380ACP vs 38Special

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GunLvrNLearner

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I realize there are numerous variables such as shot placement,ammo ect. but with all variables the same i hear a lot of people say the 380 and 38 are very close in stopping power and ballistics..is this true or what is correct?
 
Close...but I'd go for the 38 over the 380.

You're pretty much limited to 90 - 95 grain bullets in the 380.

The 38 has a better (heavier) selection...125 - 158 grains will have more momentum.
 
Hmmmmm

Wouldn't want to be shot with either.:rolleyes:
38 special has downed a TON of aggressive types (not Moro Tribesmen though) Given a choice and the weapon size if carrying concealed. I'll take a .38 snubbie over a .380 any day
 
38 special has downed a TON of aggressive types (not Moro Tribesmen though)
Click to expand...
That's correct, but that's because the .38 Spl wasn't the round used during the battles with the Moros. The rd used agains the Moros was the .38 Long Colt. The .38 LC compared to a .380 or a .38 S&W. But it wasn't .38 Spl. The .38 Spl rd wasn't developed until after the Philipine Insurrection.
BTW, they also complained that the .30-40 Krag rd wasn't stopping the Moros either.
 
I belive tha stopping power between the two is close enough to make the comparison moot. But I would give the nod to the .38 Special (.38 Special +P gives you a little more help).

Using the "heavyshooter stopping power barometer," which is completely subjective, :) I would rate them as follows:

on a scale from 1-10

.380 ACP = 5
.38 Special = 6
.38 Special +P = 6.5

For the sake of context:

.45 ACP = 9
.357 Magnum = 9.5
 
Either way it ain't a 45

In standard loadings the KE difference isn't that much:

Ruger LCP:
Hydra Shock 90 gr. 878 FPS / 154# KE
Winchester SXT 95 gr. 774 FPS / 126# KE

Mag-na-ported S&W 442: (non plus p)
Winchester Silvertip 110 gr. 821 FPS / 165# KE
Remington 110 gr. SJHP 779 FPS / 148# KE

+P loads in the 38 snub change things a little:
Winchester 130 gr. PDX +P 848 FPS / 207# KE
 
This info is taken from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.38_Special

"Due to its blackpowder heritage, the .38 Special is a low pressure cartridge, one of the lowest in common use today at 17,000 PSI. By modern standards, the .38 Special fires a medium sized bullet at rather low speeds. The closest comparisons are the .380 ACP, which fires much lighter bullets slightly faster than most .38 Special loads"

.38 S&W Special 158 gr 940 ft/s 310 ft·lbf (420 J) 17,000 PSI

.38 Special +P 158 gr 1,000 ft/s 351 ft·lbf (476 J) 20,000 PSI

.38 Special +P+ 110 gr 1,100 ft/s 295 ft·lbf (400 J) >20,000 PSI

.380 ACP 100 gr 895 ft/s 178 ft·lbf (241 J) 21,500 PSI


This info is taken from: http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/38specialor380acp.htm


"The answer depends primarily on a couple of things:
1. Which caliber do you think is the more potent "stopper"?
2. Which type handgun do you prefer, revolver or automatic?"

"As I see it, the .380 might be a little short on penetration when JHP ammunition is used and it expands. It seems that the average penetration depth for most JHP's in this caliber is about 7 to 9 inches in ballistic gelatin. For a frontal, face-to-face shot, this might very well be sufficient, but for an angled shot or one passing through an arm first, it very well might not. It seems that there's just not enough bullet weight at .380 velocities to push the expanded slug deeply enough. While there certainly are felons who'll "stop" simply because they are shot, there are also those who will not unless they're physically unable to continue.In conventional JHP, .380 bullets weigh from 85 to 102 grains."



"From a snub .38 Special, HP bullets weigh from about 95 to 158 grains. These can be had with gilding metal jackets or pure lead in some cases. Where the .380, depending upon barrel length, will throw 90-grain JHP's at about 950 to 1100 ft/sec, the .38 will hit similar velocity levels with 110 grain bullets and approximately 800 ft/sec + with the 158-gr +P loads. These do offer more penetration in 10% ballistic gelatin when they expand. Both are capable of through-and-through penetration in a human torso if they do not."
 
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With ability to shoot +P 158's at near 1000 fps, I'll take the 38 spl. On paper, it would generate better penetration and the bullet would actually expand.
 
I prefer the .38 Spl, but I carry a .380 as a backup. That is, in my case, due to the light weight of the pistol. LCP, and a very easy gun to carry.
Main thing is to carry the gun. As said and posted many many times on THR, a mouse gun in your pocket works a lot better then that .45 in your safe.
 
The 380 and the 2" 38 have the same problem: lack of sufficient velocity for expansion. If your ammo won't expand the 380 generally carries 6 or 7 rounds compared to 5 for the 38 revolver and can be reloaded faster with a spare magazine in the pocket. Advantage to the 380 ACP.

But if you load your own and don't mind exceeding the loads in CURRENT manuals and use loads offered in older manuals printed before liability lawyers scared the gun industry to death then the 38 Special can be brought up to speed for improved bullet performance. I carry Remington Golden Sabers loaded to 1,100 FPS from my 2" M40 S&W and I suspect that these would expand since 1100 seems to be the magic number. Below that you may as well carry ball ammo.

I'm getting ready to start developing a defensive load for the 38 S&W for use in an older terrier I just got. A 1970 manual lists a 125 at 980 which exceeds the current 125 +P load that seems to frighten so many folks. I may try the 110 JHP trying to get 1,100 + out of the little gun.
 
Velocity isn't the most important thing in the world.

You can easily get expansion, too, if the bullet is designed to expand at less than 1100 fps, and many are. The popularity of snubbies has led to bullets and loads made for them.

The real limitation of the .380 IMO is bullet weight. You can only get so much from a light bullet, no matter how fast you push it.
 
I regularly carry a S&W J frame loaded with the remington FBI load (+P 158gr LHP) and dont feel undergunned. My father-in-law carries an 1960's vintage llama .380 loaded with fiocchi FMJ. I say carry what you are comfortable with and shoot the best.
 
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