how lethal is the .380 acp round?
- Thread starter 357 mag
- Start date
How lethal?!
'How lethal' is the same kind of question as 'how pregnant' or 'how dead'. There is no measure of quantity with these things.
Is the .380 an effective caliber for personal defense? It is by most measurements a marginal round IMO. It is much better than nothing though, and comes in weapons that are easily carried and concealed. This makes it a very good choice in some situations, I think...
'How lethal' is the same kind of question as 'how pregnant' or 'how dead'. There is no measure of quantity with these things.
Is the .380 an effective caliber for personal defense? It is by most measurements a marginal round IMO. It is much better than nothing though, and comes in weapons that are easily carried and concealed. This makes it a very good choice in some situations, I think...Powerful enough to punch holes in internal organs/blood vessels which makes it potentially lethal-same as an ice pick or 45 ACP. I've compared the 380HP to 9mm and 38Sp and found it less impressive than either. Despite the comparison, I sure won't volunteer to be shot with one.
There is a tendency for those interested in a particular hobby or sport to pontificate about the greatest "this" or the newest "that" and expound upon the smallest nuances of the hobby or sport. That's what we do here and I'm just as guilty of doing this as the next person.
Yes, the .380 is very lethal. Even the .22 is very lethal.
Yes, the .380 is very lethal. Even the .22 is very lethal.
Bill DeShivs
New member
Shot placement is everything with ANY handgun round!
I'm quite sure the effective range of the .380 is a lot more than 10-20 feet!
I'm quite sure the effective range of the .380 is a lot more than 10-20 feet!
Five years ago, I'd have agreed. However, the market for pocket-size automatics exploded a few years back, and with the exception of Glock, I can't think of a domestic manufacturer who isn't selling some iteration of the pocket .380.
Five years ago, I'd also have told someone to carry ball ammunition, as most .380 hollow-points had terrible penetration. The newer loads seem to have improved on that front.
357 mag: said:
If I take the intent of your question correctly, it relates to the .380's viability as an self-defense round. In that light, it is not lethality, but rather the round's (in)ability to produce incapacitation that is the issue.
It is generally held that such rounds (the .380 being a good example as well as the .32ACP, .25ACP etc.) lack the ability to produce enough penetration if a JHP is used and expands- meaning that one must then choose between penetration (FMJs) and expansion (JHPs).
Of course, different folks have varying preferences as for what constitutes desirable terminal ballistic performance in terms of expansion and penetration- some will find it (the .380) to be acceptable and some will not.
LockedBreech
New member
For a carry gun under 10oz that is notably smaller than all but the most exotic, expensive, lightly built micro-nines and has given me 1,000 rounds of flawless performance, the .380 is great for me. You literally can't see the Ruger LCP in my front jeans pocket. The pocket just bulges out slightly, at it would with a thin wallet.
Would I want .380 in a full-size nightstand pistol? Of course not. But too many people expect unrealistic things out of their carry pistols.
My .380 is powerful enough to cause hurt while I flee. If I do my part, it has enough oomph to put down a threat. That's all it's for.
Would I want .380 in a full-size nightstand pistol? Of course not. But too many people expect unrealistic things out of their carry pistols.
My .380 is powerful enough to cause hurt while I flee. If I do my part, it has enough oomph to put down a threat. That's all it's for.
I had a .380 S&W Sigma 3.5 inch barrel polymer a while back. Still wish I never parted.
I love the .380,.. it's a 9mm with less the amount of propellant.
Less muzzle flip. Too bad prices are a bit high.
You'd either be dead, or in an ICU if you were hit in any vital area
Don't listen so much to the bashing and/ or the hyping,....do your own testing, then make your conclusion.
I love the .380,.. it's a 9mm with less the amount of propellant.
Less muzzle flip. Too bad prices are a bit high.
You'd either be dead, or in an ICU if you were hit in any vital area
Don't listen so much to the bashing and/ or the hyping,....do your own testing, then make your conclusion.
peacefulgary
New member
Can the .380 be lethal?
Yes.
Can you rely upon it to QUICKLY STOP an aggressive human bent on causing you bodily harm?
No.
LockedBreech
New member
I'd argue you can't really rely on any handgun below .44 Mag to do that reliably. There have been countless stories of people surviving fusillades of 9 and .40, and even that officer who took a .45 to the face and still won.
The 380 has limits as does any handgun round. If you know those limits and train / think around those then it's a reasonable choice esp. In the "pocket gun" market.
There is a tendency to worst worst case everything when it comes to defensive caliber selection which quickly leads to the 380 being tossed out as no good. As others have mentioned if I had to face down some nut on bath salts I would much prefer a 12 gauge or 1911, however what I may well have is a 7 shot 380 due to it's size and ease of carry.
There is a tendency to worst worst case everything when it comes to defensive caliber selection which quickly leads to the 380 being tossed out as no good. As others have mentioned if I had to face down some nut on bath salts I would much prefer a 12 gauge or 1911, however what I may well have is a 7 shot 380 due to it's size and ease of carry.
Try to think of it this way - "rounds" don't really have "lethality". Well placed hits have lethality. If you can hit the central nervous system with a .22 LR then it no longers matters at all that you hit it with a .22 LR. instead of a 9mm or a .357. Shoot all you can afford to and develop your skills until they are automatic. Caliber is a very small part of the equation.