Don’t Write Off the .380

[Marine Cpl]

With the right ammo, it performs as good as average 9mm.

 

[Tinman]

I have always liked the 380. I have a few.

 

[Marine Cpl]

I have always liked the 380. I have a few.

I’ve actually made my LCP 2 which was supposed to be for the wife, my daily carry. I just bought her another one. It’s like not carrying a gun at all. My favorite handgun so far.

 

[BDinPutnam]

I keep seriously considering a P238 as a pocket gun while walking the dog at night etc instead of my unwieldy Mark IV hunter. My mother in law has one and its shockingly accurate for a little gun.

 

[kev74]

I keep seriously considering a P238 as a pocket gun while walking the dog at night etc instead of my unwieldy Mark IV hunter. My mother in law has one and its shockingly accurate for a little gun.

A Mark IV for a pocket carry gun? I used to have a higher opinion of you...despite the file cabinet jokes.

 

[Robin]

Never write off anything you can shoot accurately.
Robin

 

[Bustedknees]

Can't remember if my Bodyguard is rated for P+

 

[dwa12479]

Where's the frying pan test?

 

[Bananabandit]

Im not knocking the 380 but, you should seek a physician with the hard on you have for it.

 

[Darth]

9mm, the 380 Magnum.

 

[Marine Cpl]

Im not knocking the 380 but, you should seek a physician with the hard on you have for it.

Not for the caliber itself. But rather for the LCP 2. But since I use ball rounds, on a body it will do what any 9mm ball round will do. Complete pass through no matter what the angle for the most part.

 

[togmaster]

But....will it penetrate a frying pan???

 

[beebee]

I have a P938 but actually liked my wife's P238 so much that I bought on for myself.. NEVER feel "undergunned" with it, ever.
I was often carrying a Keltec P32 in .32 acp, but can't hit a thing with it.. just can' shoot it well at all.. The P238 makes me almost look like i can shoot half straight.. So much more accurate than the P32, or the LCP custom, and LCPII I used to carry... Gotta carry what you shoot well.. I shoot my .22 LR pocket guns much better than my keltec .32 as well, so they get carried more than the Keltec... Never feel inadequate with a good accurate .22 either, personally.. To each his own.. bob

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

I had to make a quick errand run at lunch today and was carrying my LCP2 in my pocket.

 

[Marine Cpl]

But....will it penetrate a frying pan???

With some of those Underwoods? Yes. 1400 fps.

 

[GOYABEAN]

I was pondering picking this little Russian up put it's in .380 not the 9x18 I'm use too
They make good defensive ammo in almost any calibre now a days

 

[BDinPutnam]

A Mark IV for a pocket carry gun? I used to have a higher opinion of you...despite the file cabinet jokes.

I didn't say I pocket carried the Mk IV, file-under-c-for-cretin.

I open carry it in a vaquero, or in a kangaroo pocket. Not for nothing but this rig doesn't exactly scream Quickdraw McGraw if a skunk or possum jumps and Ms Thing here wants to go play...

 

[spat]

I consider .380 to be the bare minimum for a "self defense" caliber. It's enough, but just barely.

I do find myself carrying my LCPII more often than my G26. Mostly just convenience.

 

[technicalgadget]

I find the recoil impulse of .380 to be fairly sharp and less controllable than 9mm. Is it just me or perhaps the .380 platform frames are very light for carry and conceal ability?

 

[Jmac00]

I carry my El Cee Pee all the time, I consider the 380 a CQC weapon, I figure it maybe hand-to-hand for a few minutes, then I have to deploy LCP.

Im at condition Yellow at most times when Im out and about. i hope I can avoid a hand-to-hand situation, but if that occurs, the 380 is a great CQC cartridge.

 

[Phazer]

I just tried the S&W 380 EZ today. It was a lot of fun. Very mild recoil (way less than 9mm Shield). Followup shots are quickly sighted in. Nice grip size (for me). The grip safety is nonintrusive. (heck, I didn't notice it at all). Plus, loading magazines with a defensive caliber by pulling down the follower and dropping in rounds just makes me chuckle. I'd certainly consider purchasing one. Perhaps, the "performance center" edition that comes with TFO sights.

 

[Tinman]

The Walther PPK is a very nice 380. Handles well and is very accurate. I love mine.

 

[Phazer]

I find the recoil impulse of .380 to be fairly sharp and less controllable than 9mm. Is it just me or perhaps the .380 platform frames are very light for carry and conceal ability?

Have you tried the all-metal P238? I found it to be smooth shooting and way less "flippy" than the LCP.

The Browning 1911-380 models ("full" length and compact) are fun to shoot with minimal recoil.

 

[Jmac00]

The Walther PPK is a very nice 380. Handles well and is very accurate. I love mine.

and 007 uses a Walther PPK 380, how that asshole can hit a moving target at 100 yards with it is beyond me

 

[Phazer]

and 007 uses a Walther PPK 380, how that asshole can hit a moving target at 100 yards with it is beyond me

He's Bond....James Bond.

 

[maverick52]

Last year I was considering a 380. But after shooting the Sig Sauer p365, I decided to get that instead. It’s not much bigger but packs 10 rounds in a small gun that’s easy to shoot. I carry my 365 almost all of the time

 

[Marine Cpl]

Last year I was considering a 380. But after shooting the Sig Sauer p365, I decided to get that instead. It’s not much bigger but packs 10 rounds in a small gun that’s easy to shoot. I carry my 365 almost all of the time

I looked at it side by side at the shop compared to an LCP 2. I too wanted a smaller 9mm. There is no comparison.

Search results for: 'blog news sig sauer sig p365 comparison photos'

Osage County Guns is one of the largest gun stores in Missouri and one of the largest Sig Sauer dealers in the US!

osagecountyguns.com

 

[meketrefe]

Interesting people still sell and buy the 380 that seems to refuse to disappear.
If one alresdy has a firearm for whatever reason that is one thing but I cannot think of a single bemefit from the 380 considering the 9mm is a service round.

 

[spat]

Interesting people still sell and buy the 380 that seems to refuse to disappear.
If one alresdy has a firearm for whatever reason that is one thing but I cannot think of a single bemefit from the 380 considering the 9mm is a service round.

They make smaller firearms in .380 than they do in 9mm.

Also, the same firearm in .380 is lighter recoiling than 9mm.

That was a significant factor in my wife's choice of the G42 over the G43.

 

[Marine Cpl]

Interesting people still sell and buy the 380 that seems to refuse to disappear.
If one alresdy has a firearm for whatever reason that is one thing but I cannot think of a single bemefit from the 380 considering the 9mm is a service round.

Some .380's are so small, that it feels like you have no gun at all. Mine while IWB, totally disappears and feels like it weighs nothing. You don't even need a clipped holster for it. The included pocket holster suffices IWB. The smallest I had prior was an XDS and those are pretty small. No way can I wear that XDS with loose gym shorts and no belt. Too heavy. With the LCP, I can stick it in the waistband of my boxer briefs and it holds. If hypothetically I cannot print at all at work or I will lose my job, the concealability of an LCP compared to a Glock 43 for example is night and day.

And as shown above in the video, you can get hollow points to expand and go up to 15 inches with a hot Hornady XTP loaded by Underwood. Some cheap 9mm hollow points won't even penetrate that far.

You can also get hard cast bullets to go over 40 inches. Good for a jogger or a guy like @BDinPutnam who is walking the dog in his pajamas and just doesn't want to put on a belt and a holster. Look at the massive penetration below.