380 or 9X18

[imjin138]

Which do you prefer for self defense use, it is my understanding the 9X18 is a bit more powerful but I don't have any personal experience with it.

 

[walnutred]

While I carry both I think with those two it comes down to a question of platform rather than caliber. IF a P3AT or LCP was available in 9x18 I would probably buy one not becuase the ammo is more powerful but because the ammo is cheaper.

 

[Goony]

I'd absolutely go with .380, simply because there are so many loadings made in that caliber specifically designed for self-defense. For the purpose of stopping an attacker, I'd rather rely on the expansion of something like Hornady Critical Defense, Federal Hydra-Shok, or CorBon DPX than 9X18 hardball.

 

[Erich]

Good Heavens, I don't want to put hollowpoint "brakes" on anything as slow and light as a 95-grain sub-1k fps bullet. Ball for me in these calibers - I've never seen it fail to adequately penetrate in .380/9x18, and I have seen three cases in which .380 fancy-pants hollowpoints failed to penetrate to "the good stuff".

That said, I consider the .380 and the 9x18 so close to identical in performance that I'm with walnutred.

 

[GyMac]

I have Makarov pistols in both calibers. I much prefer the 9mm Makarov, mainly for the cheap Russian ammo, but self-defense loads are also available from Buffalo Bore and Hornady. I have some of the old 9mm Mak CorBon ammo left over, too.
I feel so strongly about the 9mm Mak that I would have traded or sold the .380, but it is so accurate, like 1 1/2 inches @ 15 yards, that I can't part with it.