.380

[hillbilli]

There will always be caliber debates, i dont think the .380 is enough, for the simple reason that it is usually below the threshold of being able to provide 12" of penetration AND expand.. If you can find a HP bullet that will consistently do both, then good on you, but very few .380 loads will. If I have to resort to Ball to get enough penetration, then the caliber really isnt "enough gun" , in my opinion. That level usually starts at 9mm or .38+p.. that said I still have a .380, and carry it when i have to wear a tucked in shirt, etc. and cant get away with carrying a "real gun".. I do think .380, while not really "enough", does beat the heck out of .32, .22, .25, or any other mousegun cartridge.. remember that pistol rounds dont carry much energy- (which is why recoil is tolerable, and people routinely shoot back when hit in the vest with a pistol round), a pistol round is much like an arrow, you get only what you actually cut or break, and while a perfect hit to the brain, spine, or heart, will be effective, a wider round will nick or cut an artery, nerve or bone that the smaller caliber might have missed.. consider a marginal hit with a 1" cut broadhead VS the same hit with a 1 3/8 cut, or even 2" cut mechanical broadhead..  even if only shooting ball rounds, consider that .380 or 9mm will only have 60% of the surface area of a .45..   

[Wazukie]

Rt, the lady carries the .380, I pack a .44mag.  I see your .40 and raise ya 

The way I see it! Whats the purpose of drawing your weapon?  To wound? Or to kill?   Many other Calibers beat the .380 hands down!  There are also many models that are perfect for women, in bigger calibers!

Why drive the Kia when the Caddy is so much better

I'll take the Kia over the Caddy any day.  You pay 50G for the Caddy and spend 3 times as much to feed it.  I pay 15g for the KIA and get there before you do because I didn't have to stop three times to feed it.   

[bearpaw]

I cleaned up some of the name calling, please try to keep this a friendly discussion.
Thanks

[magnanimous_j]

even if only shooting ball rounds, consider that .380 or 9mm will only have 60% of the surface area of a .45..

That’s true, but you also have to consider that a .45 is a much slower round and has the tendency to push veins and organs out of the way rather than “nick” them.

Don’t get me wrong, .45acp is a fine defense round, but since we’re debating calibers and all…

[hillbilli]

The ACP round being so much slower that it will push veins and such out of the way??  that i find hard to believe, and would love to see that verified from medical folks..the ACP round is, on average, slower- but consider there are numerous .45 loads that are 950fps or so- same velocity as the 147gr 9mm loads (same loads that are issued by large departments like san diego county, with good results), also the same velocity as the 180gr .40 load, which seems to be the most common police load for the .40. remember too that an expanding HP bullet is not a round rubber ball that will push things out of the way- it tends to be jagged, with some like the golden saber more so than others.. remember that among the service pistol calibers- bullets expansion varies, from 1.5 to 2x diameter-depending on design, what it hits, etc- and there is significant overlap between a .45 that opens to 1.5, and a 9mm that happens to open to x2.. 

[splitshot]

   380 ammo is much easier to find than 9,40, 45.  i have seen it at 3 shops in the last 3 months but none of the others.  also the guns are cheaper.  mike w

[HighlandLofts]

When I first started carrying a handgun I had a 380 because it was small and easily concealed.I had a few 380s and a couple of 25s, I got rid of all of them because in my opinion they are to under powered to be effective in a life or death situation. I did buy a little Kahr PM9 and a S&W 642 38+P to use as a pocket pistol when just getting gas, or other shot stops. My main carry guns are my Colt Combat Commander 1911 - 45acp and a Rossi 971 revolver in 357 mag with a muzzle brake. I dress accordingly to conceal something larger when I'm going to be in town with a smaller caliber in my front pocket. Size does matter in my oppinion, but a small caliber is better then nothing.

I was talking to a retired Snohomish Sheriff Deputy that moved here after he retired from a Sheriff Job in Illinois, he had 40 plus years in Law Enforcement. When he started out he carried a 9mm, the first three shootings he was involved in the guys were strung out on meth or PCP, He emptied his gun on all three of them hitting each one of them mulitipule times. His partner dumped a couple of 40 caliber rounds ito them and they droped. After that he switched over to 40 cailber. The next five people who took a 40 caliber round went down. So that's why I like the larger calibers.

I look at it like this, if you use your handgun for personal protection you will be shooting a target the size of a deer on drugs, Would you use a 25 caliber or a 380 to shoot a deer with rabies? Chances are the person who tries to rob you, tries to hi-jack you car or any other type of type of personal crimes against you are going to be strung out on some type of drugs. They do not have a clear mind-set and can not make any sound desisions. When it happens it happens fast, if you are not aware of the situation you will most likely be on the loseing side of the stick.

I'd bet when it comes down to actually pulling the triger on an assailent most people would hesitate on doing so. You can I'd do this or I'd do that,you don't know what the hell you'd do until it happens.

What ever a person feels comfortable with is what they should carry. For me it's 357 mag or 45acp. with a 9mm or 38spl. + P as a kicker.