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Is the .380 enough?

4K views 33 replies 15 participants last post by  Bullitt69 
#1 ·
In your opinion, is the .380 enough for self defense? Looking at ballistics charts..........I don't know, not very good. I don't think I'd trust my life with it. But, you do have the advantage of being able to carry a relatively small firearm. I'd certainly rather have a .380 than nothing at all. Taking a step up to a 9mm seems like a wise decision to me. Whaddya think? Anyone's EDC a .380?

Heres some data from BBTI:

Buffalo bore JHP, 90 gr +p.
Velocity: 1158 fps
Muzzle energy: 280 ft-lbs
3" barrel.


I'll admit, ammo has gotten A LOT better in recent years, and while that isn't too shabby, I'd still rather have something bigger. Just MHO.
 
#27 ·
My local range doesn't allow it either. I drive out to an outdoor shooting pit once a month to practice drawing from holster, and to shoot my rifles. I highly recommend finding somewhere to practice drawing and shooting from holster. It is such an important part of carrying a gun. IMHO.
Exactly! Ppl will go take the cheapest or closest class they can for their permit, yet after that... :confused: Oh well, they buy the neat looking ammo (or whatever is cheap) and practice at the range in a static position shooting at a stationary target and think that's good to go. :confused: They talk as though they're serious about carrying a firearm, protecting the world with it yet settle with the bare minimum for any instruction (and often gear)...:confused:

Kinda like saying you're a serious audiophile and have a Magnavox stereo from Radio Shack. :cheesy:
 
#28 · (Edited)
No, a 380 Auto is not enough gun - Period! Neither is it possible to learn how to gunfight or engage in CQB at either a gun range, or IDPA style shooting competition. The best you can hope for is to become more familiar with and better able to handle your weapon. Real world, up close 'n personal, CQB pistol gunfighting requires a ruthless and cold bend-of-mind. That's something that can't be taught. Besides America's modern day socialist/communist, 'nanny state' forms of government are neither raising nor educating a generation of warriors; Islam is; but, America is not.

Most Americans believe that the moment they find themselves in a surprise gunfight they're going to experience: loss of fine motor control, auditory exclusion, tunnel vision, time compression, and memory loss. Bullhooey. Bullhooey! Those physiological reactions are FEAR RESPONSES not FIGHT RESPONSES. Fight responses are entirely different personal reactions from fear responses; and, in my own experience, it's uncommon for someone to actually know how AND be willing to demonstrate genuine fight responses when he's suddenly attacked - very uncommon!

UNEQUIVOCAL RULES FOR A GUNFIGHT

1. You MUST be able to correctly, 'read' the other guy's, 'body language'.

2. It's NOT politically correct; but it's to every gunfighter's advantage to SHOOT FIRST.

3. NEVER fire only once. Always fire 2 or 3 times, and THEN reassess.

4. A competent pistolero MUST be able to put every shot into, at least, the 8 ring at a minimum distance of 10 yards; and he must be able to do it, repeatedly, AT SPEED!
 
#29 ·
I think the real topic of this conversation has been lost to the tactical and practical performance shooting.
The .380 is not a range gun. It's a close-up defensive weapon used as a back up or like I said - close up and personal.
Any skilled shooter shouldn't need to practice to much with one of those as most incidences are at most ten feet away. Thats about three paces depending on the size of your foot.
 
#31 ·
No fear, Just fight.
Probably why I've heard of cage fighters beating the snot out of armed robbers.
Makes the news every once in a while.
It seems that some armed robbers really don't want to shoot anybody. The gun is an intimidation/control device for them. If the intended victim ain't intimidated...
 
#32 · (Edited)
No, a 380 Auto is not enough gun - Period! Neither is it possible to learn how to gunfight or engage in CQB at either a gun range, or IDPA style shooting competition. The best you can hope for is to become more familiar with and better able to handle your weapon. Real world, up close 'n personal, CQB pistol gunfighting requires a ruthless and cold bend-of-mind. That's something that can't be taught. Besides America's modern day socialist/communist, 'nanny state' forms of government are neither raising nor educating a generation of warriors; Islam is; but, America is not.

Most Americans believe that the moment they find themselves in a surprise gunfight they're going to experience: loss of fine motor control, auditory exclusion, tunnel vision, time compression, and memory loss. Bullhooey. Bullhooey! Those physiological reactions are FEAR RESPONSES not FIGHT RESPONSES. Fight responses are entirely different personal reactions from fear responses; and, in my own experience, it's uncommon for someone to actually know how AND be willing to demonstrate genuine fight responses when he's suddenly attacked - very uncommon!

UNEQUIVOCAL RULES FOR A GUNFIGHT

1. You MUST be able to correctly, 'read' the other guy's, 'body language'.

2. It's NOT politically correct; but it's to every gunfighter's advantage to SHOOT FIRST.

3. NEVER fire only once. Always fire 2 or 3 times, and THEN reassess.

4. A competent pistolero MUST be able to put every shot into, at least, the 8 ring at a minimum distance of 10 yards; and he must be able to do it, repeatedly, AT SPEED!

Agree with almost all posted. Except .380 isn't enough. Along that logic 9mm, .40, any common handgun caliber isn't enough. .380 is enough if the shooter does their job. In most cases a handgun will only slow down a threat anyway. I say carry what you can effectively put on target. IMHO
 
#34 · (Edited)
Yeah so I went out and bought a new LCP the other day. It's a no brainer for a point an shoot close up weapon. Heck, 2 bills and thirty minutes I was out the door with a brand spanking new LCP, 4 an 1 pocket holster and a couple boxes of Federal Hollow points. Back ground check included. I have no fear of back ground checks.

In the holster its the size of my wallet. For dress up or even casual its so easy to hide. Even 007 carried a .380.
 

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