Car Knocker
Member
A large caliber in a small house is just as good, if not better, than a small caliber. Nobody will die of pneumonia if missed by any caliber, large or small.[email protected] said:
Lethal .380
- Thread starter AMBASSADOR
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RickH
Member
DRT=Dead right there? Dead right then? Del Rio, Texas?
Hey, burr00
Your question can be more complicated than it at first seems. It's more about the immediate incapacitation of an assailant than lethality, and which cartridge in which caliber is most suitable.
Do you expect to carry concealed or keep it at home or both? You will probably get better answers if you can be more specific as to your needs.
There are plenty of people here who will help.
flatdog
Your question can be more complicated than it at first seems. It's more about the immediate incapacitation of an assailant than lethality, and which cartridge in which caliber is most suitable.
Do you expect to carry concealed or keep it at home or both? You will probably get better answers if you can be more specific as to your needs.
There are plenty of people here who will help.
flatdog
AMBASSADOR
Member
Strictly at home
This would be used only in the home for Self defense.The gun has COR-BON loaded in two clips.
This would be used only in the home for Self defense.The gun has COR-BON loaded in two clips.
MICHAEL T
Member
my PPK/S is on nightstand loaded with corbon DPX . I own 5, 380's and trust any one of them to do the job if needed. All have been tested and loaded with DPX. Befor DPX used Corbon90grHP
That seems to be a sound combination as far as it goes. But it disposes of much less power than the 686P in .357 mag. with COR-BON ammunition.
No handgun is to be depended upon for the fabled " one shot stop " and to trade the .357 mag. performance level for that of the .380 is a huge step in the wrong direction, in my opinion.
Do you control the PPK/S better than the 686P, or are you adept with either?
Forgive all the questions, but I'm trying to get a clearer picture of your situation.
The Tourist
member
flatdog said:
It depends on what you are trying to accomplish.
For example, a Dodge Viper is certainly a force to be reckoned with on the highway. That is, unless you're simply trying to commute and spend the absolute least amount on gas, repairs, insurance, parking, etc. Given those parameters, a Volkswagen Beetle might be the better choice.
And so it is here. I'm not trying to be the best gunfighter. I'm not a hitman or a mercenary. I'm trying to complete the day in safety and security.
My actions against an agressor are backwards, not forwards. Call Steven Seagal if you're looking for senseless urban violence, not The Tourist.
In my case, a small, readily available, compact, reliable pistol with better sights and smooth trigger, set a bit heavy to compensate for adrenaline, that dispenses modern hollowpoints is clearly my choice.
Grab me and scare me and you get eight shots of .355 diameter Gold Dots. If you survive that, I'll be sending another seven of them along shortly.
I don't see a downside.
Cave Dweller
Member
I should hope a .380 is lethal, I'm waiting my 10 days to pick up the ppk I just bought (not ppk/s) Any ammo suggestions?
*runs off to check out silver tip and corbon*
*runs off to check out silver tip and corbon*
The Tourist
member
Cave Dweller said:
This might sound silly, but the gun is going to tell you.
For example, several years ago, the bullet called "the flying ashtray" was supposed to be the hot set-up. So I bought a box of the older aluminum case Blazers in the 200 grain hollowpoint. And they were hot.
My 1911 Colt Enhanced hated them. I actually thought about buying a stronger recoil spring just to better the slide timing.
In the end, a normal 225 grain hollowpoint with a rounded ogive turned out to be the best choice.
My H&K likes SW.40 Golden Sabers. My SIG P-229 eats aluminum Blazer SW .40 hollowpoints like a kid eats candy. Go figure.
I usually buy a pistol, and shoot it with the traditional load for a bit to loosen it up, if that's really possible for something made of metal. In this case, I'd find some traditional FMJ. I happen to like American Eagle 95 grain hardball for this chore. It seems to work in a large number of .380's without a hitch.
If functioning is a severe problem, it goes back to the gunshop. If it simply needs a "reliability package" and better sights, off it goes to Terry.
I hate to say this, but I simply look at my self defense pistols as "tools." I have other toys for a fun day at the range.
DougDubya
Member
Flatdog, the .357 is great for putting down bad guys, but fired in a house, I'd rather not have my eardrums gushing blood after saving my family.
Actually, my family would probably suffer from the racket of a .357 too. Then again, everyone yelling to equalize the pressure in their ears might even prevent the need for a .357 Magnum being fired.
Plus, the PPK/S has much less for a criminal to grab onto than a 686, has a manual off switch in case he does get it loose somehow, and with 7 .380's in his thoracic cavity, he'll have trouble.
Actually, my family would probably suffer from the racket of a .357 too. Then again, everyone yelling to equalize the pressure in their ears might even prevent the need for a .357 Magnum being fired.
Plus, the PPK/S has much less for a criminal to grab onto than a 686, has a manual off switch in case he does get it loose somehow, and with 7 .380's in his thoracic cavity, he'll have trouble.
My questions are designed with an eye to helping a man who intends to survive a lethal encounter in his own home if necessary. While there are many considerations I'm going with what he has presented so far.
Provided the user is familiar enough with his weapon to run it safely and effectively. It then becomes a matter of the power of the cartridge to penetrate to the vital organs from any angle presented and disrupt their function. In order to cause as near instantaneous incapacitation as possible.
Lethality does not equate to instantaneous incapacitation, they are by no means the same thing. The intruder may well succumb to his wounds minutes or hours later. But it will be of cold comfort if he has time to finish his assault before he does.
He's in another man's house intent on illegal activity so he's already primed for fight or flight. It is unwise to assume that multiple rounds from a pistol will have the desired effect or that a reload will fix things if the first 7 or so prove ineffective. The body tends to shut down it's pain response after multiple insults as a protective measure. What is the intruder doing while your shooting/reloading? Heaven forbid there is more than one to deal with.
The question as to the choice of weapon has nothing to do with macho posturing, hit men, or anything other than trying to gather enough information to be of help.
Provided the user is familiar enough with his weapon to run it safely and effectively. It then becomes a matter of the power of the cartridge to penetrate to the vital organs from any angle presented and disrupt their function. In order to cause as near instantaneous incapacitation as possible.
Lethality does not equate to instantaneous incapacitation, they are by no means the same thing. The intruder may well succumb to his wounds minutes or hours later. But it will be of cold comfort if he has time to finish his assault before he does.
He's in another man's house intent on illegal activity so he's already primed for fight or flight. It is unwise to assume that multiple rounds from a pistol will have the desired effect or that a reload will fix things if the first 7 or so prove ineffective. The body tends to shut down it's pain response after multiple insults as a protective measure. What is the intruder doing while your shooting/reloading? Heaven forbid there is more than one to deal with.
The question as to the choice of weapon has nothing to do with macho posturing, hit men, or anything other than trying to gather enough information to be of help.
denfoote
Member
Ppk/s
Good choice!!
If you do your part Fritz Walthers finest will do it's!!
Good choice!!
If you do your part Fritz Walthers finest will do it's!!
USMCDK
Member
I suggest that if you will use said round... BTW I am buying the wife a .380 soon enough for SD/HD (self Defense/Home Defense)... Get a JHP that has the lil silver or blue ball in it to assist feeding and expansion upon impact/penetration. Or you could use "Federal Premium HST-1" ammo that expands into a 6-fingered-starfish and that usually slows the round down emensly (or at least that's what it advertises) Anyone want to give more detail about said ammo or the name of the ammo with the plastic ball embeeded into JHP???
BTW I also will agree that this "Member" isn't being trollish. he's new just like all of us where once. I for one came here asking some pretty silly newbie question when I first started posting. Hell I still ask newbie questions from time to time. For instance I just found out what IMHO means yesterday cause I finally had to ask.
So c'mon guys keep things to the THR standards and let us all warmly welcome our new bretherine.
Welcome to THR Car Knocker may you visits here bring you further into enlightenment about firearms and all the knowledge you could ever want about them and more. Good luck and great shooting.
Sincerely and respectfully,
USMCDK
BTW I also will agree that this "Member" isn't being trollish. he's new just like all of us where once. I for one came here asking some pretty silly newbie question when I first started posting. Hell I still ask newbie questions from time to time. For instance I just found out what IMHO means yesterday cause I finally had to ask.
So c'mon guys keep things to the THR standards and let us all warmly welcome our new bretherine.
Welcome to THR Car Knocker may you visits here bring you further into enlightenment about firearms and all the knowledge you could ever want about them and more. Good luck and great shooting.
Sincerely and respectfully,
USMCDK
SLMPDcitycop
Member
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2006
- Messages
- 55
A .380 is deadly
I handled a homicide a few years back where a guy was shot with a .380 point blank range 5 times. If I recall correctly two were center mass, and the three were along his theigh, which hit an artery. He's pushing up daisies, so yeah a .380 is a deadly round.
I handled a homicide a few years back where a guy was shot with a .380 point blank range 5 times. If I recall correctly two were center mass, and the three were along his theigh, which hit an artery. He's pushing up daisies, so yeah a .380 is a deadly round.
Chester32141
Member
From the responses here I guess I'm safe using a Mak chambered in 9x18 ... I figure if it worked in Eastern Europe for 50 years it oughta work here ... 
Cannonball888
Member
The horror...the horror
I use Buffalo Bore .380 +P in my FIE Titan II and Corbon DPX in my Keltec P3AT
The Tourist
member
Boy, boys--you play nice or I'm going to take that thesaurus away from both of you.
BTW, you're both wrong. The proper phrase is "9mm Corto."
Heavy Metal Hero
Member
Cannonball888
Member
Corto? Doesn't sound german to me.
Heavy Metal Hero
Member
Cannonball,
I am pretty sure The Tourist was making a funny.
I am pretty sure The Tourist was making a funny.
[email protected]
A 380 will work and the Walther is a good choice. I prefer the Sig. You will need to practice, quite a lot initially, to get the best out of these guns.
First, there are often two types of magazines available, one with a "pinky" extension, one without. The "pinky" extension helps a great deal in controlling these small pistols since it provides more grip area.
Due to the small grip and a noticeable, but not unpleasant, snappy recoil the pistols tend to be a bit "frisky" in the hand at first. Use a firm grip. Point shooting is very simple with these guns which is good because the sights are not designed for quick target acquisition.
Bullet choice is covered elsewhere. Magazine capacity is low but it is safe to carry a round in the chamber.
Due to its small size you may find yourself carrying this pistol when you would leave other guns behind - that is always a plus.
A 380 will work and the Walther is a good choice. I prefer the Sig. You will need to practice, quite a lot initially, to get the best out of these guns.
First, there are often two types of magazines available, one with a "pinky" extension, one without. The "pinky" extension helps a great deal in controlling these small pistols since it provides more grip area.
Due to the small grip and a noticeable, but not unpleasant, snappy recoil the pistols tend to be a bit "frisky" in the hand at first. Use a firm grip. Point shooting is very simple with these guns which is good because the sights are not designed for quick target acquisition.
Bullet choice is covered elsewhere. Magazine capacity is low but it is safe to carry a round in the chamber.
Due to its small size you may find yourself carrying this pistol when you would leave other guns behind - that is always a plus.
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