But the results for the .380 through a Ruger LCP:
Critcal defense ...................774 fps (disappointing!)
This is my WHOLE problem with the 380
People use it for CCW, getting their TINY pocket guns, guns that dont give anywhere near the performance that the FBI standards set. (or even manufactures listed performance, because the manufacturer used a gun with a longer barrel to capture data) that they will probably not be able to draw from deep in their pocket in many bad situations, thinking it is a great round because other people buy it
If I was enamored with the 380, where I had to use it, I would get it in a full size pistol, so that the bullet has a decent chance to get up to speed.
If you are taking it to the range to have fun with, thats one thing, if it is a BUG, I get that
But to me, (As I said before, my opinion counts for less than .02)if you are going out in the world, where you MIGHT have to use the thing, where you may be protecting your family, where a bad guy may also actually be armed, AND possibly bullets coming back at me, I want a bullet that performs a little better and does a little more damage than the underperforming 380
its a free country, you get to choose, but to me, the 9mm is the minimum bullet these days, if I want to stay semi auto. As you mentioned, there are some significant improvement in 38s these days as well. (Maybe a pocket carry in 38, if someone was enamored with pocket carry)
The bullet performance comes from speed, expansion, penetration, and energy.
If you compare bullets the best 9mm gives 70- 80% better performance than a comparable 380. That is significant.
I personally IWB carry a HST 40, which is an improvement over that
Again, there is no magic bullet. Counting on perfect, speed of glacier, accurate, range shooting to make sure the tiny bullet gets to the CNS could be problematic if the need arose. I think we ALL would be poorer performers with the stress. A NEAR MISS bullet could be all we get
Good luck with the choices.