MotorCraft
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I do for safety. My Ruger is a 357 magnum but factory chambered for 38 Special only from the factory
380 vs. 9mm compact (not pocket)
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I do for safety. My Ruger is a 357 magnum but factory chambered for 38 Special only from the factory
TomJ
Contributing Member
I had Sig's P238 (.380) and P938 (9mm). The 238 did shoot softer, but the recoil on the 938 is manageable. Given that they were for CC and the differences between the calibers was, IMO substantial enough, I kept the 938. If you are going to keep the .380, take a look at Buffalo Bore's 100 grain hard cast round. It does not expand, but has plenty of penetration, which is one of the issues with .380's. I'm not saying it's an ineffective round, as many people use it for self defense, but the numbers are clearly in favor of the 9mm.
and then you have this -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=wOwCXXpEP50
sorry -- can't get link to work
Ok - now it works
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=wOwCXXpEP50
sorry -- can't get link to work
Ok - now it works
JN01
Member
You seem to be arguing for the .380, so apparently that is what you want. Go for it.
guyfromohio
Member
I'm ok with the .380, but a Hipoint? Come on! Way better .380s out there.... Real classics like the PPK, Beretta 84, CZ, Sig....
Vodoun da Vinci
Member
I prefer 9mm as my go to caliber in carry guns - I'd shoot .40 or .45 if I could manage the recoil and get fast, accurate follow ups with the larger bullets but I can't. 9mm is a compromise for me.
My Wife, in the same tests, can't manage a 9mm even though she'd like too and loves my Glock 26...it just beats her up. Her preference by a long ways is the Glock 42 in .380.
The only reason to not get the .380 is if you can handle the more powerful 9mm in accurate rapid fire just as well. If the 9mm is just a little too much and you can't train confidently enough with it to get past that then use the .380. My philosophy is to shoot the biggest/most powerful handgun that you can competently manage and get accurate, rapid follow ups with. Depending on skill level and training, you may find after a few months/years that you can handle a larger, more powerful caliber with consistent training.
In that case move up as/if you feel that happen if your goal is carry for SD. If it's just for target or shooting for fun? Pick yer favorite and don't look back. I had no use for .380 a year ago preferring .32 until we got my Wife a G42 in .380. I now think that's an excellent choice in guns and caliber for people that it appeals to and use it effectively.
VooDoo
MotorCraft
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How do draw that conclusion?
Agreed, but I like to keep on the side of caution.
Maximum pressure recommended by SAAMI: .22 Long and Long Rifle = 24,000
MotorCraft
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Ok, I got 9mm has less expensive, has bullet more selections, better general availability, and more stopping power. 380ACP is just lower pressure and slightly lower recoil (maybe). Thanks.
For years I've had a Beretta 8FS .380 in my carry rotation. Yes, it is big for a .380, but it is accurate, reliable, and easy to shoot. I have no problem carrying this gun for SD. However, I do find myself carrying a 9MM a bit more, and with today's light, and slim 9MM choices it is hard to justify the .380 for SD.
My first handgun was a Beretta 70S. It drew blood when fired too much, kicked hard, was unreliable, and I experienced small parts breakage after 500 rounds. It was never as reliable as a full sized 9mm. If concerned about pressure levels of the nine you can shoot standard pressure ammo and change the recoil spring when needed.
I would much rather have a compact 9 than a 380. I am not a fan of Glocks, but a small Glock can be shot with greater accuracy than I could get from the 380 I owned. There is a large variety of good ammo available for the 9 mm.
I also don't get the lower pressure argument. I wouldn't shoot a lot of +p ammo out of many 9s, but you can get more lifespan out of a good quality 9 than any 380 out there. If you are concerned about longevity, just go with a pistol designed to pass service demands, and that will be at least 10,000 shots fired.
I would much rather have a compact 9 than a 380. I am not a fan of Glocks, but a small Glock can be shot with greater accuracy than I could get from the 380 I owned. There is a large variety of good ammo available for the 9 mm.
I also don't get the lower pressure argument. I wouldn't shoot a lot of +p ammo out of many 9s, but you can get more lifespan out of a good quality 9 than any 380 out there. If you are concerned about longevity, just go with a pistol designed to pass service demands, and that will be at least 10,000 shots fired.
Onward Allusion
Member
I'm not laughing. They are both very decent guns for the money. A little on the heavy side for CC'ing but it's do-able. Keep in mind that although the 9mm will generate a little more recoil, the Hi Points have pretty hefty slides. Recoil on the 9mm is soft. Between the two, I'd recommend the C9.
.380 is a 9x17 mm short and is very lethal. Going at around 1000 fps which is only around 200 fps less than the 9x19 mm Luger it is nothing I would not want to get hit with.
The 9 mm short/Corto or .380 auto has filled many a grave in Europe since WWII.
The 9 mm short/Corto or .380 auto has filled many a grave in Europe since WWII.
Not that I'm defending the 380 against the 9mm, but the fact is that the 9mm at 200fps faster is also a much heavier bullet.
Most 380 rounds are around 90 to 95gr while most 9mm rounds are 115 to 147gr bullets.
However the 380 in fmj will still penetrate more than adequately for defensive situations.
If your using a Micro 380 like an LCP/P238 Critical Defense consistantly penetrates less than 12" from these short barrels.
If less than 12" of penetration is ok with you, go for it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-xOpHWKgPA
Since before WWII.
The 380 ACP is referred to as "the bullet that started World War I", as Gavrilo Princip used a Fabrique Nationale Model 1910 semi-automatic pistol, chambered in 380 ACP to assassinate Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Archduke_Franz_Ferdinand_of_Austria
The gun that killed Archduke Ferdinand:
http://www.historicalfirearms.info/post/97683056689/the-gun-that-killed-archduke-franz-ferdinand-fn
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Wow...further back than I thought. Learn something new everyday! Guess it's all a mater of choice. Some guys go for redheads and some guys go for blonds. I have seen what a .380 can do and it was very effective. I am very pleased with my Kahr CW 380.
Berger.Fan222
Member
If you can, try them both in the guns you are comparing. The 9mm is pretty snappy in most guns that are chambered in both. I don't like the 9mm in small guns, but in medium and full sized pistols, I would prefer the 9mm for the extra power.
Most 9mm pistols are actually built to at least handle NATO ammunition. All of the guns that are or were ever carried by NATO forces were rated to handle 9mm NATO.
With 380 pistols, they are designed around the standard 380 ACP. There is no other SAAMI pressure rating.
I don't see why +P 380 ammo wouldn't wear and eventually shake apart your average 380 pistol since the pistols weren't designed to shoot anything but THE 380 ACP round which is rated at 21500 psi.
http://shootingthebull.net/blog/why-i-wont-use-or-test-380-acp-p-or-any-p-ammo/
With 380 pistols, they are designed around the standard 380 ACP. There is no other SAAMI pressure rating.
I don't see why +P 380 ammo wouldn't wear and eventually shake apart your average 380 pistol since the pistols weren't designed to shoot anything but THE 380 ACP round which is rated at 21500 psi.
http://shootingthebull.net/blog/why-i-wont-use-or-test-380-acp-p-or-any-p-ammo/
Agreed but the CM 9 is a 9x19 Luger pistol. The CW 380 is the .380. All I was saying is that of all the 9x19 single stack nines, Ruger, Kel Tec etc. the Kahr has the most manageable recoil in a gun that size.
It has one hell of a recoil spring that really tames the beat down. The CW 380 has a 2 spring combo that really helps with recoil also in my opinion. They made me happy enough to buy them.
It has one hell of a recoil spring that really tames the beat down. The CW 380 has a 2 spring combo that really helps with recoil also in my opinion. They made me happy enough to buy them.
1SOW
Member
The single best reason to go with the 9mm is what Deaf Smith said:
Other than physical size "maybe" being an issue, 9mm can throw a heavier bullet at the same speed as a 380 and have very light recoil (and low pressures).
Other than physical size "maybe" being an issue, 9mm can throw a heavier bullet at the same speed as a 380 and have very light recoil (and low pressures).
OneSevenDeuce
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Don't buy too deeply into the "stopping power" jargon. As someone already mentioned, all handgun ammunition is inadequate to a large degree. Is there a reason to choose 9mm over 380? You tell me. Firearms chambered in 380 can get very small and the recoil remains manageable. That's a plus for some people. 9mm is a heavier (generally) bullet with a higher pressure curve. That's a plus for others. What do you shoot best out of your firearm of choice? That's what I would ask you.
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