Anyone using .380 as primary carry?

[otis24]

Well, good luck with that new 380!

Years ago, I was carrying a Walther 380 caliber PPK-S with 2 extra clips on my belt during the night of our 34th wedding anniversary. We had a very nice, very expensive dinner, stayed out late, and helped to close the restaurant down.

We were one of the very last couples to leave when, all of a sudden, a vicious fight broke out among 5 men at the bar. One of them came up with a shotgun; and, at least, two or three of the others had pistols—big pistols! To this day I still consider my wife and I to have been very lucky to get out of that room alive! In particular I learned two important things that night: First, my wife is a very brave woman who knows how to listen, follow orders, and 'keep her head'.

The second important lesson I learned is to never bring a 380 pistol with however many gizmos, magazines, and/or whiz-bang ammo to a real world gunfight. Why? Because, in all probability, the person (or persons) you have to go up against ain't going to make the same silly mistake! THAT is why!

The .380 is either an effective round or it isn't. It's effectiveness isn't diminished by what the other guy is carrying. Size of assailants, number of assailants, what they are wearing, proximity to yourself, your own confidence and training with the weapon you have; those things affect how effective your caliber of choice will be. That same principle applies to any weapon/caliber that you choose.

 

[gmiller0737]

Every Day carry has been A .380 since 2011 for the 1st few years it was a Ruger LCP & still have it but every day carry is a Glock 42 far superior sights & trigger and no snappy recoil like the LCP & the 42 is not all that much larger in size

 

[Shootgood]

I carry a seecamp .380 and really like it

 

[10mmauto]

I carry a .380 99% of the time. One or the other.

 

[charlie sherrill]

I carried a LCP 380 for a while. Mostly as a BUG while carrying something larger before I retired. It's an adequate round in most situations but I figured a 9 mm was even more adequate so I moved up to a M&P shield with some nice Hornedy stuff. That's just me though. I recently read some stats on what folks are dying from and the .380 is near the top of the list. I figured that's because a lot more folks are are carrying and using .380's than in the past. The BUGS, no matter who makes them and in whatever caliber, are still good for the close in stuff. I carry on my little farm because of snakes and previous threats I've gotten in a 43 year LEO career. I carry big stuff around the house including a 7 round 686, G20 10 MM, and a few other neat things. If one of my former jailbirds want to come see me I certainly want to give them a proper welcome. I've also got a few strategically placed riot guns and AR type rifles here and there. If you like 380's, that's OK. I just like a little more.

 

[S&W629]

My S&W M-60 3inch....is my daily carry...but on occasion....I will carry a Browning 1911-380...its longer barrel gives the 380 a little more "umph".....is about 6oz lighter than the M60...with eight rounds vs five...

 

[Llance]

I forgot to mention my Kimber Micro 9. With it's short bbl I use Lehigh defense rounds. They all fit in my Don Hume belt slide.

As you can see some fit better than others so they get carried more often.

#1 Kimber Micro 9 9mm
#2 Llama semi-auto .32 auto
#3 AMT Back-up DAO .380
#4 Colt Government Model .380

 

[cyphertext]

Well, good luck with that new 380!

Years ago, I was carrying a Walther 380 caliber PPK-S with 2 extra clips on my belt during the night of our 34th wedding anniversary. We had a very nice, very expensive dinner, stayed out late, and helped to close the restaurant down.

We were one of the very last couples to leave when, all of a sudden, a vicious fight broke out among 5 men at the bar. One of them came up with a shotgun; and, at least, two or three of the others had pistols—big pistols! To this day I still consider my wife and I to have been very lucky to get out of that room alive! In particular I learned two important things that night: First, my wife is a very brave woman who knows how to listen, follow orders, and 'keep her head'.

The second important lesson I learned is to never bring a 380 pistol with however many gizmos, magazines, and/or whiz-bang ammo to a real world gunfight. Why? Because, in all probability, the person (or persons) you have to go up against ain't going to make the same silly mistake! THAT is why!

In close quarters, across the room distances, I would rather have the shotgun but I don't carry a shotgun with me daily and even if I did, it would be quite a bit harder to conceal than the .380 in my pocket. Real world situations are "run what you brung" and the .380 in the pocket is better than anything I may have left at home.

 

[cyphertext]

I just spent the past week on vacation carrying my new LCP Max. Typically carry a G43x IWB, but the LCP Max carried very well in an inside pocket of my shorts. Light enough that I could go without a belt... Just a Hawaiian shirt, shorts, and sandals. Looked like everyone else on the beach.

 

[Arc Angel]

In close quarters, across the room distances, I would rather have the shotgun but I don't carry a shotgun with me daily and even if I did, it would be quite a bit harder to conceal than the .380 in my pocket. Real world situations are "run what you brung" and the .380 in the pocket is better than anything I may have left at home.

Yes, that is exactly correct! (It is also the reason why I said, "Good luck with that new 380!" )

 

[BearBio]

Wife carried a Bersa Thunder in 380 for a while, then she discovered the Glock43. She also has a G17.

 

[squidsix]

Colt 1908

Pearl no longer on there. I am not a New Orleans pimp.

 

[cyphertext]

Pearl no longer on there. I am not a New Orleans pimp.

I would have bought a fedora and rocked those pearl grips!

No, really... I like how those look on that particular firearm.

 

[pantannojack]

IF

If I were a block watch volunteer and I was jumped in the dark, my head being beaten into the concrete, I think my .380 fired up into the solar plexus might help.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I have been thinking about a 380.
I don’t think I even shot one.
And in spite of the promise I made NO MORE CALIBERS!
There seem to be plenty of 380 Guns available,
Ammo? Not so much.
Maybe I’ll get one of the Rugers, literally bite the bullet and order 500 rounds of Ball.

 

[diyj98]

Derringers are fine for multiple attackers but you need to move into a position so they line up to take down two with each shot.

That stuff only works in the movies, besides I only shoot the guns out the hands of the bad guys, so I may need more than two shots if I'm facing ten or twenty bad guys.

 

[Screwball]

Primary… no. Today I ran to grab food, and just tossed the LCP in my pocket. Rare, but rather something instead of unarmed.

 

[smoothshooter]

Pocket carrying a 380 is the easiest way to carry, don’t leave home without it!

-or a .22 LR.

 

[smoothshooter]

I had an LCP2. I like my Kahr K9 and felt that it carried comfortably enough that I didn't need a pocket pistol; so, like a dope, I sold it. After carrying the K9 on vacation for an extended time, I appreciate having a pocket pistol. My lineup now includes a small, medium (K9), and a large (Browning Hi Power). The "small" is currently a new S&W Bodyguard .380. The daughter will get the wife's Ruger LCP, my wife will take the Bodyguard, and I will soon purchase the LCP Max. Once I have practiced with the Max and gotten familiar with it, I may divest myself of the K9 and make the LCP Max my primary CCW.

Beware of light primer strikes on the Bodyguard after a couple hundred rounds or less.
I have had two, made a couple of years apart.
Same problem with each.

 

[CajunBass]

I've got a little Kimber Micro 380 that I carry quite a bit. It's reliable and I seem to shoot it well. It fits my hand well (with a pinky extension on the mag) and the grips don't slip in my hand, even when they're wet. It's got night sights something I've never had before. Kinda nice I suppose.