How many of you own a 380?

[Dframe]

I've owned a stainless Walther PP/K for many years now, used as off duty and backup. I've fired thousands of rounds througth it and it has never failed. Is the 380 ideal for self defence? Of course not! But it's flat, easily concealed, and there if you need it. I've also been amused by the folks who seem to think it's like shooting someone with a cap pistol. I even had a local moron tell me that 380s would "bounce off" an assailant.

 

[SleazyRider]

I, too, tote a .380 LCP from time to time, but really enjoy shooting my relatively obscure Sterling .380:

 

[Valkman]

I have a Russian Makarov in .380 that I bought for $110 way back when, but I've never carried it. I did just loan it to the wife's daughter so she could carry it because the biggest gun she's shot is a 9mm and all I have besides the Mak is .22's and .45's.

 

[dickydalton]

The problem that I see with 380 AUTO is the FMJs - even flat nosed, seem to zip right on through 18" blocks of ballistic gelatin, and the most hollow points don't seem to go much deeper than 10"

But this guy on YouTube - ShootingTheBull410 tested a lot of 380 rounds and found a loading of the Hornady XTP by Precision One that did OK:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOwCXXpEP50

If you look at many of the other tests, there were many many rounds that failed to reach 12" through 4 layers of denim.

12 inches would put the bullet against most people's spine. I'm thinking a few there would do the trick most of the time. if I'm really nervous I'll carry my 44.

 

[dickydalton]

Easy to carry, I have a Colt PocketLite Mustang, much better gun that the plastic .380s. Ask me how I know this.

I had one of them and liked it, but my LCP with the Sweet Pea and Maguts modification beats it, hands down.

 

[Ringer]

I had a P3AT years ago and hated it. The trigger was horrible and the gun was just too small for me. I have nothing against the caliber or the gun. That gun just did not work for me. Now my Kahr PM9 is as small as I go.

 

[clutch]

I have a Bersa 95 in .380. I carried it for a long time and shot it a lot. When I shot a 2x4 (1.5x3.5) and didn't make it though the easy side I bought bigger pistol that was too hard to hide.

Now I have a J frame and it is with me most of the time.

One of those .380 Ruger LCP's look interesting for days when I can't conceal my J frame but then a tip up .32 Beretta Tomcat looks interesting also.

Any functional gun beats no gun. I need to lose weight so I can carry my M&P Compact with out printing or having it drag my pants down.

 

[skoro]

In the long hot Texas summers, I carry my KelTec P3AT more than any of the others in my carry rotation, simply because it's small, light and so easy to conceal.

 

[bobinoregon]

I have a few .380's, most of the time one of them is in whatever car we are driving today. If I'm going to carry it's probably going to be something else just out of habit, but I don't feel unarmed with a .380

 

[kcofohio]

We have 2 Bersa 380 Thunders. Nice shooters, but more bulky than my LC9. Plans are to sell them and get at least 1 LCP.

 

[kokapelli]

Easy to carry, I have a Colt PocketLite Mustang, much better gun that the plastic .380s. Ask me how I know this.

Ok how do you know this?

 

[qwert65]

I carry a lcp it's amazing how light and compact it is- I usually carry it in my watch pocket
I will add that my preferred carry is my XDs

 

[tarosean]

My only 380 is a PPK. I carry it when I wear shorts and a T... Judging by my bright white legs it's not very often!

 

[snooperman]

I have an older Walther PPK, a Mauser Hsc, SIG P230, Ruger LCP, and Taurus TCP. I carry the TCP the most in the Summer months, and a Colt 38 special Agent , or Magnum carry, during the colder months.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

My philosophy is that I carry the biggest pistol I can as openly as I can. I don't mean "open carry" necessarily, but like a Tagua slide holster rather than one of those large IWB holsters for large guns. Sometimes, only a small pocket gun will do. While more and more pocket guns are being made in 9mm, .40sw, and .45acp, the .380s still have a slight edge in size.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

I also want to add that depending on where you live, where you grew up, and your evolution of attitudes about carrying firearms, it can be difficult to understand others' situations. Surely a rancher in Wyoming would find .380s absurd... but until they've had to be completely hidden in a law office in Boston, they may not understand. Likewise, the Boston attorney may not understand the Wyoming Rancher's perspective of settling for nothing short of 4" .357mag or 1911.

 

[herrwalther]

I have an AMT " Back Up " semi auto with the grip safety.

I had one of those. Really hard to find one of those little guns that isn't a lemon. Mine was made in Covina, CA which was also a rariety for that model. Sold it mostly because I got lots of brass ejected in my face, on top of head, and sometimes over my head and behind me. It wasn't a fan of any hollow points either.

Now I don't have any .380s. At one point there were 5 between the wife and myself. All sold off within 6 months for something that we determined were better. Might consider picking up a Sig P238 or something similar just not anytime soon.

 

[Snowdog]

For me, I tend to carry my Sig238HD on the warmer months when I'm out by myself. If my wife and daughter are out with me, I carry my M&P40c.

When I can get by with a jacket, I carry my M&P40c all the time.

In retrospect, I guess I've doing this for a while. Before I had my 238, I carried a P32 or P64 and before I bought the M&P40c, it was a Bersa UC9. I suppose I carry the smallest thing I feel is appropriate.

 

[1911 guy]

I always tell people to carry the largest caliber in the largest handgun you can conceal. It's the last part that makes the little guns attractive. Otherwise, we'd all be carrying S&W .500 magnums.

I carry a 1911 all the time, but it's a pretty thin gun. If the grip angle, trigger reach or myriad other things that go into handgun fit don't put the 1911 on your list, you look at other guns. And some of those guns are smaller. And sometimes you only have so much leeway in your wardrobe. Dressing around the gun is a bit difficult if you are required to wear a uniform or such.

If my choice was to carry a .380 or go unarmed in some places I go, I'd happily stuff the .380 in my pants and go.

ETA: in the interest of full disclosure, my wife carries a Sig P232, which is a .380.

 

[bannockburn]

For me it can be a case of how small can I go in terms of what time of year it is and what I'm wearing. For those times when less is just right I have three .380 pistols to choose from: a Colt Mustang, SIG P238, and a KelTec P3AT.

 

[horsemen61]

I have a sig p238 and I absolutely love it it eats anything I give it from lead reloads to jhp's I can't say enough good things about it.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

The 380 is not a bad little round. Put it in the right spot and it will get the job done. I own and routinely carry several 380's. Mostly it is the 238 now as I am trying to standardize. When I travel I carry a Browning BDA or Beretta 84F is more of a travel gun. I keeps the calibers the same and 14 shots of 380 is nothing to sneeze at.

You can argue calibers all day, but it is incrementalism. If you say a 9mm is good and a 380 is bad, then I say a 357 sig is good and a 9mm is bad. You say a 357 Sig is good then I say a 10mm is good and the 357 Sig is bad. You say a 45 is good and I say as long as it is a 454 Casull over a 45acp. etc. etc. etc.

 

[GBExpat]

viking499, keep in mind that only a fool would plan on shooting an armed attacker only once in an Imminent Great Bodily Harm or Death encounter.

And, no, to be clear, I am not saying that anyone here is suggesting that, and is, therefore, a fool.

In the ~35 years since I was issued my first VA CWP (and one of the pistols that I carried early-on was a .380 PPK/s), I have always planned to keep shooting center-of-mass, reloading as required, until the threat is removed.

With either my PPK or P3AT, that is 7 rounds prior to reload.

Upwards of 7 rounds, center of mass, with a 9x17 (heck, even with a .22LR) is going to have a major, telling effect.

And that will, almost certainly, be from CLOSE range because if I have the chance to scoot, I will.

Yes, one of my .45s would have the same effect with fewer bullets on-target, but sometimes I just cannot carry and/or conceal such a large/heavy handgun.

 

[witchhunter]

My LCP is always on me when I leave the house to go in to town, it is just so light. I have carried a 1911 and still do on occasion, but compared to the LCP, not often. I usually have my mdl 66 .357 or a mdl 63 .22 mag in the truck though.

 

[Redranger]

My normal EDC is OWB Glock 26 or a LWT 1911 commander. When attire doesn't make that practical, I've got an LCP that I carry in a pocket holster. I end up carrying it most of the time in the summer.