Is Less More?

[marb4]

After listening in on a "capacity vs caliber" discussion the other day at my LGS I thought I'd post a poll and get your opinions on the following scenario...

For concealed carry, assuming pistols of similar size, reliability, accuracy, etc, would you rather carry a 380 with 8 rounds or a 9mm with 6?

I'm asking regarding hypothetical weapons, not any specific brand, model, etc. Curious to hear your opinions. Thanks.

 

[skoro]

In my case, I'd go for the 9mm. Heck, most of the time I carry a 5 shot 38 snub and feel like it's plenty.

 

[mesinge2]

I carry a 7+1 shot 9mm S&W Shield in my pocket and feel fine with it.

 

[BSA1]

I carry 9 x 9. 9 rounds in subcompact 9mm SIG P239.

 

[jakk280rem]

Yeah, I'm gonna have to go with 6 9mm's.

 

[CWL]

9mm as well, doesn't matter how many you carry as much as whether you hit your target.

Most SD shootings end after 2 rounds being fired, so even if you carry a pistol with 30-rd mags, you probably won't get close to needing all of them as long as your first few are on-target.

 

[Hometeached1]

It really depends on what two pistols it would be...I tend to not like micro 9x19mm pistols, but I'm not crazy about most .380s either.

I would carry a SIG P232 (.380) before I would most micro 9mms, because it seems I can not miss with that pistol, (which is saying something for me.) but that being said I would prefer a S&W 3913 (8+1, so it's cheating on this list. )

So I guess........all things being equal I'd go.....6+1 of 9mm vs 8+1 of .380....hey could I vote for my Shorty 45 with 7+1 since it's in the middle?!

Sorry if this does not answer your question, but it really depends on how well I can get good hits with the firearm while moving or at speed.

 

[tommy.duncan]

I picked 380. I have been carrying my PPK a lot recently. I only own full size 9mm pistols so, at this point I can only carry hi-cap in 9mm.

 

[TarDevil]

Why do you assume .380s offer more capacity than 9mm?

 

[Fiv3r]

It depends on the caliber. Obviously a harder hitting caliber or one with more viable SD ammo is more desirable...to a degree.

I'd pick a lower capacity 9mm over a comparable .380. Yes the 9mm is going to be a bit snappier, but the performance of the ammo should outweigh that as long as I can keep my first one or two shots on target.

That said, I would still choose the 9mm over something in .40 simply because the .40 tends to have (for me) more perceived recoil than the 9mm compared to the .380 when you get it down to single stack carry pistols.

When you start getting into .45, I feel that you lose too much capacity and shootability when you start going smaller than your 4" barrels. Even though the .45 isn't as punishing as the .40, I think then I would take a .40 over a .45 if it allowed another 2 shots per magazine.

Of course, all of this being framed in a smaller concealed carry hypothetical. Outside of CCW, it's all out the window. I wouldn't really want to carry a full size .380 for any reason short of a range toy. I slightly prefer a .40 over the 9mm when I'm grabbing a heavy hitting full size for outdoor/woods carry. I probably shoot a 7 shot 1911 better than any 9mm, but I still tend to gravitate toward full size 9mm simply because it holds twice the ammunition of the 1911 and weighs about the same.

Now let me muddle it up completely. Day to day, I generally carry either an LCP stoked with hardball or an SP101 without a reload At the end of the day, I like how packable the LCP is despite it not being a powerhouse, and I shoot .357 very well out of a heavy snubbie. Even with the decreased capacity. the chunky little Ruger tends to win out over other pistols.

 

[FireInCairo]

I think it depends on the caliber. Between .380 and 9mm, I would lean towards 9mm. Between 9mm and .40, I would lean towards 9mm.

The 9mm is hard to beat considering power, capacity, and concealibility.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

My primary carries are high capacity subcompact 9mm's but I voted .380. I I had to choose between a single stack 9mm with 6 rounds or a G42 with 8 rounds I'd opt for the 2 extra rounds of .380.

Part of the reason for that is that I carry my hand loads which is maybe off topic.

VooDoo

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

Why do you assume .380s offer more capacity than 9mm?

I think the OP is trying to equalize the equation in terms of carry size. a .380 and 9mm of equal size or very similar size would likely have the 9mm giving up a couple of rounds in most pistols I am familiar with.

VooDoo

 

[Walkalong]

A 9MM with lower capacity, or a .32 with higher capacity, but not .380. I voted 9MM with lower capacity.

 

[TarDevil]

I think the OP is trying to equalize the equation in terms of carry size. a .380 and 9mm of equal size or very similar size would likely have the 9mm giving up a couple of rounds in most pistols I am familiar with.

VooDoo

Why? Both calibers are nearly identical in bullet diameter, so where does the .380 gain extra capacity? Is it because the 9mm case is tapered?

 

[BLB68]

Let's see, a real world example, with stats from each manufacturer's site:

Bersa Thunder CC .380

Height: 4.5"
Length: 6"
Width: 1"
Weight: 16.4 oz
Capacity: 8+1

S&W Shield 9mm

Height: 4.6"
Length: 6.1"
Width: .95"
Weight: 19 oz
Capacity: 7+1 with the above numbers, option for 8+1, adding a little height.*

So, two very similar guns in terms of dimensions. Both are brands and models with good reputations. You give up only one round with the Shield, keeping the dimensions very close.

The only significant difference is that the Shield will set you back about a hundred dollars more up front, but over time that will be made up in savings on ammo.

Kind of a no-brainer.

Even if it was a two round edge, I'd still go with the 9mm, which is how I voted.

*Edit: I just measured my Shield with the 8 round in. It's 4.75" from top of the rear sight to the bottom of the magazine.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

But that's not the question. The question was between a 6 round 9mm and 8 round .380. The rest is off topic. There are many other guns and options and many other personal preferences that are relevant *but* that's not the question or the poll/topic.

VooDoo

 

[sustratiotes]

The 9 will win the 'ballistics contest', but the 380 with high octane ammo will be close. With my shooting scores, I need every extra round I can get.

 

[Onward Allusion]

9mm & 380 are somewhat close in performance. Although most SD shootings only take 0 to 2 shots, I rather have the extra 2 rounds.

 

[Praxidike]

9mm & 380 are somewhat close in performance. Although most SD shootings only take 0 to 2 shots, I rather have the extra 2 rounds.

I find it amusing that in 9mm vs 40s&w threads, the MAIN argument against the 40 is that the performance is not THAT different, AND it's not worth giving up capacity. That they rather have the extra round or two instead of the negligible performance difference.

Now in this thread, it seems that the consensus has flip flopped. Leads me to believe that, being that 9mm is cheaper and more abundant thus people are accustomed to shooting it more often, there's a bias that exists for the 9mm. No matter what the question is, the rational favoring the 9mm will change for some.

For me, if all things were equal in price, commonality, and availability, in a firefight, I rather have the extra rounds. I reckon it's a little harder site a target and hit it dead on while bullets are also flying your way, or when you only have a split second to react before being killed... More than likely you're going to start off firing shots in the person's direction while moving for cover.

 

[Hunter2011]

I chose the 9mm with 2 less shots. My first SD pistol was a Vector CP1 in 380 auto with a 13 round mag. But now I carry a 9mm pistol with just a 7 round magazine. This is a huge 6 round drop and maybe not the right thing I did. But for just two rounds? I will rather take the more powerful option. As it was said, most confrontations ends with less than 3 shots fired, and you can always carry extra magazines.

 

[Praxidike]

I chose the 9mm with 2 less shots. My first SD pistol was a Vector CP1 in 380 auto with a 13 round mag. But now I carry a 9mm pistol with just a 7 round magazine. This is a huge 6 round drop and maybe not the right thing I did. But for just two rounds? I will rather take the more powerful option. As it was said, most confrontations ends with less than 3 shots fired, and you can always carry extra magazines.

Using that same logic, why not carry a .45? I really find it to be very amusing how the over all consensus in giving up a round or two in favor of more power is now being condoned in this thread.

 

[Safetychain]

I had to vote higher round count though not necessarily for the supposed more rounds. If you have to fire in defense, it is placement, placement, placement and the .380 would work better considering: I feel that in the vast majority of cases just presenting the arm will eliminate the threat. When that doesn't work then firing will, hit or not. Then next, a hit and any hit would be a major deterrent. The .380 will definitely be easier to hit the target with when using the same weight/size gun, especially when using the lightest concealable one (if you think a 380 mouse gun is punishing, you obviously don't want to ever shoot the 9 mm mouse). I'm not saying go on down to a 22, as the poll was 380 vs 9mm which have the same caliber projectile, just the 9 mm is a lot hotter. Now if we are talking of going into a known firefight, I'd say neither and go 44 mag, rifle, or shotgun.

 

[Bobson]

I'm going to swim against the current on this one, but only for a very specific application.

I (not necessarily everyone) would/will only ever have one reason that I can think of to buy a gun for "ultra-super-duper-deep-concealment," and it's a reason I don't want to discuss. For that purpose, I would be going into it knowing that carrying spare ammunition (either a magazine or a speed-loader) just wouldn't be a realistic option. Because of that, I would want to get as many rounds into the gun as possible. So all else being equal, assuming I could find a gun that matches my preferences and is offered in both 9mm and .380, AND it would offer higher capacity in the .380, then yes, the .380 is the option I would choose.

For literally ANY other purpose, OR if I could come up with a way to carry a spare magazine or two in the above scenario, I would instantly and without any further consideration eliminate .380 as an option.

 

[Panzerschwein]

9mm for this pirate.