380 vs 9mm For A New 115pd Shooter

Perceived recoil depends on the type of gun, caliber, and the shooters interpretation. What others consider mild recoil can be harsh to me and what others consider harsh would be mild to me. Seen this many times. If possible it's best to let the shooter try it first.

9mm is always going to be the better option over 380 from a ballistic sense. But that is only if they consistently carry it and can shoot accurately with it.

Size wise I see less difference between the Security 380 and the (Ruger) Max 9 compared to the Shield Plus. Your daughters might find that easier to upgrade to compared to the Shield.

My daughter has been shooting from a young age. She gradually moved from 22 rifles as a little girl, to whatever handguns she's been challenged to shoot by the other girls as she's gotten older. (She'll do 44 special or 45acp to not be shown up by another young woman, but not if it's just the two of us.)

She's 19 and at college now. She can't have firearms there, but when she moves to graduate school she hopes to be able to. She can have any of my handguns or long guns that she wants. I only have one kid and it will all be hers eventually anyway. She's settled on the S&W Model 64 (stainless Model 10) because she's more comfortable with revolvers. I put a special grip on it that fits her hand well. It's ready for her whenever she wants it.

So yeah, something they're used to and shoot well. Something they'll actually carry, or at least have near their bed at night. If she is able to find a dog-friendly place for graduate school, she also plans to get as large a pit mix from the shelter as the landlord will allow. Dogs always love her and they will help protect her even better than a firearm. (She's very good with them - she's the only human other than me that my dog will obey.)

Smaller 9mm guns require more frequent shooting to keep in shape than similar sized .380s. Even with continuing practice, the .380 is much easier to deliver fast, accurate shots under stress. If they are not going to shoot regularly while in college, I would go with the .380 and load it with good ammo. I have 2 Sig P365s, one in 9mm and one in .380. I can run rings around the 9mm when shooting the .380.

If there is a way that you can put them under stress while practicing, see which ones they handle better. If you have electric target returns, get the targets to charge them. If you can set up multiple targets at different distances, have them transition. (If you do not have a shot timer, just use a watch.) This also will allow them to see if there are gun functioning issues under stress. They likely will come to their own conclusions.

Gary H said:

My daughters have been improving their self-defense IQ and have been improving their situational awareness, pepper spray, bright tactical flashlights and swift feet. They have also been taking classes and working on understanding the law with respect to self-defense. I’m having them shoot a Ruger Security 380 and a M&P Performance Center Shield Plus, which are pretty close in size and weight. Clearly, the 9mm Shield Plus presents more potential stopping power, but that assumes the same degree of accuracy under stress. They shoot and operate the Ruger more adeptly and with greater ease than the Shield. My sense of thing is that seven months from now when they leave for college, that they should take what they best can shoot and handle after many months of practice. With more time on the range, that might very well be the 9mm.

Any comments regarding carrying what you can best shoot and any suggestions of how to best prepare them carry…should they decide to do so.

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My understanding is that most colleges are going to be very negative towards carrying on campus. There are most likely regulations and possibly actual laws against it. Have you looked into that issue?

"380 vs 9mm For A New 115pd Shooter"​

Gary H said:

I’m having them shoot a Ruger Security 380 and a M&P Performance Center Shield Plus, which are pretty close in size and weight. Clearly, the 9mm Shield Plus presents more potential stopping power, but that assumes the same degree of accuracy under stress.

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Smith builds M&P Shield EZs in 380, you know? That's what my 5'1" 120 wife carries - and loves.
On the other hand, our daughter, who is about the same size but younger (naturally) and much less experienced, carries an M&P Shield EZ in 9mm. She traded her Shield 380 (that she'd had since shortly after Smith came out with them) in on that Shield 9mm and doesn't regret doing so - she loves her Shield EZ 9mm.
However, she told her mom, "It doesn't kick any harder than the 380 I had." So, her mom (my wife) gave it a try.
I should probably tell you this - my wife has arthritis in her right thumb joint (no doubt at least in part due to the thousands of full-house 44 Magnum loads fired in IHMSA competition and practice for) and when she fired our daughter's new Shield EZ 9mm, the first words out of her mouth were, "It does to kick harder!!!"
At any rate, my wife stuck with her M&P Shield EZ 380 for EDC. She has a larger (and heavier) Sig P239 that she shoots really well because it doesn't hurt her when it goes off. But the P239 is harder for her to conceal, of course.

Gary H said:

My sense of thing is that seven months from now when they leave for college, that they should take what they best can shoot and handle after many months of practice.

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That's what I would suggest.

Gary H said:

With more time on the range, that might very well be the 9mm.

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Yep, could be.

To my knowledge, most college campuses are very much gun free zones and even weapons of any kind are forbidden. Unfortunately a college campus is probably the most likely place a young girl can run into trouble.

My daughters have shot all of my handguns big annd small and both handle 9mm very well. Without an assist from me, one settled on a Walther CCP M2 easy rack in 9mm while the other went with an LCP380. Neither would have been my first choice, but they handle and carry them well

It was interesting watching that process which involved working with an indoor gun range with a large array of rentals.

With the large array of power levels available in factory ammo, selecting a load they are comfortable with may be a hidden factor.

Last year I was in a gun store with a family working through their daughter going to college and what she needed to take with her for self defense.
After lots of looking and handling various pistols she picked a Sig P365 in 380. It's what fit her hand best and seemed to be what she felt comfortable with.

Gary H said:

They shoot and operate the Ruger more adeptly and with greater ease than the Shield

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If the Ruger Security 380 is easier for them to operate, then go that route.

I have not noticed any significant difference in recoil between my GLOCK 42 in 380 and my SIG 365 in 9mm. I would not hesitate to recommend either one. I have slight preference for the SIG because of caliber and the addition of a manual safety. Some here, would contend otherwise that a manual safety is a negative. I politely disagree. But recoil wise they are both very manageable.

.308 Norma said:

Smith builds M&P Shield EZs in 380,

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And in 9mm. My wife has the 380, SIL the 9. Very little difference in them except the 9 is slightly wider. The 15 year old, 115 pound, grand gurl shoots either one of them about the same.

Gary H said:

It seems to be a real challenge to find an effective candidate in 380. Lots of choices in 9mm.
I will add that we are now using Fiochi 95gr FMJ to train and Sig 90gr Elite V-Crown which tested in organic gel with cloth barrier out of an LDCP2 131/4” .44 diameter and Glock 42 121/2” and .46
Using 9mm: 147gr HST and a Fiochi 147gr for practi

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Yep, I'm a fan of 124 gr HST in 9mm. I've been carrying it for years and gift it to my daughter and her husband.

We tried a lot of .380 ammo looking for something that was shootable in 11oz plus pistols. HST was too hot as were Remington and Cor-Bon plus there were quite a few feeding problems. We settled on Hornady Critical Defense, and the lighter loading from Precision One. Both worked well. I'll have to give the V-Crown a try.

I was pleased with the way the Hornady worked overall for the .380. My first go-around with them for that caliber. We had no jams at all and target recovery was very good.

I hand-loaded all our practice ammo using Berry round nose for the .380 and RMR 124 gr for the 9's.

in my mind putting actual rounds on target beats calculated stopping power, until handgun ammo with a proximity fuse comes along. the big advantage of 9mm over 380acp here is the cheaper cost of the former equals more practice, only if one is comfortable with 9mm’s greater recoil and practices with it alot.

my personal experience from owning the s&w shield ez in both 9mm and 380acp, is 380acp is truly easy in this platform, a perfect match. i sold off the ez 9mm. i have handled, but not shot, the ruger security lite rack 380acp and s&w shield plus 9mm. the ruger feels very nice, in my hands, it would be my choice of the two. however the handgun i shoot the most, am most accurate with and carry most on road trips is my ruger sr22.

whatever is the young lady’s final choice i would add a naa mini 22lr with cv revision or folding grips to the mix, and insist that she carry it everywhere without a metal detector or badged & sworn peace officer at the entry.

Hokkmike said:

I have not noticed any significant difference in recoil between my GLOCK 42 in 380 and my SIG 365 in 9mm. I would not hesitate to recommend either one. I have slight preference for the SIG because of caliber and the addition of a manual safety. Some here, would contend otherwise that a manual safety is a negative. I politely disagree. But recoil wise they are both very manageable.

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I had a Glock 42 and a Sig P365 9mm at the range a couple of days ago, and the difference is significant to me. It's not that they are not manageable. They both are. The problem arises when you have to get off multiple shots quickly, especially if confronted by more than one assailant that requires a transition. The P365 is just a lot slower. Picking up the pace (and being able to use the 4 shot advantage in capacity) with the 365 takes a lot of practice and more regular range sessions. I am pretty sure I could quantify the difference with a shot timer, but I did not try it the last time I was at the range.

It's not until I go smaller than the 42 in .380 or shoot a blowback gun that the difference evens up.

WYO said:

I had a Glock 42 and a Sig P365 9mm at the range a couple of days ago, and the difference is significant to me. It's not that they are not manageable. They both are. The problem arises when you have to get off multiple shots quickly, especially if confronted by more than one assailant that requires a transition. The P365 is just a lot slower. Picking up the pace (and being able to use the 4 shot advantage in capacity) with the 365 takes a lot of practice and more regular range sessions. I am pretty sure I could quantify the difference with a shot timer, but I did not try it the last time I was at the range.

It's not until I go smaller than the 42 in .380 or shoot a blowback gun that the difference evens up.

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Interesting. It would be fun to shoot with you and compare live notes.

380/9MM it is not so much stopping power you need to be concerned with it is accuracy down range.

frogfurr said:

Perceived recoil depends on the type of gun, caliber, and the shooters interpretation. What others consider mild recoil can be harsh to me and what others consider harsh would be mild to me. Seen this many times. If possible it's best to let the shooter try it first.

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This is the best advice.

We can try to pick and choose a pistol for someone else but our choices might not work for them.