I have found that there is a fair amount of debate over this caliber being adequate for SD.
At the moment I am on the fence concerning this caliber for SD.
It seems in general FMJ may over penetrate and hollow point may not penetrate enough.
This is a discussion on The .380 round for SD within the Concealed Carry Issues & Discussions forums, part of the Defensive Carry Discussions category; What are your opinions on the .380 as your only round for self defense? Meaning all by itself....Not as a back up to a larger ...
What are your opinions on the .380 as your only round for self defense?
Meaning all by itself....Not as a back up to a larger caliber.
Rather than typing this all out i have found a article that is close to my feelings on it.
Not spot on but generally close....What says you?
https://www.activeresponsetraining.n...-defensive-use
I have found that there is a fair amount of debate over this caliber being adequate for SD.
At the moment I am on the fence concerning this caliber for SD.
It seems in general FMJ may over penetrate and hollow point may not penetrate enough.
Bond , James Bond
Go Pack Go
Don't try to get into my head there's barely enough room for me in there .
Sonic .
Interesting chart from JAMA
It came from this article. You can draw your own conclusions.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...rticle/2688536
About like carrying a standard pressure 38 Special?
I carried a Ruger 380 for a little while great pocket gun , but I always find my self returning to a j-frame
My wife who carries a Glock 43 or 19 , she did not like the recoil of lil Ruger 380 ...
Last edited by flh; August 7th, 2019 at 07:53 PM.
Go Pack Go
Don't try to get into my head there's barely enough room for me in there .
Sonic .
With the advancements in SD ammo today, IMO the 380 is sufficient to stop an attacker (although, I do carry my P365 - 9mm into WalMart). I certainly would not want to be shot with a Precision One 90 gr XTP JHP. No, it is not as powerful as a 44 magnum, but I'm not Dirty Harry and I have no desire to carry a cannon.
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SIG P365, Walther PPS 9mm, Ruger LCP ii; Wife's: Sig P238, LCP ii, Remington 11-87 20G
Even though I have not decided yet if I want to use .380 ACP as a formal SD round I still very much like my Beretta 84, Browning BDA-380, and CZ-83 pistols.
I think it’s fine.
The big question is what skill do you bring with your chosen platform/caliber. A lot of people are proud of what they carry, but the ability to use it, is where the power is.
" Blessed is that man, who when facing death, thinks only of his front sight.”
-Jeff Cooper
“ Looking around doesn’t cost you anything; and it’s a healthy habit”
-Joe Foss
I often carry a LCP w/ a spare magazine during our hot humid Gulf Coast summers. Is it ideal, no but I always have it with me, and it is better than my Glock 30 at the house! With .380's and snub nose .38's accuracy is key for effective use. I use the Browning 95 gr flat nose FMJ for adequate penetration. For my location and SD purposes I am confident in my choices. BTW, I do carry either my Shield or Glock 26 most of the time during cooler months.
Retired Police Lieutenant, Former UH-1N Huey & MH-53 Pave Low Gunner, Retired USAF Reserve, Glock Armorer, AL Retired LEO CPP, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor, LEOSA Qualified, Active FOP Executive Board Member
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Phil 4:13
I keep mine loaded with two different kinds of SD ammo.
Retired (traveling and loving it!)
Member NRA
Served in U.S.A.F.(jet engine mechanic)
Kel-Tec P3AT
Don't Leave Home Without It!
If you look up the Ammoquest YouTube channel, you can see probably the most extensive tests of .380 ammo out of a small auto. It tested a bunch of brands. That study followed the FBI ballistics report protocol. It found three brands of .380 ammo met the FBI criteria. They all used the Hornaday XTP bullet. The best of the bunch was made by a small manufacturer, Precision One. That's what I carry.
Attack Squadron 65 "Tigers", USS Eisenhower '80 - '83, peackeeping w/Iran, Libya, Lebanon and E. Europe
I have graduated from reading the drivel of gunwriters. The vast majority are paid by someone to trumpet snake oil. It has been that way for better than 50 years now.
Anyway...I don't understand the question here. Is there some legislation that would limit you to only one gun and that must be a 380?
Beyond any of that, the only issue I see is inside of 10 yards, which eye do you want me to shoot out?
BTW I have started carrying a spare mag loaded with Extreme Penetrators or Defenders here:
https://www.underwoodammo.com/collec...tridge_380-acp
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has limits."