Nine rounds of .380 vs five rounds of .38

[Panzerschwein]

Hey all!

Well I've got a Bersa Thunder which takes 8 round magazines, plus one in the chamber equals 9 rounds of .380 ACP. The gun has been 100% reliable so far.

I've also got a S&W 642 snub nose revolver, which has 5 rounds of .38 special on board. It too, has been very reliable.

So reliability aside, which would you rather have on tap: 9 rounds of .380 or 5 rounds of .38 special?

I've heard that with modern ammo, these rounds are close in performance. Tom Gresham from Gun Talk radio likes the .380 and thinks it is very capable with today's ammo. But, there are many who really like the .38 special too. What do you think on this? I plan to make one of these guns my EDC, so am just wondering your guys feeling on this.

Thanks!

 

[TruthTellers]

Four more rounds and faster reloading? I have to go with the .380 here. While the .38 uses heavier bullets and has good penetration, you can get some good hollow points for .380 that also penetrate pretty well. I said good hollow points, unfortunately most .380 JHP only go about 9" deep.

 

[oneounceload]

I'd want the one I could into action faster and shoot better

 

[medic15al]

Yes.

Either will do when I need it and have one or the other.

 

[jad0110]

Well, the platforms are quite a bit different. The Bersa is probably a little long to fit in most pockets (and it has an external hammer that can snag the pocket) while the 642 is an ideal pocket gun. For a belt gun (in or on the waistband), either will work fine.

So for me, pocket carry would be the 642.

On the waistband, I've never fired a Bersa so I can't really comment. I'd have no qualms carrying the 642 IWB either, but I usually don't since I can carry larger guns IWB almost as easily (ie, S&W K Frames and full size 1911s).

 

[M-Cameron]

I have a .380s....i have .38/ .357....and I pretty much consider myself a "revolver guy"..

but when it comes time to carry, i choose the .380s almost every time......you have a smaller/ lighter package....with nearly 2x the capacity, and faster reload....shooting a cartridge that has nearly the same Muzzle energy as a .38 special.

 

[larbear]

I have had little exposure to the 380 so I will not give in opinon but back in the good old days My servive weapon was the Model 10 38 special. with 158 grain + p ammunition. This was supposedly close to 357 in performance. This firearm and ammo was discontinued not do to performance but to round capacity.
Having said that and my preference to wheel guns I would go 38.

 

[psyopspec]

Shot placement is king, so either will do there.

Penetration is queen, and can be addressed in the .380 with a good JHP or FMJ.

Distant third is capacity, and this case we're talking about 80% more ammunition.

More ammunition equals (1) more chances to end the fight through shot placement; (2) the ability to stay in the fight longer if needed; and (3) subjectively but notably, for many shooters of the two guns the Bersa would equal faster follow-up shots. With more chances to end to the fight more quickly or keep the shooter in it longer if necessary, that's where I give the nod.

 

[wadcutter45]

I have both a .380 Colt Gov't model (8 rounds), and a S&W model 36 (5 rounds).

I made the decision on which one I could shoot better on the first shot. If it happens, it will go down at close range. Once you fire a shot at someone, they're not going to hang around like a range silhouette to be shot at again. In this line of thinking, capacity is good, but that first shot is the most important.

Practice "one-shot groups" as the hunters say.

For me, it is the revolver. Most of the time.

 

[flphotog]

I've got 9's and 45's, my one .380 hasn't been out of the safe in about 4 years

 

[Gun Master]

Five .38 Special for sure, beats one, maybe nine .380, all the time.
Of course reliability is a huge part of the equation of CC.

 

[skoro]

which would you rather have on tap: 9 rounds of .380 or 5 rounds of .38 special?

I've been carrying my 642 for 7 years now.

I also have a small 380 with 8 rd capacity, but it rarely gets carry duty.

Works for me.

 

[PJSprog]

Personal opinions and biases almost always outweigh any real, solid ballistics or statistical information.

My EDC is a 5-round S&W 637. I also carry two reloading strips. I just like revolvers.

 

[Havok7416]

Why not both? Occasionally my 640 will back up a small pistol.

 

[R.W.Dale]

380 acp requires ball ammo to achieve adequate penetration with anything resembling reliability

The 38's situation is similar but it is not bullet shape dependent so you can gain some ability to damage tissue back in bullet shape.

 

[Wishoot]

If I could find a reliable, pocket sized .380, I'd carry it.

I'll take 5 sure shots of 135gr +p out of my 637.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Which is more important.... the FIRST FEW SHOTS or the seventh.. eight.. ninth?

Your call.

Deaf

 

[M-Cameron]

when you take into account that police officer shots on target under stress is only around 34%......ide personally want as much capacity as possible.

especially when ballistics are similar.......

 

[AK103K]

In the poll, I picked the .380. I have a couple of both, but no longer carry any of them.

In their place (ie, the place I used to carry them), is a 10 round 9mm loaded with +P+ Winchester Ranger T's, that can also be much more, with a simple mag change.

Totally solved the conundrum of which in the poll is better.

 

[Deaf Smith]

when you take into account that police officer shots on target under stress is only around 34%......ide personally want as much capacity as possible.

especially when ballistics are similar.......

I ain't a cop...

Deaf

 

[psyopspec]

@ Deaf Smith

Which is more important.... the FIRST FEW SHOTS or the seventh.. eight.. ninth?

Your call.

Deaf

To an extent. We can prepare for a gunfight through training and gear selection (in that order) but with most of us carrying for SD we don't get to choreograph the timing, distance, duration, or number of shots required to end it.

 

[M-Cameron]

I ain't a cop...

Deaf

....and you completely missed the point......

no matter how good you shoot at the range......when you are afraid, being threatened, shot at, tired, or fighting with an assailant......you suck at shooting.

assuming your average Carrier is about on par with your average Officer......you are going to hit the target ~30% of the time.......hell, lets say you have some advanced training and you are shooting at a 50%.....that means your 5 round revolver only has 2-3 effective rounds......where as your 9 shot pistol has 4-5 effective rounds.

if there was a significant benefit to the .38spl round over the .380, you could have an strong argument.........but where the 2 calibers are incredibly similar, there really isnt any benefit to choosing the 5 rounds of .38 over the 9 rounds of .380.......

 

[TfflHndn]

With a good SD round, I have to give the slight edge to the .380. Pretty narrow margin, though, IMHO.

 

[R.W.Dale]

when you take into account that police officer shots on target under stress is only around 34%......ide personally want as much capacity as possible.

especially when ballistics are similar.......

We aren't police and the typical engagements we might see happen quite differently at much closer contact typically

 

[jmace57]

Those are exactly my carry pieces. I carried a Bersa .380 for the first 4 years of carrying...and I have carried a 642 for the past 2 years. Both concealed fine in a front pocket carry. Although the Bersa was very reliable, I had it stovepipe on the first round twice, and I found I just didn't trust it any more.