.380, 9mm, or .38 special?

[greenr18]

If you had a choice of which caliber your next handgun would be, which would you choose?

 

[Glockman17366]

My next handgun will be a Ruger LCP which is why I selected .380.

 

[oneounceload]

I'll take a 9mm in a revolver - the S&W 547 with a 3" barrel

 

[DeepSouth]

I had to go with .380 just because I want the Ruger LCP, but normally I won't go smaller than a .40 My preference is usually a good ol' fashion .45

 

[marshallu]

9 mm, already have a 380 and don't like 38 special.

 

[FoMoGo]

None of them start with a .4
Needs more options.


Jim

 

[greenr18]

no ones a fan of .38 special?

 

[HannibalHungry]

How convenient, the reason I joined THR resulted from stumbling upon a discussion on the Micro Desert Eagle .380 auto.

I actually own a Glock 17 9mm, as well as a taurus .357 mag (which also fires .38 spcl) So the next child I want to adopt needs to have .380 auto in its name.

The discussion on THR about the .380 deringers seems to have convinced me the MDE might not be the best buy. I have always loved the Ruger product.

 

[bluetopper]

I love shooting my 38 Special cast lead reloads in my four revolvers and my semi-auto pistol. Makes for great extended range sessions and good cheap fun.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

I have all those listed but a Makarov 9X18mm (Russki commercial model) replaced the .380acp for carry and the .38/.357mag Ruger for bed-post pistol. laugh if you wish.

 

[Monster Zero]

.38 special for me

I've been planning for another 642 for awhile now, but the new Ruger LCR is gonna get a look.

.38 special is common and ubiquitous, at least today. It doesn't fling my brass all around, it's easy to reload for and has a long case life.

IT GOES BLAM EVERY TIME. If it doesn't go blam, just pull the trigger again.

And it would hurt very much to be hit with it.

Much like choosing a wife, one might say. Beautiful and exotic are alluring attributes, but they come with high maintenance attached.

Consistency, reliability, and effectiveness in any situation are all more important.

Thus my opinion, "There's really only one CCW handgun in the world, and it's the Smith 642. All the rest are imitations."

Notwithstanding the Smith 442 or maybe the new Ruger, of course.

 

[lawboy]

I voted 38spl. I love this caliber. I shoot many thousands of rounds of 38spl. each year. Shoot more. Worry about caliber less. Just make sure whatever you buy you can afford to and do shoot the hell out of it! If is a lightweight gun meant for a lot of miles and not a lot of shots, then buy one to carry and one to shoot. BUT YOU HAVE GOT TO TRAIN A LOT TO STAY ON TOP OF YOUR GAME. Almost any gun will do. The question is, will you?
A better question is, what and when will your next training session be?

 

[ArmedBear]

BUT YOU HAVE GOT TO TRAIN A LOT TO STAY ON TOP OF YOUR GAME.

Reality: CCW carriers who have stopped a violent crime are not all a bunch of weekend paintball, weeknights at IDPA shoots people.

A gun is not a magic wand to stop all attackers. But it's not a concert violin, either.

 

[mbt2001]

I voted .380 because I need a good .380 as a CCW. The logic here being is that I have 9's and .38's already and prefer an auto for self defense and can pick up the Bersa or the Bersa 'concealed' for under $400.00

I would PREFER to get a Walther PPS in 9mm, but we are talking real money not monopoly money.

 

[ArmedBear]

Probably none of the above, unless I get a tiny 9mm for CCW, when I get around to getting my Idaho permit.

I'd get a second J-Frame, though. I love those things. Just not sure how I'd carry it.

 

[cerberus65]

If you had a choice

You mean I don't get a choice?

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

I chose .380 since I'm looking around for an LCP.

 

[1KPerDay]

38 Special cast lead reloads in my four revolvers and my semi-auto pistol.

you have a semi-auto .38 special? what is it?

 

[rswartsell]

Shopping for a Browning HP.

 

[greenr18]

Shopping for a Browning HP

I love High Powers, always been my favorite 9mm handgun.

 

[Treo]

None of the above?

 

[svxapeal]

I bought a .357, because it could shoot both .38's and .357. After 2 cylinders of .38's, I decided to try the .357's. After that I never went back to the .38's, it just didn't have the recoil I desire. I then got my Taurus 445, and sold my Ruger .357 because it no longer fit any of my wants in a gun. So to answer the above question none of the above...my next gun will be a 8 round shot gun, then a new rifle. For now...my handgun needs are covered by ones that start with .4

Caryn

 

[bluetopper]

you have a semi-auto .38? what is it?

I was intentionally vague hoping some one might ask.
S&W Model 52........just shoots 38 Spl wadcutters. A legend in bullseye circles.

 

[Eightball]

Voted 9mm, as I'm hoping to pick up a Kahr.

Though, a KTP3AT is tempting.

If you'd caught me about a month ago, .38 special woulda been it, but I already bought my 638

 

[1KPerDay]

S&W Model 52........just shoots 38 Spl wadcutters.

Yeah, that's the only one I could think of. Nice.

 

[CoRoMo]

If you had a choice...

Luckily, I do, but I'm unsure which it will be.
If a hi-cap ban seems imminent, then the XDm9 moves to the top of the handgun list.