.380 vs .357 - Beware the man of steel

[shouldazagged]

... Several years ago I took a 290 pound Russian wild boar with a .380 mini-pistol. I fired 3 times, got 3 hits, the first shot at 25 yards would have been fatal...

Better you than me, man. That's as politely as I can put that.

 

[major bumm]

25yards with a .380... not bad at all.

My idea of the .380 is just a CQC "get off me" gun and not much use outside of 15yards. As far as hitting those targets with authority, watch a few Hickok45 videos on YouTube. Even 9mm has a little trouble with a dueling tree, but it can stop a threat.

Thanks A.O.! Now I'll have this image in my mind for the rest of the night. 500SW as a CCW ha!

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[David R]

That swinging target is great practice for timing. Practicing to spin the target after you have hit it once teaches great trigger control.

A small caliber can teach you good accuracy and timing on one of those. I have one that only a magnum will spin with one shot.

David

 

[sodacan]

With so many small semi-autos available in larger calibers and comparably sized to guns chambered in .380, the use of .380 can hardly be justified. Besides, the ammo is expensive to buy in comparison to even 9mm. The .380 may beat a blank, but it"s pretty much dead or should be.

 

[Rhetorician]

Rhetorician Response

I've had my Bodyguard 380 for a couple years now. I very much like this piece, its diminutive size is remarkable, and surprisingly I'm a very competent shot with it. Very accurate, and quick handling too. It was a great purchase.

I took my time coming to terms with the caliber choice, but I figured that more than anything, its better than no-gun. Careful ammo selection and practice landing them where they'll count make this an effective self defense tool.

Yesterday though, my confidence both increased, and decreased. I was shooting 20-25 yards at a metal spinner with the BG and a .357 magnum, mostly with light .38 specials. The light .38's (3.4gr bullseye under a 158gr LSWC) recoiled about the same in a 6" model 19 as winchester white box truncated cone in the BG. They sure hit with a lot more authority though - spinning the target much more energetically. I could whack the 4.25" lower target pretty consistently with the BG, one out of two shots on a good string. But some of them barely shook the thing! Other hits swung it back, but not around a full revolution.

Where it gets interesting, is when I walked up to the target there were several .380 bullets laying on the ground around it.

Now I know that few bad guys are made from 3/8" steel plate, but still, its creepy when your bullets simply bounce off something and lay there all inert and minimally deformed.

On the other hand, the .357 sure makes me all warm and fuzzy. It spun that target fast enough and for long enough to charge a cell phone, and left impressions in the plate.

I need to shoot more reactive targets and less paper.

Hello all:

May I add to this very interesting conversation? And may I also offer a compromise?

Not very long ago I sighted what I thought was a 38 special SW. It turned out to be gently used Smith and Wesson Model 360PD, 357 magnum, "snubbie," scandium and titanium, that weights less than 12 oz. And I got it for what some on this very board told me was a "steal"--$397 and some change OTD.

I own a "Brand X" (can you say Taurus 738 380--that I do carry and really like) also. I must confess though I am a devoted "wheel man" and having the option of three different caliber grades of ammo for this small 357 does give me "the warm fuzzies" on some deep emotional level at time. What I really enjoy is the fact that this "hand cannon" (if loaded that way) weights within 2 oz. of the 380.

Just my two cents worth, which I thought might add to the discussion?

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I wish I had read this before I bought my BG380. I had no idea that the .380 was such a dog caliber. I guess it goes into the drawer as another failed purchase.

 

[Digvideo]

I think 380 or 32 acp are better off with soft nose ammo because of their lack of velocity needed to open up hollow points


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[cyphertext]

Really?? Left is a loaded 45 acp, on the right is a projectile (bullet) for my 500

But could you imagine shooting that 500 if it was shrunk down to one of those two finger on the grip size firearms?

 

[hudsonvalley]

Really?? Left is a loaded 45 acp, on the right is a projectile (bullet) for my 500

Let me guess....ankle holster?

 

[litenlarry]

The .380 round should not be dismissed as an effective self defense round..
The size of the .380 pistol makes it more desirable for carry..
Old adages , shot placement, triple tap ( 2 shots body mass and one to the head..Practice on this routine and you should be well able to defend yourself...
I love the age old adage, A 45 in the car is not as useful as a small caliber in your pocket..
Practice, practice,

 

[A.O.]

But could you imagine shooting that 500 if it was shrunk down to one of those two finger on the grip size firearms?

No!...........

 

[A.O.]

Let me guess....ankle holster?

Yes!......

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The .380 round should not be dismissed as an effective self defense round..
The size of the .380 pistol makes it more desirable for carry..
Old adages , shot placement, triple tap ( 2 shots body mass and one to the head..Practice on this routine and you should be well able to defend yourself...
I love the age old adage, A 45 in the car is not as useful as a small caliber in your pocket..
Practice, practice,

While I agree with most of what you say the 2 to the body 1 to the head is very misunderstood and misstated. That drill was never meant to be shot all at once. That was originally a "failure drill." The 2 to the body was to stop the attack and when that "failed" it was assumed there was body armor in place so the next shot was to the head.

2 to the body 1 to the head was never meant to take the place of shooting a cartridge that will make the bad guy stop attacking you.

 

[litenlarry]

While I agree with most of what you say the 2 to the body 1 to the head is very misunderstood and misstated. That drill was never meant to be shot all at once. That was originally a "failure drill." The 2 to the body was to stop the attack and when that "failed" it was assumed there was body armor in place so the next shot was to the head.

2 to the body 1 to the head was never meant to take the place of shooting a cartridge that will make the bad guy stop attacking you.

I was speaking of using the "drill" for smaller caliber pistols..The first 2 center mass shot's, should be fired quickly and the shot to the head as a precise aim...It doesn't take much "body armor" , a leather coat, denim or such, can foil the small cal pistols..

 

[LostintheOzone]

I used to carry a .380. Then I discovered the 45 ACP. I said to myself that this was a no nonsense SD cartridge. The 380 can cause some confusion where the 45 will leave no doubt in your mind about anything.

 

[Rpg]

380 vs 38 special

Greater weight x speed always reflects performance.