Interesting Article

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I've watched enough of The First 48 to know 380s can be effective. I carry my 9mm most of the time but I don't feel underarmed with my 380 and Hornady Critical Defense ammo.

While I know caliber matters, the primary advantage I see in carrying my 9c over my BG 380 is that I can shoot it more accurately because of the size difference. The recoil difference isn't that great and the 9c is more comfortable. Recoil wasn't that much of an issue when I was younger and stronger but today I really do think I'd like a gun the size of the BG in anything over 380. The BG wins hands down when it comes to concealment issues.
 
Let's get the performance questions about the .380 ACP out of the way so we can have an intelligent discussion.
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as taken from the article ....
Sure .. let's :D

I feel it is a good practice to keep your eyes peeled at the range.
Look at the ground ... see those little brass thingies laying all over? good ...
Any of them so mangled that they kinda stand out in the clutter?
Go ahead .. pick em up and take a closer look.
These are evidence of jams .. some look catastrophic.
Funny thing is .. most of these cases tend to be 380's

Reliability is as much a part of performance as power.
 
venomballistics said:
as taken from the article ....

Sure .. let's :D



I feel it is a good practice to keep your eyes peeled at the range.

Look at the ground ... see those little brass thingies laying all over? good ...

Any of them so mangled that they kinda stand out in the clutter?

Go ahead .. pick em up and take a closer look.

These are evidence of jams .. some look catastrophic.

Funny thing is .. most of these cases tend to be 380's



Reliability is as much a part of performance as power.
Click to expand...


Reliable for sure... I don't own a gun that's not!

But the writer makes an interesting point.

I can shoot accurately with my XDs .45 and it's reliable as it's what I carry most (along with my now retired shield 9mm). And hopefully my shield .40 will prove to be as well!

I do carry my .380 when I'm running or while wearing mesh shorts/sweat pants etc.





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Hodgin said:
I've watched enough of The First 48 to know 380s can be effective. I carry my 9mm most of the time but I don't feel underarmed with my 380 and Hornady Critical Defense ammo.



While I know caliber matters, the primary advantage I see in carrying my 9c over my BG 380 is that I can shoot it more accurately because of the size difference. The recoil difference isn't that great and the 9c is more comfortable. Recoil wasn't that much of an issue when I was younger and stronger but today I really do think I'd like a gun the size of the BG in anything over 380. The BG wins hands down when it comes to concealment issues.
Click to expand...


How do you like the 9c? I've considered the .45c for sometime


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I will carry my .380 when the occasion warrants and my larger carry weapons when better...my point is that you need to carry something...it is better to have a .380 or even smaller than nothing
 
sambuh said:
How do you like the 9c? I've considered the .45c for sometime

Love my 9c. I did add the Apex Tactical trigger modification but the stock trigger is good. The Apex trigger reduced the grittiness of the trigger and moved the break up just a tad. I went with heavy/duty spring. It reduced the trigger pull by a lb or so.

The 9c is a very good pistol without the trigger mod though. If I were buying a 45 cal it would be an M&P based on my experience with the 9c. I might be in the market if it weren't for my arthritic hands and wrist.
Click to expand...
 
jimmib said:
I will carry my .380 when the occasion warrants and my larger carry weapons when better...my point is that you need to carry something...it is better to have a .380 or even smaller than nothing
Click to expand...


Agreed. More often as I stated I carry my .45/.40 but there are just times I absolutely can't without drastically altering how I carry.

The statical averages he uses in the articles are interesting. The effectiveness I mean. My only concern with a 2" barrel shooting a smaller round like a .380? It to some degree alters how one is prepared for after you have hit a BG. the "he's been shot, now what?" moment.


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Hodgin said:
sambuh said:
How do you like the 9c? I've considered the .45c for sometime



Love my 9c. I did add the Apex Tactical trigger modification but the stock trigger is good. The Apex trigger reduced the grittiness of the trigger and moved the break up just a tad. I went with heavy/duty spring. It reduced the trigger pull by a lb or so.



The 9c is a very good pistol without the trigger mod though. If I were buying a 45 cal it would be an M&P based on my experience with the 9c. I might be in the market if it weren't for my arthritic hands and wrist.
Click to expand...


That's a good point. I've been lusting after a full sized MP for sometime now.


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Click to expand...
 
EXCELLENT article IMO. The author is a shooting instructor and I think he makes some very good points. I also especially like the second photo. A Colt Government model 380 - my first semi-auto and still one of my favorite "Lighter" carry pieces. Though I must say the "gal" (according to the caption) holding it has some of the most masculine looking hands I've ever seen on a woman ;)
 
Ransom said:
Did you read the article? I think the author made some very good points about why a runt 9mm is not always the best choice.
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No, I didn't. Waste of time. I've been known to bash the 380 at every opportunity. ;)

To each their own and this is strictly my opinion. But I've heard all the excuses as to why some carry a 380. And that's what they are, excuses.

Frankly, I don't care what others do. I'm just sick and tired of those that feel that they need to justify the reasons why they carry a useless caliber and they know it.
 
Kanewpadle said:
No, I didn't. Waste of time. I've been known to bash the 380 at every opportunity. ;)

To each their own and this is strictly my opinion. But I've heard all the excuses as to why some carry a 380. And that's what they are, excuses.

Frankly, I don't care what others do. I'm just sick and tired of those that feel that they need to justify the reasons why they carry a useless caliber and they know it.
Click to expand...
LOL! No need to hear or read anyone else's opinion to form your own, eh?

The guy who wrote the article is a SHOOTING INSTUCTOR. He's got no skin in the game on the 9mm vs. 380 argument. In fact, he used to be in your camp! It was only after working with a lot of students that he came to the conclusions he puts forth in his article.

He was open minded enough, to allow years of experience teaching people to shoot, to change his mind. Before you discount his opinion you might at least read the article.

A closed mind gathers no (new) knowledge. ;)
 
BC38 said:
LOL! No need to hear or read anyone else's opinion to form your own, eh?

The guy who wrote the article is a SHOOTING INSTUCTOR. He's got no skin in the game on the 9mm vs. 380 argument. In fact, he used to be in your camp! It was only after working with a lot of students that he came to the conclusions he puts forth in his article.

He was open minded enough, to allow years of experience teaching people to shoot, to change his mind. Before you discount his opinion you might at least read the article.

A closed mind gathers no (new) knowledge. ;)
Click to expand...

Notice that the author did not say he promotes carrying a .380 over a 9mm?
He talked (quite intelligently at that) about the advantage of .380 over specific 9mm's!.
The simple truth is...he's right!
 
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