Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Would You Trust Your Life With A 380?

Around here, that is a normal person.I'm sure you would not fit in.

...good post Travis, and excellent shooting.

I've always maintained that versatility with all of the many varied platforms/rigs is a great indicator of mastering (it's always in the present tense), the craft...

Good.




Travis

I'm getting ready to go out and eat with my wife and several other couples tonite. It's warm here and I'm not going to wear a long heavy coat, under which I could conceal a full sized pistol. I will have a 380 in my jeans pocket, and I know that at least one other man in the group will to. I will have a 9mm handgun in my car, but I do not feel inadequate packing that 380. If I was going to walk down the streets of a thug infested area, I would want something bigger that held more ammo. But, I'm not, and am not worried in the least.

I trust my life to not argue with people who carry guns and argue about bigger or better calibers!

I can tell you how much I like the 380 , I don't even own one and haven't for many years. The Kahr P9 is as small as I want for self defense.

Don't blame you in the least, my friend. Good work.

You miss the most important part. Did the invader rape or murder the lady in the time between catching number 9 and running out the front door? If not, she changed his channel.

I've seen enough dead people from 22lr and 380 acp to know that they both work very effectively.

My brother in law (the cop) just had a relatively short conversation with a gentleman who had intercepted a Raven 25 caliber. it took him a little while but he was dead in 5 hours, it bounced around inside and tore up enough stuff they couldn't save him. shot placement matters more than the size of the bullet.

Here are a few thoughts.

If the.380 is considered a defense round,why are not more LEO"S carrying them as their primary sidearm.

Why were a lot of the troops serving in the military complaining that the 9MM did not have the stopping power that the 45 ACP did,and wanted the govt. to at least change the criteria to a 40 S&W. Which is now being considered if not already in process. I don't remember any saying the 9mm is too much,please issue some 380's.

These two things leads me to believe that those who are in harms way do not consider the .380 as some thing to trust your life too.

Arguments were made that some responses talked about a larger framed handguns.Personally,I would not consider a .380 if it was in a full size 1922 frame even

Your thoughts are valid, and normal for most anyone who considers carrying a firearm for personal defense. That being said, LEO's carry larger (and larger caliber) sidearms because they are required by statute to defend themselves and others, to effect arrest and engage criminals, where the average citizen is not.

The average citizen carries a firearm to protect himself and possibly his loved ones. He can turn a blind eye toward any threat as long as he and his loved ones can walk or run away from the threat. Sworn police professionals cannot do so. It may seem like a trivial difference, but it is a difference nonetheless.

I will say this, if you are compelled to carry a full sized firearm chambered for a full powered cartridge, then by all means, do so. But remember, it is folly to look down on someone who carries a 380 (or smaller) cartridge for personal defense. The cartridge kills.

Wartime military needs are very much different from the needs of everyday self defense users. But as I said earlier, if you are laboring under the conviction that you should carry a full sized and full powered handgun every day, then do so. But, remember that troops have been bitching about stopping power since the Roman Legion.

Those going into knowingly going into harm's way do not consider any handgun as something they would want to trust their life to.

The argument for a full sized 380 make no sense. The benefit of the cartridge lies in the fact that it can be chambered in firearms which can be carried concealed in pants pockets, jacket pockets and purses. If the firearms were of the same size and one is chambered for a more powerful cartridge, then obviously, the one with the more potent cartridge would be preferable.

People in the military wanted "more knock down power" because they are completely ignorant in terminal ballistics. Combine that ignorance with a pathetically low skill level in shooting and you get some stupid thoughts.


There are organizations that kill people every night with pistols. They use 9mm by choice.




As for 380, it has some serious issues, namely the platforms it is chambered in do not allow the shooting performance I require, even for deep CCW. The G42 is the one that comes closest and using Buffalo Bore hard cast +P ammo it offers enough penetration to make it viable for some roles- though performance will be like 9mm FMJ.

I sometimes trust my life with a Kel-tec 32 ACP.

CT.I'm not knocking anyone for what ever they choose to carry. It is a decision every individual has to make themselves. The OP asked if a person would trust their life to a .380. I answered and gave reasons why I would not.Some chose to take offense at that.
Yes a .380 will kill. It is what an individual will do between the time they get shot and die that bothers me.

Let me ask you a real simple question.

WTF do you wear to the beach?




Clark

A man I used to work with told me the story about the time he was sitting in a café and a man walked in and shot another with a 22 pistol. The bullet hit the man in the arm, bounced off the bone, came back out the arm, and went into the man's heart. He died where he was sitting. Years ago, we had a local game warden, a nice fellow too, who had just written a Black guy a citation for fishing without a license. As the warden walked off, the Black man opened the trunk off his car, took a 22 rifle out and killed the warden with one shot. I think if it's your time to go, it's not going to matter what you're shot with.

Simple answer

There are no beaches close to me.I don't go to public swimming pools. I live at 7600 ft elevation. High mountain / streams were just snow 30 minutes ago.

That's a perfect explanation as to why carry of certain handguns works fine in some locales and not others. Where you are, carrying a .380 due to size isn't necessary. Where TLEE is, it makes a ton of sense.

Firearms are tools. Use the right one for the job and situation at hand, right?

What a colossal waste of time. Carry, hide/open. Who will really need a gun for defense anyhow. I learned a long time ago, it is a damn poor set of feet that will stand around and let your face get beat in!

A good pair of running shoes and a fast exit will save more lives.

Bravo. You forgot the the sarcasm face thingy.