Is .380 worth it to carry?

14419 Views 102 Replies 41 Participants Last post by KSDeputy, Sep 12, 2015

PhilG

Discussion Starter · Feb 6, 2013

My carry guns are; Colt 1911, Glock 19, KelTec P32. Depending of season and where I am going one of these goes along. I have read many threads saying the .32 apc is questionable for carry. I believe what ever you can carry is better than nothing. I also have a Makarov .380 which has thousands of rounds through it with no problems and very accurate. Question one is the .380 round enough better than the .32 to make it worth switching? Question two aside from capacity how much better is the 9mm over the .380 for stopping power.
Hope these questions are not to basic but I have searched on many sites and not found a good answer.

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Pet-Rock

· #2 · Feb 6, 2013

Here is a good discussion for the .380 vs. 32 question I think

.32ACP vs .380ACP - Glock Talk

Muzzle energy for the 32apc is ~180 lb/ft. vs. the ~200 lb/ft. for the 380acp so for that Id say its a wash. If you already have the 32 and feel confident with it, then keep carrying it. I personally would not trade it in.

Q2:
9mm muzzle energy is ~350 to 500 (Buffalo Bore +P) lb/ft. compared to the ~200 to 300 (Buffalo Bore +P) lb/ft for the 380 acp.

They both shoot the same size bullet so its a wash there. I would shoot them into ballistics gel or something to really see all the factors that go into "stopping power", but obviously the 9mm gets the edge with the energy delivered.

The big negative I have heard about the 9mm is that it over penetrates to an extent so I personally would feel much better about firing the 380 in public and being sure that it would not go through the bad guy and into someone else. Having said that, in a situation like that I want all the stopping power I can get so it gets a bit complicated.

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PhilG

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 6, 2013

Thanks for the quick reply.

Pet-Rock said:
Here is a good discussion for the .380 vs. 32 question I think

.32ACP vs .380ACP - Glock Talk

Muzzle energy for the 32apc is ~180 lb/ft. vs. the ~200 lb/ft. for the 380acp so for that Id say its a wash. If you already have the 32 and feel confident with it, then keep carrying it. I personally would not trade it in.

Q2:
9mm muzzle energy is ~350 to 500 (Buffalo Bore +P) lb/ft. compared to the ~200 to 300 (Buffalo Bore +P) lb/ft for the 380 acp.

They both shoot the same size bullet so its a wash there. I would shoot them into ballistics gel or something to really see all the factors that go into "stopping power", but obviously the 9mm gets the edge with the energy delivered.

The big negative I have heard about the 9mm is that it over penetrates to an extent so I personally would feel much better about firing the 380 in public and being sure that it would not go through the bad guy and into someone else. Having said that, in a situation like that I want all the stopping power I can get so it gets a bit complicated.

Thank you for the quick reply, you have given me much to think about. I will not get rid of the P32 , but I think the Mak may have a place in my lineup. I carry the KelTec IWB on the belt clip, it is somewhat hard to draw and I have concerns about no safety while I get a firing grip. The Makarov has thumb safety which works well for me, and is double action first shot which I feel better carrying condition 1. I will carry the Mak on a Clip Draw IWB which will position the gun to get a firing grip before I draw. I have rambled much too long now, thanks again.

RUT

· #4 · Feb 9, 2013

>>Is .380 worth it to carry?<<

I consider my .380 to be a "last resort" gun.

GAMEOVER

· #5 · Feb 9, 2013

My Sig P232 with P+ Hornady hollow points and 7+1 (with xtra mag) is all I'll ever need at 3-5 yds or less which is statistically at the outer limits of most self defense shootings in the public arena. To each their own and that's what makes us freedom loving individuals.

Reactions: 3

woodstock

· #6 · Feb 10, 2013

I consider the .380 to be plenty of gun for it's intended purpose. Of all the guns I carry, the .380 goes with me most often. I also carry a .40 on rare occasions, Kel-Tec P32 at times and quite often a NAA .22WMR and consider any of them to be "enough gun". As far as "last resort" goes, having to kill someone is always my last resort.

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Popeye 14

· #7 · Feb 13, 2013

A .380 Pistol I sure wouldn't want to CC during the winter months. In the summer I pocket my P3at quite often.

PhilG

Discussion Starter · #8 · Feb 13, 2013 (Edited)

Just as I thought lots of good information here. Thanks guys for your reply's. It seems quite a few of you would carry a .380, can we now talk about you carry it. I am thinking of using a ClipDraw with my Mak .380, I will set it up to keep the but high enough to get a full firing grip right away. The Mak has a thumb safety and a double action first shot trigger all of which should keep it save enough to carry in condition one. Any thoughts?

JRedHorse

· #9 · Feb 13, 2013 (Edited)

deleted.

BWayne

· #10 · Feb 13, 2013

I carry a .380 as a backup while on duty. I've shot all sorts of targets with it and I have no issues with it, as previously stated, if you use it for it's intended purpose. I consider it an up close and personal "last line of defense" weapon. Never for anything over 10 feet or so. That's not to say I wouldn't lay down some cover with it if I had no other option.

PhilG

Discussion Starter · #11 · Feb 14, 2013

I have other carry guns; 1911, Glock 19 and KelTec p32, I want the .380 for when the weather gets warmer.

Swashplate

· #12 · Feb 14, 2013 (Edited)

I usually carry a Ruger LCP .380 in the summer. Small, light weight and very easy to conceal. In cooler weather, Glock 27 .40 caliber. Larger than the .380 but more options for concealed carry. I don't feel any less protected with the .380.

AABEAR

· #13 · Feb 15, 2013

Bersa 380 in the summer and my S&W 40 in the winter Or my Bursa 9 mm.

M1Aholic

· #14 · Feb 16, 2013 (Edited)

I carry a lot of different handguns....sometimes a SA .45, sometimes a Para Ord .40, sometimes a Taurus .38spl and sometimes a Browning BDA .380. I have confidence in all of my carry weapons...or l wouldn't carry them. If you don't have confidence in your concealed carry firearm, whats the point?

BTW John Dillinger carried a Colt .380. He was carrying it when he was shot and killed in Chicago.

Hcim101

· #15 · Feb 25, 2013

That's a nice .380, Russians know how to make a good weapon. With a .380, use JHP's and a nice conceal holster and go for it. Any gun is better than no gun, I know a gun that carries a .22lr, I don't want to get hit by any size round.

Marlin 45 carbine

· #16 · Feb 25, 2013

my ccw is a mak 9mm - a .380 on steroids basically but I put a heavier recoil spring in it so to use my hot handloads which shooting into old fone books and wet cardboard stacked made an impressive channel when loaded with cast slugs I'd made dum-dums of useing a jewelers saw to '+' the slugs about 1/3rd down the tip.
my truck gun is either a .357 or .45 and my hideout/backup is a beretta .32

PhilG

Discussion Starter · #17 · Feb 25, 2013

Marlin 45 carbine said:
my ccw is a mak 9mm - a .380 on steroids basically but I put a heavier recoil spring in it so to use my hot handloads which shooting into old fone books and wet cardboard stacked made an impressive channel when loaded with cast slugs I'd made dum-dums of useing a jewelers saw to '+' the slugs about 1/3rd down the tip.
my truck gun is either a .357 or .45 and my hideout/backup is a beretta .32

Where did you find the 9mm Mak?

bcvojak

· #18 · Mar 10, 2013

The. 32 is a horrible ccw gun. I will do you a big favor and take it off of your hands for $50

But seriously, before I got my LCP I carried maybe 1-2 times per month. Now I carry 24x7. I stayed away from the. 32 because of the rim lock issue. But if you only use FMJ then it is less of an issue. Once this BLEEP..BLEEP..BLEEPING ammo shortage is over I will be picking up some flat nose, solids for my LCP and will dump the HP ammo. I just prefer the penetration aspect over the expansion aspect. Others may feel differently, but as Ayoob says, (paraphrased) you make your choices and live with the consequences.

Sent from my GT-P6210 using Tapatalk 2

PhilG

Discussion Starter · #19 · Mar 10, 2013

bcvojak said:
The. 32 is a horrible ccw gun. I will do you a big favor and take it off of your hands for $50

But seriously, before I got my LCP I carried maybe 1-2 times per month. Now I carry 24x7. I stayed away from the. 32 because of the rim lock issue. But if you only use FMJ then it is less of an issue. Once this BLEEP..BLEEP..BLEEPING ammo shortage is over I will be picking up some flat nose, solids for my LCP and will dump the HP ammo. I just prefer the penetration aspect over the expansion aspect. Others may feel differently, but as Ayoob says, (paraphrased) you make your choices and live with the consequences.

Sent from my GT-P6210 using Tapatalk 2

Thanks but no thanks:lol: if nothing else I can shoot dogs that chase me on my motorcycle.

Amsdorf

· #20 · Mar 16, 2013

A pocket full of .380AUTO is better than a .45ACP back home in the gun safe.

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