The Power of the .380

[Safetychain]

Just want to put a little unexpected evidence on the table about the "anemic" little 380 ACP. I do understand its limitations but still carry a TCP myself due to my lifestyle allowing me to maintain residences in warm/hot weather climates year round. I previously felt it was at least a good gut gun with better round count and aiming capability than a derringer of larger caliber. The following is an article of an incident that happened last night near Charleston, SC.

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2011/jun/29/deputies-man-shot-arm-stomach-while-trying-keep-su/

The apparent (but not proven) weapon at this point in time used was a 380 Hi Point. The intruder wounds the home defender twice shooting through the front door. As this unfolds, I will update with more information.

 

[DoomGoober]

Of course, had the suspect been firing a .45, the victim would have been decapitated twice, his head flying off and striking the owner of the apartment and breaking his jaw.

.45, .380 or .177 pellet gun, I don't want to be shot by anything.

 

[06]

I "parked" my 45s for 380s. I call them "mini 45s". Still keep the 45s close but the weight became more than I wanted to carry constantly. Still carry one occasionally but the vast majority of the time my trusty little Sig is my carry.

 

[jackpinesavages]

Yeah, the 10MM would have gone through the perp, and killed at LEAST 7 more people on the block.

Stick to the tree8os.

 

[ErikO]

I had a guy at a gun store yesterday tell me that 'anything elss than 9mm is like bumping your head'.

Either he has not been shot before or else his head must be kinda of soft-ish.

 

[Smaug]

Sad story, but not very well written.

It seems like the intruder, the 18 year old Tyriek, shot through the door he was trying to push down. But the article says the guy that came to help keep the guy out was shot. ?

Boy, it makes me mad to read this kind of thing. I think he (Tyriek) should be guillotined in the town center on Sunday right after church. How about we actually ENFORCE our laws, eh?

 

[Twmaster]

I think my sig says it...

 

[Geckgo]

lets not jump the gun, innocent till proven guilty and all that, a suspect that matches the description was arrested and charged with possesion of marijuana and a hi-point.

The charges if convicted of choosing a hi-point alone are astronomical,, haha, just kidding but I couldn't resist.

lets make sure the bulletholes match the gun before we start drawing conclusions

 

[hvychev77]

i guess i'm a little "close minded", but i would bet a dollar to a doughnut they got the right guy...he sounds like a real winner, i'm sure his mom will be in the news speaking on his behalf and what an outstanding member of the community he is.....it would have been better reading had the person residing inside the apartment was armed with something a little more substantial than a .380 and used it regularly.......especially last night!!

 

[Smaug]

Geckgo: He was the only guy on the scene with a gun, and two guys saw him. I'm not sure how you think it is ambiguous. --> GUILLOTINE.

 

[19-3Ben]

He was the only guy on the scene with a gun, and two guys saw him. I'm not sure how you think it is ambiguous. --> GUILLOTINE.

.....That's assuming an awful lot.

1) That the article actually got the facts correct. If the reporter is wrong, the entire theory goes out the window.
2) Really, a guy of his description in a bad neighborhood at night is a pretty common thing. When you consider that the witnesses probably saw him in bad light, moving quickly, and an indirect angle.
3) Just because one guy is nabbed with a gun, it doesn't mean he's the same guy involved in a shooting a block or two away. A thug walking around the ghetto at night with a gun is not exactly a unique occurrence. Is the guy they caught probably guilty of possession of a firearm without license? Yes. Is he necessarily the shooter? No. that has yet to be determined.

 

[Jonah71]

I had a guy at a gun store yesterday tell me that 'anything elss than 9mm is like bumping your head'.

Either he has not been shot before or else his head must be kinda of soft-ish.

He's an idiot.

 

[tinygnat219]

If this had been an H&K 1911 (none exist because people carrying them have been known to take over small countries due to the awesomeness of the H&K) chambered in 10MM, then crime 5 states away would stop immediately. Such a chambering and design were considered by H&K, but the Police unions got involved stating that they were worried about their jobs.

 

[[email protected]]

The suspect could use the defense of how could he fire two rounds from a Hi Point without stopping to clear the jam after the first shot. Just kidding though I do have one and a good gun for the price.

 

[KodiakBeer]

The .380 is a wimpy little round!













Of course, I carry a Colt Mustang quite often, especially in summer. But then, it's a Colt!

 

[MedWheeler]

Smaug"

It seems like the intruder, the 18 year old Tyriek, shot through the door he was trying to push down. But the article says the guy that came to help keep the guy out was shot. ?

That's the way I read it, too. No confusion here. One guy tries to hold the door closed against an intruder. A second guy joins him. The intruder fires through the door, and the second guy is hit.

 

[DAdams]

Would it be a true statement that 2011 .380 rounds in a JHP are more effective than those of 5-10 years ago?

My summer carry is often a .380 in the pocket, I can still run pretty fast and my situational awareness is quite high.