Would you rather conceal carry 5 rounds of .357 or 7 rounds of .380?

No 357 in a short barrel for me - too loud, too much recoil. Either shoot 38+p or go to small 9mm.

Does your hypothetical allow for reloads? If so, then i'll take the 380.
If not, then the 357.

Five rounds of 158 grain .38+p in that revolver.

5 rnds. I have a S&W 640-1 in .357 and using Buffalo Bore low flash & low recoil .357s will do quite fine.

Deaf

Ooops sorry, what I meant to say is, "does your hypothetical allow for extra ammo, in magazines or speedloaders?".

I would take 5 rounds of .357 out of a good revolver over 7 rounds of .380 any day. I don't carry spare ammo...unless I'm carrying a revolver, then I carry a speed strip, because it's just so easy I don't see why I wouldn't.

Based on everything I have read I don't have much confidence in .380 for defense, nor do I have a lot of confidence in the general reliability an durability of the small .380 autos. To me, .380 is a "deep cover", carry when you can't carry a "real gun", or backup, type of pistol.

But a good reliable revolver, that I've put through its paces...I have confidence that thing is going to work. And I have absolutely no hesitation trusting the terminal performance of .357 magnum. Or even a good 158gr LSWCHP +P, or the Speer 135gr +P Gold Dot.

That said I'd rather take a Glock 26. I couldn't pocket carry either of the OP firearms, not effectively, so once we're talking holstered on the belt, I think a G26 conceals just as easily, really, and 11 rounds (minimum) of 9x19 in such a 'shootable' reliable durable package...that's really my answer.

In my 2" guns it's 5-38+P. In my 4" gun it's. 7 38+P. I only load 357 to play. Never liked 380s.

6 rounds of .327

I almost never carry my 5 shot Smith, I just don't shoot revolvers very well. But I often carry either a 7 shot 9mm or an 8 shot .380 and don't feel under gunned with either of them. My daughter carries a 14 shot .380 and loves it, an EAA Pavona.

I would rather have 5 rounds of .357 in a semi auto than 7 .380acp in a revolver. Since that isn't the question, I would go for the .380 as I much prefer the auto platform to a revolver which I love but don't consider a defensive firearm (for me).

I often carry with 6 rounds of .380. Preferred over 5 rounds of .38 special.

However, assuming a short barreled SP101, I wouldn't want to shoot that with .357. .38 Special +P is more than plenty.

I'll still take the .380.

I would definitely rather carry 5-357.
But it's too bulky and heavy, so I settle for 7-380s in my lcp. Heck it works for 007 doesn't it?

Neither. I prefer 6 rounds of 357 in my model 13.

Why not carry both? One as an EDC and one as a BUG.....

Though in reality, it would be so much better to carry an EDC with more rounds.

I would go with the 7 round magazine in a .380, mainly for the faster reloads.

No thanks, I'll stick to 20 rounds of 9mm

When I drew an M9 overseas, it felt like a water pistol even with an extended 18 round magazine +1 in the chamber. I can no longer delude myself that service caliber handguns suck for killing people offensively or defensively, which is backed up by an approx ~80% survival rate for people who get shot (most ostensibly with handguns). But I digress.

Since both are small guns that don't lend themselves to accuracy, and both could penetrate at least 12" given FMJ for the .380, I'll take the 40% increase in ammunition and faster reloads offered by the auto. Not because it's "good," but because it's marginally less bad of two suboptimal choices.

psyopsoec, thanks for your post & your perspective.

Rifles are the best choice, shotgun can be as good at close quarters, and handguns of any caliber are "sub-optimal". Sometimes in the caliber discussions, I forget that.

Civilian carry, particularly concealed, hinges more on ones personal dress code than on the optimum firearm. Given the dress code I must adhere to, .380acp works best for me.

of those two, 357 without hesitation

Of the two choices, .357 Magnum without question. But I would probably opt for Speer Gold Dot 38 Special +P instead of .357 Magnum.

Civilian carry, particularly concealed, hinges more on ones personal dress code than on the optimum firearm. Given the dress code I must adhere to, .380acp works best for me.

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I'm happy at this point in my life to say that civilian carry is the only type I do these days too. I have an LCP myself as a gun to carry, when I can't carry a gun. A j-frame M&P 340 used to fill that role before there was a decent selection of pocket guns on the market.

It's not that I turn my nose up at mouse guns, but that I try to keep a good perspective of what a handgun can do and cannot do. I view it as a tool for fighting, and want a fighting handgun if at all possible, all the while bearing in mind that it's not a talisman or a death ray. I don't begrudge anyone their choice; after all, the whole point of a handgun is that it's concealable/portable more than a long arm. But I do raise an eyebrow when people use adjectives like "venerable" or "powerful" to describe a CCW gun, or offer sentiments such as "if I can't get it done in 5 shots, then it's just my time."

Spot on post, and a good question in your OP.

Everything else being equal (comfort, concealability, etc) , would YOU rather carry 7 rounds of .380 in a mousegun, or 5 rounds of .357 in a revolver, and why?

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But everything is not equal, that Sp weighs too much for pocket carry and if I have to hang a gun on the belt it'll hold more than 5 rounds regardless of caliber.

.357, if just based on the cartridge alone.

I actually moved from a G26 and LCP to an Airweight J-frame .38 +P. The LCP just isn't accurate in my hands while the J-frame is as accurate as my Glock DA, and more accurate SA. My LCP has also jammed a couple of time (not a lot, but nothing else I own has), and I need to bang pins back in after every range session - not very confidence inspiring. Lastly, AIWB is the most comfortable, concealable, and accessible carry location for me and I just can't get comfortable with racked/half-cocked semi's pointing down there, not to mention semi's (even the tiny LCP) ride much higher over the belt line becoming a rib jabber for me.

5 shots & slow reloads sucks, but I suppose everything is a compromise.