.380/9x18 Accuracy?

H

Higgins

New member
I've never shot any of the .380/9x18 pistols out there. I've always stuck with 9x19 and .45. So, I need some people with experience (and opinions) to help me out.

Are the .380/9x18 pistols very accurate? Seems to me that their barrels tend to be shorter than most 9mm/.45's (except the more compact versions), which would limit accuracy. However, most of the .380/9x18 pistols have fixed barrels, which would improve accuracy.

Anyone with any experience shooting .380/9x18 have any thoughts on their accuracy compared to their bigger brother 9mm/.45's?
 
While I haven't had target grade accuracy from my .380's, they have proven accuracy of 1"-2" groups at 25 yards. This coming from Walther PP and PPK/S. One problem with smaller guns that shoot .380 and 9x18 are the sights. I think most of these guns are designed for up close and personal work, so the sights haven't ever been made that well. And possibly, due to the fact that these guns are small its harder to put target grade sights on them. I don't know....just my opinion.

P99
 
9MAK ACCURACY

ACCURACY IS EITHER BUILT INTO THE PISTOL, OR IT IS NOT.
That being said I saw Bud McDonald take my EG 9mak with white box SPEER ammo and start picking off all the cans and trash on a 100 yard backstop in Buena Vista, Colorado in the very early '90's.
AIN'T NUTTIN IRRITATES ME MORE THAN A PAL OUTSHOOTIN' ME WITH MY OWN DAMN GUN AND AMMO!!!
They delight in doin' it too.
They tell me it's so easy it ain't fun anymore....
 
380 Accuracy

I have 2 semi's in the 380 caliber, Both have fixed barrels and shoot very accurate. I was very surprised how accurate my wife's bersa was.

Hope this helps,

Tony Z
 
The fixed barrels on the straight-blowback actions really have shown me that the .380 and the Mak round are quite accurate. One-hole groups at 30 feet.
 
Higgins-

You probably allready know this, but I shall post it in case there is confusion: .380 Auto and 9x18 MAkarov are NOT the same round.

I have found the 9x18 Mak cartridge to be very accurate when fired from a good tight Bulgie Mak. This does vary widely by brand of ammo, though, with Norinco being pure sh|t. Hope this helps!
 
Yeah, I'm aware the .380 and 9x18 are different. Actually, I think the .380 is 9x17mm, also known as a Browning Short cartridge.

Anyway, I mentioned the two together because they tend to be the highest power cartridges one finds in simple blowback/fixed barrel pistols.

I know the old rule is that anything smaller than 9x19mm is too small a calibre for a defensive pistol, but I'm wondering if the small drop off in power/energy from 9x19 to say .380 or 9x18 Mak is acceptable if (big if here) pistols using the lower power ammo offer improved accuracy due to fixed barrels. I know lots of police agencies around the world relied on the .380 for a long time and some maybe still do so.

So, I guess my question is whether the .380/9 Mak are good defensive cartridges? And as corollary, do the fixed barrel/simple blowback pistols that shoot these cartidges offer better accuracy than compact 9mms so as to justify the loss in power/energy?
 
.380 Accuracy

I just took a concealed carry class and used my Bersa clone to shoot the required targets at the required distances and my groups were much tighter than the guys shooting the .45 cannons, not to mention I was able to shoot for about 1/4 the price of those guys, and with 1/4 the recoil! You can't beat .380! At least that's my opinion.......

I definitly think .380 is accurate, especially the Bersa's and Bersa clones.
 
Higgins........

The police in Germany still carry the .380, so unless Americans have a tougher skin than the Germans, the .380 is plenty for personal defense.
 
brandon--

you must've been shooting with some pretty lame shooters that don't go shopping very often.

1/4 the price of the ammo??

1/4 the accuracy of a .45.

i've got a nice .380. no way i'm going to a target match with it instead of a 1911. that dog won't hunt...

the only way you can buy four boxes of .380 ammo for one of .45 is if somebody didn't come by their supply of .380 honestly.
 
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