Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Do you carry a .380?

Then do not mention it. It is just old Uncle Arthur rearing his ugly head. Doc started me on a new med that should kick in in a couple more days. Can't take Aleve or Advil with it but if it works the hell with it.

Meanwhile I plug along at the Sheriff's Office And St Vincent's society. Ain't tied to a wheel chair just yet.

I just bought a Beretta Pico this weekend. I also have a Nano.

Good points.. And I have to admit it's been a couple years since I brought out one of the SRHs.. With my wrists now giving me trouble I wonder if I can even shoot those things w/o pain?

Guess I'll have to find out. If it's just too uncomfortable it might be time to trade 'em off for something lighter.

My wife has much more issues with arthritis than I, and the most she can handle is one of the SP101s in .32 H&R.

But she's OK with the Kahr P-380, so if the ammo's right it might be a better option for a purse-gun..

I love my little Colt Mustang pocketlite, anyone got one of these?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M61pTas47_g

Nice pistol Lobo.

At 12:56 Hickok demonstrates the fast combat accuracy that these medium-power single action autos can deliver.
Would be difficult to match that speed with a Chief, LCP, etc.

I've got the Sig version of that gun, and it's far easier to shoot than the Ruger LCP. Only problem with it is that it's a bit heavy for a pants pocket gun (for me), and has that thumb safety.

The picture isn't my gun, mine has an ambi safety. I handled the Sig in both .380 and 9mm and I liked the size and feel of the Colt better for me. It shoots like a champ.

The SIG doesn't feel nearly as good as the Colt; the ergos are off. The Kimber, however, nails it in those regards.

I palmed both before I bought my P938. I thought the Sig felt much better in hand. Mine is the model with the wrap around grip and extended magazine. I have yet to shoot a compact that feels or handles as well. IMO, nothing short about the P238 either.

I have never owned A Colt Mustang 380, but have heard a lot of guys say the same thing Lobo. They all like that pistol. That pistol looks like it is all steel and I suspect it is. And if you had not said it was a Mustang, I would have thought it was an Officers Model. If you are going to carry something that size and weight, why carry a .380 Mustang when you could just as easy carry an Officers Model in .45 ACP? Well unless you just want a .380 that is or unless I am wrong about the relative sizes of the Mustang and the OM.

But I confess that I have an OM in the safe and a Kahr P .380 in my pocket, but the Kahr appears to be smaller and lighter than the Mustang. But I'll bet you can get a lot better grip on your Mustang than I can on the Kahr. It is really too small if you ask me, especially when shooting +P ammo. It is hard to keep a good grip on it then.

Bob, I carry a 1911 Commander a lot in a Crossbreed IWB. I like the little Mustang because it operates just like the big gun (C&L) I like to carry a BUG sometimes and IMO the Mustang makes a perfect companion gun to it's big brother

Bob,

I'm not surprised by your finding with that small .380 and that hot ammo. Good to learn these things at the range.

Often, the problem with these pipsqueak rigs, is that it's more difficult to obtain suitable expansion, due to their short barrels and subsequent lower velocity of the standard pressure loads--at times resulting in over penetration. I'd guess that this is why some guys just use hardball. I like the Federal Hydra Shok, and the Remington Golden Sabre in the .380 Auto. I've not had the chance to try the Federal HST yet, though in some tests folks have claimed "good expansion", but a lack of suitable penetration. In other cartridges, I've found the HST's I've used to be tops. Also like Gold Dots, but I avoid the factory loadings in smaller rigs due to the harder primers (my opinion only, but each should decide for themselves). Smaller springs, low hammer mass, etc., in pipsqueak rigs make me leary of harder primer cups. While I've not yet had a failure to fire in the smaller rigs, I note in observations that the primers are barely dented...

As mentioned, I avoid hot rounds in these small auto rigs when utilized for carry--and there are a couple of reasons why. Even in full size auto rigs, I generally (but not always), avoid +P rounds, unless occasionally using them in a rig such as the HK USP (which was designed around the .40 S & W cartridge), and a few other rigs that can stand the gaff. If a guy wants more--at times it can be best to use a greater cartridge.

Revolvers can be a different story, provided one is sensible about the loads--as there are none of the slide timing issues/gremlins, etc.

Though perhaps not the best thread for this--and I'm not recommending it--just a mention--an interesting pill that I use at times in the .38 Special and .357 Magnum snub rigs is the .355 88 grain Speer Gold Dot hollow point. I size the brass twice, chamfer, and use no expander. In .357 rigs, I load it with 10 grains WSF, with a good roll crimp. It is a respectable round for a snub revolver kept by the bedside. Less penetration to be sure--about 8-9 inches, and expands to about .58 inches rounded off. Improvements today render this type of thing nearly obsolete (no doubt you remember the old Smith and Wesson 90 grain soft nose factory offering--a little nub of a pill sticking out of the case mouth--if I recall, the "claim" was 1650 fps from a 4 inch barrel)...

Pics of two of these 88 grain Gold Dot rounds fired yesterday:









This has been a good thread.

Oh, and forgot to mention.

Awhile back, RJM posted a surprising reference on the effectiveness of the FMJ round in the .380 auto. I've not seen that reference--I believe it was concerning multiple shootings of victims by a robber whilst plying his trade.

Perhaps he will see this thread and chime in by mentioning this again--it sounded interesting...

I saw that I misidentified the weight of that Speer bullet--and it is too late to edit that post--so apologize for any possible confusion.

The older/earlier jacketed hollow point pill by Speer was 88 grains--while the "newer" Gold Dot pill is actually 90 grains, and I failed to correct that specific weight change on the heading of the loads in that page of my loading notebook.

At the time I began trying out these 88 gr Speers, the Gold Dots were not yet available. The newer offering is a massive improvement over the older, ordinary jacketed pills, which fragmented completely when driven at these velocities...

Quote Hi Vel

Pics of two of these 88 grain Gold Dot rounds fired yesterday:









That is an unusual loading. At least, it is for me. I confess that I don't get the reason for it. The Camp Fire does not seem to have a reloading forum that I can find, but there is one on bullet casting where a lot of reloading talk is done. Maybe we can take it up there? Or not. No biggie either way. But thanks for the pohoto's and write up on a load I had not previously seen.

I've often thought the same thing.. There's no forum for reloading handguns.

And this thread, especially, has me curious. I reload for probably 30+ cartridges, but NOT the .380.. Just figured is was too dang small to mess with and, since I don't shoot it a lot, it wasn't worth it getting the dies, brass etc..

Smallest handgun round I reload for is the 9mm..

Redneck

I do load for the .380 because I find the small pistols I have for that cartridge to be difficult to maintain an acceptable level of rapid or multiple shot accuracy. So I have to shoot them a lot just to keep up my skill level with them. If you want load/mold info on it, let's go to bullet casting and I'll lay it out for you complete with photos. Lee has a six cavity mold for it that makes throwing a LOT of bullets quick and easy. Use Lee liquid lube and shoot them as cast. It doesn't get any easier than that.

All ears; have at it.

Gotta be cheaper than what my wife and daughter and I do to a case of .380 ball...

Might just keep them away from the .25-20 pump, too.

I carry a TCP at times and my wife has an LCP. Had a Keltec in .32 when the first came out. Your comparison is spot on. I'd choose the Taurus over the Ruger any day. Only negative is the pointy muzzle end of the slide.

Carry options include a Tagua OWB, self-made super-tuck style or Desantis Nemesis in the pocket when hiking without a jacket.

Truly a case of YMMV. I loathed the Taurus TCP, and would throw it away to take the KT and likely pay someone to take it to get the LCP.

Hey, as long as it works and y'all carry it/them, it's good to go.