Hey James, we actually have an article on best .380 defensive ammo here. My main carry is a compact Springfield XDS 9mm 3.3", but it is quite a bit larger and heavier than my .380. as always great informative article ,i have several handguns i carry but often end up with my little ruger, it has never failed to feed or had any issues at all and i have fed it many types of ammo., so i feel as confident with it as i do my glock. This makes them great for use as a primary or backup concealed carry weapon, but not so great as a service pistol for police officers and military personnel. Different powders have different energy concentrations, so 11% less space does not just mean 11% less power. If I am going to war I want the saw and 2 guys to carry ammo for me. Blocky. Instead, what we should be asking is which caliber is better, Various 9mm Glocks of difference sizes, courtesy of, If power is your primary focus and youre thinking of going with a .380, youre barking up the wrong tree. Almost all major manufacturers produce both calibers. He went down for the count. The 380 ACP is a 9 x 17mm round, so they call it the 9mm short or the Kurz in Europe. The caliber continues to offer the tiniest options on the market, without dropping to an inadvisable caliber. One key downside I have noticed about .380 ACP is that target ammo is ~2x the price of 9mm. Even if that dozen take down an attacker completely, six HPs is going to slow him down enough that I can run away faster than he can catch me. The velocity varies according to barrel length and type of gun.A comparison of velocity of .38 Special bullets with different weight and type:A 9mm fires bullets with velocity ranging between 1200 and 1430 feet per second depending on the model.A comparison of velocity of 9mm bullets with different weight and type: I am 61 and somewhat inexperienced shooter. I love my PPK/S in .380 for CCW, and have used it as such for 20 years. In the military this is called Condition 1. Self-defense trainers and experts will tell you, its not uncommon to need multiple rounds on target to stop an attacker. .380 vs 9mm: Backup Gun While the 9mm has encroached on the .380s turf as a primary carry option, the smaller nine still cuts the more dominant figure as a backup gun. Well written piece, with IMHO solid conclusions. Cartridge. And I think the reason is that they are pretty much all .380 and up. Well, if power is your primary decision, you wouldnt. (If you divide by the 380's recoil energy, we get 94 percent but it would be correct instead to say the 9 mm has 194% the recoil energy of the 380.) You could argue that felt recoil is less in some platforms, but with a slight reduction in recoil comes a significant reduction in terminal performance, magazine capacity, and in many cases, reliability. Most of the .380 ACP handguns found in display cases pack about 7 to 9 rounds total, while you can easily find 9mm Luger handguns that pack 15 to 20 rounds at a time. Higher PSI means more force acting against the bullet to accelerate it out of the gun. And since subcompact 9mms are a thing, theres no reasons why youd have to make the .380 your primary concealed carry gun unless you really wanted to. Regarding concealability of the .380 pistol, versus the 9mm., the Sig 365 and others have pretty much leveled that playing field. They are both affordable rounds that are readily available in most well-stocked ammunition stores. Also, if youre just getting into guns and came across this page while researching for your first gun purchase, make sure to check out our in-depth write-up on home defense handguns for beginners. In our comparisons, all three 9mm Luger rounds were well above 300 foot-pounds (ft-lbs), with the 115-grain Gold Dot reaching 374 ft-lbs and maintaining almost 300 ft-lbs after 50 yards. Different powders have different energy concentrations, so 11% less space does not just mean 11% less power. Remember, the 9mm is the superior caliber for military and police because its powerful, easy to control, has a maximum effective range of 50 meters (almost 55 yards). I had been considering Glock 17 or single stack 1911 9mm with ~5" barrel as alternative options to improve my 9mm marksmanship, but then I came across Browning 1911-380 with 4.25" barrel, so I have been wondering how much muzzle energy loss I would have to accept to downsize to .380 ACP. Winner: 9mm Luger. For our tests, we used a Glock 42 and a Glock 43. I really like them and feel they are a great feature and it makes me feel more comfortable carrying my pistol with it inn my gun !!! But if you are concerned with recoil, or simply want a small handgun, the .380 ACP may be the best choice. Try one of these pistols, you will see the difference. .380 ammo is no joke when it comes to a great self defense round! Another vital consideration for choosing between 9mm vs.380ACP pistols is ones ability to manage recoil. The answer may surprise you because I dont take the same approach in comparing them as many others do. The day you are called upon to put your tool of choice to task is not the day that you should be learning how to maintain composure. Dont get me wrong I like a 44 mag ! Of my two EDCs, one is a .380 and the other is a 9mm. .380 cartridges are better if concealment is a top priority. Its also much easier to rack and softer shooting, but well get to that. There is so much more that goes into it than just how deadly these bullets can be. We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe. In fact, if you shoot from a 9mm handgun and a .380 handgun that weigh the same. Seriously ??? The truth is that .380 ACP is as accurate as the person shooting it. Pistol has become more manageable by the availability of the ported models. I would agree that .380 is acceptable as a defensive cartridge, but I wouldn't put faith in that video. Remember, a .380 started World War 1 (it was the caliber used to assasinate Franz Ferdinand and his wife). Terms of Service apply. A .38 Special fires bullets with velocity between 679-980 feet per second. If youre looking for more detailed information about the cartridge sizes, feel free to check out the Wiki pages for the.380 ACP and 9mm Parabellum. The two are distinguishable from each other due to different shell length and structure. Remember, the .380 isnt an ineffective round by stretch of the imagination. Because the 380 has 94 percent less recoil (if fired from an equal-weight gun), its easier to shoot. Las razones de cual de los dos calibres se deben usar, estn acordes a los objetivos a cubrir. I hope your not putting the 9mm into the "big boy" category like you stated above I have a "Big boy" gun .357 mag Trooper III , I also have the National match .45acp, 44mag Anaconda. This is literally people's lives we're talking about. The 9mm is known for smooth operation, but if light recoil is a top priority, the .380 ACP could be your best choice. I think it would be helpful if Pew did an article researching the BEST HP round for the 380 given known issues with failure to load. However, if you think you may enjoy testing your weapon and your marksmanship at 50 or even 100 yards, the 9mm Luger will likely keep you happy. If you go to the store and pick up two random boxes; one a 9mm Luger and one a .380 Auto, youre all but guaranteed to see that the 9mm packs a heavier bullet. I followed the link in your claim of the 380 having 94 percent less recoil than 9 mm. The 9mm predates.380 ACP 9mm was designed by Georg Luger in 1901 and entered production in 1902 and has a landslide of ballistic advances to back it. Here are the quick stats: As you can tell, there isnt a lot of physical difference between the two. To get an idea of which round is better equipped for self-defense, we took some Federal HST ammo to the range (99 grain 380 ACP rounds and 124 grain 9mm rounds.) Bullet Weight. I like the grip safety. We attempted to pick incredibly similar firearms so we could attempt to isolate the caliber as the primary variable. Excellent page. The 9mm and .380 both have the same diameter bullet, but the 9mm casing and overall length is longer. I didn't know about that gun. I wanted a more concealable everyday carry implement. Good info even though a bit redundant. I went with .380 and chose something rather iconic to self defense/personal protection. It may not have the same expansion or penetration as the 9mm, but it does have lower recoil. I mean, can you really go wrong with a 9mm? That is why i use hornby critical defense. 9mm Para es demasiado penetrante y su energa es temible hasta las 500 ydas, 2) El Calibre .380 permite su uso en armas mucho ms pequeas en donde "sacar primero, tirar y pegar" resulta ms importante, porque la distancia siempre es inferior a las 25 yardas. Keeping that in mind, its unfair to place the .380 up against the 9mm and ask which is better. Even though the .380 never lived up to the expectations that John Browning may have hoped for, it did become a popular backup pistol due to its relatively small size. , which has a long history of success in the field, most other cartridges in production are going to have a hard time squaring off with the 9mm and for good reason. Maybe a .32 would be a happy medium. There barrel isn't long enough to need porting !!!!! Our favorite guns and gear that we've tested and fully recommend. Much forethought should be invested in scenarios and preparation or even a howitzer will be of no use! Hello! For this reason, load capacity (the number of rounds you can carry in one magazine) is a significant concern for many people choosing the 9mm Luger or .380 ACP. The .380ACP does make a fantastic backup carry gun. Across all brands of ammo, including Hornady XTP in both .380 and 9mm, the Glocks shot with the highest velocities and thus were also harder-hitting in terms of actual force delivered into their targets, though these differences were relatively small and not statistically significant. I used to carry it a lot !!! The single advantage of having a longer shell is that you can pack more powder into the shell. Love the hand feel of 380 but I would never use mine as personal defensecant get through a magazine without a jam.like the size, feel, and accuracy..dont like my Bersawould like anothermore reliablesleep with my CZit works all the time There must be some other consideration such as maximum pressure the barrel can tolerate, and it is possible the .380 subcompacts have thinner / lighter barrels? .380 is loaded to 21psi, 9mm loaded to 31-35kpsi. So, the elephant in the room is .380 vs 9mm ballistics. As for the .45 Automatic pistol vs carbine ballistic test can be found here Less recoil also translates to a softer spring. The Shield EZ is a great idea for new and disabled shooters. I cannot pull the slide to the rearmost position on a 9mm without a major struggle. I believe it's caused by less tension on the guide rod spring for the lower recoil of the .380, but we are working her up to a 9mm as her target goal round for range and carry. The caliber wars between.380 ACP vs 9mm has been going on for decades. Both can be great defensive calibers if ammo is properly chosen. The length of the bullet is also important, this is generally impacted by weight since fitting more mass in the same diameter requires either a heavier material or making it longer. The .380 doesnt get as much recognition as some of the other big name handgun calibers, mostly because it doesnt have that hard-hitting reputation that the 9mm, 10mm, and .45 ACPs. can turn transform your .380 into a formidable concealed-carry pistol. Is there significant primer overhead this casing length comparison does not consider? Its a heavier cartridge that produces significantly more energy (including recoil energy) than the .380 ACP. Get proficient on YOUR time. For FMJ ammo, the average velocity was Again, that depends a lot on the needs and expectations you have of your pistol. Stick around a gun shop or an online gun forum long enough and youre bound to get tangled up in a 380 vs 9mm discussion as shooters weigh the merits of each caliber. Thank you, I prefer t6he 380 to the 9 mm for many reasons. Of course, the .380 cartridge weighs a little less than the 9mm. That is 11% shorter which means only 11% less powder => 11% less energy / stopping power. That's simply absurd, and would ignore basic laws of physics. Lets face it if you shoot someone over 30 feet Away , you are probably going to jail because you have other options In most cases and are expected to exercise them . The 9mm Luger is 9mm x 19mm. A.380mm cartridge is a light-weight, straight-walled, and rimless pistol ammunition developed by American firearms designer John Moses Browning. So, its logical that youll have an easier time finding guns that can loan more 9mm ammo. Its been (unfairly) stereotyped as an underpowered cartridge for almost as long as its been around, and ballistic tests place the. The standard 9mm load is a 115-grain to 147-grain projectile, which usually achieves something like 1150 to 950 feet per second of muzzle velocity and around 350 ft-lbs of muzzle energy from a full-size gun, and more like 875 to 1100 fps (and about 315ish ft-lbs) from a subcompact. That popularity leads to a lot of debate in the gun community. Very good article. An easy mistake to make, but certainly not trivial. Its not hard to see why its not only the favored service pistol around the world, but also one of the most popular calibers time and time again. Needless to say, the .380 doesnt outdo the 9mm on any of those strengths, with the exception of being easier to control. My sister has trouble with her hands and the .380 is a much better choice for her as a 9 mm in the same size and weight pistol would over power her.. Remember the .380 is the short version of the 9mm implying lesser power. Many errors that made me stop and re-read to figure out what you meant. .380 ACP guns are almost always blowback operated, 9mm guns very often have a locked-breech of some kind. My girlfriend handles cash deposits through ATMs after hours, and I am encouraging her to carry. Thanks for the reply. I bought the M&P 380ez. No problems using FMJ ammo of any brand.. I bought one and love it very accurate and love the sites. 380 VS 9mm: Comparison While the.380 ACP is often considered interchangeable with the 9mm due to the same diameter, they are not the same at all. The recovered 380 ACP bullet on the left with the recovered 9mm bullet on the right. .380 vs 9mm. The 380 ACP was close. Unlike rifle ammunition, manufacturers rarely list trajectory data for their handgun ammo. Great article. I may earn a small part of the sale from links to any products or services on this site. The 380 handgun is smaller and more comfortable to maneuver in close range situations. Until then, remember the first rule of a gunfight is to have a gun. The 9mm and .380 both have the same diameter bullet, but the 9mm casing and overall length is longer. I used to have a .32 auto Derringer. I am looking at buying the S&W Shield EZ, a 380, for all the reasons you mention. Maybe they will do better with the Lehigh Defense rounds but they are hard to find. Hope that helps! Though a rare problem. There is less gunpowder (with a lighter weight projectile) in a.380 cartridge and, in theory, should have less perceived recoil. While .380 ACP is x17mm Vs. 9mm Luger's x19mm, it is not 11% less powder or 11% less energy. The correct unit is foot pounds (i.e., energy = force * distance), ft-lbs, not ft/lb. It was purchased only for personal protection. She has small hands and is inexperienced with firearms. She can't rack the 9mm but can the .380. There really is not much difference anymore in the size of the pistols themselves. So please explain why the 11% shorter casing length does not equate to 11% less powder. Ive lost a lot of strength in my hands but still deer hunt with a crossbow & 7mm 08 and use a 12 gauge for turkey and duckbut dog gone it, I cannot successfully handle a 9mm. The 1911 had a safety because its original design was intended to be carried cocked & locked, hammer cocked back ready to fire & the safety on. Looking at handloading numbers, both .380 and 9mm data using Hornady 90gr HP XTP using the same powders the 9th Ed Hornady manual calls for almost 25% more powder for minimum loads on 9mm compared to the minimum loads in .380 ACP. Thanks for your time and effort. I am a 65 year old female, 51 and 123 pounds. At the same time though, its not just about penetration but energy, and I use 147gr for my 9mm defense rounds, and 147gr vs 90gr .380 is really a big difference. As a matter of fact the law enforcement went to the .40 cal. ;) If some company does indeed make a ported pocket gun, I certainly do not know anyone who would spend the extra money on it, as it would be a waste.. Why would you need a ported pocket gun ? The .380 is an American-made cartridge that was created in 1908 by John Browning. Cases are rarely filled to capacity. have lower recoil. purchase helps support my work in bringing you more awesome gun and gear articles. At the end of the day, part of buying a gun is finding the right fit for you. I could carry other cooler handguns but considering size, weight, and the possibility I may actually come across a platoon of NKPA taking over the local mall? Interesting idea EDC AR-10 pistol hahaha. We measured it and found .59 inches of total expansion. It is for home defence because getting a CC in Maryland is tough to say the least. Thankfully, it worked exactly like it should and simply melted into the background. I picture the ultimate being Jesse Ventura wielding the Minigun in Predator.. .380 ammo is expensive, so shooting it a lot for practice is pricey. When it comes to expansion, our 9mm came in with about .62 inches of expansion. There is no substitution for time spent on the range practicing placing each shot where you want it and learning to function calmly and collectively with what ever your using. If price is a primary concern, 9mm Luger ammo might have an edge here. Generally speaking, one of the biggest advantages to the 9mm is that its an easy-to-handle cartridge at least when compared to the bigger calibers out there. There is so much more that goes into it than just how deadly these bullets can be. This small round is considerably less powerful than the standard 9mm. 9mm Vs. .380 ACP. over the nine because they were tired of shooting these criminals 5,10,15 times before they'd stop. Now for home defense, I have other options, AR15, full size 9mm, 12 gauge with #4 buckshot. When were looking at power, the 9mm unanimously beats the .380 every time. I tried 3 different manufacturers and couldnt do it. The 9mm ammo is outlined with the red box. Generally, the bullet is simply made longer. These rounds have a lot in common. It is only a .25, though. Yes, the two cartridges have the same bullet diameter. The .380 typically has a higher muzzle velocity than the 9mm. On YouTube Honest Outlaw just put up a review on this. It was remedied when I switched to Hornady Critical Defense. I can't always rack the slide on my 9mm. I keep the .380 in the nightstand. But in order to avoid confusion, I will not be referring to the .380 by any other name in this post. Just saying. Another nasty little round for the .380 is the Liberty Civil defense, those suckers are moving extremely fast! It might not even mean 11% less maximum powder depending on the powder used since it might reach the maximum pressure loading before the case is filled. Which one I walk out the door with just depends on my mood, or on nothing in particular. But if youve already got a 9mm or another big boy caliber and youre looking for a new gun thats lightweight and easy to carry around, the .380 makes a fine addition to your collection. El calibre .380 es totalmente apto para Defensa de Civiles en la Ciudad. Debo de precisar que stos conceptos son errneos. Bullet weights range from 80 to 147 grains with 115- and 124-grain bullets being the most popular. Personally, I believe that the 9mm is an all-around great round thats useful in damn near every type of scenario, whereas the .380 is limited to close-range protection. The 380 ACP did well and actually falls within the FBIs penetration guideline of 12-18 inches (12.4). If you stand the 9mm x 17mm up next to the 9mm x 19mm you will see that there is only about a .5mm difference in casing size. Winner: 9mm Luger. I am 64 been shooting since a small child , so I have most pistol calibers and to me the 380 is a good concealed carry option , its accurate and light and has enough impact for close quarters combat . Wait a second. Hence, my initial argument that .380 only has 11% less energy than 9mm is now corrected to 15% less energy. Check out this statistical review. If I was shopping around for my very first handgun, Id go with the 9mm every day of the week simply because you can get more out of it. It's fine for you to like .380s, but please don't spread non-factual claims about cartridge effectiveness. Without seeing their data, I'm strongly mistrustful of blind statistical review. It traveled to the point where it slightly exceeded the FBIs penetration recommendation. If youre seeking tremendous energy, the .375 Magnum, 10mm Auto, and .45 ACP (to name a few) are usually the better choice. My kids, ages 12 and 15 absolutely LOVE shooting the .380 because it fits them perfectly and they could do it all day. Try the walthers pk380 slide racks easy it not a pocket pistol but it's light and was made for older weak hands and small hands . I take it everywhere. Everyone who's carrying IS practicing, right? Check out our beginners guns video course. For a tiny pocket pistol, it is easy to shoot, although after 50+ rounds at a time, the bony part of my palm starts aching because my hands are big and skinny (I'm 6'3", 195lbs). The .380 ACP is not to be confused with the .38 ACP 9mm Makarov, 9mm Parabelleum, or the 9mm Ultra. I was going to suggest the same gun, Eric. Brandon has spent the majority of his life hunting in the woods in Georgia and Alabama. It is not bullet weight alone that matters, but rather mass * velocity * velocity. While they have essentially the same diameter, the case on the 9mm Luger is clearly longer, which allows the cartridge to pack more propellant behind the bullet. Never had a single issue with ball ammo in the gun. Still, it did see some action among police forces, and was the caliber used by the MAC-11 submachine gun. I have both and respect them both. This is exactly why I have both a 9mm and .380. In some ways, the low power of the .380 ACP is actually one of its strengths, depending on how you look at it. My personal feeling is that a well placed small caliber round is far more effective than a larger caliber round not well placed. At 10 yards with a modified Weaver stance, it'll keep 3" groups all day. Win PDX1's would get wedged at the bottom of the feed ramp. If youre looking for a powerful caliber thats easy to handle, the .380 delivers in every way. What is being suggested here makes a ton of sense. My shot placement is much better with the .380 because I feel more comfortable. Instead, what we should be asking is which caliber is better for you?. Might want to check it out. The .380 vs the 9mm [Battle of the Nines] Brandon Harville, Pew Pew Tactical [Excerpted] While the.380 might just look like the 9mms shorter cousin, but in actuality, these two rounds function quite differently. I have carried different types of firearms but I have come to the realization that, in my current situation and lifestyle, there is no need for me to carry anything larger than a G42 loaded with Hornady Custom. Great pistol. The best concealed carry gun holds plenty of ammo and shoots bullets that expand rapidly and penetrate deep The 9mm round has an overall length of 1.169, a bullet diameter of 0.355, and a maximum pressure of 35,000 psi. If you are a fan of mouse guns and would like to add a new .380 to your collection, or your pocket, take a look at our, Also, if youre just getting into guns and came across this page while researching for your first gun purchase, make sure to check out our in-depth write-up on. .380 ACP isn't designed to accept a long heavy bullet like some of the longer heavier 9mm are. I think modern .380 does a good job with good defense rounds, I wouldnt be turned off from protecting myself with one as a summer gun. that is no big deal. I appreciate you educating the public on the differences between 9 mm Luger and .380 ACP, however you have made a mathematical error. When tested at a range, the comments were WTF was that! You can see the results in our best self-defense ammo study. Meh. Link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nycYxb-zNwc. 380 ACP doesnt enjoy that luxury so youll often pay a small premium for full metal jacket range rounds. With hornby critical defense the 380 will knock em over no mater where you hit on plate. If I was shopping around for my very first handgun, Id go with the 9mm every day of the week simply because you can get more out of it. Knew a gunsmith thats had a 32 discharged in his gut. I was surprised, since I thought that there was a big difference between the two. It . Subscribe to Pew Pew Tactical's sales and deals email. My favorite for power and accuracy is the .357. Depending on the powder used and the round used having more or less case fill is not uncommon. As youll see, its mostly a 9mm fest for the reasons Ive mentioned above (versatility and power). 9mm vs..380 ACP Muzzle Velocity Depending on the type of ammunition you load up, the muzzle velocity for 9mm was between 940 1280 according to ballistics 101. Keeping that in mind, its unfair to place the .380 up against the 9mm and ask which is better. Now that youve learned a little bit about the 9mm and the .380, you should hit the shooting range and give both calibers a test to see which one you like best. I've got to really screw up in picking out clothes to wear, to profile the gun. I will also point out that your comment on bullet weight is not correct. Keeping that in mind, its unfair to place the .380 up against the 9mm
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