stonecutter2
Member
Yep this is why I went with a P238. Great little pistol.
Why buy a 380?
- Thread starter Redcoat3340
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Clark
Member
I handload ~ 65 cartridges.
I am carrying a 380.
Why choose a 380 out of 65 cartridges? Size matters. Big bore, small gun.
I live in a city with a crime index of 88.
Baltimore MD has a crime rate of 709.
If I lived in Baltimore, I would not be carrying a 380.
I probably could not get a permit... but I would want something big.
I am carrying a 380.
Why choose a 380 out of 65 cartridges? Size matters. Big bore, small gun.
I live in a city with a crime index of 88.
Baltimore MD has a crime rate of 709.
If I lived in Baltimore, I would not be carrying a 380.
I probably could not get a permit... but I would want something big.
They make a real handy little pocket carry pistol. I've carried my KelTec P38AT quite a bit and it's so light that at times I almost forget that it's there.
But, my S&W 642 gets about 90% of the carry duty. It's larger and heavier, but I just have more confidence in the 38+P caliber than I do in 380.
Clark
Member
giggitygiggity
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.380s are great pocket carry guns. No reasonable is going to argue and say that a .380 is a better round than a 9mm or .40 or .45. However, the smallest 9mm pistol will never be as small as the smallest .380 pistol, both theoretically and in practice. I can conceal the Ruger LCP in pretty much any clothing choice and even if there is a bulge in my pants, it's about the same size as a cell phone or set of keys or a number of other items so it doesn't draw much attention. I like my XDS45 and Shield9, but they are just too big for pocket carry. They're great for IWB carry.
I carry what I can shoot well, and I enjoy and look forward to going shooting at the range. I live-fire practice with my HK P30 9mm carry gun at least 400 rounds a month and I shoot plenty of defensive ammo during range sessions. IMHO, I need this level of practice to have confidence in my firearm and in myself. I'd much rather have a J-Frame revolver BUG, compared to any .380 pocket pistol that I have tried, again "MHO".
lonewolf5347
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- 495
I have a Ruger LCP has well over 1,000 round threw the bore has never failed me to go bang.
Ruger LCP easy to conceal light weight and it my go to carry gun ,I also shot combat coarse with it for me out to 12 yards no problem
Ruger LCP easy to conceal light weight and it my go to carry gun ,I also shot combat coarse with it for me out to 12 yards no problem
huntsman
Member
^ the LCP seems to be a polarizing gun, which I find interesting. For me it's an asset because it guarantees I'm armed at all times and until proven otherwise it's enough gun.
R.W.Dale
Member
I have.
Try shooting something ALIVE with said load and see if you retain faith in the rounds stopping prowess.
I emptied an entire box of cor -bon +p hollow points shootin armadillos one day at point blank range from a much larger longer barreled bersa vs a p38t or lcp
Out of 25 guess how many panzerlizards were prevented from getting to their burrow? That's right ZERO.
the same critters with a .410 shotgun or even 60g aguila 22lr SSS from a single six = drt
Clark
Member
MaterDei
Member
Bersa Thunder trigger pull is my reason.
Hammer059
Member
"Pocket carry is the only reason for a 380. You just cant make a 9mm small, light enough for comfort."
I disagree. I've pocket carried a Ruger LC9S and a Sig P938 and both were very comfortable, but I guess comfort is subjective.
It's my personal choice, but .380 is below the threshold of what I'm comfortable carrying. There are plenty of pocket 9's out there… Heck, I've even pocket carried my XDS 45 (although I'll admit that's pushing it, I normally stick with IWB)
I disagree. I've pocket carried a Ruger LC9S and a Sig P938 and both were very comfortable, but I guess comfort is subjective.
It's my personal choice, but .380 is below the threshold of what I'm comfortable carrying. There are plenty of pocket 9's out there… Heck, I've even pocket carried my XDS 45 (although I'll admit that's pushing it, I normally stick with IWB)
A 380 Golddot at 1100fps must be a hand load and from the gelatin tests I've seen a Golddot at that velocity would expand so big you would be lucky to get 6" of penetration.
Clark
Member
The petals opened up and it sliced the antelope buck's heart.
There is penetration in tough stuff, and then there is penetration in soft stuff.
When I hit a rib with a Nosler Ballistic tip bullet a high velocity, the bone turns into Shrapnel inside the animal. Bones are hard.
There is penetration in tough stuff, and then there is penetration in soft stuff.
When I hit a rib with a Nosler Ballistic tip bullet a high velocity, the bone turns into Shrapnel inside the animal. Bones are hard.
Ignition Override
Member
The many very good reports about my Sig 232, and the feel/size.
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R.W.Dale
Member
You are talking to CLARK here
Internet handloader and overloader of Internet fame from ages past.
What happened Clark? I haven't seen you post in quite a few years till now ?
Lets see....to pay more for cartridges than 9x19 and get less performance? Me thinks the answer is NO.
W.E.G.
Member
Compact pistols that actually work.
Bullets that actually expand.
11" penetration from most pocket pistols leaves a bit to be desired, but still proven to be much more effective than a thrown salt-shaker.
Mine fits in the watch pocket of my jeans.
They occasionally rob the local banks.
But, so far as I know, there hasn't been a street robbery in my town in the last dozen years.
I do read the weekly crime report.
I live 18 miles from the White House.
This is the typical caper that makes the police blotter:
The .380 in my watch pocket should at least let me make room to escape that sort of chaos.
I've got a shotgun back at the house if things get persistent.
Clark is gonna put his eye out one day.
Bullets that actually expand.
11" penetration from most pocket pistols leaves a bit to be desired, but still proven to be much more effective than a thrown salt-shaker.
Mine fits in the watch pocket of my jeans.
They occasionally rob the local banks.
But, so far as I know, there hasn't been a street robbery in my town in the last dozen years.
I do read the weekly crime report.
I live 18 miles from the White House.
This is the typical caper that makes the police blotter:
The .380 in my watch pocket should at least let me make room to escape that sort of chaos.
I've got a shotgun back at the house if things get persistent.
Clark is gonna put his eye out one day.
fastbolt
Member
After having not owned a .380 for more than 25 years (briefly owned a Beretta M84 back then), I now own a pair of LCP's. Why?
Plain & simple. Because they fit in some of my shorter and tighter pockets (holstered) that won't hold one of my 5-shot J's.
Why the LCP's?
Simple. They're the smallest of the really big name maker offerings. The S&W Bodyguard (now M&P) .380 was a just enough larger not to interest me, and I didn't want a laser built integral in the frame, anyway.
I picked up the second LCP to have a newer version with a stainless slide, as well as the improved trigger and sights.
Both of mine have run well with an assortment of good quality factory JHP's, although each needed a touch of bright nail polish to let me pick up the sides a bit faster and more clearly. The older version has what might be charitably described as rudimentary sights.
The newer stainless model still benefited from a couple dabs of nail polish (front & rear), but it's quite shootable at the usual distances where I have to qualify and like to run drills, which means from 3-15yds. I find shooting my assortment of J's to be easier out at 25-50yds, but some of that probably has to do with the familiarity of using revolvers at those distances over the years, versus the itty bitty plastic .380s without a lot of grip frame to fill the hand.
To be fair, some of the really diminutive .380's can often seem to be tool small for people with large hands to handle and manipulate. Having thumbs that rub against the slide can interfere with slide run & velocity, which can cause feeding stoppages and other issues, too.
The littlest and lightest of the new .380's are more difficult for some folks to shoot, as well. The larger of the newer offerings, like the LC380 & G42, seem to be liked by a lot of folks, especially female shooters. That's fine.
Personally, I'd not ever again have an interest in owning another 'belt gun' size .380 pistol. Not with the subcompact & compact 9's I own and carry. That's just me, though. Some folks like and enjoy the larger .380's, and find them quite handy for their needs.
Suit yourself.
Plain & simple. Because they fit in some of my shorter and tighter pockets (holstered) that won't hold one of my 5-shot J's.
Why the LCP's?
Simple. They're the smallest of the really big name maker offerings. The S&W Bodyguard (now M&P) .380 was a just enough larger not to interest me, and I didn't want a laser built integral in the frame, anyway.
I picked up the second LCP to have a newer version with a stainless slide, as well as the improved trigger and sights.
Both of mine have run well with an assortment of good quality factory JHP's, although each needed a touch of bright nail polish to let me pick up the sides a bit faster and more clearly. The older version has what might be charitably described as rudimentary sights.
The newer stainless model still benefited from a couple dabs of nail polish (front & rear), but it's quite shootable at the usual distances where I have to qualify and like to run drills, which means from 3-15yds. I find shooting my assortment of J's to be easier out at 25-50yds, but some of that probably has to do with the familiarity of using revolvers at those distances over the years, versus the itty bitty plastic .380s without a lot of grip frame to fill the hand.
To be fair, some of the really diminutive .380's can often seem to be tool small for people with large hands to handle and manipulate. Having thumbs that rub against the slide can interfere with slide run & velocity, which can cause feeding stoppages and other issues, too.
The littlest and lightest of the new .380's are more difficult for some folks to shoot, as well. The larger of the newer offerings, like the LC380 & G42, seem to be liked by a lot of folks, especially female shooters. That's fine.
Personally, I'd not ever again have an interest in owning another 'belt gun' size .380 pistol. Not with the subcompact & compact 9's I own and carry. That's just me, though. Some folks like and enjoy the larger .380's, and find them quite handy for their needs.
Suit yourself.
I am more accurate at distance with my pocket .380 than my .38 snub. The grip and practically non existent sights are inferior with the .380 but with +2 capacity and fitting more comfortably in my pocket it gets the nod more often. Off the range I can pick up the small tritium sights more quickly on my snub and it points better, and I seem to shoot better during a quick cylinder dump close up with .38 special than I do with the .380. It's a tough call sometimes. I like both.
Clark
Member
The effort of carrying the gun has got to be in proportion to the threat.
I could have an NAA 22 mini revolver on my key ring.
I could have a bullpup 223 semi under a trench coat.
But the 380 with laser clips into my shirt pocket.
I could have an NAA 22 mini revolver on my key ring.
I could have a bullpup 223 semi under a trench coat.
But the 380 with laser clips into my shirt pocket.
I think a .380 is fine. In fact, I have always enjoyed shooting the .380. The only reason I gravitate towards 9mm ( at least in past years anyway ) is that 9mm ammo was/is cheaper to buy for shooting a lot. Otherwise I like shooting snickety little .380 pistols. You can't find true pocket 9s either. Just a thought.
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