Which is better- 38 sp.+P Rev. or 380 pistol for pocket carry

[old-school]

After a great day at the range, we stopped for lunch and had this discussion, and I would like your guys input- The discussion was : which would be a better pocket carry a 5 shot S&W 642 ( 38 special +p) or a 7 shot Glock 42 (or LCP 2) in 380. For us a pocket carry is an EDC with a weight of approx. 16oz or less which you could carry all day long. Now I know that some will say a Glock 17 with a 30 round mag is their pocket carry- they must have very large pockets. So is it better to have a 5 shot Rev in 38 special +P or a 7 shot Semi-auto in 380 pistol ?

 

[joespapa]

I'd take the J Frame any day. Not a fan of the .380. Now if you're talking pocket 9,that would bear consideration.

 

[Texas Star]

An article by Massad Ayoob many years ago described his results in killing pigs in a slaughterhouse.

.380 bullets sometimes failed to penetrate the skull and the pig had to be killed by other means.

The snub .38 with the old FBI load did penetrate and killed the pigs cleanly.

I realize that a man, upright, is not like shooting pig heads. But with the rise of feral pigs even in big cities, it's food for thought.

And which bullet do you think will get through winter clothing better? Deep inside a big dog?

 

[richardw]

I will stick with myRemingrom RM380 (6+1) loaded with Lehigh Defense Extreme Defense. It weighs 12.2 ozs unloaded and has a 2.9 inch barrel. I do not expect to be shooting any pigs in the head in the future. As for hitting a human center mass from 7 yards, it will get the job done. Self defense is not about cracking pig skulls. It is about getting the job done, that is terminating the attack first and terminating the attacker in that process if it happens. While I respect the choice of a revolver I prefer to be able to get another six rounds into the gun in a second or two without having to focus on the loading.

 

[bjrjar]

Mine is a Sig P238. 380 but I expect it would be likely to do what’s necessary. Small enough for my pocket, but big enough to handle easily. So far, after putting 3 or 4 hundred rounds through it, no problems feeding or FTF.

Bob


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[reddog81]

Whichever one you shoot better.

 

[colt_saa]

I would carry the one that you shoot better with.

If you shoot them equally well, I would choose the one with more stopping power

 

[Warren Sear]

Choosing a carry gun is all a matter of trade-offs. Make the compromises that seem best in your good judgement. It's no more complicated than that, and no one can make the decision for you.

Being armed (mindset, training, and firearm) is the important thing.

 

[SpartyME]

380 isn’t inherently a bad SD round; it’s just shot out of guns with barrels too short to generate the velocity required for reliable expansion. If Glock were allowed to import their models 25 and 28, I would feel comfortable carrying them.

 

[richardw]

380 isn’t inherently a bad SD round; it’s just shot out of guns with barrels too short to generate the velocity required for reliable expansion. If Glock were allowed to import their models 25 and 28, I would feel comfortable carrying them.

No doubt about the expansion issue. Ammoquest off a test of 380 HP o. YouTube, testing ever popular brand in gel. The one that consistently expands with over 12 inches of penetration was Precision One XTP.

I load Lehigh Defense e theme defense hydrostatic ammo in my 380. 14 inches of penetration with wound c hannels that surpass HP.

 

[Jessie]

Oohh...this is gonna be a longggg one!
I vote both. .380 bug to the .38

 

[Dave Lively]

The last gun I tried to pocket carry was a Kahr PM-9. While it fit in my front pocket well it weighed about 19 ounces loaded which made it too heavy for me to carry in a pocket. A 16 ounce 38 would be better but even that seems kind of heavy. The 380s like the Ruger LCP are typically a few ounces lighter than a 38 revolver. A few ounces may not matter much with a 40 ounce gun on your belt but when it is in your pocket 12 ounces vs. 16 makes a noticeable difference.

If the added weight does not bother you I think a 38 would be more effective than a 380, particularly if you load it with +P ammo.

 

[murphydog]

"Better" is in the eye of the beholder. You needn't feel undergunned with either a .380 or a .38; practice and train, train and practice, and stay safe out there .

 

[P71]

The .38+p is the superior performing round, but sometimes even an airweight J frame feels like carrying a golf ball in your pants pocket. I own both, with a .380 LCP fitting in as a front pocket carry gun when the alternative is no gun at all.

 

[mrmike7189]

Since this is a S&W forum, I will add that I carry a Bodyguard380 in my pockets most days. It is much smaller than a j frame.

 

[rafbentwaters]

Glock 42/43 and Sig P238/P938 are great, they permit reload via magazine and ballistic gelatin tests reflect similar penetration. However, in single action, I am more accurate at longer ranges with 38 Spcl and 327 Federal revolvers. In my humble opinion, it boils down to target distance, then one's accuracy versus available volume of fire.

 

[shouldazagged]

I've carried an all-steel j-frame or its equivalent in a pocket for twenty years. For me it's the right balance of weight, power, shootability and control, and I trust the J-frame I've toted for eighteen years more than I do an automatic.

Just call me an old Luddite.

 

[Mister X]

I still usually carry a J-Frame. I like the reliability and think .38 special has a significant edge over .380 and I like it's inherent advantages in ECQ scenarios.

However, here's something else to consider...

I recently asked Craig "Southnarc" Douglas if he were to carry a J-Frame or a Glock 43 instead of his usual Glock 19/26, which would he choose and he said that he would skip both and go with a Glock 42 stating..."it's an incredibly shootable little gun. Way more than the other two." He also said... "I really think the G42 is in a class by itself. I can't think of a single .380 that shoots like it."

 

[NYlakesider]

I got a S&W bodyguard and pocket carried it for a few months.

I then retired it in favor of a Ruger LCR.38+P. I most definitely favor the LCR for pocket carry. I still have the 60 and a 642 and a older Colt Cobra but the Ruger rides with me now!

FWIW I have been carrying since early 1970s and back then carried from smallest to biggest a Model 60 up to a 4'' Model 29 and a full size 1911 .45 but they were inside waist band or should holster carried

Its much quieter and safer up her and unless going to the city I just pocket carry the little gun!.

 

[Dave Lively]

After a great day at the range . . .

Isn't that pretty much all days at the range?