Is .380 ACP effective against canine threats?

[Puller]

I've killed lots of coyotes in north Mississippi, most of them with .22 LR using both rifle and pistol. Never had a problem putting them down.

Unfortunately, I've had to kill a few dogs too and only when absolutely necessary. A couple of big aggressive curs I put down with a .40 and it stopped them quickly. Another I shot with a .357 and it was DRT. Just me, but a .380 wouldn't be my go to aggressive dog round.

 

[Echo40]

All of this feedback has been extremely helpful, and upon hearing it all I've decided to err on the side of caution by carrying my M&P40 Shield.

It's a little inconvenient and possibly a bit uncomfortable to go for walks in the Summer wearing cargo shorts rather than a pair of drawstring jogging shorts, but I'd much rather sweat from the heat than be sweating out of anxiety over the thought that my LCP might not be enough if I get attacked by a pack of wild dogs or something.

 

[max503]

While in an RV park, I was walking my dog, on leash. A woman on a bike approached with an unleashed dog. She asked if my dog was friendly, I said yes. She replied hers was too...then her dog attacked mine.

Way too many dog owners think their dog's are angels. I don't trust them; the people or the dogs.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Lightest 38 I have is a 642, 20.6 ounces loaded.
Lightest 9mm is a Kahr, 20 ounces, 6+1 rounds.
Ruger LCP Max, 14.3, 10+1 rounds.
That 380 is a lightweight!
I need to get some JHP ammo for mine.
Only thing I ever shot is Ball!

 

[Walkin Horse]

The first round should be rat shot. Hard to miss with that. It won't kill and if they are determined,it will slow them down for the second shot. I remember when I was a kid, my uncle let me shoot a stray with rat shot. He said the dog, for years, would call to see if I was there before he would come around.

 

[BE Mike]

The first round should be rat shot. Hard to miss with that. It won't kill and if they are determined,it will slow them down for the second shot. I remember when I was a kid, my uncle let me shoot a stray with rat shot. He said the dog, for years, would call to see if I was there before he would come around.

If it is such a menace that it needs shooting, it deserves to be put down, not wounded. Many years ago, I shot a stray dog with the Speer plastic bullets to keep it from trying to get to my dog in a fenced back yard. It did deter the stray, but the plastic bullet didn't penetrate the haunch, where it was hit. Shooting a dog with penetrating shot could cause legal problems.

 

[max503]

The first round should be rat shot. Hard to miss with that. It won't kill and if they are determined,it will slow them down for the second shot. I remember when I was a kid, my uncle let me shoot a stray with rat shot. He said the dog, for years, would call to see if I was there before he would come around.

Shooting a dog with rat shot could easily get you a vacation, free publicity, and an orange jumpsuit. You'd probably meet some new friends and have the opportunity to get some low-cost tattoos.

 

[Walkin Horse]

I knew as soon as I hit submit a Karen would chastise me for the rat shot comment. I look at it like everyone is debating what caliber is best to kill a dog, at least if the dog makes it home with some shrapnel wounds that's better than killing it. If the dog keeps coming, the second shot should be a real one. As far as getting an orange suit,what's going to happen if the OP blasts Poochy in the middle of the road in the neighborhood or worse yet a ricochet off of the asphalt.
When I did it,I was 12 years old. That was 50 years ago on my uncle's farm.

 

[paknheat]

Shooting a dog with rat shot could easily get you a vacation, free publicity, and an orange jumpsuit. You'd probably meet some new friends and have the opportunity to get some low-cost tattoos.

Lol!! That's me on the far right with Paco & my homeys.












Not really.


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[paknheat]

Lately I've had growing concerns over the possibility that I may one day have to defend myself against an attack by coyotes, dogs, or possibly even wolves. This concern is not unwarranted either, as lately I've been hearing a lot of barking and howling coming from the woods surrounding my property.

I typically carry a subcompact .40cal pistol such as my M&P40c or Shield when I go out, but when I'm around my house I usually just have a Ruger LCP in my pocket, which up until now I've had total confidence in, but all that barking and howling has unnerved me to the point that I'm having second thoughts and wondering if I ought to be carrying .40 S&W full-time.

I'd like to hear from some folks who've actually had to defend themselves against animal attacks of the sort. I know that sort of thing isn't especially common for civilians, but we have a fair amount of active/retired LEOs here who I presume most likely have some experience on the matter, and while most cops don't carry .380 ACP, a lot of officers have carried .38 Special or 9mm Parabellum, so if neither of those are particularly effective then I can safely say that .380 ACP wouldn't be either.

I don't know where you live, but to answer your question, I've killed a wild hog with a.380 so I don't see a coyote fairing much better. If it was me, I'd just keep rocking one of your .40s and call it a day.

Get yourself a couple or three Great Peronese dogs and the coyotes will not come around.


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[paknheat]

Never attacked by a dog. I did kill 4 of a pack that attacked our chickens in the yard...but I used a M-15 38 sp.. That said I was "attacked" by a rabid coon in my barn. I grabbed a loaded M-39 when I heard a commotion outside by the chickens in the pen. When the coon saw me it immediately came towards me. I had to shoot it 6 times with 9mm 115 gr ball...all at 10-15 feet. I know it wasn't the guns fault but I shortly sold the M-39. 45 time. I honestly thought I was going to have to run over the coon with the tractor and disc. I had just come in for lunch from working a 5 acre strawberry patch we had to plant. Animal control came and got it to be tested...Positive

Rabid coons can be hell on wheels for sure.

Last one I kilt was with a Mini14 & it took 3 shots of 55 gn sp ammo before it gave it up.


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[BE Mike]

I knew as soon as I hit submit a Karen would chastise me for the rat shot comment. I look at it like everyone is debating what caliber is best to kill a dog, at least if the dog makes it home with some shrapnel wounds that's better than killing it. If the dog keeps coming, the second shot should be a real one. As far as getting an orange suit,what's going to happen if the OP blasts Poochy in the middle of the road in the neighborhood or worse yet a ricochet off of the asphalt.
When I did it,I was 12 years old. That was 50 years ago on my uncle's farm.

Hopefully, we all learn from the mistakes of our youth. If you don't want any contradictory opinions, just don't post.

 

[bushmaster1313]

The biggest canine threat I face is my dog's bad breath.
Don't think .380 ACP would help.

 

[gym cat]

Shot placement is everything.

 

[Guevera]

In this discussion I am surprised nobody has speculated what caliber of firearm that charmless governor of South Dakota famously used on her dog and her goat. I guess shot placement is a lot easier when the target is just sitting there looking at you.

 

[alwslate]

Rabid coons can be hell on wheels for sure.

Last one I kilt was with a Mini14 & it took 3 shots of 55 gn sp ammo before it gave it up

I've killed many plain old coons, non rabid, with a single well placed round of .22 Short 29 gr RN from an old cut down Winchester model 67 single shot rifle.

 

[Echo40]

I've killed many plain old coons, non rabid, with a single well placed round of .22 Short 29 gr RN from an old cut down Winchester model 67 single shot rifle.

Rabid Raccoons are kinda like Zombies in the movies. They just keep coming until you get a headshot.

 

[gym cat]

Would NOT be my choice but something is better than nothing.

 

[686-380]

My guess?

In this discussion I am surprised nobody has speculated what caliber of firearm that charmless governor of South Dakota famously used on her dog and her goat. I guess shot placement is a lot easier when the target is just sitting there looking at you.

Not a belly gun, .380.

 

[Echo40]

So, I have something to share here today that I think is worth mentioning due to the fact that there were a number of people who recommend and carry Pepper Spray.

I can't give too many details here because not only do I not have them all because I wasn't there, but also for the sake of privacy. Early this morning my brother got into a situation in which he had to use Pepper Spray on a pair of dogs.

The good news is, it caused the dogs to break off their attacking and run off. The bad news is, when the spray hit the dogs, one of them immediately attempted to shake it off and it spattered all over my brother.
He's alright now, but he told me that it burned like heck. He compared the immediate sensation to being spattered by scalding hot liquid, then his eyes, nose, throat, lungs, and even his bare skin immediately reacted with an extremely painful burning sensation which he was at a loss to describe because he couldn't compare it to anything else he'd ever felt. He couldn't keep his eyes open for long, but he was able to make his way back inside and to the shower, but by that point his eyes had swollen shut, and he said that trying to rinse it off actually made it worse at first. After about an hour the swelling went down and he was able to open one of his eyes, but for a long while afterwards his vision was blurred.

He told me that he also had his Ruger LC9S in his pocket and sort of wishes he had just shot them instead. He told me multiple times that while the Pepper Spray was obviously effective, that he would never use it again due to the experience, expressing concern over the fact that it's just as likely to incapacitate you as it is an attacking animal, as well as the possibility that more vicious dogs might not have broken off their attack, and that in his state he wouldn't have been able to further defend himself had he needed to.
His closing comments on the subject where — and I quote — "It's definitely better than nothing. It's effective. It obviously works. But if I had a choice... Between it or a gun... I'd rather just use a gun."

Granted, I never had any intention of carrying Pepper Spray, but after hearing this I'd never even consider it.