9mm vs 380

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I would advise you to to check out the S&W 380 EZ. I've had mine for one year this month and really like it. My first 380acp was a Beretta Pico in 380acp. It is a nice gun but more snappy to shoot than the S&W EZ. Another nice feature of the EZ is the magazines are also designed to be easy to load with a thumb tab on the magazine follower to pull it down to load. The slide is the easiest to rack of all the center fire autos I own. I reload for 380acp so additional cost is not an issue for me. The gun fits my hand good and all of the controls are very ergonomic for me. Mine has a thumb safety and I think it works great. The grip safety has not given me one problem on this gun. I liked the 380acp so well I purchased the 9mm version in March.
 
nothing wrong with a decent .22 LR target shooter. fun for range practice, for defense load it with a high velocity hollow points, and well - mmm ... couple ten round magazines and in the realm of self-defense; shooting well and fast beats missing with 9mm. I'm a proponent of skill with whatever you have is better than having something bigger that one might be less skilled with. you gotta hit the target, right?

I've fired a few .380 smaller pistols, and they are not range fun. snappy little buggers. Does Beretta still make a mostly full size .380 ACP? I always wanted to try one of those, but just never got around to it. The S&W EZ, is good. I fired one in 9mm and 40 S&W. Not the cartridge you're considering, but - I thought they were nice/good, and would grab one if I saw one at a price I liked.
 
All things being equal, if you have a gun chambered in 9mm and a gun of the same model chambered in 380, the 380 will definitely be more pleasant to shoot. And this scenario does exist. Sig offers the 938/238, and also the P365 which comes in both, for example.

But most 380s are made for the CCW market which means that they’re comparatively smaller than their 9mm cousins and also often blowback -which can make them feel surprisingly snappy. I don’t enjoy shooting many of the 9mm guns myself and I’m in my 30s. Fit of the gun to you is important and oft overlooked, too.

Of course, there’s also a simple fix for this… take a .357 to the range with you and run through a cylinder of full power ammo. After that, any 9mm will feel very pleasant.
 
Mosin77 said:
But most 380s are made for the CCW market which means that they’re comparatively smaller than their 9mm cousins and also often blowback -which can make them feel surprisingly snappy. I don’t enjoy shooting many of the 9mm guns myself and I’m in my 30s. Fit of the gun to you is important and oft overlooked, too.
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Most of this conversation is about the medium-sized 380 pistols, the:380 EZ, Glock 42, Sig P365-380, Walther PK380, Browning 1911-380, and the like. All of these, coincidentally are not blowback, your advisory of, "are often blowback," is very last century.

I saw this just in time to regurgitate one of my older rants:
I hear, "most small .380 ACP pistols are blowback operated," on a regular basis and I question it. It is almost into the category of "myths." As an example of .380 pistols, counting my 9mm Makarov, I have five [now six]. Of those, only the Makarov is blowback. I am not going to deny that there are blowback .380 pistols on the market. Of popular .380 pistols, both the Bersa and the High-Point are blowback. There, I am done, I have named all of the popular blowback .380 pistols. Yes, there is the PPK the Beretta Cougar family and a few extreme low-cost offerings. I think most can agree that those models are not hot sellers.

However, most modern .380 Pistols use some form of delayed blowback/locking breech mechanism. There is the entire Colt Government model family which includes, not surprisingly, the .380 Government model, the Mustang, Sig, Kimber, Springfield. Then there is the Glock 42, the Walther PK38, the Browning 1911-380 series, and Smith & Wesson Shield. There is the whole family of Kel-Tek derivatives. I can keep going, the point is, the, "most small .380 ACP pistols are blowback operated," is almost a myth.
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Hasaf said:
Most of this conversation is about the medium-sized 380 pistols, the:380 EZ, Glock 42, Sig P365-380, Walther PK380, Browning 1911-380, and the like. All of these, coincidentally are not blowback, your advisory of, "are often blowback," is very last century.
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So it is, but the pistols you mention aren’t necessarily large and recoil-absorbing either.

I shot a CZ-82 (last century albeit but still a fairly modern design) and found it snappier than I could wish.

My point was that, for a variety of reasons, a 380 is not likely to be dramatically softer shooting than a 9, despite what paper specifications should indicate.
 
film495 said:
I've fired a few .380 smaller pistols, and they are not range fun. snappy little buggers.
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Check out the SIG P365-380. Soft shooting, accurate and reliable, except for Hornady American Gunner XTP. Mine has absolutely no use for that ammo, but eats everything else I've put through it. I love this pistol, and it's replaced the LCP MAX as my EDC.
 
I will also recommend the S&W EZ 380 or a Sig P238, Kimber Micro 380, or Springfield Armory 911 in 380. The last three I mentioned are pretty much the same pistol and are based off the old Colt Pony which was originally based off the Spanish Star Model D 380.

I can say that the Sig P238 is pretty mild and easy to operate and shoot compared to the 9mm Sig P938 which is very close in size to the P238.

The Bersa 380 isn't a bad pistol but it won't compare with any of the above pistols I listed. Yes I have owned a Bersa but got rid of it.
 
ThomasT said:
An Astra Constable I was totally stupid for selling - - -.
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I agree ! Where I was stupid was trading a Ruger .22LR SA pistol with the 7" barrel FOR my Astra. And, I just had to have it repaired as the extractor and 3 other parts behind it had been lost some years ago, something I didn't know until recently.
 
RETG said:
I like the 9mm since I heard a questionable reliable source it can blow someone's lung out.
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This is a reliable source; why would you ever doubt the word of the President of the United States? If you don't believe him, go to the aftermath of mass shootouts in the streets of cities like Chicago, Philadelphia or NYC on any given weekend and you'll find lungs strewn all over the crime scene. It can be a real mess.
 
I think just about anyone would choose 9mm over 380 but it all depends on size, if you want the smallest, it has to be 380 and there are some pretty decent performing 380 ammo choices. The 9mm's are getting fairly small, so if you're okay with a bit more size and weight then go 9mm.
 
SDGlock23 said:
I think just about anyone would choose 9mm over 380 but it all depends on size, if you want the smallest, it has to be 380 and there are some pretty decent performing 380 ammo choices. The 9mm's are getting fairly small, so if you're okay with a bit more size and weight then go 9mm.
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There are other reasons besides size and weight that someone would choose .380 over 9mm.
 
Choose the one with which you’re most comfortable, confident, and shoot the best. May take a little shopping and shooting but you’ll find it. Hard to find a bad one that fits that criteria ‘cause they just don’t stay around long.
 
Jackiesman said:
Choose the one with which you’re most comfortable, confident, and shoot the best. May take a little shopping and shooting but you’ll find it. Hard to find a bad one that fits that criteria ‘cause they just don’t stay around long.
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All of that is very important. It is always better to have a smaller caliber that you are comfortable with and shoot well over a larger caliber that you are not comfortable with nor shoot very well. Yes 9mm will work better, but if you shoot 380 well then it will do the job just fine.
 
I've been surprisingly impressed with my little Kimber. It's much more pleasant to shoot than some other .380s I've shot. Pretty accurate within SD distances and haven't had any issues with FTF or FTE with both factory and handloads. It ain't got the trigger of my regular 1911s, but it's probably as good as my S&W 637, which is my other pocket carry.



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Spats McGee
The few .380s that I've shot have absolutely kicked like angry mules.
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Then maybe you should try something like the Colt Government .380, Colt Mustang, Kimber Micro Carry .380, Browning 1911 .380, or the SIG P238, to experience the effectiveness of delayed blowback in a .380. Felt recoil is next to nothing as is muzzle flip and it's easier and faster to get your sights back on target. Both Colts, the Kimber, the Browning, and the SIG are also very ergonomic, owing a number of things of their design features to the 1911. Likewise their single action triggers and better sights also help with achieving better overall accuracy.
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bannockburn said:
Spats McGee


Then maybe you should try something like the Colt Government .380, Colt Mustang, Kimber Micro Carry .380, Browning 1911 .380, or the SIG P238, to experience the effectiveness of delayed blowback in a .380. Felt recoil is next to nothing as is muzzle flip and it's easier and faster to get your sights back on target. Both Colts, the Kimber, the Browning, and the SIG are also very ergonomic, owing a number of things of their design features to the 1911. Likewise their single action triggers and better sights also help with achieving better overall accuracy.
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Ohhhhhh...those a pretty jewels!!
 
buck460XVR said:
I've been surprisingly impressed with my little Kimber. It's much more pleasant to shoot than some other .380s I've shot. Pretty accurate within SD distances and haven't had any issues with FTF or FTE with both factory and handloads. It ain't got the trigger of my regular 1911s, but it's probably as good as my S&W 637, which is my other pocket carry.
You’re talking Kimber so you’re talking one of the best. I don’t care what caliber Kimber you mention it’s gonna WORK VERY WELL.


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bannockburn said:
Spats McGee


Then maybe you should try something like the Colt Government .380, Colt Mustang, Kimber Micro Carry .380, Browning 1911 .380, or the SIG P238, to experience the effectiveness of delayed blowback in a .380. Felt recoil is next to nothing as is muzzle flip and it's easier and faster to get your sights back on target. Both Colts, the Kimber, the Browning, and the SIG are also very ergonomic, owing a number of things of their design features to the 1911. Likewise their single action triggers and better sights also help with achieving better overall accuracy.
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I mentioned these pistols too. They are an excellent choice in 380. And so is the original Star Model D that all of these are based on. One won't go wrong with the Colt, Kimber, Sig, or Springfield Armory versions of this little single action pistol. The S&W EZ is also another good choice too.
 
tws3b2 said:
Is it that I just never really liked shooting 9mm "or bigger" or is it that I'm 75 years old.
Anyway, I just don't enjoy shooting 9mm. My thinking is if you don't enjoy shooting it your not going to get good with it. I don't enjoy shooting 9mm. And, I'm not good with it.
Right now my carry gun is a Taurus g3c.
I'm thinking of trading my g3c for a 380. I have little experience with the 380.
So, My question is to the older guys, I guess.
Is the 380 a little more "enjoyable" to shoot for us older guys than the 9mm. Or, should I go on down to 22lr?
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I may qualify as an older guy so here are a few observations.

First, the caliber that I carry most often over the last few decades has been 32acp/7.65mm.

I also have and have carried (actually today my carry is a 9mm Parabellum. Remember, .380 is a 9mm caliber.) I find that the choice of handgun can make a world of difference often even more than the caliber.

But why 32auto/32acp/7.65mm ammunition as a carry choice?

For much of modern firearm history the 32acp was considered a reasonable self defense and even military handgun option. For that reason there are a whole herd of pistols available chambered in that caliber and it was used as a valid service handgun by almost every major nation including the US. The caliber is easier to control and to repeat shots. It's far more reliable and effective than 22LR, far more controllable and pleasant to shoot than .380/9mm Browning Short or 9mmParablellum.

It is available in both smaller more easily concealable handguns and larger double stack higher capacity ones, in single action, DA/SA. hammer fired and striker fired versions. There are heavier ones that absorb even more of the recoil and lighter ones that are more comfortable to carry.

There are versions that are currently being made and far far more older yet still superb and reliable ones. In taking a personal inventory not too long ago I realized that I actually own more 32acp handguns than 9mm Parabellum, .380 and 9mm Makarov chambered pistols combined.

In revolvers there is also the 32 caliber family of rimmed cartridges ranging from the mildest but still more than a 22LR for both reliability and effectiveness all the way up to some pretty powerful magnums.

One in particular I'd suggest you consider is the Beretta 80 series 32acps. There is a the 81 that is a double stack and the 82 that is a slimmer single stack. The Cheetah is a DA/SA action with a manual safety.

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Spats McGee said:
The few .380s that I've shot have absolutely kicked like angry mules. I find my Shield much more pleasant to shoot than those buggers.
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bannockburn said:
Then maybe you should try something like the Colt Government .380, Colt Mustang, Kimber Micro Carry .380, Browning 1911 .380, or the SIG P238, to experience the effectiveness of delayed blowback in a .380.
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As I said in my previous post, I am surprisingly impressed with my .380 Micro. One point being the small amount of recoil it produces as compared to my two son's LCPs. It has taken the place of my Colt Government as my open carry piece while down at the cabin. Put down a raccoon that went for the strawberries in the trap set for woodchucks, with it just last Sunday. With no realistic fear of grizzlies, with good ammo, I really have no need for anything else. The fact it takes less room in my pocket(when I carry that way) than my 637, means I carry it more than the ol' trusty Airweight. Holds a coupla more rounds too.
 
Spats McGee said:
The few .380s that I've shot have absolutely kicked like angry mules. I find my Shield much more pleasant to shoot than those buggers.
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I'm not quite following you. Smith builds their "Shields" in .380 also. That's what my wife carries. o_O
On the other hand, our oldest daughter carries a Smith 9mm "Shield." She claims her 9mm "Shield" doesn't kick any harder than the .380 "Shield" she used to have.
Well, there we go with that "perception" thing again - my much more experienced wife claims our daughter's 9mm "Shield" darned well does kick harder than her own .380 "Shield." ;)
 
.308 Norma said:
I'm not quite following you. Smith builds their "Shields" in .380 also. That's what my wife carries. o_O
On the other hand, our oldest daughter carries a Smith 9mm "Shield." She claims her 9mm "Shield" doesn't kick any harder than the .380 "Shield" she used to have.
Well, there we go with that "perception" thing again - my much more experienced wife claims our daughter's 9mm "Shield" darned well does kick harder than her own .380 "Shield." ;)
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Sorry. I have Shields in 9mm and .45 acp. I've never had one in .380. Does that help clarify things?
 
Wanna talk shields my 4o is a sweet carry gun with critical defense ammo.. But rant doesn’t alter my problem loading for a 380 ACP.with the 88 grain bullets. And I agree with the member who posted earlier that it’s the hardest caliber to load,
 
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