No.
Everything being equal, a bullet that penetrates the entire human body in whatever path it may take will do more damage than a bullet of the same configuration that does not travel as far on that same path.
It seems you may have unrealistic expectations of a defensive handgun bullet's performance. Or you may not have expressed your meaning clearly.
What I meant was, or at least I was under the impression that a smaller caiber bullet may not create a big hole that a .40 or .45 would, but rather then exiting out the body, once it penetrates, it could bounce off of ribs, spine, etc and destroy organs, no? Sorry for my lack of knowledge if I'm completely wrong, I have a guy at my work who's been into guns for many years and he's the one who told me that. It seems like it would make sense.
Plus, a .380 isn't THAT much smaller then a 9mm, same bullet, just smaller case, correct?
Sandman-Grats on the purchase! i think im the only one who noticed it since no one reads whats said between the first and last post.Except jontz,he hit reply before i was done typing
BTW i suggested the P238,its a great gun.
Ive become rather familiar with mine also,its almost exact copy of a series 80 1911 inside the slide,so treat it as one.
I carry mine in my back pocket in a Nemisis holster cocked and locked with Speer Gold dots,Corbon DPX's are the only ammo id call better but its $35 a box if you can find it.
I hope you live in a large town and get google out and search all the local fun shops and see who has .380 in stock,buy 2x what you need so you have enough to test it and enough for the next range trip.
I used to feel the .380 wouldn't be adequate for SD but it is just barely.But once i shot it i felt a lot more comfortable it will do its job respectfully well.
The P238 handles very tame at the range,try that with an LCR or P3AT and your hands will be hurting.
If you ever have feed issues look at the magazines first,i did some very small adjustments to mine and found it doesn't take alot to fix things and it doesn't take alot to screw them up.Its because the gun is so small tho.
Thanks man, I'm very happy with the purchase so far. Carried it today and loved it, fits nicely in my pocket with the uncle mike's inside-the-pocket holster.
I did notice a feed problem when I was loading the gun, once I put the magazine in, I pulled the slide back to load the camber and the round got hung up on the feed ramp. Pulled the mag back out, loaded the round back in the clip, tried it again and worked fine.
If needed, I still have my Series 70 that I plan on carrying too. I was talking to the guy at the gun store and he was carrying his Kimber IWB, I asked him how comfortable was it because I'd love the carry mine, just a big gun I thought. He said it's suprising comfortable, he was carrying at the 5 'o clock position, he had a Galco holster, not sure what model though. It clipped on the belt and half the gun was in, half was out.
) I have the PM9 in my pocket. 
