Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 380 is it enough??

Live or death situation, would you feel comfortable carrying a 380?

better than a sharp stick, but no I would not be comfortable. About 300ftlbs of energy, probably less. Depending on the handgun. I consider the 38 spl as minimum, but even that is not much above 300 ft lbs. 9mm would be minimum for me.
I'm not saying I would want to be shot with one, but if I am going to trust my life to a handgun, it has to have some umph to it.

I have one it's small and pocket size but it doesn't give me the warm fuzzy's

I have no idea. It is a small convenient gun you can carry when you cannot carry a G19, 1911, or small revolver. On the other hand my Kahr pm9 is the same size as my glock 42.

SS, just went to hornadys ballistic table. The 380 is 200ft lbs @ the muzzle.

I carry mine when I can't carry something larger. I don't feel naked carrying it. That being said I am not looking for a fight either. If I can get out without using it so much the better. If I aboslutely have to use it someone is going to catch 7 slugs very quickly. It is not a long range proposition.

It was enough for the retired Tampa cop to kill the guy in the movie theatre.
One shot, close range.

better than throwing rocks. I will take the .45acp any day.

Of course not.
Plus the cost of ammo makes the 9mm much better.

It's better than a pointy stick, but you can get very small 9mm's today that work pretty well.

Now, if the budget's tight and you are given a .380, it's more understandable - and probably enough, most of the time. Like I posted last week sometimes people fixate on a particular gun and don't want to hear that a bigger one would be better. In those days about all you can encourage is practice, and good ammo...

If you're one of those people who just wont get used to carrying a real pistol in an IWB holster, then its better than being unarmed. Pocket guns are for the rare occasion when a holster gun isnt an option. If a .380 is what you have, then learn to shoot it well.

No.

personally NO!
If I had a good idea I might be in a life or death gun fight I would NOT grab a 380,and if limited to a hand gun, Id start with a 357 mag, 41 mag, 10mm or 45acp as the base line and be rather picky as to ammo selected and hand gun to be used even then, probably a glock 10mm or CZ45 acp, but an n frame S&W in a revolver caliber would be a good choice,and a 6" model 57 smith would be a good choice, I want something I can depend on to punch holes, big deep , hole in my attacker,placed in an adversary where I,m aiming
Ive carried the glock, CZ, 10mm or 1006 S&W , most of the time since they became available

http://www.doubletapammo.net/index.php?route=product/product&path=126_134&product_id=396

After I've shot a 9mm or 45acp to slide lock, yes. Its a backup.

It�s not like I am going to give up and let somebody kill me if all I have is a .380, but I have choices and that is not mine. Some people won�t carry more than X ounces and some people won�t carry more than Y ounces, but I am comfortable with a bare minimum of a 20 ounce 9mm with night sights, which only weighs 4 ounces more than the .380 built on the same platform.

Well guys, thanks, you have confirmed my thoughts and I think im going to get a 9mm. Gonna look @ the ruger LC9 for starters

I'm 5'8" and 160 and have no problem concealing a 642, no matter what I'm wearing, so why would I go smaller?

...I did...of course mine was a MAC11 that would dump a 32 round magazine in 1.5 seconds...never felt undergunned at all...

Bob

Gamer.

Whenever I feel I do not need to carry a gun - I carry a 380 or smaller.