.38 Spl SNUBBIE or .380 ?

Which of the TWO for CCW?

  • .38 Spl in......... SNUBBY (not over 2" bbl)

    Votes: 143 77.3%

  • .380 in........ (?)

    Votes: 42 22.7%
  • Total voters
    185
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Mods, I hope you can leave this in General Handguns as I need info on BOTH revolver and semi.

Anyhow....I have a bad thumb. A ...real....bad thumb. Presently my CCW gun is a steel frame M36 Smith in .38 Spl. I am considering a .380 to relieve the recoil on the thumb.

My issuing authority will ONLY allow .38 cal and UP. .380 is ok but no .32 (which I had until they changed the rules)

The last .380 I owned was a CCW in a jurisdiction that allowed ANY caliber AND no requirement for qualification.

Which brings me to question #1. What is the most accurate .380? Need 9 ring accuracy in B27 target at 15 yards.

Don't want a Makarov because of size.

The M36 is well within the accuracy range as I shoot 296/300 with it.

But it hurts.

Especially with my "carry" rounds. I "qualify" with wadcutters so the 30 round string doesn't cripple me. I can "stand" the Silvertip carry rounds and hit with them but will not use for an extended period.

My last .380 was a German PPK/S assembled in US. I don't recall the accuracy as it was long ago. Is the SIG better? Or another?

Mainly thinking of accuracy for the qualification requirements.

Also, I'm including a poll on which caliber just to check opinions on changing at all. I also realize that the revolver is more RELIABLE.

Any suggestions welcome.

:confused: :)
 
I have a Colt Cobra .38 spl snub that I use a lot. I also have a Colt 1908 .380 hammerless. I like the revolver because of its reliability. I also like the .380 because it has a flat profile. Most of the time I carry the Cobra.
 
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Having owned and fired PPK-type blowback .380s myself, I don't think that the recoil is going to be all that much lighter than on a steel J-frame. However, there's a lot of Bersa fans here, and they may well tell you different. You could also step up to a bigger gun like a CZ83 or a Beretta 84 or 85, but at that point you could just as easily go to a used PD-trade-in Glock 19 with recoil just about as mild and comfortable, with better ballistics, for the same price or better. 9mm autos start getting a little ornery in recoil once you get much below the size/weight of a G19.

My vote is to stick with the steel .38, and maybe go with Federal's 110-gr Personal Defense JHP - I've fired both this round and the Winchester 110-gr Silvertip in my Smith 642, and I think the Federal load is a tad bit lighter in recoil. You could also get a pair of Pachmayr Decelerator grips for the snub to ease your pain, or at least duct-tape some orthopedic foam to the grip where it hits your thumb joint.
 
Perhaps changing your grip will help??
Also, if your thumb is in such bad shape, maybe you should give consideration to becoming proficient with your weak hand. Just until your thumb heals!!

As for the revolver, you probably want to carry the heaviest you can handle in order to absorbe the recoil!!
 
Sig Sauer makes some kind of .380- looks nice, and seems big enough to absorb a lot of recoil.


-James
 
I too like the Sig 230/232. Smooth, not many edges to catch on things and very reliable, IMO. Nothing wrong with the 38spl, but I just prefer the 380, especially the 230/232 Sigs...
 
I'm one of those Bersa guys, but I have a S&W 60 too. It is a tough choice, but I think I'd opt for the 8-round payload of the .380. Bersa is exceedingly reliable and quite accurate as well. The sights are a bit small, but are three-dot, windage adjustable, and better than most weapons this size. If you've been to your optometrist lately, shouldn't be a problem. It also won't bite your hand like the Sig will. With a bad thumb, the last thing you want is a rip in the web of your hand.
 
My issuing authority will ONLY allow .38 cal and UP. .380 is ok but no .32
Click to expand...

If I understand you correctly, then you're eligible to pack a gun chambered for a more effective caliber than .38 or .380, right? Given the many superior choices available today, then I'd rather choose have a more powerful gun/caliber combination for the main CCW gun. Depending on the way you dress, did you ever consider a compact S&W M908 or M3913 or a Glock 26 (9 mm) or 27 (.40) or any compact .45 ACP pistol? They not that much larger than a good .380 and they really don't recoil as hard as you might imagine. In fact, for the effectiveness these guns deliver on the business end they're downright easy to control. I would go so far as to claim that a steel-framed .38 Snubby recoils worse than one of the aforesaid 9 mm subcompact pistols...

... a .38 or small .380 makes a sensible back-up or deep-concealment (when dress mode rules out carrying something bigger) gun.

Being limited to a .380 I'd probably pick either a SIG-Sauer P232 or a Beretta 85F, as they seem to be the most reliable. In .38 Special the S&W M64 M&P makes a fine shooting, controllable revolver. However, all of them are bigger than a Glock 26...
 
IMO , the SIG P230/232 is the most naturally pointing pistol ever made and is amazingly accurate given its size and sights , it also carries very well . However , being a blowback design it has snappy recoil especially in the alloy framed versions . It isn't difficult to control and had less force than a 9mm compact or FBI loads etc from a snubby .38 but it's a fairly sharp and quick jolt , you might want to find a range rental before buying to see if your thumb likes it . The 230 is among my favorite pistols and I don't feel poorly armed with it , I just think there's some misguided information that points women , smaller framed men and those with wrist issues etc towards the .380 as being less powerful and easier to handle ; it depends on the platform of course but it's not always the case .
 
I have to go with the 38 snubbie as well. Have you considered getting a larger framed 38 snubbie? Perhaps a Colt Detective Special or maybe even a S&W M10 snubbie? You might find they help with recoil control. I can carry either my S&W M49 or my Colt DS. Believe it or not I carry the Colt in an ankle holster and have no trouble with it showing or patterning. Of course I realize that you'll have to look for a Colt DS so maybe you should consider the M10 snubbie. Good luck.
 
Appreciate all the input. I guess I will stick with the M36 for now. All your reasons are valid re: more rounds, and MORE EFFECTIVE CALIBER!

I had a Glock 30. Too much recoil. Not "snappy" but too heavy for thumb.

That idea of going for "weak hand" intrigues me except that I ...instinctively ... would go for my right hand and end up wasting precious time.

I also "qualify" with an almost entirely DIFFERENT pistol than what I carry. That is, I carry with the small wood grips and Tyler adaptor so it can go either in jeans pocket with no "stickout" or holster carry. I am proficient with it in that configuration but don't .... like .... it. I qualify with big ole rubber grips and puny wadcutters just to make the 30...required... rounds be pleasant ones.

As I .... think .... on it, I would also probably only "trust" the revo as I have had jams.....not many....but still had em.

I'm a liability freak so will probably NEVER use the thing unless the BG is coming hard and heavy. I have my hand on the gun when I am leery, but only once have had to draw it and it was no problem to NOT fire as he fled when he SAW the gun. Whew.

I do like the 9mm round a lot. I ..... may ..... add my Browning Hi Power like I used to have on the CCW. I also have a Beretta 92 that is nice for when it can be hidden but the single action pull is horrible. (Had the BHP "worked on")

Whoops.....can't go that route. Part of the trigger job was taking out the mag safety and....in court.... removed SAFETY.....would immediately identify me as a killer madman.

So....5 shots.... old gun..... Oh well.

:banghead: :)
 
I vote for the .38 over the .380, but if you decide to go with a .380, find a Colt .380 Government Model or Mustang. With a locked breech, it probably has the lightest recoil of the .380s which are mostly blowback.
 
Revolvers seem to have allot more grip options than semi's. If thumb pain from recoil is the issue, I'd vote that you first investigate rubber grips that cover the grip completely. Then you might look at a slightlylarger/heavier snubbie. I have a new J mag framed mod 60 with hogues and produces allot less felt recoil than my older , factory gripped mod 36. The ruger SP 101 with hogues is more comfortable yet.
 
Stick with the snubby.

It might be a good idea to sit down and work yourself a new grip set.
I have made a couple for snubbys that cover the backstrap and are thicker front to back. This will place your thumb bavck from the recoil shield and reduce impact. Not aware of any on the market like this right now but have a carpenter rout out a block of pine. Then a couple hours work with a pocket knife will rough out what you need and a permanant grip could be made from that pattern by any competent woodworker. I do stuff like that pretty regularly with shotguns and rifles for people with difficulties. It can make a world of difference.

Sam
 
Can't cover the backstrap. That's the main part that keeps it from dropping out of sight into a Levi's back pocket.

Also have a 640 "hammerless" .357 but the heavier and slightly longer barrel prevents it from going in the pocket like an old Chief Special.

That narrow lil barrel just drops outta sight completely in a back pocket.

Not a BIG deal, but so nice to have the capability of dropping in a pocket.

USUALLY I use a holster...........but sometimes...........
 
Snubby for several reasons.

First, it is a carry gun. If the time comes to use it, you won't even notice the pain in your thumb. In the meantime, practice with your weak hand (never know when you might need to use your left, right? ;) ). If you really must use your right, try to find a snubby in .22 to practice with-Although it sounds like you're hitting your targets very well now.

Also, a revolver has no safety to fiddle with-a safety you'd have to move with your thumb, right?

As appalling as it sounds, maybe you should shoot less, just until your thumb heals. Because if you're in pain when you're out and about, it's going to degrade your situational awareness.
 
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