.380 vs 9mm as an EDC Gun

[Expat]

I heard on INGO a 22 to the ear canal works just as good.

I have heard on the INGO that .22 is the preferred round to shoot polar bears and grizzlies.

 

[Joniki]

I heard on INGO a 22 to the ear canal works just as g

There have been cases of people being killed by a BB gun. I think a .22 short may have just been flexing.

I worked a case where a guy killed himself with 22 with bird shot, to the temple. The bone is pretty thin there. The x-ray was quite impressive...

 

[DadSmith]

I think .380s will start seeing a decline in use. 9mms are getting smaller, softer shooting, without sacrificing the advantages of 9mm. The .380s on the market just don't really provide as much benefit in the caliber tradeoff, especially given that subcompact 9mms are now close to the size of non-micro .380s.

The most recent .380 that got me excited was the Beretta 80X Cheetah, but even that's close to the size and weight of some 9mms, so I probably wouldn't carry it.

The only 380acp that got me excited was the Browning 1911 380acp I just bought for $238

I would probably never have bought a 380acp, but I couldn't pass up that deal.

 

[DadSmith]

I have heard on the INGO that .22 is the preferred round to shoot polar bears and grizzlies.

You better get your ears checked.

 

[Brad69]

I have a 9mm cutoff for personal defense. My lightweight carry is a Beretta APX carry A1. It’s got 9 rounds of Hornady Critical Duty in it. It’s about the same size as a LCR its trigger is much better and it’s optic ready. Wife carries a S&W shield also a great pistol.

Anything is better than nothing but the ability to shoot a small pistol takes some skill.

I am working on a class next year that’s going to be 1/2 day with CCW pistols G19 or something similar. The second half of the day will be back up guns. It’s eye opening to shoot a small pistol after shooting a compact.

Most of us don't carry a one fits every situation CCW. I do it based on threat level and what I am wearing that day.

 

[wcd]

I have heard on the INGO that .22 is the preferred round to shoot polar bears and grizzlies.

Yes I think it was in the same post that detailed the demise of the lifetime carry option.

 

[OutdoorDad]

People have been killed with fists. No need for a gun.

I used to carry a fistfull of quarters in a sock.

But it made me walk funny and hurt my foot too much.

 

[tomcat13]

A little late to the party, but here's my 2 pennies:
Carry what YOU are comfortable with & are able to hit what You aim at.
I'm not a fan of .380 nor 9mm for PP.
My BIL carries a .380 LCP-Loves it & is an excellent shot with it.
I prefer nothing smaller than 38 Spl & that is my EDC (6 shot wheel w/2 speedloaders)
As has been mentioned on here-Shot Placement is Critical.

 

[Amishman44]

Would you trust your life or that of your loved one to a .380?

In a nutshell...NO! In fact, 15+ years ago, I gave up on .380 ACP as any kind of 'competent' personal defense round, period.
Heck, I'm still not even a big fan of 9mm as it, along with just about every self-defense caliber, has inherent weaknesses.
Knowing what those inherent weaknesses are, and how to avoid them or, more importantly, work your way around them, matters.
That being said, the improvements that have been made in 9mm as a personal defense caliber (bullet design, improved powders, etc.) have all combined to improve 9mm performance (noting that it had no where to go but up from 20 years ago), with appropriate use, shot placement, etc. it can be an effective round, within it's natural boundaries / limitations.
The .380 ACP caliber received several of the 9mm improvement characteristics and, today, in limited circumstances, can be a effective personal defense caliber, albeit, with consideration for things like barrier penetration (heavy clothing, glass, etc.), wound cavitation, effective depth of penetration, etc. I concur that 'something is better than nothing', but keep in mind your circumstance.
I picked up a Ruger LCP .380 a year ago as a pocket carry pistol for the job I was doing (I needed something that fit into a pocket of work shorts easily) and ended up going back to a S&W 360J in .38 special, in place of it. The .380 was basically a 'get off me' pistol and, in the end, felt I needed something with a bit better 'punch' and couldn't fit a .45 acp in my pocket!
Would I consider a .380 ACP a 'primary' caliber...probably not! Would I consider it as a BUG or pocket carry pistol, possibly? In the end, and just $0.02 worth...while .380 acp might work in several situations / scenarios, or as a BUG, there are many in which it would not work, effectively, thus making the need for a larger, better performing caliber, a better choice.

 

[DRob]

People have been killed with fists. No need for a gun.

According to FBI stats, hands, fists, and feet are pretty deadly. But again, placement counts!

 

[MrSmitty]

I had to shoot a raccoon, that had been trapped by my grandson (to keep it out of the chicken pen) 2 hit the bars on the trap, and deflected, the other shots were a body shot, and the last was a head shot...the little ba$tard (the raccoon, not the grandson) was wiggling around quite a lot. My S-I-L keeps a .410 to dispatch them, I found out later....
My conclusion is that I hope if I need to use my .32, it won't be a bad guy in a cage, or trap....YMMV

 

[Tactically Fat]

Once all the kinks and future recalls are out of the way on the new S&W Bodyguard 2.0 - I may invest in that.

12+ .380ACP sure beats 5 .38 Special wadcutters - in a lighter and more easily concealable platform, too.

I have no issues with a modern .380 stoked with modern ammo being a personal defensive firearm.