jimbo555
Member
Yes I would, heck I would trust a 22lr!
Would You Trust Your Life With A .380?
- Thread starter Crazy Coot
- Start date
- Status
browningguy
Member
I tried it again today, went out armed only with the S&W Bodyguard and Hornady FTX. Made it safely home so it's still working.
Quiet
Member
Yes.
Armored farmer
Member
That's a tough thing to ask of a bunch of gun nuts. We like to elaborate!
huntsman
Member
^ yeah a polarizing subject requires more than a simple yes or no for some, I find it interesting that a caliber discussion can provoke the emotion that it does.
george burns
Member
Did for 20 yrs. Back in the olden days there were no small 9's, so it was a 38 model 60 or the Walther, unless you wanted a 3-4 lb gun. It was loaded with some very hot loads, that I wouldn't use for target practice, but would splatter your brains out if need be. Don't under estimate a 380, it will kill you just as fast as a 9mm at close range. I only have 1 380 and had none until a year ago when I got the LCP with the red trigger for the wife, the gun is a little monster. I use it as a back up gun in my versacarry for driving, I can get it much faster than my Glock, and a shot in the face for a car jacker would end his day. I have had that happen 3 times in 50 years when I lived in NYC. You just couldn't dr
ive a nice car "Porshe" at night, in certain areas.Although my boss had 2 Rolls, and he left them on 3d ave and 125th street, "You know who lived there then? the Wise Guys, no one ever touched it in the 5 years when I was doing him favors like picking up the cars and taking them into Rallye Motors in Great Neck for service.
He only trusted me to know certain things.But his mom and pop lived there till they passed away in the 90's at about 90.
ive a nice car "Porshe" at night, in certain areas.Although my boss had 2 Rolls, and he left them on 3d ave and 125th street, "You know who lived there then? the Wise Guys, no one ever touched it in the 5 years when I was doing him favors like picking up the cars and taking them into Rallye Motors in Great Neck for service.
He only trusted me to know certain things.But his mom and pop lived there till they passed away in the 90's at about 90.
Last edited:
Phaedrus/69
Member
This is kind of a complicated question. If you want a simple answer than I would say "no", I would not.
Now, if we are to unpack this a bit I don't think it's enough gun to inspire confidence in me. Part of that is the round and part is the guns it's typically chambered in. A Ruger LCP is perhaps a fine gun but I am not comfortable with a mousegun that's that small with such limited capacity that's difficult to shoot. In other guns like the fixed-barrel Astra the .380 actually feels like it has more recoil than a typical 9mm. Maybe if we're talking something like a Bersa Thunder with a 13 round magazine I'd be a little more confident although that gun is as large a 9mm. But size isn't something you asked about and I can see why. For example I know that in some countries civilians cannot own guns in 'military' calibers; that makes the .380 among the best of bad options.
If I'm being totally honest I'm not 100% confident in trusting my life to a handgun at all. I carry my HK P2000 or P30 because it's impractical to carry my AR everywhere I go. Rifles are simple more effective than service-type sidearms. That said I think that Federal HST 147gr +P from my 9mm are about as good as anything else that would fit a service-type gun so that's my personal "floor" most of the time.
Lastly, the irrational- on rare occasion I have carried a Ruger LCR with 158gr +P LSWC.
This probably isn't much more effective, if at all, than a .380 ACP. In the cases I have it's because I couldn't carry anything bigger; the other option was not carrying a firearm. So in that situation I would maybe carry a small gun like the LCP, but I wouldn't trust it and I wouldn't like it.
Fine Figure of a Man
Member
It can be an effective round but the pistols are just to small for my hands.
Glock Doctor
Member
No, I would not; but once, on of all days our 24th wedding anniversary, we went out to dinner, stayed out way too late; and I was forced to. THAT was the last time I did something as incredibly stupid as carrying a: comfy, little baby's, secondary, 380 Auto 'pacifier pistol' in the foolish belief that I could confidently use it as a primary weapon against (of all people) 3 drunken angry men with a shotgun.
As far as this old gunman is concerned: America's, honest, law-abiding, common, ordinary, everyday, gun owners really need to finally 'get smart' and outgrow their current torrid love affair with cute, little, ever so comfortable, and easy-to-conceal (secondary) pistols.
Why? Because, if you should ever find yourself in sudden need of a pistol in the same way that I once did, you're going to feel so stupid, naked, and afraid — Especially when your first target is the one with the shoulder-mounted shotgun, and he's still a good 6 to 8 yards away; and all you've got your hand on is, something like, a: 'Bodyguard', 'G-42' or an 'LCP'! At a time like this the very last thought that might go through your head is,
'Oh, my God, I didn't bring enough gun!'
(But, of course, by that time, and for most people, it'll all be too late anyway — Now, won't it!)
As far as this old gunman is concerned: America's, honest, law-abiding, common, ordinary, everyday, gun owners really need to finally 'get smart' and outgrow their current torrid love affair with cute, little, ever so comfortable, and easy-to-conceal (secondary) pistols.
Why? Because, if you should ever find yourself in sudden need of a pistol in the same way that I once did, you're going to feel so stupid, naked, and afraid — Especially when your first target is the one with the shoulder-mounted shotgun, and he's still a good 6 to 8 yards away; and all you've got your hand on is, something like, a: 'Bodyguard', 'G-42' or an 'LCP'! At a time like this the very last thought that might go through your head is,
'Oh, my God, I didn't bring enough gun!'
(But, of course, by that time, and for most people, it'll all be too late anyway — Now, won't it!)
Last edited:
No Quarter
Member
- Joined
- May 8, 2003
- Messages
- 310
Assuming you have the mindset and experience to react with overwhelming violence and ferocity...
Yes, a 380 will work just fine.
Otherwise, while you are thinking about a lawsuit, your precious life, etc, while considering drawing your hi cap, night sighted, laser equipped, hobby pistol, the assailant will eat your lunch.
"No Quarter" is not just a great Led Zep song.
Yes, a 380 will work just fine.
Otherwise, while you are thinking about a lawsuit, your precious life, etc, while considering drawing your hi cap, night sighted, laser equipped, hobby pistol, the assailant will eat your lunch.
"No Quarter" is not just a great Led Zep song.
deputy tom
Member
Yes, I carry an LCP every day. It is a step up from my old EDC P-32. I held on to the P-32 instead of getting a P-3AT due to the smaller size of the 32. After I retired from my regular job I became employed part time by a business that prohibited firearms carry. I worked in a very bad area driving a delivery vehicle so I was going to carry something and the P-32 was my best choice for not being detected. Since I've retired completely I don't need to worry about detection and I bought the Ruger as a result. YMMV. tom.
what would be enough gun against a shotgun? YouNo, I would not; but once, on of all days our 24th wedding anniversary, we went out to dinner, stayed out way too late; and I was forced to. THAT was the last time I did something as incredibly stupid as carrying a: comfy, little baby's, secondary, 380 Auto 'pacifier pistol' in the foolish belief that I could confidently use it as a primary weapon against (of all people) 3 drunken angry men with a shotgun.
As far as this old gunman is concerned: America's, honest, law-abiding, common, ordinary, everyday, gun owners really need to finally 'get smart' and outgrow their current torrid love affair with cute, little, ever so comfortable, and easy-to-conceal (secondary) pistols.
Why? Because, if you should ever find yourself in sudden need of a pistol in the same way that I once did, you're going to feel so stupid, naked, and afraid — Especially when your first target is the one with the shoulder-mounted shotgun, and he's still a good 8 to 10 yards away; and all you've got your hand on is, something like, a: 'Bodyguard', 'G-42' or an 'LCP'! At a time like this the very last thought that might go through your head is,
'Oh, my God, I didn't bring enough gun!'
(But, of course, by that time, and for most people, it'll all be too late anyway — Now, won't it!)
"Hornady Critical defense" is one of the roads that failed the "Shooting The Bull" gelatin tests. Link below.
http://shootingthebull.net/blog/final-results-of-the-380-acp-ammo-quest/#comment-34965
joe_security
Member
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2007
- Messages
- 490
Yes. The Glock42 with hornady xtp. Bladetec klipt holster.Trijicon brite and tough sights .This pistol is accurate to 50 ft and reliable. It will sometimes not feed the first hollow point if the slide is not racked hard to the rear limit of travel. It will not do this with ball. This is in my opinion the only .380 that looks bigger than it really is so more deterrent effect when drawn.
azrocks
Member
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2016
- Messages
- 659
I wouldn't trust any handgun with my life. The sole thing handguns have going for them is that they're easy to carry. Other than that, they're statistically poor man-stoppers, regardless of caliber (assuming the most common defensive chamberings).
george burns
Member
If you are a crack shot, any 380 will do. The problem is that most people aren't a crack shot, especially at night, and when people start running in different directions while shooting. And you run the risk of missinng with any gun, and running out of amo. Also getting wounded and going down when outnumbered. Practice for these events is all you can do.
Yes if you miss with a nine or a 380 the results are the same, but for me with my arthritis and poor hand strength I would be less likely to miss with one of my softer recoiling 380 pistols and follow up shots would be faster with those 380 pistols as well.
.308 Norma
Member
I hear you. But I'm afraid there's a lot of people out there that don't understand how much it hurts when a powerful handgun goes off in arthritic hands, or in my case, arthritic/ tendonitis elbows. You develop a flinch, and no amount of practice helps. In fact, more practice hurts (pun intended).
I think the argument about how powerful of a handgun a person should carry for self defense as being no different than the argument about how powerful of a rifle a person should carry for hunting big game. The stakes are vastly different, but the argument is the same. And the thing is, I can't tell anyone else how powerful of a handgun they can shoot well anymore than they can tell me how powerful of a rifle I can shoot well.
BTW, it's NOT a .308 Norma Magnum. I load my .308 Norma down to .30-06 levels.
george burns
Member
We live in a free Country, any man should be able to make that decision for themseles. IE 50 yrs ago when hunting Moose in Canada, one of my EX Marine uncles asked their guide, "Indian" what he used. He pulled out a 22 long rifle. My uncle, "a gunsmith" asked him, how the hell do you shoot a large animal with a 22, The guide said, easy, "I sneak up and shoot him in the ear". We still don't know if he was serious or not, but looked like he meant it.
Last edited:
montanaoffroader
Member
Yes. On a regular basis.
I alternate between a 9mm and a .380 depending on circumstances. I also carry a Sidewinder 22M in my pocket.
I alternate between a 9mm and a .380 depending on circumstances. I also carry a Sidewinder 22M in my pocket.
But thats not really the question I'd ask. The question would be ," Are my chances better with it,or without it?"
As far as trusting, that depends on the machinery delivering it. The round itself is capable of reaching threat stopping penetration so that's not in question. So the question comes to, "What is the most capable tool that I can tow without it being too intrusive to my travel?" Depends on the destination, weather, and likelihood of necessity. Every occasion has a different answer.
Gun nut and yes or no question is like oil and water. Sorry.
Yes the answers yes.
As far as trusting, that depends on the machinery delivering it. The round itself is capable of reaching threat stopping penetration so that's not in question. So the question comes to, "What is the most capable tool that I can tow without it being too intrusive to my travel?" Depends on the destination, weather, and likelihood of necessity. Every occasion has a different answer.
Gun nut and yes or no question is like oil and water. Sorry.
Yes the answers yes.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
- Poll
