Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting Talk to me about the .380 auto

[BullyDogJason]

i think id only get a 380 for target practice.

i want something like a 40 or 45 if im gonna have to shoot somebody.

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

I reload for the 45acp and 44 mag. It takes a while but reloading pays for itself. 380 for practice may be OK but not for me. I like a 70 series Gold Cup for target and Glock 30 or Springfield's armory XD 45 compact for carry. Glock and XD's don't like reloads. If you reload with plated round nose 230 grain they work fine with factory strength loads in Glock or XD. In the 1911 types you won't have any trouble with cast lead bullets. I like 200 grain swc (semi wad cutter) they cut a clean hole in the target and you don't need binoculars to see where your shots went. Reloading is a hobby within itself. I have been reloading since the mid 60's. Replace your springs when necessary, magazine springs and slide return spring and you will have a minimum of feeding problems. For 1911 magazines factory springs are 9&1/2 pounds. I replace with 11 pound springs. You can get them on-line from Wolf Springs. When your 1911 starts throwing the empties more than 9 feet from where you are standing it is time to replace the slide return spring. A weak spring will blow back faster and the empties will fly further. You don't want to batter your gun so put in a stronger spring when necessary. 18 to 20 pounds may do it. Some 1911's come from the factory new with a weak return spring. I have had a gun that required a 22 pound spring but that was unusual. I talk about 1911's like it is the only gun and when you think about it the 1911 will be 100 years old next year and nobody has come up with a better design, it is really remarkable. The Glock IS completely dependable, the 1911 does malfunction occasionally. The Glock an XD are striker fired and 1911's are hammer and trigger. Two different animals. Most Police Dpts have adopted the Glock. It will take any amount of abuse and keep on ticking. I would not use a 40 cal for anything. The 45acp is a great round and will get the job done --- second shot may not be necessary but if it is they will be on the ground. If the slow moving heavy bulled strikes a bone they are going down even if it is a bone in the hand. I was born in the US but mostly raised in the Philippines. The Japanese invaded when I was 13 two weeks after Pearl harbor. A lot of Americans went into the hills to hide in the Jungles and I was in hiding too. I listened to all the stories about how the 38 spl would not stop one of the wild tribes. The 45 was a different story. I take seriously my duty to protect my wife and my home. Thank GOD we have the Castle Doctrine here. Many of our States are waking up. -- email address removed --

 

[jray]

fkolvalski,

The 380 auto is the equivalent of a 283 two barrel in a LT1 and LS1 world. The . 380 auto has very low energy and wouldn't be my first choice for home protection. If you're looking for less expensive ammo for practice I would choose a 9mm over the . 380.

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

jray is right about the price. More 9mm is produced than any other round. Quantity production brings the price down. When used in the full auto versions of AR's it doesn't take long to eat up a large quantity. That way it is expensive but it brings down the price for the pistol users. Wally World has sales on ammo. I wont be buying any 9mm. It is popular in Europe. They don't like to pay for bigger caliber. Like I said before I am a reloader. It does cost slightly more to load for 45 than 9mm but the old saying comes into play here. You get what you pay for.

 

[BILLUA]

.380 Auto

The wife and I each have a Ruger LCP . 380 semi autos. This is in addition to our Glocks, 19,23 & 36. In the summer, the LCP gets that call many times in a Desantis pocket carry holster.



Now, do I consider that . 380 round the ultimate man stopper? Heck no, but in the situations I carry it, the choice was probably it or not carrying...



In the winter, my G36 gets the nod.



I like what the gentleman above said, think the . 380 is a is inadequate? Volunteer to have 7 rounds of . 380 pumped into you at arms length and see what you think

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

BILLUA No doubt the first round from a . 380 PROPERLY PLACED (head shot) will get the job done. I don't know if in a situation I would have time to aim and get in a head shot. I know my 45 will put an attacker on the ground if it strikes a bone anywhere in the body and will give me time for another shot if necessary. I sincerely hope we are never confronted and have a situation. Anybody is entitled to any opinion they want to have. These days all we have to do is look around us to see we live in a much more dangerous environment. I don't see it getting any better, only worse. The extra weight in my shoulder holster does not bother me. In a way it feels good. I am aging, we all are, I am grateful to still be here at 82. An attacker is no longer a human being. He/she has become a two legged animal. Because of that I will not hesitate. I may not win the battle but I will take them with me and keep them from attacking again. If that is the way it turns out I won't have any complaints. Pun intended. -- email address removed --

 

[BILLUA]

Mr Burchfield, concur with all!



Cheers!

 

[AMink]

I think the . 380 is one of those "better than nothing" rounds. The newer breed of pocket . 380's definitely serve a purpose. In the summer, I wear shorts and a t-shirt because it is in the high 90's, low 100's where I live. It is hard to effectively conceal even a . 38 snubby in those conditions. A small, flat . 380 would be about as good as it gets. My Springfield XD Compact is great, but still too big for light clothing carry. I'd rather have even a . 22 than nothing. Maybe I need to qualify on my Raven . 25!