Accuracy of the .380ACP

[Tired_and_hungry]

I've heard reports that some calibers are more inherently accurate than others due to the greater ballistic stability of the fired projectile. With that in mind, what kind of reputation does the .380ACP have for accuracy?

I bought a beretta Model 84FS last week and shot it for the first time today. Its the first time I've shot any .380 pistol and I've attached one of my better 30 shot groupings fired at 24 yards from the standing unsupported position. It took me about 1 minute and 35 seconds to fire the 30 shots for the target whilst managing two reloads as I was using magazines loaded with 10 rounds. (Start timer, shoot 10 rounds, reload, shoot 10 rounds, reload, shoot 10 rounds and stop timer.)

How did I do?

 

[dab102999]

Depending on amount of time it took you to do that...but quick reload, and pretty rapid fire would tell me that you and that gun would stop any threat at 5 to 7 feet without even thinking about it.

 

[rcmodel]

24 yards standing?
You did good!

Actually, the .380 ACP is no more or less accurate then any other caliber.
It is after all, just sort of a scaled down .45 ACP.
And more NRA bullseye pistol matches have been won with that then any other caliber.

The problem is with the guns the .380 ACP is chambered in.

They are universally self defense guns with poor sights, heavy triggers, loose slides, and very often, oversize bores.
And nobody makes .380 ACP Match ammo!

Your Beretta 84 is somewhat an exception to that, and is one of the most accurate .380's made.

rc

 

[1KPerDay]

I have found my Ruger LCP to be surprisingly accurate. Way more accurate than such a tiny pistol has any right to be.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyTXWoq5ciY

 

[MutinousDoug]

My Bersa Thunder is capable of similar accuracy in spite of a transfer bar trigger and sights regulated to something like 7yds (it shoots 4-5" high at 25 yds).

 

[usp9]

Good shooting. At 24 yards, 3 seconds per shot, whith a new gun, I doubt many of us would do much better. Report back after you're comfortable, familiar and more practiced with your new Beretta. I bet the group tightens up some. The Beretta is an excellent, accurate pistol.

 

[bigfatdave]

define "accuracy"

from a test barrel clamped to the bench?
from any weapon held in hand?
from a particular weapon? clamped or handheld?


once you load it into a gun and point it at the target with your hand, the number of variables increases so much that the "inherent accuracy of the cartridge" is just one of many factors

 

[M2 Carbine]

The .380 round is about as accurate as any other caliber.

52 yards. Standing. Two hands. Micro Desert Eagle.
The vertical spread is my fault as I couldn't make up my mind how much to allow for bullet drop.

 

[herkyguy]

I just shot my Sig P238 for the first time yesterday. I used to have a LCP but traded it a while back. The .380 is plenty accurate for the intended range. I would be disappointed if my long range rifles weren't shooting sub MOA groups at 100 yards, but when it comes to my self defense pistol, if I'm center mass at 7 yards, I'm quite happy.

On another note, the P238 sights are fantastic and a huge improvement over the LCP....something to consider is that most .380 pistols do not have sights comparable to larger pistols.

 

[mickeyblueyes]

I believe the 380 is a scaled down version of the 9mm, ,the 380 is some times called the 9mm kutz, meaning small(short) in German. When reloading you can you the same bullets in either the 380 or the 9mm. Good luck!

 

[BADUNAME37]

My LCP is very accurate for the intended distances it would more than likely be used at, i.e., within a room of a house or a confrontation face-to-face, say at a cash register or on the street.

The gun is small, therefore easy to conceal and is not made to shoot at 50 yards. It is an up-close, personal kind of weapon that apparently does the 'intended' job extremely well.

Anything past about 21', you should not be shooting with this gun, instead, running away or somehow retreating to a safer place would make more sense than trying to have a "shootout" with this gun at long ranges!

 

[bigfatdave]

I believe the 380 is a scaled down version of the 9mm

not really ... more of a case of parallel evolution

Approximate 9mm is a popular cartridge size:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9_mm_caliber

9mm luger was actually developed from a bottlenecked round, in Europe, while JMB whipped up .380 working for COlt

They don't even have the same case head:
9x19mm (luger, parabellum, NATO, etc etc)
Base diameter 9.93 mm (0.391 in)
Rim diameter 9.96 mm (0.392 in)
9x17mm (kurz, browning, short, corto, etc etc)
Base diameter .374 in (9.5 mm)
Rim diameter .374 in (9.5 mm)

 

[Tired_and_hungry]

Difference between hollow points and FMJ(ball)?

Have you guys noticed any difference in accuracy between FMJ and HP rounds loaded to the same "power" (no +P)? Just got back from the range again and I noticed that Fiocchi 95gr FMJs gave the best accuracy results while 85gr Winchester Silver Tips and 88gr Remington Hollow Points produced worse groupings.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I had a Colt 1908 and that thing was very, very accurate. Like hit a dime at fifteen yards accurate.

 

[kokapelli]

I had a Makarov 380 that was as or more accurate than any other pistol I had.

I took my first CCW test with it and almost failed because the instructor thought I missed the target completely with two rounds, but on close examination they found I had put three rounds through the same hole. That's what I call accurate!

 

[allaroundhunter]

I believe the 380 is a scaled down version of the 9mm, ,the 380 is some times called the 9mm kutz, meaning small(short) in German

Not to nitpick, but kurtz is Deutsch for short.

As to the accuracy of the .380; I believe that its accuracy is limited much more by the platform than by the caliber.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Not to nitpick, but kurtz is Deutsch for short.

As to the accuracy of the .380; I believe that its accuracy is limited much more by the platform than by the caliber.

I think it's Corto and or Kurz. Amongst others.

 

[1KPerDay]

Not to nitpick, but kurtz is Deutsch for short.

As to the accuracy of the .380; I believe that its accuracy is limited much more by the platform than by the caliber.

If yer gonna nitpick, spell it correctly.

Kurz, not kurtz. The final z is pronounced "TS" as you know.

 

[allaroundhunter]

If yer gonna nitpick, spell it correctly.

Kurz, not kurtz. The final z is pronounced "TS" as you know.

Maybe my semester abroad wasn't recent enough to remember correctly.... But I always remember being taught "kurtz".... Oh well, some regions of Germany do spell differently, similarly to slang English in some parts of the US.

My bad

Sent from my HTC One X

 

[1KPerDay]

kein Problem.

 

[nathan]

As long it covers a fist sized in grouping, you are good to go in a SD weapon. Most consider 15 yds as the farthest in a self defense shooting.

 

[MedWheeler]

Like MutinousDoug, I have good accuracy coming from a Bersa Thunder as well. Accuracy of a given caliber is likely more-easily affected by the quality and condition of the firearm than by its own size/power.

 

[OilyPablo]

My Sig P238 is very accurate. I love shooting that little pooper.

25 yards is about the limit of my fun. 15 yards seems more like it, but that's just me. I should try 50 tomorrow for sport.

 

[kerreckt]

I have a CZ83 (.380) which is an extremely accurate pistol...almost as accurate as my Bulgarian Makarov (9x18). Seriously, I do some of my best rapid fire shooting with either of these pistols. I don't know if it is because they are so easy to handle and point or that I am just lucky every time I shoot them but I consistently shoot well with them. Never considered that these might be inherently accurate rounds.

 

[2wheels]

My Sig P238 is very accurate. I love shooting that little pooper.

25 yards is about the limit of my fun. 15 yards seems more like it, but that's just me. I should try 50 tomorrow for sport.

I remember a clip, I think it was in a thread on here somewhere, of a guy hitting steel at 50 yards with a P238.

Pretty impressive, I'd try it but 25 yards is as far as my indoor range goes.