.380, 9mm, or .38 special?

[tube_ee]

.38 Special.

1) Accurate. Very accurate. Both the cartridge itself and the guns that shoot it. Size being about equal, your average sixgun will outshoot your average brasschucker, IME. And even among revolvers, the .38 Special has a long-standing reputation for accuracy.

2) Bullet weight. The .38 is at its best with a heavier bullet than the .380 or the 9x18. I think this matters. Some don't. It'll never be answered.

3. Bullet shape. The lack of a need to feed up and out of a magazine allows for bullet shapes to be designed with only terminal performance in mind. A 9x19 sixgun would negate this, except that nobody makes ammo designed to take advantage of that platform/caliber combo.

I guess it's mostly about the platform, but the cartridge itself has some things to recommend it as well.

The .380 isn't even in the running, IMHO.

--Shannon

 

[greenr18]

.38 special automatic = very cool Parisite

 

[bluetopper]

Colt also made a 38 wadcutter gun in the 1911 platform way back when. I have two shooting buddies who have them. We shoot our 148gr cast lead reloads out of them regularly.

 

[jad0110]

38 Special for me ...

... in fact, I just picked one up myself, a sweet Model 15-2 made in 1965 ...

 

[exflatlander]

I'd like to find another beretta 92 (preferably a compact or a Centurion). I wouldn't be disappointed with a CZ 75, Browning HP or a 1911 in 9mm either.

 

[heavyshooter]

no ones a fan of .38 special?

.38 special got my vote. I would go with a +P.

Heavy

 

[Shytheed Dumas]

I have two 9mm's (Kahr PM9 & Stoeger Cougar 8000) and my .38 special is a S&W 642, so of the three my next would definitely be a .380; probably a Ruger LCP.

 

[The_Shootist]

I voted .380 as thats the one calibre I don't have. Probably a SIG P232. However, its way down the list as I have a Bulgy Mak thats no worse than a .380, and my 642/G19 seem to be doing most CCW service. Especially the 642.

 

[Ben86]

None of the above. My next pistol will be a .45. Not that I'm a 9mm basher or anything.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Don't know about the next one- don't even know if there will be a next one. But the last two were .38 Specials- a pair of 642s with no internal locks and consecutive serial numbers. Just got them back from their trigger/action jobs- sweet!

lpl (now officially an old phart, carrying a pair of J frames)

 

[KeithET]

Of the three I would most likely get a S&W J frame probably a 442. I have wanted a small snubby in 38 special for a couple of years. Already have three 9mm and one 380.

KeithET

 

[lawboy]

ArmedBear, I understand your point and agree that people with little or no training have succeeded in surviving violent conflict with or without a weapon. However, if you strap on a gun for CCW then you strap on a responsibility to be as proficient in its use (which includes concealing it, deploying, it, using it, etc.) and you do dramatically increase your chances of doing all of that right if you train with the weapon regularly under stress. Just because some people get lucky is no reason to start touting luck as the proficiency standard.

 

[makarovnik]

I need a tiny little P3AT so .380. I prefer the 9mm but in the small package I'm looking for I would have to go with a Roughbach and I think they are expensive and probably painful to shoot.

 

[orionengnr]

Well, maybe another P7. I've owned a number of them through the years, keep selling them and then end up wanting one again Wish I could make up my mind.

While I own several .357 revolvers, I only one one .38 (j-frame) and it may be gone this week.

As far as .380s go, I've been down Kel-Tec Road several times, and won't be returning. I have an LCP, works great, been through the recall and back, but I'm still not sure I trust the cartridge, so it may be gone one day soon, too.

 

[skoro]

Mine will be a .380; either Ruger LCP or KelTec p-3AT.

 

[armoredman]

9mm, CZ-P07.

 

[Niles Coyote]

Having all three already, this is a tough question... I guess I would have to wait around until I came across some thing speical.

 

[Boba Fett]

Fan of the 9mm in general. I don't CC it (just personal preference). But I do like the amount of recoil and the accuracy I've developed with it (especially out of my Baby Eagle).

Though since I shoot all three, I'm not against the other two either. I'd probably take 38 special next and then 380 last. Depending on the firearm they're being shot from, they all have their places, their advantages, and their disadvantages.

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

May want to reconsider the LCP purchase. At least give it a year before you buy. People are still finding issues with them.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=411170

To paraphrase orchidhunter, do you really want to be another uncompensated Ruger beta tester?

 

[Kind of Blued]

9mm or .38 Special. That's as wussy as I get.

 

[jc650]

I voted .380 as I am patiently waitin for my LCP to arrive at my dealer. I already have a 9mm and a 357/38.

 

[riverdog]

Why would having 9mm and a 357/38 handguns mean you need a .380? I'd take a second 9mm way before I'd bother with a .380.

I voted 9mm.

 

[jc650]

Not that I need a .380, I just want an LCP.

 

[Ben86]

I've already got 3 9mms so I want a true pocket gun. I'm not really into revolvers so it will most likely be a .380. Being a Ruger fan it will most likely be an LCP.

 

[MCgunner]

I've got 9s and .38s. I need an LCP or P3AT. They have uses that bigger guns can't fill and I need one in my battery.

 

[Big Bill]

no ones a fan of .38 special?

Speak for yourself! I love my S&W 642 .38 Special +P.