380 vs 9mm question

[littlebluevette]

I am looking to get my wife a handgun and am thinking about a small 380 auto because of lower recoil?

I own multiple 9mm but have never shot a 380. My question is... I am hoping a small 380 have a much lower recoil than a small 9mm such as a Kimber Solo, Shield or PDX. Is this true?

 

[tarosean]

No.. Generally the small 380's are fixed barrel and can produce a hefty kick

 

[fallout mike]

+1 to what tarosean said.

 

[2wheels]

The Sig P238/Colt Mustang has pretty mild recoil for such a small gun.

 

[huntsman]

Both my wife and daughter shot my LCP and neither enjoyed it, so the question is when you say small how small did you mean?

 

[powder]

Recoil is just one aspect, have her also try racking the slide: many 380s are VERY stiff to cycle...

 

[YZ]

The perceived recoil is even higher because of the small grip and therefore lack of control. Every time a new pocket gun comes out and makes the glossy magazine covers, it is "surprisingly easy to shoot". In my experience, nope. Given the choice, at least with a 9mm, for all its kick, you get a better (on average) reliability. More .380s are ammo-sensitive, especially with the hollowpoints.

 

[hardluk1]

Not sure I can go along with that. I have a cm9 kahr and cw9 kahr . My daughter and wife have a couple 380's each. One model they both have is a 10oz Taurus TCP380 and both love that pistol, The other is the Bersa 380 CC model . They both hate shooting my cm9 kahr. The TCP does set with the barrel lower in the hand than the cm9 and that may count for how it feels shooting. There other 380s are a bersa 380CC model. It is a fixed barrel model and both like it better than my cm9 even though weight is with in one oz. My larger shield sized cw9 is shootable be them but not favored ether.

The tcp 380 and bersa both are easy to rack compared to many sub-compact 9mm's .

 

[YZ]

Do they practice with defensive HP's out of the TCP?

 

[Fryerpower]

My wife has shot the TCP and had no issues shooting it. It has much less felt recoil than a Radon P64, which is heavier and shoots a slightly larger round. The one she shot has a Pachmayr grip. Very manageable recoil. It is LOUD coming out of that short barrel.

http://www.amazon.com/Pachmayr-Tactical-Glove-Ruger-Taurus/dp/B004NKY6B2

Hornady makes Critical Defense ammo for it. If you cannot find any in stock, get the Hornady Zombie Max ammo. Same round different color plug in the hollow point and different packaging. Ballistically they are identical.

This is what has been put through it so far:
MFG Case Bullet Grain Number shot
Blazer Brass FMJ ? 24
Hornady Brass JHP Z-Max 90 6
Fiocchi Brass JHP 90 29
Tula Steel FMJ 91 6
Winchester Brass Flat FMJ 95 0
Winchester Brass JHP Silver Tip 85 1
Total Shot 66

I've managed to pick up a couple of hundred more rounds of ammo so I will hopefully be shooting it more soon.

Jim

 

[horsemen61]

Let her decide what works for her

 

[ku4hx]

My wife disliked every 380 she fired ... until she shot a Walther PPK/S-1. She bought the next one she found.

She still likes her Ruger SR9c for carry, bedside and just shooting at our club, but she put so many rounds through her PPK I had to buy dies and bullets to keep her satisfied.

 

[Hurryin' Hoosier]

You can't go strictly by caliber. All guns (all designs) are different.

 

[Prince Yamato]

The Sig 238 is a pleasure to shoot. I'd recommend that for a .380.

 

[Hunter991]

Totally disagree. 380 has less recoil. My wife hates recoil and shot my bodyguard with ease. She now carries a bersa thunder 380. Easy to rack and barely any recoil.

 

[HexHead]

The Sig P238/Colt Mustang has pretty mild recoil for such a small gun.

Especially if you get an original Colt Mustang with a steel frame. They're very comfortable to shoot.

 

[Torian]

My SIG 232 had more recoil than my Browning HP in 9mm. Smaller guns are rarely more pleasant to shoot.

 

[HexHead]

I am looking to get my wife a handgun and am thinking about a small 380 auto because of lower recoil?

It never fails, people continually pick absolutely the wrong gun for their wives. Particularly if it's going to be their first.

 

[Gun Geezer]

My wife decided "my" Bodygaurd 380 was just the ticket. She can shoot compact 9mm various pistols just fine, but love the smaller 380.

Looks like in the neighborhood for another Bodyguard!

 

[YZ]

Gentlemen, for the sake of clarity, please don't confuse the measurable recoil with the perceived recoil; and the (cheaper) round nose 380 FMJ with the defensive, much harder kicking hollowpoints.

 

[Paul7]

My Colt Mustang is the only .380 I've enjoyed shooting.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

While the .380 round is slightly less potent than 9x18 and 9x19, the experience of shooting the .380 pistols (most of which are smaller and lighter) is not PLEASANT. Smaller is seldom better, in that respect.

The new Ruger 380 (which is a .380 gun based on the larger LC9 frame) might be an alternative. While I haven't shot one, I have heard that it does a better job with recoil than most of the other .380s.

That said, a HEAVIER STEEL-FRAMED 9mm (full-size) might be a better alternative if recoil is the concern. Some of the polymer framed full-size 9mms can seem relatively gentle, too. (A used Witness 9mm steel-framed gun might be pleasant; ditto a Beretta of the 92(x) variety. Women seem to find the Beretta slides easier to rack, too.

If there's a range that rents guns in your area, you can try some out.

 

[Sergei Mosin]

The SIG P238 seems quite popular among the recoil-sensitive set. My wife likes hers.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Colt Mustang (steel frame ) like shooting a 22

 

[Jim Watson]

My Colt Gov't .380 with locked breech is a lot more fun to shoot than a friend's Colt 1908 blowback.

The Gov't .380 is the redheaded stepchild of the series, overlooked in favor of the chopped off Mustang and Sig clone. But they have still gotten expensive.