380 self protection...?

[Red Devil]

W/ good JHP ammo like the 90 gr. Gold Dot... bottom of the bucket, but still in there.

Puts a premium on Marksmanship... so practice. (a lot)

[pyromensch]

i use on occasion, my browning bda. given it has 13 rds, but i have the buffalo bore 100gr hard cast FP, that run 1100fps. it is less concealable than your colt, but has it's use.

[den888]

.380 auto would be the smallest caliber I would use for HD/SD.

[SilverTauron]

The caliber engraving on the barrel is irrelevant . Bad guys are stopped by shot placement, not the size of the bullet.

[sirgiles]

better than nothing.
if your concern is caliber, there is the s&w 500. even if you are behind the pistol, you will feel the concussion wave 10 feet away.

[stix213]

Not as good as 9mm

Better than nothing

My LUCC pistol is a .380, and is carried out of state.

For home protection though, where size isn't as critical, I'd go 9mm or better.

[a1fabweld]

Remingtom 102 grain Golden Sabre's & good shot placement is my recipe.

[artoaster]

It'll work in many cases it's just that the percentages for successfully stopping someone intent on murdering you change for the worse.

[XDRoX]

[JustEd]

That small frame and quick sharp recoil can cause them to jam if you are not holding the weapon correctly. Try to get a lot of practice with it including clearing jams.

[Jcastaneda1105]

I have a 380 for HD loaded with the Glaser Blue tip ammo as well as Hornady HP. Haven't had to use it, and hope I never do. Looking at a second HD gun and possibly going for a Tauraus 85. On sale at Turners for $300 right now.. going to need to think about that one.

[drifter2be]

i have acquired a colt 380 and wondered what the CG tribe thought of this round for self-protection....I have always been proponent of a 9mm/.38 as the minimum caliber for self protection....

Thanks for your input,
Cutter

The first thing you need to realize, when asking questions like this, is less than half the people on calguns even carry, and the percentage of people that reply these threads that have permits is even less. I have a feeling that a high percentage of the people on CG that talk crap on the .380acp as a defensive round do not have a carry permit/have never carried a handgun for self-defense. No caliber short of a 12 gauge with a slug is going to absolutely guarantee you as one shot stop, not even the highly venerated .45acp

Personally, I trust .380acp to get the job done, I used to carry a KelTec P32, so the .380 PPK I use for pocket carry is a step up from that. Once you have proven your gun to be reliable with the ammunition you are feeding it, it really comes down to your personal accuracy, and how comfortable it is to carry, because carrying something that isn't comfortable will tempt you to leave it at home. With .380 what I used to do is carry a mag of hollow points and a backup mag of ball. Now what I do is carry my mags staggered with ball and hollow point ammo. That way if the first two rounds of critical defense aren't getting the job done, the next to rounds of 100gr FMJ should penetrate a lot better.

Granted my PPK isn't my first choice for carry, but there are times that my PPS being carried IWB isn't as practical as throwing my PPK into my pocket. At a minimum I am armed at all times. I suspect that none of the guys talking crap on the .380 as a defensive round would have the balls to try to attack someone they knew was carrying one...just sayin'

[chrisf]

+++1 Yup before the 9mm and 45 fans jump in.Those cals aren't death rays you still need shot placement.Stagger fmj and hp if you are worried about penetration.BB bore makes some hot ammo that compares to the 38 ballistics.

You failed to mention the .40 fanboys (myself) get a fotay!

[Matt P]

The first thing you need to realize, when asking questions like this, is less than half the people on calguns even carry, and the percentage of people that reply these threads that have permits is even less. I have a feeling that a high percentage of the people on CG that talk crap on the .380acp as a defensive round do not have a carry permit/have never carried a handgun for self-defense. No caliber short of a 12 gauge with a slug is going to absolutely guarantee you as one shot stop, not even the highly venerated .45acp

Personally, I trust .380acp to get the job done, I used to carry a KelTec P32, so the .380 PPK I use for pocket carry is a step up from that. Once you have proven your gun to be reliable with the ammunition you are feeding it, it really comes down to your personal accuracy, and how comfortable it is to carry, because carrying something that isn't comfortable will tempt you to leave it at home. With .380 what I used to do is carry a mag of hollow points and a backup mag of ball. Now what I do is carry my mags staggered with ball and hollow point ammo. That way if the first two rounds of critical defense aren't getting the job done, the next to rounds of 100gr FMJ should penetrate a lot better.

Granted my PPK isn't my first choice for carry, but there are times that my PPS being carried IWB isn't as practical as throwing my PPK into my pocket. At a minimum I am armed at all times. I suspect that none of the guys talking crap on the .380 as a defensive round would have the balls to try to attack someone they knew was carrying one...just sayin'

One of the better efforts to interject some sense into another cartridge debate.
I would also ask of those who have promoted this or that cartridge how many of them have actually used it in lawful self defense of themselves or another?
Having carried a firearm duty LE/Off work/CCW/firearms instructor for maybe 20 years and having never shot anyone, I can say that having a firearm WITH YOU will always be more important.
9-10 times mere presentation will be enough to make the problem go away.
The magical one shot stop will be much more of an issue of luck then the cartridge you are armed with.
Find an handgun sized so that you always can carry it. That teeny tiny handgun and cartridge will always be better on you than the perfect defensive sized handgun that is just too big to wear with everything.
When will you need a handgun for self defense?
We normally do not know as someone else may dictate that need for us and at a time when we least expect it.
All we can do is be PREPARED for it.
Gauge your needs for cartridge and sized handgun based on how many times you have needed to fight with it.
Oh..... Never been in one of those?... No worries. Get anything on you. That alone will be the overwhelming majority of your success in surviving a possible fight for your life.
I suggest 90% of your success in a fight for your life will come from how well you are armed in that thing on your shoulders. Your brain.
Equip yourself with a dedicated mindset to survive no matter what. Always look to run away/get away (If no family to protect) before hanging out and fighting it out.
Check out Jeff Coopers Color Code of Mental Awareness........

Cause knowing is half the battle!!

All the above just my opinion...

[oddjob]

I think most folks will agree the .380 is on the lower end of the "carry scale". Just know the limitations of the cartridge and the shooting platform (gun). I carry 95 grain ball ammo (Rem or W-W). I have shot into ballistic gel and ball penetrates better than the JHP's (I was a LEO rangemaster for 27 years). I also found most JHP's just don't have the "umph" to expand reliably and thus become ball ammo anyways. I decided to stay with ball more for reliability in my guns than penetration to be honest. I shot the gel back 8 years ago or so. I know newer/better ammo has appeared since, but I haven't shot any yet.

Most street thugs will turn and run at the sight of a gun let alone getting a round (or two) fired at them. These are the suspects you are more likely to meet. It will probably be at least two to three suspects. Look at videos of different robberies where people have shot back. The suspects don't stick around. I know an officer who carries a Beretta 32 acp Tomcat off duty. He likes it because its easy to carry and so he will carry it. He lives in an area that gets hot and wears a T-shirt and shorts most of the time. I asked him about the .32 and he told me his plan is to fire and run (suspect in one direction and him the other!). My point is if a smaller .380 allows you to carry then by all means use it. Its better than harsh language! Nothing wrong with running away either!

Shot placement is tougher than it seems. Remember your target will probably be moving (and maybe shooting) and so will you. The odds of you having a full on 90 degree shot is slim.

Just a FYI...I carry a Colt Goverment .380 in a DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster most of the time. It fits the way I dress and my life style. I plan to bump up to a 9mm, but haven't decided which one yet.

Good Luck!