38 special or .380?

I have both .380 semi-autos and .38 Special revolvers. I have found I tend to carry the .380s more in the warm weather months as I feel they're easier to conceal with the clothes I'm wearing then. Likewise I feel revolvers work better for me when it's colder out and I'm wearing something like a lightweight jacket or coat.

Own and carry both. A small .380 like my Bodyguard makes a better pocket pistol than a J-frame but the 442 is better out of a holster.

Havent' yet decided if I'm going to carry the Beretta.

For me, either one is a pocket carry and I always opted for the flatter profile of the .380 pistols. Now I have a .45ACP pocket pistol, so I don't carry either. Still love my PPK/s and Detective Specials though and still think both are fine for carry.

krupparms said:

The .380 ACP in a sim (sp)i- auto pistol has been used as a police & military round for many years.

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Not in America as a first line of defense. A very few police depts may approve the .380 for off-duty or back-up carry, fewer still may issue one to detectives, but none issue them to street officers as their duty gun. And no US soldier is issued one. Traditionally, a .380 was issued to officers (German army for one) as a status symbol, not because of the effectiveness of the FMJ cartridge. If you have specific examples to the contrary, please cite them.

It still works in that role, so I would go with a good hi-cap model in .380ACP. Already made that choice years ago.

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For me, carrying a large, fat, heavy gun in .380 defeats the purpose of the cartridge, unless physical infirmities are present.

The cartridge excels in small, thin and light semi-autos, the best of which is the Sig 238

I don't own a 380 but my daughter-in-law carries either a 380 or a Glock 45 depending on what she is doing. The 380 is easier to carry and if I were in need of a deep carry it would be the 380.

Curiously, I did a comparison yesterday at the range shooting a Short Barrel 135 grain Gold Dot out of a snubby .38 into water filled milk jugs. Then, the 90 grain .380 Gold Dot out of the Sig 238

Both stopped in the 3rd jug, but the difference in the first jug was significant. The .38 tore it up pretty bad, spraying water up to 15 feet away. The .380 did pretty well, but not near up to the level of the .38.

Just my observation, nothing more.

...the best of which is the Sig 238

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That's certainly debatable.

I retired my S&W642 to my safe for my new Glock 42 with a born on date of May 21st, 2014. Just broke it in last week with over 200 rounds of ball plus 6 variety of defensive loads. My G42 ate everything I fed it and IMO has a number of advantages over the J frame, not the least of which is the fact that I shoot it much more accurately than I shoot my 642. Much better sights stock on the G42 but I also added some Trijicons to the G42....really nice. Another advantage of the G42 is it has extremely mild recoil compared to the j frame. Double taps with the G42 And finally, with a 6 +1 capacity, it has 2 more rounds than the j frame. I'm not going to sell my 642, but my G42 is my new bug.

Between those two calibers, I generally lean toward the .380 simply because if I go that small I want it for deep concealment. A tiny LCP fits the bill for that.

If I'm going to pack the weight of a revolver, I generally prefer a snub nose .357. However, I have no issue with the .38 special. I think it's a fine cartridge...just not the most packable in relation to the size of the gun.

CraigC said:

That's certainly debatable.

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Sure it is. Have at it.

22lr for urban, 25acp for bear country

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Why is it everytime a question like this is asked someone chimes in with a different more powerful cartridge?

Anyone should realize that the 22 LR is too powerful for urban defense. That's what the 22 Short is made for.

p.s. Since the O.P. seems to be talking about differences in the cartridges, not guns they are used in, the 38 Special far surpasses the 380.

.38spl for me. The .380 does not meet my minimum requirement for SD.

I can carry several from .45 on down including .38 AND .357 revolver but mostly tote the .380 LCP. When I find a single stack affordable 9mm that fits like an LCP I'll probably buy it.

Revolvers are for me. I will not carry less than Two, Five shot Revolvers loaded with 38+P. Every day all day.

David E said:

Not in America as a first line of defense. A very few police depts may approve the .380 for off-duty or back-up carry, fewer still may issue one to detectives, but none issue them to street officers as their duty gun. And no US soldier is issued one. Traditionally, a .380 was issued to officers (German army for one) as a status symbol, not because of the effectiveness of the FMJ cartridge. If you have specific examples to the contrary, please cite them.

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The Colt 1908 was issued to US Army officers into the 1970's
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Model_1903_Pocket_Hammerless

shooter1059 said:

Ok, I have a question for you all. If you only had a choice to carry a .38 special or a 380 auto, which would you choose and why? I know bigger is better but that's not the question.
Thanks

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I've carried one or another 5-shot S&W J-frame for many years. I presently own 7 of them. They include guns rated for standard pressure & +P .38 Spl, as well as a couple chambered in .357 Magnum (but which mostly see +P loads for training/carry use).

Back in 2012 I bought a Ruger LCP. Why? Because I wanted something slimmer and shorter than my J's, meaning something that would fit into the tighter front pockets (holstered) in some of my jeans with shorter pockets. The LCP fit the bill nicely.

So ... while I prefer to use a 5-shot snub loaded with a heavier bullet weight, the littler & slimmer .380 does fill a role for me.

I wouldn't carry it, however, if I couldn't run it rapidly, accurately & effectively in the usual variation of off-duty/CCW/Retiree qual courses-of-fire that run 1-11yds.

That said, I do find it easier to make faster, more controllable hits on steel at 30-50yds with any of my J's compared to the LCP. That's not what I bought it for, though.

Now, if I were just going to choose between the .38 Spl & .380 ACP based upon the overall range of potential ballistic "performance"? I'd not own that LCP.

Bottom line? In a couple of the LE-based training seminars I've attended in recent years, the venerable .38 snub & .380 pocket pistol have both been mentioned as having repeatedly saved the lives of on & off-duty cops. They still seem to work, presuming the shooter can use them effectively when needed.

I wouldn't recommend one caliber over the other without knowing a lot about the skillset & experience of any particular potential owner/shooter, either. Sometimes something about a particular platform/caliber may make it a better choice for an individual, even if it's not the "optimal" caliber within their consideration. Lots of room to be found between the "adequate" & "optimal" lines usually drawn, too.

Just depends.

I'll continue to carry one or the other, depending on my activities and clothing choices (concealment), as long as either fits in with my daily risk assessment.

OP, why are you asking? For yourself, or someone else, or simply to satisfy your curiosity of what other folks think?

Unless I am misremembering, the Colt was issued as a symbol of authority to very high ranking officers. The point that the US has never issued a .380 as a combat weapon is valid.

Depends on the .38 and .380.

Snub .38 like a S&W J .vs. Sig 232 sl is a tossup. But the little Ruger LCP or TCP type .380s are no where like a good J frame.

Deaf

In my mind either is about the same for me. I like my little 238 380 as it is easy to carry ALL THE TIME. Stainless, night sights and I can hit well with it.

The detective special is too nice to carry ALL THE TIME so it is more rarely done.

If I want a bit more control I move up to my Colt Gov 380 stainless and it carries well or I put a Beretta 84F (14 shot) in a IWB holster on the belt.

Like RC pointed out above, it is HIGHLY UNLIKELY I will need much of a gun. My worst concern is out walking in the neighborhood and someones dog causes issues. But the key is the 238 is always available.

Joe Demko said:

Unless I am misremembering, the Colt was issued as a symbol of authority to very high ranking officers. The point that the US has never issued a .380 as a combat weapon is valid.

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Well according to the Springfield Armory Museum: http://ww2.rediscov.com/spring/VFPCGI.exe?IDCFile=/spring/DETAILS.IDC,SPECIFIC=17405,DATABASE=objects,

"The Colt Pocket Model was issued when an officer received promotion to general during World War II. Reportedly, the new general had the choice of either the .32 ACP or .380 ACP when possible. In addition to being the standard sidearm for general officers, Colt Pocket Models were issued to agents of the Army Intelligence, Military Police, CID and Provost Marshalls. It has also been reported that some of these pistols were issued to military doctors and nurses. Substantial numbers were also acquired of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) to arm operatives and other clandestine personnel."

Guess it depends on how you want to count it. A 380 was issued to US Army soldiers. It wasn't meant to be a main combat weapon, but no handgun is.

Guess this is a carry gun?? The 38sp doesnot offer much over a 3 1/2" 380 in performance but you can have 3 times the ammo on hand with an great 4 1/2lb sa trigger after that first shot with a bersa thunder plus, 15+1 rounds. The weight is about the same as a normal steel snubby and the single stack smaller CC model are about like an airweight snubby.
http://www.bersa.com/bersa-firearms/thunder-plus.html

Fair enough, 56hawk.

Assuming this is for SD, I'd tend to lean toward .38 Special since I seem to just shoot/like revolvers better and the versatility of the round.

If it was a S&W J-frame or a Colt Detective special vs a SIG P232 or Colt government .380...I don't know.

Glad I can have both.

For the record I have .38spl.s & like them just fine! The way the OP asked his question, I thought it was one or the other & why. I gave my choice & explanation . Along with the Germany several other European countries issued the .380acp. as a COMBAT STANDARD! Alot of .380s saw use in WW1 & WW2. The Japanese also bought & sold .380s to Officers & Soldiers, who were required to buy their own handguns. Alot of .38spl.& .380acps along with other calibers were carried by U.S. soldiers during both wars. I like my J frames & K frames in .38spl., but for EDC, I'LL opt for that HI-CAP .380acp.! Thanks for that picture of the Colt 1908, 56hawk! I have the older 1903 Colt in .32acp. BTW. General Patton used his to shoot at germans on occasion!

56hawk said:

The Colt 1908 was issued to US Army officers into the 1970's

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You mean GENERALS like Eisenhower, Bradley and Patton received an engraved one with premium leather holster, etc.

A status symbol.