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380 or 38 Special for pocket carry. Pick one.
- Thread starter CDW4ME
- Start date
christcorp
New member
Hmmm, real difficult choice. NOT!!!
Let's see. Buy 38 special just about anyplace. Quite available. $14-$18 a box. Be able to practice all I want. Possibly even make it a 357mag revolver just in case I wanted a 2nd caliber to shoot.
Or
Look all over town for 380. MAYBE find some. Possibly find some defensive ammo for about $25-$30. If I'm lucky, I might find some plinking ammo for $20-$22 a box. Practice rarely because of the lack and price of ammo.
Hmmmm. Which one should I get??? Do I really have to answer that. Years ago, when the 380 ammo wasn't an issue, it had it's place. It was a semi-auto for those who didn't like revolvers. The ammo was the same price as 9mm and 32acp. It didn't kick quite as much as 9mm; however the 380 was usually in a smaller gun so the kick increased. But, the concealability was better. 9mm Mak wasn't too available. So yes, the 380 was definitely a viable choice.
Today: 32acp, 9mm mak, and 9mm are all less expensive. More ammo technology has made the 32acp almost as powerful. In some ammo, MORE powerful. 9mm mak is very available, pistols are cheaper and great military quality, and ammo is really cheap. Plus, many of the guns are about as small as the 380's and 32acp. More 9mm luger have gotten smaller. That ammo is definitely available and cheaper. Personally, if I didn't own a 380, there is absolutely nothing that could convince me to get a gun in that caliber. Especially considering how many of the guns are the same size chambered in 9mm. There is nothing logical about getting a 380. A 38spl is definitely a better choice. If you really think that a revolver is not a good self defense gun, and you can't get over the bad information someone convinced you about, then there are plenty of other options in the semi-auto world besides a 380. Right now, the 380 is the LAST caliber I'd buy. Well, maybe not the last. There are other "FOO FOO" calibers that have less use like the 45gap, 357sig, and the 10mm. Outside of those and a couple others, the 380 is definitely at the bottom of the list of calibers to buy. There's just nothing logical about it.
Let's see. Buy 38 special just about anyplace. Quite available. $14-$18 a box. Be able to practice all I want. Possibly even make it a 357mag revolver just in case I wanted a 2nd caliber to shoot.
Or
Look all over town for 380. MAYBE find some. Possibly find some defensive ammo for about $25-$30. If I'm lucky, I might find some plinking ammo for $20-$22 a box. Practice rarely because of the lack and price of ammo.
Hmmmm. Which one should I get??? Do I really have to answer that. Years ago, when the 380 ammo wasn't an issue, it had it's place. It was a semi-auto for those who didn't like revolvers. The ammo was the same price as 9mm and 32acp. It didn't kick quite as much as 9mm; however the 380 was usually in a smaller gun so the kick increased. But, the concealability was better. 9mm Mak wasn't too available. So yes, the 380 was definitely a viable choice.
Today: 32acp, 9mm mak, and 9mm are all less expensive. More ammo technology has made the 32acp almost as powerful. In some ammo, MORE powerful. 9mm mak is very available, pistols are cheaper and great military quality, and ammo is really cheap. Plus, many of the guns are about as small as the 380's and 32acp. More 9mm luger have gotten smaller. That ammo is definitely available and cheaper. Personally, if I didn't own a 380, there is absolutely nothing that could convince me to get a gun in that caliber. Especially considering how many of the guns are the same size chambered in 9mm. There is nothing logical about getting a 380. A 38spl is definitely a better choice. If you really think that a revolver is not a good self defense gun, and you can't get over the bad information someone convinced you about, then there are plenty of other options in the semi-auto world besides a 380. Right now, the 380 is the LAST caliber I'd buy. Well, maybe not the last. There are other "FOO FOO" calibers that have less use like the 45gap, 357sig, and the 10mm. Outside of those and a couple others, the 380 is definitely at the bottom of the list of calibers to buy. There's just nothing logical about it.
IMHO, there's really no reason to carry a .380 when similar sized weapons are available in 9mm ... I carry a Kahr PM-9, which shoots a more potent round than the .380 and fits easily into cargo shorts pockets ... I have a j-frame which I occasionally carry, but the 9 is with me most of the time ... I might consider a Sig p238, but only because I enjoy the 1911 and that's the closest you can come in .380 ... not running down anybody's choices, I know the .380 has become very popular, but it's not for me ...
Yep. That's my take on it. Thus, I carry a KelTec PF-9. Why carry a .380 when you can carry a 9mm? I consider the few ounces of weight difference to be worth it. Why carry a 5 shot .38 Spl when you can carry a 8 shot 9mm in a similar size package, and get as good or better per-shot performance in the process?IMHO, there's really no reason to carry a .380 when similar sized weapons are available in 9mm
I disagree.
It all depends upon one's comfort requirements. Some folks carry 2 pounds of steel all day. I'm a serious discomfort avoider so I carry a P3AT. I haven't seen any 9MM as thin or light. I pocket carry that thing 24/7, everywhere; it's almost like having a Zippo in your pocket. If you never want to be inconvenienced by your gun, get a P3AT. While the LCP's slide is a little thicker and the grip is a lot thicker, the LCP is really small, too. There are some little 9MMs around, like Kel-Tec's, but they're bigger and thicker. I haven't yet seen any 9MM the same size as these two .380s. If it's out there, I suspect it'll also cost a bunch more.
In general:
I love .38SPL & S&W K-frames, my favorite caliber in my favorite gun. I reload .38SPL and can shoot 'em pretty well. Any .38SPL S&W revolver just makes me smile. Nevertheless, even those little J-frames are too fat for my pocket. I do understand that others may feel differently.
It all depends upon one's comfort requirements. Some folks carry 2 pounds of steel all day. I'm a serious discomfort avoider so I carry a P3AT. I haven't seen any 9MM as thin or light. I pocket carry that thing 24/7, everywhere; it's almost like having a Zippo in your pocket. If you never want to be inconvenienced by your gun, get a P3AT. While the LCP's slide is a little thicker and the grip is a lot thicker, the LCP is really small, too. There are some little 9MMs around, like Kel-Tec's, but they're bigger and thicker. I haven't yet seen any 9MM the same size as these two .380s. If it's out there, I suspect it'll also cost a bunch more.
In general:
I love .38SPL & S&W K-frames, my favorite caliber in my favorite gun. I reload .38SPL and can shoot 'em pretty well. Any .38SPL S&W revolver just makes me smile. Nevertheless, even those little J-frames are too fat for my pocket. I do understand that others may feel differently.
Last edited:
Legionnaire
New member
LCP in an Alessi pocket holster is my "always" gun. Sometimes carry an SP101 IWB either in addition to or in lieu of the LCP.
If there is a 9mm as light as a P3AT, I don't think I wanna shoot it. Shooting the P3AT is like having a "ladyfinger" firecracker go off in my hand.I haven't seen any 9MM as thin or light. I pocket carry that thing 24/7, everywhere; it's almost like having a Zippo in your pocket. If you never want to be inconvenienced by your gun, get a P3AT.
(The truly amazing thing is, the first time I shot it was at 50' in poor lighting, and even with the guns tiny awful sights I kept all 7 shots inside the outermost ring of a standard bullseye target. About half of them were in the black)
shooter1911
New member
When I can't carry my Colt Defender, I carry a 340PD loaded with Speer 135gr SB 357s or the same bullet in 38+p in my pocket.
ursavus.elemensis
New member
A buddy of mine had a Sig P232 (.380) a while ago. I could barely get through one mag of ammo. It was so harsh in my hands, I know that I'd never practice with that kind of gun nearly enough to be confident carrying it. With my S&W J-frame 642, I can shoot 200 rounds of .38 Special in an afternoon at the range, and not have any pain/discomfort. I carry that gun with a lot more confidence than I'd ever carry a .380
I have Crimson Trace laser grips on my S&W 642 and I can shoot it relatively well.
For carry, I always use a belt pack, with home made belt clips that clips it onto my belt (so there's no "fanny pack" straps or anything like that). The belt clips are kydex and I affixed them to an Uncle Mike's original belt pack. I can put it on or take it off my belt anytime. I just bought some new steel belt clips and a bunch of Chicago screws to make another one using steel belt clips. I did have one of the kydex clips break once when I was taking it off my belt. I replaced that broken clip with a new kydex clip and that one remains secure, but I want to try making one with steel belt clips. I've never had anyone ask me what is in my belt pack, and it is small enough and flat enough against my waist that it really doesn't stand out much at all, even with shorts. I use a Wilderness Instructor belt.
I have Crimson Trace laser grips on my S&W 642 and I can shoot it relatively well.
For carry, I always use a belt pack, with home made belt clips that clips it onto my belt (so there's no "fanny pack" straps or anything like that). The belt clips are kydex and I affixed them to an Uncle Mike's original belt pack. I can put it on or take it off my belt anytime. I just bought some new steel belt clips and a bunch of Chicago screws to make another one using steel belt clips. I did have one of the kydex clips break once when I was taking it off my belt. I replaced that broken clip with a new kydex clip and that one remains secure, but I want to try making one with steel belt clips. I've never had anyone ask me what is in my belt pack, and it is small enough and flat enough against my waist that it really doesn't stand out much at all, even with shorts. I use a Wilderness Instructor belt.