Why oh why do people continue to buy .380s?

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Gee . . . I don't know . . . why do so many people buy Chevrolets instead of Fords? Or why do so many people buy Craftsman instead of DeWalt? :eek::roll eyes: The answer is simple . . . because that's what they want. You might not agree with it but hey, I'll bet you purchase things that others don't like?

I'm thinking this was posted just to get the "this caliber versus that caliber" controversy going . . . of which there are many posts already. If you don't think a .380 is any good . . . then go with the 9mm. I'm betting though that if you think the .380 isn't "hard hitting" enough . . . you still won't volunteer to stand out at 25 yards and let someone shoot at you with it, will you?

In the years that I worked ambulance and rescue, I saw a number of gunshot wounds . . some fatal and some not . . . but they were created by all different calibers from .22 rimfire up through 45 ACP. In the end, it's not about "how big the cartridge is" . . . it's about being able to have good shot placement. It doesn't mean a hill of beans whether you carry a 22, a 25, a 32, a 380 or a 9 . . . if you can't control your hits, none of them will work. If you feel better carrying a 9, then that's what you need to carry. I'm betting thought that thee are some out there that are saying . . . "Why or why is he carrying a 9mm when he can carry a 45?" Just saying . . . :)
 
Maybe true for those micros, but my Bersa Thunder 380 is a sweet shooter.
Very pleasant to shoot. It recovers quickly which allows very accurate
rapid fire, and the fixed barrel blow back design has higher intrinsic accuracy
than a moving barrel. It's a keeper. (and I've kept the first one for 20 years).
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Austin - My Beretta 84 is a 380 that is fairly gentle to shoot. If I recall correctly it doesn't have a locked breech. Its size and shape help a lot.
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I don't disagree with this, as I love shooting my Beretta 84 and don't find it uncomfortable at all. I'm not talking about a consensus opinion, because there is no such thing.

From experience I know that recoil-averse people -- especially women who are not at all into firearms, as in the case of the wife of the poster to whom I was responding -- generally find the sharper recoil impulse of a blowback .380 to be substantially less pleasant than the recoil of even the single-stack locked-breech 9mm pistols.
 
WebleyBloke, the 9 mm will hurt your ears nearly as much.

My posting was what I thought a humorous defense of the .380 since it's always knocked as a mousegun caliber.

I remember reading that a federal agent had to retire because of hearing loss
when he defended himself in a car using either a .357 or .44 Mag.

If you've ever read "The Friends of Eddie Coyle" ---the description of the hit on Eddie inside of a car goes "It was loud in here," the kid (the driver) said. "That's why I use a twenty-two," Dillon said. "I ever let off a thirty-eight two-incher in here, you'd gone right off the road."
 
There's also the Ruger LC380 in the niche of .380 pocket guns with 9mm-sized frames. I want them to release a striker-fired version so bad
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Ah, yes, thanks for the reminder! This must be the tenth time that the LC380 has slipped my mind. Not sure why.
 
I would say the vast majority choose a 380 for size purposes, they're simply smaller than small 9's. That doesn't mean there aren't pocketable 9's because I've owned them, but 380's are still smaller and sometimes only the smallest will do. I've had a CM9 (and PM9) and while small, my CW380 is smaller and weighs less.

I like the 9mm better from a ballistic standpoint, but for whatever reason some folks have to have the smallest possible option at times. I don't feel the 380 is a bad choice either, it's killed many people and there are those alive and breathing right now that won't be one day because of a 380 ACP.

My pocket 380 is for when I have to carry as discreetly as possible, it's small overall size and light weight make that possible. I carry the gun full and one extra 7rd mag so I've got 14rds of 380 on tap even in times when I can't carry what I really want.

Recoil wise my CW380 recoils less than my CM9/PM9 did so that's another plus. I've got a pocket .40 (CM40) too, and it works nearly as well as the small 380, but there are times when it's a bit too much and that is where the 380 shines.

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Why do so many people worry about what other people are carrying. I carry my LCP more than any other gun I own. Show me a 9mm or similar that is as LIGHT and INEXPENSIVE and RELIABLE as my LCP and Ill buy one. There are 3 reasons why oh why for ya.
 
Originally Posted by 979Texas
But I personally think the. 380 is a pretty pointless caliber these days. It has terrible ballistics and horrible accuracy.
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Not even close to my personal experience with my Elsie Pea. Drawing from my pockets I can consistently make two to center mass, one to head shots from 5 to 10 yards.
The LCP has been 100% reliable as well.
Several very good ballistic gel tests have shown penetration with Speer Gold Dot to exceed 12" with good expansion.
It's not the 380 of twenty years ago for sure
 
I said roughly this on the other thread, but I already have a Model 84 so when I buy my pocket gun it will also be 380, both for the miniscule size and so I don't have to add another type of ammunition to the safe.
 
If you can't hide a Kahr PM9, Kimber Solo Carry or Sig P 938 you haven't tried.
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Actually, there are types of attire that make concealing a single-stack 9mm infeasible. Evidently you don't wear that kind of clothing.

I carry a Walther PPS most of the time. On those occasions where I can't conceal it effectively due to the clothing I have to wear, the Kahr P380 still conceals adequately in my front pocket. (At least that was the idea behind purchasing this piece-of-junk P380.) So while I certainly prefer to have my PPS and 124-grain Gold Dot +P with me, a .380 mouse gun still solves an actual problem for me and many other people, whatever may be its deficiencies as a primary carry weapon.
 
Actually, there are types of attire that make concealing a single-stack 9mm infeasible. Evidently you don't wear that kind of clothing.
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And what type of clothing would that be? I am carrying a .40 PPS with flush mag in my front pocket now, casual slacks. They are some slacks that have pockets too short for the PPS and for those the other 3 mentioned serve just fine.

I carry a Seecamp 32 in a back pocket and no 380 fits there save the Seecamp 380.
 
In the summer I am in shorts and sleeveless shirt every day and move around a lot. A tiny 380 is easy to conceal. I prefer a snub 38, but don't feel as confident keeping it concealed when I am bending down, crawling, etc.
 
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Some of my jean pockets may conceal my CM9, but drawing it from the DeSantis Nemesis holster that protects the trigger from ND, helps keep pocket lint out of the works, and helps disguise the budget in my pocket is a lot more difficult than with my LCP. It's also a bit heavier, and I do notice that weight in my pocket. Besides, I just have a good feeling when Elsie is in my pants.
 
EVERY TIME I shoot my LCP, I'm amazed at how accurate I am with it.
With such a short barrel and minimal sights... it's downright mysterious!

Pity any poor BG who may ever suffer the wrath of me and Elsie Pea.
 
I'm not aware of any 9mm pistols that work as well (or could even fit) in a back pocket holster like either my LCP or Kahr P380. The Kahr is actually very comfortable to shoot, and feels like a bigger gun.

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