Author Topic: 380 auto (Read 2706 times)

ratdog · « **on:** June 11, 2012, 08:41:49 PM »

bought a 380 though i would see if it would shoot through two 2x4's taped together went right through fmg 95 grn and kept right on going.my 22 lr mouse gun wouldn't do it.kinda like the 380 enough penetration for what i would shoot.

Foggy · « **Reply #1 on:** June 11, 2012, 10:53:17 PM »

I Carry a PPK/S in 380 all the time nothing wrong with it

Foggy

Savage · « **Reply #2 on:** June 12, 2012, 01:33:16 AM »

Based on my testing with wet phone books, I currently carry fmj in my .380s, (95gr) <2" by hollow points. In the same medium, 9mm hollow points (124gr) penetrated 6">. Both expanded to .50". The 95gr fmj in .380 and 115gr 9mm both penetrated 6" >. I have a couple of .380 kel Tecs which are a real joy to carry, but the PF9 (9mm) is not a lot bigger, and still smaller and lighter than the fine PP series pistols in .380. I still carry my .380s on occasion when mowing the lawn or at the gym. Any gun is better than none.
Savage

jlwilliams · « **Reply #3 on:** June 12, 2012, 04:40:07 AM »

Hollow points smooshing before they go deep enough but fmj getting diecent penetration. Interesting.

I've been lurking around Evan Marshall's sight and have read his first book (Handgun Stopping Power) and plan to read the others. One thing that gets repeated again and again is that there are no 'magic' bullets. Ballistics count but shot placement trumps everything.

If your current 380 isn't enough gun but you still like the round, consider an Ingram M11. What it lacks is ballistics it makes up for by being a machine gun that is kind of holsterable.

May not be a legally viable carry solution or cost effective, but it's one heck of a 380. If I could afford one, I'd get it.

Savage · « **Reply #4 on:** June 12, 2012, 04:52:57 AM »

I like the.380 when it's chambered in an appropriate size pistol. For me, that would be the P3AT or the LCP. I still don't feel unarmed with one, but find myself carrying the 9mm more often these days.
Savage

jlwilliams · « **Reply #5 on:** June 12, 2012, 05:32:40 AM »

Quote from: Savage on June 12, 2012, 04:52:57 AM

.... but find myself carrying the 9mm more often these days.
Savage

Me too. Mostly because it costs less to shoot so 9mm pocket guns get more practice and therefor I'm more confident in them.

drdougrx · « **Reply #6 on:** June 12, 2012, 01:30:17 PM »

Colt mustang pocket lite for me with hydrashocks for my deep concealment gun. Had it for years. I've retired my PPK/s as is heavier and larger. I'll use my SW3914 for my "small" 9mm.

ratdog · « **Reply #7 on:** June 13, 2012, 12:57:52 AM »

i have several other carry guns 9mm -45 -357-i like to see for myself how certain guns will penetrate and how they perform the 380 has plenty of stopping power you have 7 or more rounds this gun doesn't recomend hollow points i may try honady's the nose on there's might not get stuck on the feed ramp.i just like mouse guns.

PAHUnter04 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 22, 2012, 04:17:28 PM »

I have tried many, many different kinds of .380 ACP ammo. One of my favorites is Doubletap. It is a 95 grain Controlled Expansion JHP. It shoots 975 fps out of a P3AT or Ruger LCP... 1085 fps out of a 3.5 in barrel.

Regards PAHunter

marine · « **Reply #9 on:** June 26, 2012, 01:26:17 PM »

I would love to have a 380 for a carry gun! the ammo is a little expensive though so i just stick with my 9mm till i can afford one. do any of you guys with a 380 carry using FMJs?

Curtis · « **Reply #10 on:** June 26, 2012, 03:29:54 PM »

Quote

do any of you guys with a 380 carry using FMJs?

Not my regular carry gun but my 380 magazine is loaded with alternate rounds of FMJ and HP ammo.

Curtis

Savage · « **Reply #11 on:** June 26, 2012, 10:53:55 PM »

Quote from: marine on June 26, 2012, 01:26:17 PM

I would love to have a 380 for a carry gun! the ammo is a little expensive though so i just stick with my 9mm till i can afford one. do any of you guys with a 380 carry using FMJs?

If you're carrying a 9mm routinely, don't know why you'd want to carry a lesser caliber. I like the .380 for those times when I couldn't otherwise carry a gun. I alternate solids and hollow points in mine. Penetration in wet pack with .380 hollow points was very disappointing.
Savage

marine · « **Reply #12 on:** June 27, 2012, 05:28:34 AM »

Only reason i would want a .380 would be for ease of carry in a pocket when its summertime. i currently carry my g26 iwb but if im in basketball shorts and a t-shirts its too heavy and i carry my snub-nose 22 so a .380 would be better.

Savage · « **Reply #13 on:** June 27, 2012, 06:42:24 AM »

Got it. A Glk 26 is a big gun for a 9mm, and IMO a .380 beats a .22.
Savage

lonewolf5348 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 27, 2012, 11:18:57 AM »

Summer Carry Ruger LCP 380 cal.
Winter Carry Walters PPK/S 380.
Ammo Fiocchi 95 gr.HP Mixed Mag: with Winchester FP FMJ 95 grains

Spirithawk · « **Reply #15 on:** June 27, 2012, 07:21:58 PM »

To each their own but I'll stick with my PF-9. It's thin enough, small enough and light enough that I've yet to have a problem concealing it no matter how I'm dressed.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #16 on:** June 27, 2012, 11:55:34 PM »

There is a saying big auto's and small revolvers WORK . I'll stick with a 340PD for now. % shots of 357 mag in a 11 oz gun a real pocket rocket. If the bullet don't stop the flash will blind.

PAHUnter04 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 30, 2012, 03:17:10 PM »

Another cool little item is the pocket clip that attaches to the Ruger LCP. You can even clip it to your track shorts or sweat pants with no belt and it won't pull them down!

Regards PAH04

Cheesehead · « **Reply #18 on:** June 30, 2012, 03:31:41 PM »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkscBbMGp5k

I carry a 380 in a PPK. The above link demonstrates what the round is capable of.

Cheese

S.B. · « **Reply #19 on:** July 01, 2012, 03:45:31 PM »

i'm naturally drawn to the Walther PPK and have owned many of this breed. As a matter of fact, just bought a, what looks to be, NIB Interarms stainless PPK in .380( I mean James Bond can't be wrong, could he?) and will carry Winchester Silver Tips in it.
Steve

marine · « **Reply #20 on:** July 03, 2012, 10:38:08 AM »

i really want a kahr p380 but a ppk would be nice too. your right the g26 is big but really makes you feel safe. its pretty much a sawed off g17.

Savage · « **Reply #21 on:** July 03, 2012, 01:53:31 PM »

Unless for some reason you just want a .380 over a 9mm, you might want to consider the PM9 which is really close to the size and weight of the P.380.
Savage

marine · « **Reply #22 on:** July 03, 2012, 10:39:22 PM »

im not hung up one by any means it just seems like i have heard bad reviews on some of the micro 9mm pistols due to weak springs and general reliability issues. i was originally wanting a smaller 9mm so i could keep ammo the same for both carry guns. the pm9 is actually the 9mm i am wanting if i dont go with the p380 since i havent heard any bad about it yet and its size is perfect.

Savage · « **Reply #23 on:** July 03, 2012, 11:25:17 PM »

I don't currently on a Kahr anything, but two of the guys in my club do. I have shot one of them, I was favorably impressed. If I were in the market for a small light 9mm carrry piece, I'd be looking at the PM9 first. A couple other members just acquired the S&W Shield. They appear to be a good choice as well. The Ruger LC9s I've seen are pretty small and seem to function reliably, other than a different type of extractor they are a pretty good copy of the PF9. My 9mm carry is the Kel Tec PF9. I bought it several years ago when they first came on the market. It is about as small and light as 9mm carry guns get. It has been 100% reliable with everything from my lead IDPA loads, to the hot carry stuff. Can't go wrong there! Seems everyone makes a small 9mm carry gun these days. The same is also true of the .380s. KT/Ruger/Taurus/Sig, to name a few. Although the small 9s are very carryable, the .380s are much smaller and lighter. I carry a .380 or a 9 almost 100% of the time these days. If I could only have one, it'd be the 9mm.
Savage

williamlayton · « **Reply #24 on:** July 05, 2012, 12:15:14 PM »

I carried a PPK for 30+ years--when I was working.
In my dress today, I can carry a full sized pistol which I like more--that said--I liked my PPK for the conditions.
Blessings

Spirithawk · « **Reply #25 on:** July 07, 2012, 07:00:44 AM »

I've had my PF-9 for a little over 3 years now. I've fired a LOT of rounds through it, of a few differant makes and bullet styles, and it's never missfired once. Never jammed nor failed to extract. Seems pretty darn reliable to me.

I chose it over many much more expensive handguns, guns which I could have afforded, simply because of the research I did and the good things I heard about the PF-9. Yes, early on there were a few issues Kel Tec had with the PF-9 but Kel Tec was quick to resolve those issues. You might still hear of someone having a problem with one but name me any gun that can't be said of. I like the PF-9 enough that I intend to buy another one and will carry both. There's nothing I could ask of a conceal carry handgun that the PF-9 hasn't provided and done so very very well.

When I can carry a 9mm as easy as any .380 you can bet I'll be packing the 9.

S.B. · « **Reply #26 on:** July 07, 2012, 09:46:48 AM »

Spirit, so I assume the PF9 is a Kel Tec handgun?
Steve

Spirithawk · « **Reply #27 on:** July 07, 2012, 03:14:05 PM »

Quote from: S.B. on July 07, 2012, 09:46:48 AM

Spirit, so I assume the PF9 is a Kel Tec handgun?
Steve

Yep it is. Here's a pic of mine.

dougk · « **Reply #28 on:** July 14, 2012, 10:01:03 AM »

Quote from: Foggy on June 11, 2012, 10:53:17 PM

I Carry a PPK/S in 380 all the time nothing wrong with it

Foggy

Hey Froggy is that what James Bond carried?

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #29 on:** July 16, 2012, 01:39:41 AM »

Quote from: Cheesehead on June 30, 2012, 03:31:41 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkscBbMGp5k

I carry a 380 in a PPK. The above link demonstrates what the round is capable of.

Cheese

after watching it would appear both could be dangerous to innocent by standers.