A friend of mine "volunteered" to take a ball round of 380 ACP in the chest oh, maybe 10, 12 years ago from arms length distance.
He is not with us any longer. He said "help me" and fell forward. His last words were to a friend of mine who was performing CPR. He began breathing again, begged her not to let him die, then expired a few minutes later. He was shot just above the heart in the aorta.
The criminal who shot him was high on several different things and ended up doing about nine(!) years.
The gun was a Loricin. The criminal wanted to see what it felt like to shoot another human.
I carry a 380 as an alternative to my snub revolver when I feel that a couple more shots may be needed. Regardless, they are both backup to a service-sized 9mm that I've not felt the need to stop packing in ten years.
For a backup, yes, I'll carry one. For a primary, well, I'd have to be dressed up with no way to conceal my service-sized pistol.
Regardless, pour more lead into the target during practice. There's a large gap between the 380's "stopping power" and the 9mm, 40, 45, etc. A 380 will not penetrate to optimum depth - the ball round did not exit my friend from near-contact distance. When I do carry a 380, I carry a heavy-for-caliber flatnose round. I will grant I've not tested the 102gr Golden Saber, so that may be an option. I simply do not know.
Same with 38 Spl - it gets a 158gr round. I don't trust these lighter rounds, even the 135gr Speer short barrel offering.
I voted that I would, but it's very conditional.
Josh <><