.380, 9mm, or .38 special?
- Thread starter greenr18
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i was just wondering why a lot of people arent for it
ArchAngelCD
Member.
I'm a revolver guy and I think the .38 Special is a good SD round. With all the improvements in bullet design all the old knocks against the .38 Special are moot.
None of those.
I have handguns which shoot those rounds. I have not fired any one of them in about 10 years.
I have been shooting 40S&W, 45acp and 10mm during that time. In controlled pairs the second shot is center of mass in less than .25 seconds at 7 yards and shorter ranges.
I have handguns which shoot those rounds. I have not fired any one of them in about 10 years.
I have been shooting 40S&W, 45acp and 10mm during that time. In controlled pairs the second shot is center of mass in less than .25 seconds at 7 yards and shorter ranges.
pith43
Member
hmmm...... 454 Casull wasn't on the list, so I didn't get to vote.
North of 49th
Member
Just bought a colt python in .38 spl actually.
9 mm hands down
Same diameter bullet, almost double the energy.
A 38 Special revolver is a nice "romantic" gun, the round has a lot of history behind and you can have relaxing fun at the range.
For serious defense work I'll take the 9.
Same diameter bullet, almost double the energy.
A 38 Special revolver is a nice "romantic" gun, the round has a lot of history behind and you can have relaxing fun at the range.
For serious defense work I'll take the 9.
WRGADog
Member
Bought my next handgun today
Kahr P380. Will put 200-300 through her this weekend.
Kahr P380. Will put 200-300 through her this weekend.
woad_yurt
Member
My next caliber could be anything. It depends upon what crosses my path. There's a good chance that it might be a tiny, hammerless .32 Iver Johnson, though. I'm kind of in the negotiating stage right now.
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denfoote
Member
My new handgun is .45acp.
zombienerd
Member
I voted .380.. Picking up a Bersa Thunder .380 very shortly 
Great CC piece.
Great CC piece.
Jim PHL
Member
I voted 9mm. The 'plan' is to buy a compliment to my 3913. However, the gun shop I go to is always likely to have some nice used S+W .38's or .357's in the case at good prices. I never know when I go in there what I might be leaving with!
I go back and forth about whether to get another Kel-Tec or the new Ruger LCP. Those two guns are the only reason I would go with a .380.
I go back and forth about whether to get another Kel-Tec or the new Ruger LCP. Those two guns are the only reason I would go with a .380.
Davionmaximus
Member
Got my sights set on an XDM
ArmedBear said:
tisk tisk tisk... You should have put IMO in front of that.
I actually like the .380 round it would do the job that's for sure... I like 9mm better and .38 better still, I find that the .380 can often be found in reliable, small, easy to carry but inexpensive launchers, whereas the 9mm would cost $200 - $500 in some cases more and the .38's in the same price range would be heavier for sure and possible larger.
If someone wants to buy me a Walther PPS and send it, that would be great. Otherwise, don't knock my budget!
Geez, I'm not knocking your budget, or anything else about you. Why would I?
It does look like Cor-Bon has squeezed quite a bit of power out of the little round -- for more than a buck a shot, but I just bought one box of the stuff for my J-frame, too. It's not practice ammo.
https://dakotaammo.net/shop/index.php?cPath=21_31
Still, please understand that I wasn't insulting you, or anyone. I shoot a lot of .22LR. A LOT of it. Because I'm sometimes broke, and always cheap.
OTOH, the fact that I'm cheap doesn't add anything to the bullet weight or velocity of what I'm shooting at any given moment...
It does look like Cor-Bon has squeezed quite a bit of power out of the little round -- for more than a buck a shot, but I just bought one box of the stuff for my J-frame, too. It's not practice ammo.
https://dakotaammo.net/shop/index.php?cPath=21_31
Still, please understand that I wasn't insulting you, or anyone. I shoot a lot of .22LR. A LOT of it. Because I'm sometimes broke, and always cheap.
OTOH, the fact that I'm cheap doesn't add anything to the bullet weight or velocity of what I'm shooting at any given moment...
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LeonCarr
Member
.380 = Quit shooting me it is starting to hurt.
9mm = Ok I guess
.38 = My choice. Brutally accurate, can be loaded from mild to wild, cheap to shoot.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
9mm = Ok I guess
.38 = My choice. Brutally accurate, can be loaded from mild to wild, cheap to shoot.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
BullpupBen
Member
The problem with this poll is that both .380 and .38 spec exists only in CC handguns, while 9mm exists in both CC and full sized handguns.
I think you should make a new poll with the option ".38/.357" to be fair.
I think you should make a new poll with the option ".38/.357" to be fair.
Only if you are only considering new guns.
As there are many, many fine used .38 Special service-sized sixguns out there. A S&W Model 10, 38/44, or whatever else or a Colt Police Positive Special Officer's Model Match, Python or whatever else is a better built and better shooting gun than 99 66/100% of us deserve.
--Shannon
As there are many, many fine used .38 Special service-sized sixguns out there. A S&W Model 10, 38/44, or whatever else or a Colt Police Positive Special Officer's Model Match, Python or whatever else is a better built and better shooting gun than 99 66/100% of us deserve.
--Shannon
alternative to my P3AT
I have owned my KelTec over a year and found it to be accurate and reliable but little hard on my hand in warm weather. I went out for the first time this winter and shooting the P3AT in cold weather literally numbed my hand after 4 rounds of Remington "Golden Saber". Having said that I never expected this little pocket pal to be something easy or comfortable to shoot and in a life and death situation a numb hand would be the least of my worries... I think my next .380 will be a PPK, still small and easier on my hand.
I have owned my KelTec over a year and found it to be accurate and reliable but little hard on my hand in warm weather. I went out for the first time this winter and shooting the P3AT in cold weather literally numbed my hand after 4 rounds of Remington "Golden Saber". Having said that I never expected this little pocket pal to be something easy or comfortable to shoot and in a life and death situation a numb hand would be the least of my worries... I think my next .380 will be a PPK, still small and easier on my hand.
texas bulldog
Member
i voted 9mm, and it has nothing to do with disliking .38 special. i already own all the .38s i need at the moment. however, a BHP and an LCP are both high on the wish list right now. so i'm not actually sure which one will come first. depends which i find the right deal on sooner and how much i have to spend.
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