.380acp or 38 Special, Which.........

Rob96

New member
I love reading everyones opinions and was wondering what your answer to this would be. Which are you better off armed with, a .380acp with a 3" barrel or a 38sp snub nosed revolver?
 
They are close enough to being equivalent that determining which one is better will be mission (or user) specific. I feel confident saying that you are better armed with a 380 ACP or a 38 sp snub nose than without.

TB., NC
 
The 38 can throw (my) 158g LSWC-HP's; the 380 is limited to the (excellent) R-P 102g GS.

My wife carries a 38 snub.

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"All my ammo is factory ammo"
 
There have been a couple of good trends on this very topic not too long ago. If you're talking about bullet for bullet (or ALMOST bullet for bullet), then you are MUCH better armed with a .38 special. However, if we're talking about one of the higher capacity pistols (such as 8 or 9 rounders -- Browning even use to make a 14 rounder and Beretta still offers such a model), then I would pick the .380ACP over the .38 special. The increased extra rounds (from a fuller-size pistol) and better accuracy (due to the much lower recoil) will more than make up for any difference in stopping power between the two rounds.
Share what you know, learn what you don't -- FUD
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Has to be the 38.I don't care how many rounds the 380 has in the mag

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Age and deceit will overcome youth and speed.
I'm old and deceitful.
 
I like them both, but I would lean toward the .380 in the right pistol. I have a high cap .380 mak and I can shoot it much more accurately than a snub nose double action. Also I like the extra rounds if need be.
 
As far as I'm concerned they are very different rounds with different virtues. I carry a Colt Pony sometimes because it is much smaller than a J frame. .380's usually are flatter and easier to conceal. They also have a higher capacity. .38's the advantage of being launched from a revolver. Since titanium is available there is no significant weight difference. I like revolvers because they always work (almost) and semi-autos can be finicky, especially in short cartridges.

To stir things up, the revolver I usually carry is the J frame titanium .32 H&R mag, although I do have a .357 and a .38 +P. The .32 is potent with Georgia Arms 100 grain JHP at 1000 fps, yet the recoil is mild and it holds six rounds. My gun shoots exactly where it's aimed also.

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Mark
NRA member
 
If you're more comfortable with a semiauto, go for the .380. If you like a revolver, get the .38 SPL. For a small guns I prefer the revolver.

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Frank
 
I have both, and I consider both very good. However, I always choose the .380 because I am so much more accurate with it. (Colt Mustang Pocketlite vs. older model S&W Chief's Special)
On the other hand, my wife's carry pistol is a Taurus Total Ti in .38 Special. She is VERY accurate with it and has been from the time she first tried it. She's far more accurate with the .38 snub that me. I've often wondered why. No ammount of practice makes me better than her. She just empties the cylinder into the center ring of the target like it's the easiest thing in the world. I do note a sly grin sometimes.

E'ville: I have considered a .32 H&R magnum for some time. The only reason why I haven't bought one yet is availibility of ammunition. I do like Federal ammo though, and Federal makes a good hollow point in .32 H&R. What do you use?

Will

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Mendacity is the system we live in.
 
Why not .357 Magnum capable gun. Then when you can handle the .38 and .38+P .. you can work on controlling the .357. Of course, other factors may mitigate against the use in a snubby.
 
Hello. As has been mentioned, the thirty-eight is round for round more powerful than the .380ACP, but with many loads in each caliber, they're ballistically equivalent. Still, the best .38 loads will outperform the .380s. My decision which to tote would be the weapon with which I was most comfortable and could hit best with. In my case, it would be a J-frame airweight loaded with Federal 125 gr Nyclad HPs. My wife is very, very recoil sensitive and a new shooter. She does her very best with a Walther PP in .32ACP. This caliber falls behind either under discussion, but loaded with Hornady XTPs, it's better than nothing. More importantly, she can HIT with her little .32ACP. I will work her up the ladder at her own pace. Perhaps the thing to remember with either the .38 or the .380, one must "put the medicine where the pain is" to attain the desired effect. A center hit with a .380 JHP is likely going to be better than a periphreal hit with a .38 JHP. Best to all and I hope none of us has to find out.
 
I guess beings I am the one that started this topic i should chime in on what I carry. For now I am most comfortable carrying a Bersa 95. I am extremely accurate with this pistol. I too believe and have been trained to put the hot lead injection where it counts. No matter what gun you carry or what caliber it is the key is to achieve effective hits.
 
IMHO, the .38 still shines the brightest with heavier loads. The .380 can't push more than 95gr, IIRC. So, even with the lightest loads in .38, they're still heavier. Consider, too, the manner in which you carry it. The small .380s just cannot stand-up to days of ankle or pocket carry and remain reliable. I've shot my J-frame, literally covered with lint and dust, w/o a problem. Now, if the gun is in a belt holster, and less exposed, it's not so much of an issue. I'll stick with the .38. :)
 
I vote for .38spec. Can carry half again as much bullet weight at higher velocity.

J frames are great for some and a bugger for others. I like em. I have a 125gr load that is fast enough that I hold six oclock at a hundred yards, and hold the same at ten yards....bout 1200fps. And yes, you can dump the cylinder in bout a second and they are in about a four inch circle at 7yds. If you want bigger n slower, 158gr at bout 1000fps is very mild and would be very rough on bad guy with a fair amount of clothing.

Sam...my favorite 9mm is the 9X32R
 
Stephen, your wife sounds very much like mine. Put a Browning BDA380 (14-round capacity) in her hand and she can hit the X-ring at 25 YARDS. Give her a .38 special snubbie (or a 9mm pistol) and she can barely hit the target at 25 FEET! Holding down a full-time job and being a full-time parent, I really can't get her to practice any more than she already does. So, while I would prefer to have her back me up with something more powerful than a .380ACP, realistically it makes more sense for her to be armed with something that she can use effective. I completely agree with you ... <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>... A center hit with a .380 JHP is likely going to be better than a periphreal hit with a .38 JHP ...[/quote]Regards,
FUD
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Share what you know, learn what you don't.
 
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