380?

N

Naval Air

New member
I have a 380 Colt 1911 military model. My question is this, is this a good defensive weapon to carry or should I consider something else?
 
Look at the smaller 380s. Bersa Thunder, LC380, LCP, etc. Something that slides into a pocket.
If you're looking at something the size of a LC380 the LC9 is the same size giving you 9mm.
 
IT will suffice. 380 is considered one of the minimum calibers for SD. If your 1911 has a longer barrel, it may mean more velocity. I carry a very small 380 when I really want to conceal without printing.
 
Is this a Colt Mustang? The effectiveness of the 380 has improved with modern self defense ammo, modern ammuntion offers anywhere from 200 to 300 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle. The 9mm offers anywhere from 300 to 500 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle. (Buffalo Bore 9mm +P+ 115 grain JHP give 500'#). There are several 9mm in the same size range as the 380 ACP, I opt for the 9mm, but there are a few people who carry the 25 acp or 22 LR as a primary weapons.
 
If you feel comfortable then carry it. I carry a Bersa Thunder .380 as my primary gun. Use good ammo like Hornady Critical Defense or Corbon Pwrball for carry.
 
I carry a LCP as a BUG. Use Hornady & I know it will stop anybody. If you get into a life or death situation, it will be close. Not like you'll be trying to hit someone at 50 yards.
 
Personally I would never carry a .380. It's just too weak and I wouldn't trust it to stop the threat every time especially if the person was on something like meth. With that said, like blueribbon, a weak gun is always better than NO gun.
 
I just started carrying a Ruger LCP 380 as my primary summer carry weapon. 6+1 capacity, I hope it's enough. It's better than a stick.

EDIT: With that said, if my Browning Buckmark 22 wasn't so large, I would carry it, because I will put all 11 rounds where they need to be.
 
Will .380 do the job? Sure, but how often? I read this one time: where one .45 will do it, two .40s may be needed, three .38 or 9mm, and four to five .380s. Not scientific and no reason to believe this is every scenario, but it makes some sense to me.
I considered an LCP in .380 for a BUG - a buddy introduced me to J-frame snubbies in .38+P. I never looked back.
 
A thief broke into a house, the owner heard him and shot him once in center mass with a .380... thief dead.

:yes2:
 
Do you really think you need a 45 to blown the heart of a bad guy? To destroy his/her sternum bone? Is necessary a 45 to penetrate the skull of a bad guy?

Practice, practice practice... Placement, placement placement...
 
Javy said:
Do you really think you need a 45 to blown the heart of a bad guy? To destroy his/her sternum bone? Is necessary a 45 to penetrate the skull of a bad guy?

Practice, practice practice... Placement, placement placement...
Click to expand...

Completely agree but once you factor high levels of stress and fine motor skills are obliterated, placement may not be spot on. I'd rather hit a limb with a .45 than I would with a .380 in order to stop an attacker. But that's MHO.
 
Completely agree but once you factor high levels of stress and fine motor skills are obliterated, placement may not be spot on. I'd rather hit a limb with a .45 than I would with a .380 in order to stop an attacker. But that's MHO.[/QUOTE]

Review this short video
http://youtu.be/8NfS9owxPiU
 
Like I said once before. Whether they're shooting at kids, or coming through the wire, placement of the boolit is the most important part. A .380 to the forehead or throat is just as effective as a .45. All we're trying to do is stop the threat.
 
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