.38 vs. .380 The battle of the mouseguns!

gregarat · February 4th, 2006, 07:38 PM

What do you think would be a better man stopper? The .38spl+p from a 2", or a .380 from a Walther style handgun?

Heres another question for the .380.
Would I be better off using ball or, hp?
I thought ball might be better cause it penetrates more than HP, without over penetration.

Redneck Repairs · February 4th, 2006, 07:54 PM

round for round i feel that 38sp +p would be the better stopper, that being said I will still carry my walther ppks over any snub revolver because i am both more accurate and faster shooting with it . Reloads are a lot simpler with auto , and i carry ball ammo in it . i look at it as a mousegun that works because of the accuracy , a fiew shots in the face will buy time to leave the area , i wouldnt consider it a decisive stopper tho as far as killing trama goes. personaly i would say pickup a subcompact 9mm and stoke it with +p or +p+ and you will be better off

gregarat · February 4th, 2006, 08:02 PM

Quote:

personally i would say pickup a subcompact 9mm and stoke it with +p or +p+ and you will be better off

Oh yeah a 9mm is way better, no doubt. I was just curious about the .38 vs .380. I realize that neither is a real manstopper.

QKShooter · February 4th, 2006, 08:17 PM

What do you think would be a better man stopper?

Neither....so pick one or the other.

P95Carry · February 4th, 2006, 08:22 PM

Ahhh - the calibers

I would elect to have 38+P over .380 but - I have to ''defend'' .380 just a bit because it's all wife has right now - her choice! I leave her loaded with just std 95 FMJ's - feeling that it is unlikely with this load that HP's will do too much that is more useful - particularly where clothing gets in the way.

But as usual we have to mention shot placment - meaning that say, 2 well placed .380's could very easily outdo 2 badly placed 38 +P's. We have to remember that the .380 (9x17) is really just a pipsqueek 9mm - it cannot really be any more.

Add to that a +P 38 delivering a 158 - well - to some extent - no contest!!

Euclidean · February 4th, 2006, 08:37 PM

If Smith and Wesson ever brought back their I frame and made it in 9mm (it would fit) this debate would end pretty quick. I side with .38 Special FWIW. The Gold Dot short barrel loads are not to be dismissed.

Stephen A. Camp · February 4th, 2006, 10:30 PM

Hello. If interested, here are my thoughts on this question:

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/3...alor380acp.htm

Best.

P95Carry · February 4th, 2006, 10:51 PM

Hoorah for Mr Camp - I remember now that info - more than well worth a peek.

Thx Steve.

artz · February 4th, 2006, 11:11 PM

I have both. a colt mustang and a taurus 85 ultralight, and I like both.
At the moment in the .38, I have corbons in her. (can't exactly remember what grain...).
The .380 is stuffed with a 6 stack of Federal 90 GR. hydra-shoks.
I thought of alternate rounds of a hydro-shok, then a 95 GR. FMJ.
What you guys think of that ?

Redneck Repairs · February 4th, 2006, 11:18 PM

Artz i really dont think it matters much , expantion may well be dicey with a .380 , that is why i just went with ball and would only consider it an egress or bob ( back off bi*ch ) option , it will serve but it isnt optimal . i have carried it as primairy on many occations due to convience of the pistol , not because i considered it a good stopper , that being said it beats hell outa a stern look and harsh words.

February 4th, 2006, 07:38 PM	#1
gregarat Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Central NYS Posts: 856	.38 vs. .380 The battle of the mouseguns! What do you think would be a better man stopper? The .38spl+p from a 2", or a .380 from a Walther style handgun? Heres another question for the .380. Would I be better off using ball or, hp? I thought ball might be better cause it penetrates more than HP, without over penetration.

February 4th, 2006, 08:22 PM	#5
P95Carry Assistant Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South West PA Posts: 25,339	Ahhh - the calibers I would elect to have 38+P over .380 but - I have to ''defend'' .380 just a bit because it's all wife has right now - her choice! I leave her loaded with just std 95 FMJ's - feeling that it is unlikely with this load that HP's will do too much that is more useful - particularly where clothing gets in the way. But as usual we have to mention shot placment - meaning that say, 2 well placed .380's could very easily outdo 2 badly placed 38 +P's. We have to remember that the .380 (9x17) is really just a pipsqueek 9mm - it cannot really be any more. Add to that a +P 38 delivering a 158 - well - to some extent - no contest!! __________________ Chris - P95 NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member. "To own a gun and assume that you are armed is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!." If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

February 4th, 2006, 08:37 PM	#6
Euclidean VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 3,213	If Smith and Wesson ever brought back their I frame and made it in 9mm (it would fit) this debate would end pretty quick. I side with .38 Special FWIW. The Gold Dot short barrel loads are not to be dismissed. __________________ I am The Armed Educator.

February 4th, 2006, 10:30 PM	#7
Stephen A. Camp Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 404	Hello. If interested, here are my thoughts on this question: http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/3...alor380acp.htm Best. __________________ Drop by www.hipowersandhandguns.com and http://hipowers-handguns.blogspot.com/

February 4th, 2006, 10:51 PM	#8
P95Carry Assistant Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South West PA Posts: 25,339	Hoorah for Mr Camp - I remember now that info - more than well worth a peek. Thx Steve. __________________ Chris - P95 NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member. "To own a gun and assume that you are armed is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!." If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

February 4th, 2006, 07:54 PM	#2
Redneck Repairs VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 5,064	round for round i feel that 38sp +p would be the better stopper, that being said I will still carry my walther ppks over any snub revolver because i am both more accurate and faster shooting with it . Reloads are a lot simpler with auto , and i carry ball ammo in it . i look at it as a mousegun that works because of the accuracy , a fiew shots in the face will buy time to leave the area , i wouldnt consider it a decisive stopper tho as far as killing trama goes. personaly i would say pickup a subcompact 9mm and stoke it with +p or +p+ and you will be better off

February 4th, 2006, 08:17 PM	#4
QKShooter Assistant Administrator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Runthegun, USA Posts: 18,776	What do you think would be a better man stopper? Neither....so pick one or the other.

February 4th, 2006, 11:11 PM	#9
artz VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 2,008	I have both. a colt mustang and a taurus 85 ultralight, and I like both. At the moment in the .38, I have corbons in her. (can't exactly remember what grain...). The .380 is stuffed with a 6 stack of Federal 90 GR. hydra-shoks. I thought of alternate rounds of a hydro-shok, then a 95 GR. FMJ. What you guys think of that ?

February 4th, 2006, 11:18 PM	#10
Redneck Repairs VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 5,064	Artz i really dont think it matters much , expantion may well be dicey with a .380 , that is why i just went with ball and would only consider it an egress or bob ( back off bi*ch ) option , it will serve but it isnt optimal . i have carried it as primairy on many occations due to convience of the pistol , not because i considered it a good stopper , that being said it beats hell outa a stern look and harsh words.

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