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Is 380 Good for Self-Defense? Everything You Need to Know

Annihilator

Annihilator

Hellion
Founding Member
Good read on is the .380 good for self defense, I would say yes, I now carry the Beretta Pica or my G42. Today’s ammo selections are very good.

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Is the .380 Good for Self-Defense? Everything You Need to Know - The Truth About Guns

The .380 ACP has sparked debate among firearms enthusiasts for years, with some dismissing it as underpowered and others championing its compact, easy-to-handle nature. For those seeking a self-defense caliber that’s both concealable and effective, the .380 remains a viable option. But how...
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I would not hesitate to carry a .380 for SD (with proper rounds). The only one I have ATM is the

eaacorp.com

Girsan MC 14T Tip-Up - EAA Corp.

The Girsan MC 14T Tip-Up pistol is the solution for everybody that has issues racking a slide. The easiest loading and unloading .380 ACP in the market.
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Wife is not good with slides and doesn’t like the trigger pull weight of revolvers (and is way more accurate with a semi). I mentioned in another thread I’ve been eyeballing a PPK in .380…just waiting for the right price. Seems most don’t want to come off MSRP.
 
I like the .380, own several and sometimes do carry one. My favorites are the Colt Mustang and Walther PPK/S. I believe the 380 is plenty adequate for self defense.
However, I will differ a bit on the subject of recoil. In a locked breech design, the 380 is a pleasure to shoot and has significantly less recoil than the 9mm. However, many 380s are of blowback design and small ones can have more felt recoil than the 9mm. Some are downright unpleasant to shoot. Choose wisely. ;)
 
Lab Us said:
I would not hesitate to carry a .380 for SD (with proper rounds). The only one I have ATM is the

eaacorp.com

Girsan MC 14T Tip-Up - EAA Corp.

The Girsan MC 14T Tip-Up pistol is the solution for everybody that has issues racking a slide. The easiest loading and unloading .380 ACP in the market.
eaacorp.com eaacorp.com

Wife is not good with slides and doesn’t like the trigger pull weight of revolvers (and is way more accurate with a semi). I mentioned in another thread I’ve been eyeballing a PPK in .380…just waiting for the right price. Seems most don’t want to come off MSRP.
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My wife is the same way. She has severe arthritis in her hands. A few years ago, when S&W came out with their EZ .380, we picked up one for her. It worked well for her. But when S&W came out with the 9mm EZ model, she upgraded to that one. That is her current EDC. The .380 EZ is now another drawer/backup pistol for her. It's just easier and cheaper for us to go 9mm as we have several pistols in that caliber, but only the one S&W .380EZ.
 
The .380 like the 9mm is a lot stronger than factory rounds suggest. The book maximum load can be safely bypassed. It can be uploaded to near 9mm specs. This must only be done by an experienced loader well versed in what to look for by way of pressure and one must use a chrono.
 
I'm very comfortable carrying my Beretta 80X with 14 rounds onboard
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Personally I think the 380 is great for SD, I just wish I had more options for more rounds like I do with 9mm but most of the carry 380 guns I like only carry 6+1. 9mm is small and cheap so I just don't think 380 has been able to make its mark as easily. But...you are asking about 30sp

So thinking back, and I can only go back to when I was 18 or so in the late 90s, there weren't many good 380 options. It just seemed like a caliber for mouse guns that you used for backup. That stigma still carries through today when people look at 380. And 38 special, which I only fired through my revolvers just felt like a somewhat lesser option than .357 since the guns could fire both. Since .357 was like a freaking canon, I think I always just assumed 38sp was just a smaller version more like a 9mm. Never even would have thought to compare it to .380.

Just my opinion here based on what I experienced with them.
 
HDT08 said:
Personally I think the 380 is great for SD, I just wish I had more options for more rounds like I do with 9mm but most of the carry 380 guns I like only carry 6+1. 9mm is small and cheap so I just don't think 380 has been able to make its mark as easily. But...you are asking about 30sp

So thinking back, and I can only go back to when I was 18 or so in the late 90s, there weren't many good 380 options. It just seemed like a caliber for mouse guns that you used for backup. That stigma still carries through today when people look at 380. And 38 special, which I only fired through my revolvers just felt like a somewhat lesser option than .357 since the guns could fire both. Since .357 was like a freaking canon, I think I always just assumed 38sp was just a smaller version more like a 9mm. Never even would have thought to compare it to .380.

Just my opinion here based on what I experienced with them.
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There’s a number of good 10+ round .380’s out there; Bersa Thunder + (13), Glock 25 (15) or 28 (12), Beretta 84 (12 or 13) and the Turkish copies, the Sig 365, Ruger LCP Max, CZ83 (a phenomenal doublestack in either .380 or 9x18)…

I’d love to see S&W bring out the Equalizer in .380; I’d buy one on a heartbeat.
 
Can't expand much on what others have said...I guess it comes down to what the individual is comfortable with regarding "stopping power" and other factors. In my opinion, there is often times too much emphasis on stopping power and not enough on shot placement which I feel is much more important. I carry an LCP Max, 12+1 and another 10 on my belt loaded with Federal 90 gr. Hydra Shok JHP...I have practiced double taps and can keep grouping at 3" or less at 20 feet and I am fine with that. The goal is to stop the threat, and I am confident that the .380, with a couple shots to the chest or groin, would in all likelihood do just that....I have a couple 9mm that I carry as well and I for one wouldn't want to take a couple well placed rounds from any of them....I will continue to carry my .380 and feel completely safe and protected in doing so....Thanks
 
I have done my testing, read others and I am perfectly comfortable with the .380. Mostly in spring and summer is when I carry it most. This year I have really gotten into carrying the Taurus in my hip pocket, it's there now loaded with Buffalo Bore solids for fall. Got to start considering what jframe to get in in .38 to replace it for colder weather.

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Frankly the biggest downside to .380 today, imho anyway, is the price of ammo vs 9 mm. That, combined with the numerous minor 9’s makes .380 a tough sell. Nothing inherently wrong with it (heck, it’s a browning design🙄), but super small 9’s have an edge. Back “when” .380’s were a good bit smaller more concealable-not so these days😏
 
Shibadog said:
Frankly the biggest downside to .380 today, imho anyway, is the price of ammo vs 9 mm. That, combined with the numerous minor 9’s makes .380 a tough sell. Nothing inherently wrong with it (heck, it’s a browning design🙄), but super small 9’s have an edge. Back “when” .380’s were a good bit smaller more concealable-not so these days😏
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I think you’re ignoring a few factors.

First, I don’t think there’s a 9mm as small as my P238; the 938 is considerably bigger.

Second, when you get into smaller guns like that—recoil is a thing. The .380 is generally more controllable than the 9mm will be. This is a serous consideration for people that have problems with recoil.

Add in that the .380 can have an easier to rack slide than a comparable 9mm, which is a consideration for people with limited/compromised hand strength.

When those factors are considered, the .380 has a lot going for it.
 
HansGruber said:
I think you’re ignoring a few factors.

First, I don’t think there’s a 9mm as small as my P238; the 938 is considerably bigger.

Second, when you get into smaller guns like that—recoil is a thing. The .380 is generally more controllable than the 9mm will be. This is a serous consideration for people that have problems with recoil.

Add in that the .380 can have an easier to rack slide than a comparable 9mm, which is a consideration for people with limited/compromised hand strength.

When those factors are considered, the .380 has a lot going for it.
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I tend to agree re the 238, but a lot of .380’s are way bigger than the smallest 9’s. The issue of recoil is certainly in the 380’s favor in the small metal guns. My wife has a .380 she loves and I had a West German PPK I carried for a long time-great pistol.
 
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