Do you have a 380 in your rotation ?

[Weevil]

Okay, I'll buck the trend. Nope. I considered the .380 acp several years back when I started carrying and decided that anyone that scares me bad enough to need shooting, needs shooting with at least a .38.

Ooookay.....


You feel confident with a .38 but don't think the .380 is adaquate?


What's the difference???


Same diameter bullet.

.380 launches a 90 or 95 gr. bullet at about 1000 fps. and delivers right around 200ft lbs of energy.


The .38 spl launches a 110 gr at about a 1000 fps and delivers about 230ft lbs of energy
or a 125 gr bullet at 800 fps and about 180ft lbs

Now it does have a the heavy 148 or 158 gr bullets but these still only deliver about 200ft lbs of energy to the target and are way too slow for using an HP that will expand reliably.


I guess I'm missing something.

What is it that makes you feel the .38 is a more effective round???

 

[MICHAEL T]

IWB, Bersa Thunder .PPK/S
Pocket carry Colt Mustang , KelTec

 

[19-3Ben]

LCP in my pocket as I type this. Been there since I first put my pants on this morning.

 

[ChristopherG]

What is it that makes you feel the .38 is a more effective round???

My .38 carry round is a speer 135 gr. gold dot made for short barrel revolvers. It makes 825-850 fps from my j-frame. It's got a bullet profile that would never feed in a semi and one that I trust to perform as designed (read: great gaping hole in the front):

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=738035

100 grains is about the upper limit AFAIK for .380, and I just don't trust a 100 grain bullet to penetrate adequately (in either a .380 or a .38). Kinetic energy calculations don't produce adequate penetration: the right bullet does.

The ballistic difference, I'll grant you, is not huge. But in my thinking, the greater freedom of bullet design (think hollowpoint lead semiwadcutter--which, BTW, is a 158 gr bullet that will expand pretty reliably from a snub--or the extreme design of my GoldDots) and the greater bullet weight (/sectional density) give a significant edge to the .38. For others, I realize, the calculus is different; and the edge in concealability enjoyed by the .380 (which I'll grant without argument) is perhaps a 'tipping point' for them. For me, the .38 is the ballistic ground floor for a SD cartridge, and the .380 does not quite equal it.

 

[aryfrosty]

.380?

Yes, I do and really like my Sig P238. It carries well and is dependable. With judicious choices in ammunition it will do anything I need it to do. It dresses up nice, too. I bought a nice set of "Horned Lizard" grips and it already has everything else it needs.

 

[451 Detonics]

With the size of the PF-9 I see no need to go to a smaller caliber for pocket carry. With a decent pocket holster, I use one from Tuff Products, it fits well enough in all of my pant's pockets. Plus I have been known to use a belly band on occasion.

 

[kokapelli]

Ooookay.....


You feel confident with a .38 but don't think the .380 is adaquate?


What's the difference???


Same diameter bullet.

.380 launches a 90 or 95 gr. bullet at about 1000 fps. and delivers right around 200ft lbs of energy.


The .38 spl launches a 110 gr at about a 1000 fps and delivers about 230ft lbs of energy
or a 125 gr bullet at 800 fps and about 180ft lbs

Now it does have a the heavy 148 or 158 gr bullets but these still only deliver about 200ft lbs of energy to the target and are way too slow for using an HP that will expand reliably.


I guess I'm missing something.

What is it that makes you feel the .38 is a more effective round???

Energy in these calibers is irrelevant.

 

[Weevil]

ChristopherG,

Yeah I'll agree the .38 does offer a greater variety of bullet options.

And they are a bit heavier but I don't know as I would go so far as to consider them as having a "significant" edge over a .380.

Personally I consider them both pretty anemic and basically in the same class and would much rather have a 9mm or .357 magnum which actually do have what I consider a significant edge.

I guess we all have our own bottom line though.

 

[ChristopherG]

I guess we all have our own bottom line though.

Exactly

 

[Weevil]

Energy in these calibers is irrelevant.

Ooookay......



So since .380 and .38 spl are using the same diameter bullet at virtually the same velocity and only slightly different bullet weights then what makes one more effective than the other???


So if energy is irrelevant then what's the point of using a .357 magnum instead of a .38 spl???

Or are you saying there is no difference between these two calibers as far as their effectiveness???

 

[tomwalshco]

Kel-Tec P3AT - pocket carry mainly.
Kahr P380 - all other times I need tiny.

Like them both very much - very reliable and accurate, really. Kel-Tec will feed anything, Kahr pickier with the russian lacquer coated stuff.

Like the P380 because I have 2 other Kahrs and the triggers identical on all. Important for accuracy and follow ups. Kinda like Glocks.

Don't feel undergunned with a 380, but prefer larger when possible.

 

[kokapelli]

Ooookay......



So since .380 and .38 spl are using the same diameter bullet at virtually the same velocity and only slightly different bullet weights then what makes one more effective than the other???


So if energy is irrelevant then what's the point of using a .357 magnum instead of a .38 spl???

Or are you saying there is no difference between these two calibers as far as their effectiveness???

357 higher velocities increases bullet performance in respect to penetraption and expansion. Once we get to 9 mm there is a clear edge in performance over the 38 and 380 rounds.

IMO 38 spl has a slight edge over 380, but not enough so for me to want to carry a thicker, larger, heavier and slower to reload five shot revolver. Not to mention that I don't shoot snubbies that accurately.

 

[Caliper_Mi]

Does anyone here find the need to keep one in your rotation?

Nope. Costs more than 9mm for less bang. My PF9 is plenty concealable and nicer to shoot than the P3AT I rented, although pocket carry does require the right pants (cargo pants of khakis).

 

[Weevil]

357 higher velocities increases bullet performance in respect to penetraption and expansion. Once we get to 9 mm there is a clear edge in performance over the 38 and 380 rounds.

IMO 38 spl has a slight edge over 380, but not enough so for me to want to carry a thicker, larger, heavier and slower to reload five shot revolver. Not to mention that I don't shoot snubbies that accurately.

Okay I see what you're saying and I agree.


Both are too low velocity to reliably expand and get good deep penetration, and even with an expanding bullet you're not gonna get much of an "energy dump" with these low power calibers anyway.

That's why I only use FMJ in these two calibers and for all practical purposes there is no difference between them when using FMJ. Same size hole and both will most likely get through and through penetration with FMJ.

 

[QUICK_DRAW_McGRAW]

P3AT to match the Sigma 40, and PT1911 in .45

 

[halfmoonclip]

Hard to argue with the all-the-time convenience of pocket carry, tho' I would counsel a pocket holster, and nothing else in the pocket.

I also like the simplicity of double action only. I've been using the LCP, and recently picked up a Kahr P380. Prefer the Kahr for sights, trigger and ergonomics, tho' I did have some teething troubles with it. Use the Gold Dots in either; they have a good rep for reliability, decent expansion and penetration, but don't tend to fragment and break up.
Moon

 

[arizona98tj]

Nope.

I have a Kahr PM9 and it is the smallest I carry. I've no desire to go smaller and I like using my regular 9mm range ammo for the PM9 when it comes time to practice.

 

[makarovnik]

I have three .380's and two .32's

 

[Ben86]

I carry a Ruger LCP in my pocket occasionally, with a spare magazine in my left pocket.

 

[PRM]

....

 

[REAPER4206969]

Yes.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Ruger LCP with Crimson Trace Laser in an Uncle Mike's #2 pocket holster = comfortable all day carry option.

 

[iblong]

Yes I have a P3AT and its been 100%,but its what I carry when I cant carry a pistol.I do not carry it verry often as a primary but it does have its place.
And I'll always have it around.

 

[herbertj]

yes p3at.

 

[Simmy952]

I switch between a Sig P238 & a DB380.