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Can Your .380 Fight a Rifle?

I can reliably hit a 4” target at 25 yds with a 380, but if someone had a rifle and I had to defend myself with a 380, I’d be engaging from cover or concealment, since you’d need to move then engage if in the open. Push comes to shove, if not available, hitting the deck to return fire. Statistically though, infinitesimal chance.
 
Our Master Guns was a sniper in Vietnam. He later made the MCST (Marine Corps Shooting Team). I knew him after that when he was close to retiring in the early 80's. I saw what that man could do with a .380 in an indoor range. Let me just say that he could scare the hell out of a bullseye! The average Joe with a rifle might re-consider a gun battle with him and his .380.
 
While not a 380, my concealed carry/off duty gun used to be a Glock 35 with a 357Sig barrel and a RMR optic. Body hits at 200m was normal even for moderate shooters. I believe its a combination of the RMR and flat shooting cartridge. Im retired now; but generally still carry a full size handgun. The exception is on formal occasions where dress matters and threat is low. Then is an opportunity to wear my PPK...

As for needing to shoot that far, I can only suggest anyone look at Active Shooter incidents. If limiting your skills to 15m means not engaging OR moving closer for the shot; why not practice at longer ranges. School hallways can be 100m long and shopping centers maybe 10 times that long. School Resource Officers dont walk around the hallways with a rifle, Being able to engage a shooter at distance with a handgun could save lives. Likewise the next time youre shopping look at the length of a supermarket aisle.

Break contact, yep thats an option, assuming you can, and assuming youre alone. What if you cant run away? What if you feel that tap on the shoulder from heaven saying, "Its up to you..."

Best
Pieter
 
I carry a Ruger LCP Max. A lot; it's sooooooo light. Also, I can hit a man size target at 25 yards. Inside of 10 I can keep them in the 10-ring (the small one, not the one they have for archery). Having said that I have never had rounds coming my way at the time.

I want to add that if I end up in a rifle fight and the only thing I have is my .380. Well, Karma is a bitch, and I must have done something seriously wrong in another life.
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In my opinion .380 is marginal as a manstopper. With the plethora of more powerful calibers in micro guns, it is nearly irrelevant. With that said, a late friend and fellow instructor was able to consistently hit an 8" steel plate with a P238 in .380 at 100 yards. You had to.listen hard to hear the steel ring. He was an extraordinary shooter and spent countless hours and rounds on the range developing those skills. He said he could break an opponent's concentration at that range to buy time. My preference if someone is trying to tag me with a rifle, is to unass the kill zone. And get Belt Fed to lay down covering fire.
 
HayesGreener said:
In my opinion .380 is marginal as a manstopper. With the plethora of more powerful calibers in micro guns, it is nearly irrelevant. With that said, a late friend and fellow instructor was able to consistently hit an 8" steel plate with a P238 in .380 at 100 yards. You had to.listen hard to hear the steel ring. He was an extraordinary shooter and spent countless hours and rounds on the range developing those skills. He said he could break an opponent's concentration at that range to buy time. My preference if someone is trying to tag me with a rifle, is to unass the kill zone. And get Belt Fed to lay down covering fire.
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Agree
Can be done
We ring steel with pistols at 100 yards outdoors with our instructor every session out there.
I found with several pistols I look under my hand for 100+ yard shots. Get sight on target, look at backdrop point of reference, raise and take the shot. All takes practice
 
PieterCoetzee said:
While not a 380, my concealed carry/off duty gun used to be a Glock 35 with a 357Sig barrel and a RMR optic. Body hits at 200m was normal even for moderate shooters. I believe its a combination of the RMR and flat shooting cartridge. Im retired now; but generally still carry a full size handgun. The exception is on formal occasions where dress matters and threat is low. Then is an opportunity to wear my PPK...

As for needing to shoot that far, I can only suggest anyone look at Active Shooter incidents. If limiting your skills to 15m means not engaging OR moving closer for the shot; why not practice at longer ranges. School hallways can be 100m long and shopping centers maybe 10 times that long. School Resource Officers dont walk around the hallways with a rifle, Being able to engage a shooter at distance with a handgun could save lives. Likewise the next time youre shopping look at the length of a supermarket aisle.

Break contact, yep thats an option, assuming you can, and assuming youre alone. What if you cant run away? What if you feel that tap on the shoulder from heaven saying, "Its up to you..."

Best
Pieter
Click to expand...
Fire and maneuver, fix bayonets and charge!

I shoot to 50 yards with my 9mm's, but I don't shoot like that guy!
 
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