matter. Placement matters. Be familiar with your carry gun and how it works, and have it accessible. Everything after that is Ford vs. Chevy hot stove league talk.
I carry either a Kel Tec P-32 in a back pocket holster or a P3AT in my front pocket with a pocket clip every day. I'm thinking about a NAA .22 WMR to change things up. Self defense situations are often close up nasty messes. Caliber doesn't matter. Placement matters. Be familiar with your carry gun and how it works, and have it accessible. Everything after that is Ford vs. Chevy hot stove league talk.
On Oct 2, 1996 a subject fired at my entry team 5 times with a Colt Mustang .380. We were really determined to get him, dressed in body armor and a bunker shield but I can assure you when he started firing that .380 it didn't matter if it was a .380, .22, or a .50 BMG. When the rds are coming at your it changes your focus in life in a hurry.
.380 to the Rescue
I would have to agree with most of the responders in support of the .380. A CCW, if he ever uses his weapon, it will be in personal defense rather than in trying to stop a terrorist assault. Also, the .380 was the standard police chambering in many European countries using ball ammo, where it is known as the 9mm Corto, or Short. Apparently, they thought it was enough gun.
I would have to agree with most of the responders in support of the .380. A CCW, if he ever uses his weapon, it will be in personal defense rather than in trying to stop a terrorist assault. Also, the .380 was the standard police chambering in many European countries using ball ammo, where it is known as the 9mm Corto, or Short. Apparently, they thought it was enough gun.
forrestinmathews
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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
I do not have a colt .380. I got the chance to shoot one and was spoiled by my particular PPK/s. The NAA is an absolute hoot to play with. I like it for sheer fun value. At 250$ with a box of ammo how can you say no?
mikeyland
Member
I would probably would not be here today , no let me rephrase this I would not be here today if it wasn't for the 380 calb. that I was carrying as my back up gun 19 years ago. With the new ammo that we have now I would feel comfortable with the 380.
If a .25 ACP was good enough for a fictional secret agent who never breathed an actual breath on this Earth and was concocted for the purposes of entertaining a reader, than it's good enough for me.
That's why I carry a Beretta .25... because you know, James Bond used it and all.
That's why I carry a Beretta .25... because you know, James Bond used it and all.
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I have seen many of these types of studies and all of them leave more questions than they answer for me. This study did not mention where shot placement was, what ammo was used and most importantly it didn't give number of examples per caliber. In the case of the 32 ACP to get those results required only 3 examples. While the far more popular 45ACP might have had many examples to draw conclusions from.
From the instances I have studied by far the most important factors were accuracy and penetration.
B Phillips
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I carry a glock 42 (380) daily as a back up and feel very confident with this pistol. It shoots better than a lot of my other guns.
shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
Personally I don't like to go below .38 Special in a pocket-carried DAO J-frame; but that for me has as much to do with simplicity and reliability as it does with the round I carry, which is the old FBI load. I simply trust the revolver more in case I ever am forced to fire a gun with a less than perfect hold on it, and I like not having to deal with a safety.
I think .380 ACP is fine if you can shoot it well and have one you trust to speak its lines on cue 100% of the time. It isn't for me, but I'm old and set in my ways.
If I were to get a .380 I would want one that fired from a locked breech, not a simple blowback. Again, just me. The blowback designs can, I'm told, be pretty brusque in recoil, and I have bad hands.
Near the top of the thread I posted that you wouldn't find consensus. Actually you seem to have gotten more than I would have expected.
I think .380 ACP is fine if you can shoot it well and have one you trust to speak its lines on cue 100% of the time. It isn't for me, but I'm old and set in my ways.
If I were to get a .380 I would want one that fired from a locked breech, not a simple blowback. Again, just me. The blowback designs can, I'm told, be pretty brusque in recoil, and I have bad hands.
Near the top of the thread I posted that you wouldn't find consensus. Actually you seem to have gotten more than I would have expected.
forrestinmathews
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If you recall Bond also had a sharpened firing pin in his .25. He was also known by sight to many of his adversaries. Neither of these points seem to serve a useful purpose for getting the mission accomplished quite the contrary.
I've never heard it.
John, in short: in the book and movie "Dr. No", the character James Bond had previously used a .25 ACP Beretta as his spy gun, and in his previous adventure, it malfunctioned at a crucial moment which resulted in his spending an extended time in hospital. M, his supervisor, insisted that he change weapons, and he was provided a PPK in .32 ACP. In the book "The Spy Who Loved Me", he carried the PPK and a Colt Detective Special.
The author of the books and inventor of the character is said to have had limited real experience with firearms.
The PPK is a beautiful weapon. Every one I've fired has been accurate and reliable. I'd carry one if I had one. I usually carry a 642 revolver, though. I recently purchased a 3913, and it is getting some carry time as well.
roberttroywhite
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Let me introduce you to Massad Ayoob he can answer this question for you without the I have never done that before IMHO crowd giving advice.
I just spent about ten minutes using a search engine, and can't find the answer to this question: Has Massad Ayoob ever fired a weapon in a self defense situation? One would think that his CV or at least his Wikipedia page would mention it. If it's well known that he has, and I'm not well enough read, then so be it.
Protected One
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Ammo cost and availability aside, shoot a Glock 42 and I think you will have different view of .380.
Be careful. I once asked a similar question (not here) and was chastized. When I knew of him in New Hampshire he was a part time police officer. Somehow he became an expert on self defense.
Thanks to all of you for the great input. I've found all your info very helpful. Have you seen the following test on the different brands of .380 ammo? I thought it was well done. What do you think??
Final Results of the .380 ACP Ammo Quest | Shooting The Bull
Final Results of the .380 ACP Ammo Quest | Shooting The Bull
Shorty 45 MK2
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No he has not, but is considered a expert witness and has reviewed many shootings.
I agree with a lot of his stuff but think there is something to learn from most instructors out there none being the "one" source. (Even Jeff Cooper or James Yeager.
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