Small .380 semi-auto VS small .38 Special revolver

If you like Doc's revolver, be advised that, unfortunately, Colt hasn't made this gun for decades. But the Colt Cobra (or its near twin, the Agent) is my carry snub of choice and the good thing is they can be found readily at most gun shows, selling for under $500.00 in excellent condition.
The Cobra/Agent snubbies have many advantages: Light weight (they weigh no more than a Smith Airweight @ 16 ounces); six shot capacity (one more round than the Airweight but, as mentioned, weighing the same); excellent trigger pull, both da and sa; fine workmanship and finish and high resale potential. Drawbacks are mainly two: It is becoming harder and harder to find people competent to work on all Colt revolvers and the use of +p ammunition in most Colt alloy frame revolvers should be kept to a minimum.
They are worth looking for!
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I had a Colt Agent that I sold around 30 years ago and I still regret it, maybe someday I'll find one at a gun show.
 
No offense but I think its time to take some Self Defense firearm courses. When looking for a SD firearm you should not be thinking what looks the most badass because I wana scare the bageesers out of them. Every confrontation you get into you cant just pull out your gun and brandish it thinking "hey I didnt shoot him but the gun scared him off". If you pull your firearm intend to use it and make sure the situation calls for it.
 
I've owned a S&W 42 for years and considered it my pocket gun. I have two problems with it, I am not very accurate with it even after years of use. Also, I tended not to carry it if wearing tight jeans or summer shorts as it would often print. I bought a Body Guard 380 and it fits my needs much better. I shoot it much more accurately than the J frame, and it conceals much more easily. I have big hands and tried a friends LCP 380 but for some reason I couldn't control it as well. The BG 380 fits me very well. I also like the restrike capability and the slide hold back.
Years ago I learned a lesson in stopping power of different rounds. I was perched on the side of a mountain the night before the opening of Mountain goat season (I had a permit). There was another fellow in camp with me who was shooting a 300 Weaterby mag and was very concerned because I was shooting a 308. He was certain that my gun was not powerful enough because goats are very strong with impervious nervous systems. He was right, they are. The next day I shot a nice billy with one shot. It went right down in its tracks and slid about 10 feet down the mountain. A couple of hours later i was sitting on a ridge with my goat on my back (needed a breather) when I heard him shoot. I looked across the mountain and saw the goat he had shot running, dragging a leg. 5 shots and 200 yards later that goat launched off a cliff and ended up 1/2 mile lower down the mountain litterally pulverized. The lesson learned is that it's not what you hit them with, but where you hit them. I shoot the BG 380 very well, I carry the BG 380.
 
One thing I forget to mention is pulling your gun out to scare someone and not shooting it immediately puts you in danger of having your gun taken away.

I forget the correct distance buy I remember reading that and attacker can cover a distance of 20 feet??? (more or less just a guess) and take away your gun before you can shoot him.

If anyone I know has asked my advice about carrying a gun the first thing I ask is if they are mentally able to end someone's life. If you can't do that you are better off not owning a gun or at least not pulling it out until you are prepared to shoot it.
 
With equal training and practice, a revolver being reloaded with a "speedloader" will never be as fast or as easy to do as inserting a magazine (even one as small as some .380 mags are) into a semi-auto with the slide locked back is.
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I think this guy will disagree with you 12 shots accurate shot all hitting the target from a 6 shot revolver in under 3 seconds
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Not to take anything away from Mr. Miculek's extraordinary feat, he was using six round "moonclips" in a revolver set up with recessed chambers to accomodate same, not a conventional speedloader.
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He's also Jerry Fricking Miculek. You aren't Jerry Miculek. I'm not either. He's a professional shooter and a world record holder. He spends all his time training to do what he does. He shoots fifty thousand rounds a year.

Most of us have day jobs. You can't just skip the "with equal training and practice" clause in front of that first statement. Not and have any analysis worth applying to the average shooter.
 
@Dragline, re-read some of my posts. And to have a CCW permit in Ohio, you have to take 12 hours of classes. I intend to defend my self when the situation arises. I've had escalation of force drilled into my head for years. Its a hard habit to break. I defend myself my way, you defend yourself your way.

@Silvercorvette, its 7 yards in 1.5 seconds. The Tueller drill is a good demonstration of this.

Being ABLE to take someones life is no longer the issue. WANTING to is. I don't WANT to. And if you do WANT to, then you shouldn't be carrying.
 
I forget the correct distance buy I remember reading that and attacker can cover a distance of 20 feet??? (more or less just a guess) and take away your gun before you can shoot him.
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Before I retired back in 1998, our last few training sessions included the relatively recent "findings" that it is possible for a knife wielding adversary to close the twenty feet or so distance between you and him in two seconds or less. The point being made was that if a person was armed "only" with a blade but was threatening to kill you with it at a distance of twenty feet or less, you would be justified in shooting him.

I don't mean to put words in your mouth but I'm thinking this is what was meant by the "study" you referenced. If you think about it, you'd have to be shooting a matchlock pistol before someone could run the twenty feet or so and snatch your gun from you before you could fire it. Either that or you'd have to be a pacifist! :D
 
Before I retired back in 1998, our last few training sessions included the relatively recent "findings" that it is possible for a knife wielding adversary to close the twenty feet or so distance between you and him in two seconds or less. The point being made was that if a person was armed "only" with a blade but was threatening to kill you with it at a distance of twenty feet or less, you would be justified in shooting him.

I don't mean to put words in your mouth but I'm thinking this is what was meant by the "study" you referenced. If you think about it, you'd have to be shooting a matchlock pistol before someone could run the twenty feet or so and snatch your gun from you before you could fire it. Either that or you'd have to be a pacifist!
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Yep that is what I was thinking of but old timers is setting in so I had to take some guesses on distance
 
Yep that is what I was thinking of but old timers is setting in so I had to take some guesses on distance
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Actually, it wasn't the exact distance I was taking any exception to; it was the reason the distance, coupled with the time one might need to respond, that was at issue. In other words, it was how long it would take in terms of time elapsed for an assailant to stick you with his knife at a prescribed distance; not how long it would take for someone to snatch your gun away from you at the twenty or so feet in distance he was situated from you.
 
If I have to use my gun in self defence I hope the BG never sees anything but a flash, then the floor or sky or nothing at all. I'd prefer he never see, which of these I go to for self preservation!
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I'm thinking negate not intimidate!
 
Actually, it wasn't the exact distance I was taking any exception to; it was the reason the distance, coupled with the time one might need to respond, that was at issue. In other words, it was how long it would take in terms of time elapsed for an assailant to stick you with his knife at a prescribed distance; not how long it would take for someone to snatch your gun away from you at the twenty or so feet in distance he was situated from you.
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I understand, I just left some stuff out to save on typing, but now I spent more time typing the first time I probably would spent less total time with explaining.

So after you mentioned the knife part it jogged my memory about how quickly someone could close the distance and attack you.

That pretty much is the reason or one of the reasons why pulling out a gun and not shooting could lead to a bad outcome.

Being ABLE to take someones life is no longer the issue. WANTING to is. I don't WANT to. And if you do WANT to, then you shouldn't be carrying.
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I have been carrying since I became a cop in 1970 (retired in 1990 and still carry) and have never wanted to use my gun to kill someone, pulls a knife or weapon on me I am going to stop the threat without discussion. In all these years I only came close one, when an intruder broke into my house.

He was living in my house for a few days, and when I returned to
NY from TX I caught him. I was unarmed because I flew home on a plane. I was able to get my shotgun out of the safe.

As I swung the gun in his direction I said don't move or I'll blow your (expletive deleted by the poster) head off. He was out of sight before I got the all the words out but if he took one step forward there is no doubt I would have shot
 
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That pretty much is the reason or one of the reasons why pulling out a gun and not shooting could lead to a bad outcome.
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Amen to that. If you need to pull a gun on someone, you probably need to shoot him.
 
Probably, but not always. It really is amazing how much a barrel to the face changes someones demeanor. The more time I spend out of court, the better.
 
I teach conceal and carry classes and what I am about to say will **** some people off. For that I am sorry.

First. A .380 is not a get off me gun. It is just as deadly, especially at close range, as any other caliber. I carry a .380 all the time.

Second. Friends don't let friends buy Bersas. Real friends don't let friends buy hi points. Instead of buying a new Bersa, buy a used Walther or a new LCP or Bodyguard if you want a .380.

Third. There is no such thing as intimidation in self defense. The moment your pistol leaves your holster your life will change. It may change forever. Intimidation is good for TV, but if your gun clears for self defense is should be used. Intimidation works for the police...they have authority and are recognized as being trained for combat situations. If you are in a defensive situation you are there because your assailant conceived you as non-threatening. Your weapon is a last ditch effort to preserve your safety.
If you have the option to run away, I would advise you do that first unless you are a witness to a violent crime, then it is your duty (choice actually) to step in and assist. Again, if you step in and assist you need to determine if the risks and act appropriately.

Fourth. Consider a laser, but don't make it the determining factor. I like a Crimson Trace laser because they come on when you grab the grip. They are second nature. However, in a home protection scenario, the laser will give you a good indication of where your bullet will hit in the dark so then any laser will do. I like lasers better than night sights simply because they are easier to use. People will tell you that you have to worry about batteries, and that is true, but if you are properly maintaining and training with your weapon you will constantly check your batteries.

Fifth. Where you carry on your person and the type of holster is as important as the weapon itself. You should practice with all of it. Shooting well in practice but fumbling with a holster is a deadly combination for you. Learn to use the holster as well as you use your weapon.

I can go on and on, but this isn't a classroom. Sorry for the long post.
 
Ironman, better to have a long, informative post than a short one with no use to it.

I was thinking about the holster situation, and as I stated, I am more than likely just carrying this in the summer, as I have a full size I can conceal in the winter. But I don't like carrying in a pocket, so I was going to check into the ClipDraw.

Any body ever used one?


Also, good point about how the attack views you vs a cop. Thats what I have been thinking this whole time. I've seen first hand how someone in uniform can point a weapon at someone and they immediately reconsider. But never really made the connection with the person being in a recognized uniform, be it ACU's or LEO get up.


Anyways, going back to the .380 vs .38

With the .380 I can use the clip draw, and therefore conceal it inside the waistband with any outfit, but I don't think that would work as well with the .38, so I would need a traditional holster... Hmm...
 
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