Do you believe you can defend yourself with a 380 against the types of threats you foresee?
Yes
Do you believe you can defend yourself with a 380 against the types of threats you foresee?
You are not ready to carry a firearm. Sorry to be blunt.
KLCane - didn't you just post last week that you are new to shooting. You have a GP100 with about 200 rounds through it. Now you're about to get a carry permit.
Do yourself a favor [and everyone that's within a bullet's distance from you] get some training and experience before consider carrying a firearm in public. Carrying a firearm is a lifestyle change and huge responsibility. You are not ready to carry a firearm. Sorry to be blunt.
Do yourself a favor [and everyone that's within a bullet's distance from you] get some training and experience before consider carrying a firearm in public. Carrying a firearm is a lifestyle change and huge responsibility. You are not ready to carry a firearm. Sorry to be blunt.
Look, I did not want to start a political or philosophical discussion. I just wanted to get some differing opinions on a few firearms. This is certainly not my primary or even secondary source of information. I was hoping I could come here and get some differing opinions without a condescending lecture.
Thank you. Great advice.It’s the internet... while you’ll get people to help you out, that other side will always come out. A lot of people don’t see the difference between saying, “I would recommend a 9mm over a .380,” and “you must carry 9mm, never a .380!” Don’t discard the first, if they give evidence, but don’t take the second to heart. Unless they can demonstrate that they carry their larger gun religiously (nobody can over the internet), it isn’t really worth the bother.
When this shooting occurred, I was actually down in Florida (little bit north; Ocala). I had that pictured gun above (Ruger LCP), as well as my S&W 642-1 (converted to 9mm). The day after, I carried both on me... but the entire week down there, I had a gun on me (before and after the shooting). I was at a horse show, with a large amount of people present. I’m not really a fan of that, being the ease of large casualties in an attack... but can’t live life scared. Had to be there, legally allowed to carry... so that is what I did. I’m not fighting insurgents, or consciously going into harms way... a .380 is fine for visiting my fiancé, who is down at a horse show in Florida. I do prefer my J-frame, but with the temperature down there, I’m glad I had the pocket option.
Definitely carry the best gun for you, whether it means you are constrained by size/weight, or can carry a Desert Eagle. Having a gun is probably the biggest obstacle to overcome, since people like to put their standards down on others... if it is a .380, it is better than a .32. If it is a .32, it is better than a .25/.22. If it is a .25/.22, it is better than a pocket knife. But everyone here saying that they wouldn’t carry a .380 aren’t you. Get one, shoot a metric crap ton of FMJ to get proficient (will add, .380 is expensive; I moved to 9mm mostly for that), and then make sure your defensive loads function. If, in that time, you see a better option or dislike the .380, look elsewhere.
Can’t recommend anything else without more input from your end, but I do think you likely will prefer a .380. Whatever you decide, putting rounds down range is sort of a requirement in proficiency.
As I said, I don't want to get into a philosophical debate with you. I did NOT ask which gun I should buy. I asked what everyone's thoughts were on those particular guns. Big difference.KLCane - What I am saying to you is plain as day. I pray that someone close to you is telling you the same. Based on the fact that you've come to an online forum, asking about which gun to purchase and that you are a complete novice - you are not ready to carry a firearm.
I don't want you to shoot yourself, or worse, someone else based on your own admitted ignorance. There is no cheerleading or rah, rah of any specific caliber - nor has there been any suggestion of expert marksmanship. You sound like a child, reaching for straw-dog arguments. I've simply asked cogent question, which you have chosen to ignore. Your desire to carry a firearm is a knee-jerked reaction which puts everyone around you at risk.
Do I think YOU [personally] need some professional training? YES.
This has nothing to do with philosophy. It is about the safety of those innocent people around you [including yourself]. One of them may be my family member or friend.