Hi Sniper...
"Stopping Power" is one of those topics that has had enough ink spilled about it to fill the Pacific - and some of what has been written was even true.
Fact is - people have been inventing modern cartridges since the late 1800s and everytime a new one comes out part of the obligation of its' promoters is to tell why it is ever so much better than anything that came before it - which includes pointing out the ALLEGED shortcomings of the older cartridges. I have been reading such pap since the 50s.
The .380 - just like the 30/30 and many other cartridges - has been badmouthed by umpteen writers, marketing types, and "experts" - all of whom were promoting something "new" - and all of it is Hooey.
Perhaps the classic example is the .270 Winchester which hit the light of day in 1925. A boatload of rifle cartridges have been developed since then but
NONE of them will do
anything that needs doing
any better than the .270 for hunting in this hemisphere. An Thass a Fac, Jac !
But back to the .380. The cartridge is
more than adequete as a self-defense cartridge. The
real "effectiveness" crux of any self-defense weapon is, as others have said, how well YOU USE IT.
I once watched someone put five shots from a .22 caliber Browning Buckmark into half a playing card in approx. 3 seconds at 25 feet.
That is what effective self-defense capability is all about.