Torn

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tooltech

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Dec 27, 2009
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Mead Colorado
I'm torn. My wife has somewhat hesitantly been considering her concealed carry. She enjoys shooting, and is becoming a pretty good shot, but when it comes to carry she kind of hems and haws.

Until today. We went to our range, and while she rolled her eyes:rolleyes: I checked out the gun case. :D They had a Ruger LC9 that I took a look at, and then she started talking to the counterman/owner. He sent her out to the line with two pistols to try. A Bersa Thunder .380, and a S&W Bodyguard .380. She shot both of them very well, but decided that all else being equal, the Bodyguard was a better choice, as it is so much smaller.

There is my dilemma. I really don't like .380 for self defense. But she actually brought up taking a pistol class, then her CCW class. Without my prompting. We had dinner with friends, and she referred to it as "her" Bodyguard.

She proved to both of us that she shoots my 1911 better, but can put 6 shots from the .380 into 6" at 21 feet. I've heard many people complain about the recoil from pocket pistols, but that bothered her not at all.

I have a feeling that this is already a lost cause, but at the same time it's a victory of sorts. It was only a year or so ago that she even started to enjoy shooting. Before then, I would almost have to drag her to the range, where she would shoot 1 or 2 mags, and call it good. She now happily shoots .380, 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP.
 
Better to have her carry a .380 then no gun at all. If she is happy and you won't be able to have her carry a larger caliber willingly then let it be.
 
If she can shoot the .380 good and she will carry it, Then she should. It may not be the best to you but something is better than nothing and IIRC, People have said a .380 on your person is better than a .45 left at home!

Plus, Be happy. You have a shooting partner who you can enjoy your time with. A lot of people can't get there better half to even show a slight interest in guns and shooting.

If you ask me, Its a win-win situation.
 
Pretty much echoing what others have said, if SHE likes a .380 for self defense, well, it's certainly going to be better than nothing. It's still certainly a capable round, especially with good ammunition.
 
As I also carry of .380, I've done some research and the round, with defense ammo, is pretty decent at its job. Of course a larger round would be better, but all handgun rounds aren't that great at stopping an attacker. It's all about finding the best compromise and stopping power isn't the only factor in that equation.

In the end, however, it's her decision. Let her get the gun, even if you don't think much of it's stopping power. Later on, when she's more confident, she may well trade up, but that's up to her.
 
As echoed above, her choice,her gun; (later you can"help" her step up).
 
There was a time when I would carry nothing that didn't start with a 4.

These days I'm carrying either a 9mm or 38 special.

I'm considering a 380, myself. There was a time when I wouldn't have, but that time has long passed. I've seen too many reports of what happened with well placed shots in calibers even smaller than 380.

We all carry what we want and feel comfortable with. If you tried to force me into something slightly different than what I wanted, I'd just quit shooting.
 
She carries what "speaks" to her and she is comfortable with. Why do you carry what you do? Because some internet commando/expert says it is the best thing since white bread? I carry what my attire dictates for the day. From a 3AT to a Steyr 40. I leave the 1911 at home because when the time comes to have to pull the trigger, I don't want to be distracted by switches/levers/hammer that to have to be manipulated before it will go bang, plus I have never been comfortable with cocked and locked....chris3
 
My wife carries a ruger lcr with ct grips and shoots it pretty well but when she feels like something smaller she carries my keltec p3at (380). I always figured that something was always better than nothing so its her choice. My edc is a keltec pf9 but it doesn't bother me to down grade to a .380 if I need something smaller, I've even carried a na 22mag at times.
 
I carry a Thunder .380 during the summer months when my .44 is hard to conceal. I carry two extra mags just in case. I figure 21 rounds of 380 should be able to match 6-12 of .44

Keep her practicing, help her get proficient in drawing as fast as possible, and putting her entire magazine on target at SD ranges.
 
Look at it this way...someday when she comes after you, I doubt the thought running through your head will be "whew, glad she only has a 380.":neener:
 
It may not be a popular answer but regardless of the caliber hopefully just the sight of a gun will stop any attacker. If shots must be fired, even a well placed .380 will stop a person.

And yes, under pressure a well place shot can be even harder but a barrage of gunfire regardless of caliber may also stop an attacker.

Like said earlier... any size gun is better than no gun.
 
Take a lesson from the antis, and "compromise" with a .380...for now. My wife picked out a Beretta .32 for her first gun (when we lived in a non-carry state). While the POS was back at the Beretta factory for a cracked frame, she made due with a 9mm, and decided that she liked that better anyway. That was over 15 years ago, and she's gotten away from guns BUT we now live in a carry-friendly state, and I recently talked her into getting her CCW "just in case". She doesn't carry, or ever plan to carry, but I have convinced her that she should shoot a little more, just so she remembers how to handle a gun if needed*. Who knows, in another 15 years maybe she'll be CCWing at the old-folks home.


* For where we live, "if needed" is much more likely to be dispatching a skunk or putting down a hurt animal than defending against two-legged critters. At least that's the way it is today. If she thought there was the least likelihood that she would need her gun "in town" to protect her children, she'd be carrying 24/7
 
Let her exercise the same selection options that many of us took, as she finds what she likes and ends up with. She may move on from this selection as time goes by. Or not.
 
My wife carries a Bersa .380 as her primary EDC, I have no problem with it.
She likes it slimness, weight, capacity & recoil, and she is damned good with it,
She actually prefers revolvers & wants a S&W M10 or M27 for her birthday.

Screw all the caliber wars, the .380 is a decent SD round.
All that really matters is multiple rounds into center of mass.
"Baby, don't stop shooting till the bad guy stops being a threat, either drops or runs like hell."

Let your wife make the decision.
If she doesn't like/love the gun... She won't carry it. :(
 
Last edited:
ChileRelleno said:
Let your wife make the decision.
If she doesn't like/love the gun... She won't carry it. :(
Click to expand...
This is the same concept from the gun fit thread. If you hate your equipment, you won't have the desire to use it compared to having equipment that you enjoy.
 
Picking a weapon is like picking a spouse it's best not to let someone else do it for you. If your wife likes the .380 be glad she has found something she will carry and practice with.
 
tooltech: What reservations do you have about the .380 auto? is it a lack of stopping power? Is it because it doesn't start with a ".4"?
 
There's nothing wrong at all with the .380. It can still do th ejob. Showing a perp a gun is enough to deter his intentions.
 
Showing a perp a gun is enough to deter his intentions.
Click to expand...
I despise hearing this! :fire:

You pull that weapon, you danged well better be using it without hesitation.
You 'Pull' (pun) that crud and you could very well be charged with brandishing and/or menacing.
Know what constitutes brandishing/menacing according to your Local/State laws
 
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