Is the .380 closing on the 9mm?

John from MD · Oct 7, 2019

I was a believer of a J frame backup for years and carried a Chief's Special ( not a model 36) starting around 1971. However, even it is a brick compared to some of the lighter weight guns out there. Using my Kahr 380, I can carry 8 instead of 5 and can get them off faster. I still have the Chiefs Special but it has been retired for some time now.

Biggfoot44 · Oct 7, 2019

As Light ( or small) as Possible isn't necessarily the same as Suitably Light ( or small) . 9oz is certainly lighter than 13oz , but doesn't make any meaningful difference in the carrying , but does make a difference in shooting with a moderately acceptable degree of accuracy and speed . And in many modes of carry, 16oz is no muss, no fuss .

Long ago , I realized a J Frame could be carried and concealed as easily as a Baby Browning sized .25acp . ( Carried in a manner for rapid access, not exotic deep cover stuff like taped between shoulder blades, or hidden inside cigarette pack ).

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A huge factor in ammo price is economy of scale in mfg and distribution . That's why .38spl was dirt cheap in the revolver era, and generic 9mm fmj is cheap now . The more popular .380 gets , the more the price comes down . ( Popular in amount of ammo consumed, not number of guns sold per se . Guns that fire one box, then stuck in the sock drawer for 20yrs don't make major impact on ammo sales .)

Huckleberry · Oct 7, 2019

For a backup or belly gun, I want the reliability of a hammerless or shrouded small frame revolver like a J Frame, LCR or Sp101. This pistol is not intended as your first line of offense but as your final line of defense. This is the what you want to bring to a knife fight instead of a knife. A defensive pistol to defend your life until you can un-ass your AO and get the hell out of there.

For EDC, if 5 or 6 rounds plus maybe an extra 1 or 2 speed strips or loader is not enough then maybe you need to bring more gun for your situation because you’re expecting a war instead of a gunfight. Even with the rise of high cap mags, most gunfights still average 2-3 rounds per shooter.

I guess I just read too much of Applegate, Fairbarin, Jordan and Bryce as an impressionable youth.

calicojack · Oct 7, 2019

For CCW, I am thinking yes.

Zorros · Oct 8, 2019

Can’t shoot wife’s lcpii or bodyguard very well. Too small. Can shoot g42 ok, but its not much smaller than a g43. Conceals the same, and the 43 is a 9. A walther ppks in 380 weighs more than a 43. In an outside coat pocket i like a snubbie. Cobra or 642.

Jed195 · Oct 8, 2019

I've had a Beretta m84 for decades. 13 round mags of 380 plus two extra mags. Put pachmeyer grips on it early on and it felt better than the stock plastics it came with. Never had a ftf in all the time I've had it.

alucard0822 · Oct 8, 2019

Huckleberry said:
For a backup or belly gun, I want the reliability of a hammerless or shrouded small frame revolver like a J Frame, LCR or Sp101. This pistol is not intended as your first line of offense but as your final line of defense. This is the what you want to bring to a knife fight instead of a knife. A defensive pistol to defend your life until you can un-ass your AO and get the hell out of there.

For EDC, if 5 or 6 rounds plus maybe an extra 1 or 2 speed strips or loader is not enough then maybe you need to bring more gun for your situation because you’re expecting a war instead of a gunfight. Even with the rise of high cap mags, most gunfights still average 2-3 rounds per shooter.

I guess I just read too much of Applegate, Fairbarin, Jordan and Bryce as an impressionable youth.

I have a S&W 442, was one of the first CCWs, still have it, still fun to shoot, but haven't carried it for more than 10 years. It's weight, length and height are great, but the cylinder is a fat 1.3". I can fire all 5 rounds fast, but reloading is slow, and speed loaders are just as fat and uncomfortable as the cylinder. Recoil is heavy, and brutal with hot +p ammo, it's also not 100% reliable, really hot ammo can have bullet pull, which jams the cylinder, has happened with Rem SWCHPs. As far as gel tests and "on paper" ballistics, it's between 380 and 9mm in power, but isn't all that consistent with expansion/penetration judging by Lucky Gunner's gel test database. The CW380 is comparatively tiny, just a little over 1/2 the width, only 2/3 the weight, and 2 more rounds, but the trigger is better, and it's easier to shoot and reload. The P365 is designed almost 50 years after the first J-frames came out, more than double the capacity, more power, FAR easier to shoot reload and carry, it pretty much outmatches the ild J-frame in every way from a slimmer, smaller package.

J Beard · Oct 15, 2019

MigraineMan said:
My two-tone Bersa Thunder pairs beautifully with my tuxedo. It's a shame that Walther doesn't offer the PPK in a SS/Black combo.

Buy one of each and swap slides, BONUS you get two unique pieces. :party29:

Is the .380 closing on the 9mm?

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