Does anyone carry a .380? I was dead set on the 9mm because I have 400rounds or so of police issue hallow points that my uncle gave me. Figured they would be great carry rounds.

Anywho there is a nice little Walther PK380 at my gun store for 320 dollars. The gun I was going to buy was the Walther PPS but it is more than double that.

Thoughts about carring a smaller round? I dont think it matters to me. Getting shot is going to hurt, and if one bullet doesnt do it I figure that you can shoot two or three more times.

 

IMPO....I'd rather have the .380 in tight, close quarters than the 9mm....

Many reasons...

1)The 9mm will be bigger, heavier, and a lot more bulky to handle, carry and manuever...

2)The .380's bullets are mean more for the 20ft or less, close quarters deal, than a 9mm.....The 9mm is more likely to pass right on through...

3)Ordinance prices.....380 ammo is a LOT cheaper...

At any rate...No matter the gun size.....At 3ft away...That lil .380's barrel will be akin to a cannon, when the perp recognizes and FULLY understands that you WILL pull that trigger, and the thing is pointed DIRECTLY between his eyes...

SO yeah, unless he's pretty friggin' retarded...He will most likely give it up...

Again, good safety practices can eliminate a LOT of the need for the unit altogether...And then, if needed...It can be a 50/50 chance....Might even make things worse...

SO if you feel IMMEDIATELY in danger, and the need to pull that piece...You'd better damned well be already in the mind set to help the poor retard to meet his maker...

Just my $.02 USD....

 

Ammunition choice is key in a self defense weapon. I use hollow points in everything I carry.

I used to primarily carry an XD SC in .40 S&W. I still do and that thing is a sweetheart with a loud and powerful bark.

I recently purchased a Smith and Wesson Bodyguard .380 and that is a very nice weapon. It is a peach to shoot and is very accurate. It is nice because it fits in the pocket and looks like a wallet. Nobody is any the wiser. I went through a "pat down" at a local comedy event and they were none the wiser.

The XD is a wide weapon and even with the IWB Supertuck holster you notice it there.

As far as round capacity goes, I like the XD because with the short stack mag it is 10 rounds. The S&W is 6. The XDm that I sometimes carry is 16+1 but it is a fullsize pistol and can be a little difficult to conceal. Open carrying that one is fine though.

Like I said before, round choice is key. At close range, provided you have a good hollow point I don't care what caliber it is it will stop the threat.

XD SC in the Supertuck holster


S&W

 

Chris....Hollowpoints are a good equalizer....

And yes, ammo round choice can make the difference in being judged by 12, or being carried by 6.....Take your pick..

 

This is true.

I also cannot stress enough the importance of situational awareness and familiarity with your weapon and our own capabilities.

 

And here is my other Croatian Water Pistol

 

In all honesty...a well placed .380 Hollow point is just as good as a regular .38-44 shell...

Seriously....If you aren't used to the gun...You're not gonna be as confident, and therefore...As accurate....Just saying...

Besides...Like I said before...

Yes, a highly visible .44 magnum will dispell 99% of all potential muggers, etc....Then again....They're like wolves...

Get one by himself...Flash a pistol...He'll retreat...like a scared 5yr old...

Then...He can possibly call his...Umm..."Homies"...Then come back, and there you sit...

1 against, 3-5 guys, all armed, and on top of THAT....You aren't really familiar with that $1,500 gun...

So, you'll either get knocked out, your wallet and gun stolen...

Or KILLED...And your wallet/gun stolen...Its all in....How the situation unfolds....


In closing, its just like with my ex wife.....Pick your fights WISELY....

 

I had a small inexpensive Davis P380. Not a nice shooting gun at all but at the time all I could afford. I shot Ranger Talon SXT's in it. That round will mess a guy up, even in a shell as small as a .380.

They aren't a cheap round, though. $50 plus shipping for a box of 50 from Ammunition to Go. But I never shot many, just enough to make sure they would fire and feed well. Then I did my practice with cheaper stuff.

 

I carry a .380 acp Walther PPKs, loaded with Cor-Bon 85gr +P+ JHPs @ 1,070fps.
Never felt under-gunned, small enough to carry VERY comfortably, ballistically equal to the best .38 spl loads, and always beats the best 9mm/.40s&w/.45acp left at home because its a PITA to carry.

 

My little friend for the last 15 year's.
Conceals well.
Beretta .380/84FS

 

I REALLY like that piece man...

 

The other thing is to make sure you shoot what you carry. In my sub-compact I typically use 165gr rounds except if I am shooting the UMC 250rd packs. My self-defense ammo is also a 165gr round. I make sure that they cycle and get a feel for how the firearm responds to the round. You don't want to have any surprises or doubts. Obviously you aren't going to spend an entire day at the range shooting defense ammo but I typically buy new rounds every so often and dispose of the old defense rounds at the range.

Dave, your last sentence describes my thoughts to the tee.

What do you guys use for a holster?

 

"What do you guys use for a holster?"

Uncle Mikes, "Sidekick" size 1 inside the pant holster.

A VERY good poor mans substitute for a Walther PPK .380 is the Russian made Makarov IJ70-17A, very rugged, compact, deadly reliable, accurate...........and best of all about $200 at a gun show, brand new.

 

I have a couple .380s, a Bersa and a Hi Point. The Hi Point is a bit big for it's caliber and hard to conceal, but is a solid shooter.
The Bersa is another story. After about 300 rounds, it started marking the cases. I didn't pay a whole lot of attention, but at about the 500rnd mark it started scorching them badly and even split one. Bersa offers a lifetime original owner defect warranty, so I'll have to see how good that is.

 

I have two and carry them regularly. One is a Ruger LCP and the other is a Sig Sauer P238 (Looks like a baby 1911). Both are fantastic CC weapons. And I carry Fiocchi 90 grain JHPs. The LCP has the laser on it and there's just something about a red lighted dot appearing on your person that can cause even the bravest garden variety thug to cry for momma.