a very specific .380 ACP and .38 Special question

[sherman123]

I say whichever you can shoot better but the Charter Arms would prolly be yer best bet. I"d say the bersa but thats because I already own one and have had a decent amount of practice with it. I agree with what EHL saying about the Bersa being too large of a gun for too small of a caliber. Although I've carried the bersa too it was only because my GLOCK 23 was recieving some gunsmith work. Otherwise I'd rather have had the glock. The fact that you can carry the snub at all times in you pocket as opposed to the besra sometimes on your waist would be the biggest factor for me with reliability in a close seond

 

[Just One Shot]

My choice is the Bersa when I'm not carrying one of my larger calibers.

I like the way it carrys, the extra rounds, the slim mag that's easy to conceal and the accuracy at the longer distances.

 

[ArmedBear]

+P adds about 100 fps. Nothing to write home about.

If a .38 round isn't effective, then 100 fps won't change that significantly.

I'd take the .38, and make sure the ammo you use is designed for low-velocity expansion. I'm a fan of bullet weight. The .380 doesn't offer the bullets you can shoot with a .38.

I might consider heavier bullets, but 110 grain is what I have in a snubbie at the moment, too.

 

[420Stainless]

I prefer flat sides for carry. For that reason alone I'd take the Bersa.

 

[Bw2k2000]

I own both a colt 380 gov't model and a S&W airwaight in 38 spl. I think I would take the 38 if looking for a concealed carry being the bigger caliber.

 

[mavracer]

I'd let mr BG choose carry the 380 on even # days and the revolver on odd.

 

[Jim PHL]

I used to own a kel-tec .380 and stopped carrying it because I lack confidence in the round's capability. I was in the habit of carrying 102 gr. FMJ because I felt a little more penetration was a plus in the caliber. i've beenm pocket carrying a .38 ever since. I would suggest the same for you, even with the loads listed. That being said, I would further suggest a heavier .38 load. (Not a +P, just a heavier bullet.)

 

[Big Bill]

Give me the Bersa. I want more rounds of ammo in my gun; and, I'm not impressed with a Charter.

 

[jad0110]

As others have said, carry whichever you shoot best.

For me, I'd take the Charter Arms as I shoot revolvers better ... though I would select a different load, specifically the standard pressure Buffalo Bore 158 grain LSWCHP. Nice heavy bullet moving along at a decent clip for good penetration and decent expansion.

 

[LightningJoe]

The snubnose is more pocketable in general. If that weren't an issue, then the Bersa would be better on paper. It holds more rounds and is faster and easier to reload. Also, although .38 Special is probably the better round, this would be impossible to prove empirically.


I acknowledge that the above is true. Still, the snubnose .38 has proven itself in the hands of many different people, in innumerable different situations, literally for generations. That's got to be worth something.