If I have been in the situation, seeing the girl at a slight distance would have alarmed me, and bring my pistol from 45 degrees to dead-on! I have no idea if I would have fired. I wasn’t there. I mean, if she’s 6’4” and 350 pounds, I’m firing. If she’s 4’11” and 85 pounds, she could still shoot your butt. Can you say Bonnie and Clyde?! It depends on circumstances. I know that sounds nondescript. What I mean by circumstances, is that the boyfriend walked out of the kitchen...oh Hades no!!! Now you have two perps in the house?! Oh Hades no!!!
For what it's worth, and that's for you to decide, I carry significantly more firepower 24/7 even at home, on my body. At minimum I carry a Glock 17 or G19 with 18 rounds of 9mm Win Ranger, and a G26 on my ankle. Sometimes I carry my Glock 21SF with 14 rounds of .45 ACP Win Hollow defense rounds, and the G26. Sometimes I carry one of my Colt 1911s in .45 ACP, and my G26. Get the point…two pistol, one low if you’re tackled. IMHO, pack that .380 in your pants' leg, and get a more serious pistol. Also, get a holster. Keep the pistol on your body 24/7, except for when you shower or are in-bed. Leads to my next point.
My greater concern revolves situational awareness and preparedness. It concerns me that you had to get your gun before defending yourself. Frankly, you're lucky to be alive. Face it, they penetrated your apartment unheard. They could just as easily have shot the back of your head. I don't mean to be offensive. But, I would rather be direct, and have you think about the implications, than read tomorrow that you were killed. Remember pay-backs. For these next few weeks, you durned sure better make sure that door is locked.
To the next point, forget memory. Go buy an automatic-locking doorknob. Back up that lock with a good deadbolt. Then, if you forget to lock the deadbolt, you're still secured by the autolock. Because you tend to forget, carry a spare key around your neck.
Last, get yourself into a Tactical Shooting class. Mental rehearsal won't cut it. Frankly, you were wide-open when perp #2 stepped out of the kitchen. Had he possessed a firearm, he'd have nailed you before you nailed him. Learn to move to cover; learn to fire accurate shots while on the move to cover. You froze. Here’s a hint: what do most people do in a defensive situation when their magazine goes empty? They stop on the spot and reload. That makes a dandy target for the perps. Wrong answer! Drop the mag as you move; reload as you move; keep firing as you move. Praying as you move couldn’t hurt, but may not help.
Re: the expense of a more powerful pistol, a Tactical Shooting course and consistent practice, I simply respond, your life and your girlfriend's life are worth it. The last point, I am so glad that you are both alive and well. This is a fantastic thread, and I am very pleased that you are willing to share it. We all need reminders, even (or especially) me. Such threads help to remind me to keep myself sharp.
Remember, my opinion is just that. My opinion. While I have had around 10 Tactical Shooting and Advanced Tactical Shooting courses, I still have no idea how I would have reacted in your boots, inside the house. I know how I reacted at 17 years old while working on my car, a rifle at my side…but inside of your own home, frankly, that is an even higher standard. Even greater threat. I'll let you know how you did after I've walked a mile in yours shoes.
It’s not that I think you did poorly. I admire your outcome. I simply feel we all should persistently strive to improve and develop exceptional situational awareness, backed-up by exceptional tactical shooting ability. I hope I was not too harsh or too critical in my views.
Doc2005