A good example of a blowback .380 is a Walther PPK, and yes, it absolutely sucks to shoot.
I’m glad to see nobody in here recommending one. I have one for the coolness/collection factor, but it really is a terrible choice for any kind of practical use.
FYI, S&W makes the EZ shield in a .380 also!
TT
Also I would Stay away from the Glock .380, also a terrible firearm to shoot in my opinion.
TT
For self defense, load the right ammo. For training/range the cheap FMJ is fine. Research which ammo works in .380
I use Federal HST in 9mm.
That one I would disagree wholly with. As I said earlier, it’s my carry pistol and I find it very forgiving to shoot compared with other micros.
If it had been available at the time I might’ve opted for the LCP Max over it, but the LCP and LCP II were both terrible.
I Agree with anyone’s experience, with regards to pistols, most are very subjective to one’s ability and physicality! But there are some out three that are just manufactured incorrectly!
This is not a blanket statement, the variables are to great for a that!
TT
This is true. My father (RIP) and I were not built even remotely the same. He was 6’2”, 260, with bear claws for hands. I’m 5’9”, 170, and average-sized hands.
I can shoot the G42 great, he couldn’t even grip it. He preferred carrying full-size pistols, to me carrying one of them feels like hauling along a small child.
Everyone is different in that regard.
The THREAT of deadly force is often sufficient to stop further violence from occurring, without the need for the actual APPLICATION of said force.
During my tenure with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, I “drew down” on suspects more times than I could possibly count and that threat of deadly force was enough to get things under control. I only had one instance where I actually had to apply it with my sidearm.
The civilian use of handguns for defensive use tracks that same paradigm.
The most powerful handgun in the world is a worthless paperweight if one can’t shoot it well.
I’d rather not get shot, obviously, but if I am going to get shot, I’d rather be shot by someone who can’t hit the broadside of a barn with a .45 ACP than someone who can X-ring a whole magazine from a .380 or a .22 WMR. The most important aspect of handgun effectiveness is shot placement, in my not so humble opinion. Secondly, the handgun you have on your immediate person is more useful than the handgun that you do not. The smaller, lighter, and less obtrusive it is, the more likely one is to have it on him or her, all of the time.
9mm was good, clean, wholesome fun in the Beretta 92F I was issued when the LASO went from wheelguns to 9mm pistols. A 92F is not fun to pack around for 10 or 12 hours in a wokday. A Bersa Thunderer is more fun to pack around, but if such a thing were offered in 9mm, I wouldn’t have much fun shooting it. In .380, though, it was a hoot, and accurate enough to head-shoot rabbits with during the hunting season.
I carried a Bersa .380 as a back up piece during my tenure in law enforcement. I wouldn’t have bothered if I didn’t think it would work. If things devolved to the point where I was relying on it to keep on living, it darn sure needed to be capable of ending a fight.
If you wouldn’t want to get shot in the heart with a .380 ACP, you’re not alone. Most people are smart enough to not wish to be on the recieving end of one,
I carried a Llama 380 (scaled down clone of a 1911) for years. Never felt inadequate based on cartridge or capacity. That being said, my G19 or Dagger compact is my current carry gun. I’ve had similar discussions with pals about my 40 S&W (“short and weak”) P226. One did talk me into getting an M&P .45 but that was mainly because I ran into a deal on a used LEO gun. Run what ya brung.
Shot placement.
Witnessed fact.
A .25 ACP under the right eyebrow trumps 5 9’s in the behind.
Mr .25 DOA. Mr 9mm survived.
Shot placement matters most. Pick a pistol that is dead reliable and train with it, carry it.
There are some good non-expanding .380 rounds (any of ‘screwdriver’ bullet types) as you do want penetration with a .380.
Personally, I would really like a Glock 25 or if PSA comes out with a .380 MicroDagger, I’ll buy that.
9mm is cheaper and easier to find though. Try 147 gr before you make the jump to .380.
Yeah a PSA 380 dagger would be on the list for sure! I actually forgot about Llama firearms did they go under? Wow never mind yeah went under 25 years ago, I do remember some of their stuff though.
Just a little update for .380 shooters, did you see the price drop for AAC 95 grain .380?
I think it just happened. $10.99 on a box of 50 (as of 4/25/25) I just bought well “some” but I think I left some for y’all if you act fast. That’s 22 cents a round, I can’t reload it for that.
https://palmettostatearmory.com/aac-380-auto-ammo-95-grain-fmj-50rd-box.html
Whoa that is a great price. I just spent 17.99 on Winchester White box stuff.
yeah, I’m sure I looked at AAC .380 on Tuesday and they were $16.99, this is on par with deep sale 9MM prices and I’ve NEVER seen .380 as low as cheep 9MM.
Either
1-AAC is coming out with a new .380 and wanted to sell off the old stock
or
2- AAC has decided to start a price war on .380 Auto
Either way if they still have stock in 2 weeks I’ll buy more, as it is I spent all my “Fun Money” on this order.
Saw the .380 sale, too late. OOS as of today, 4/27. I had just recently bought some (ammo inc, I think) at 17.99/50 and thought that a stellar deal, compared to $35+/50 just in January.
380 basically costs the same to produce as 9mm. PSA could keep the price down and own the market for .380 ammo or pressure other makers to reduce their prices.
Getting back to .380 as an edc, I recently bought a S&W Bodyguard 2.0 and I really love it. It came with a 12 and 10 round magazine so plenty of rounds if needed. The original Bodyguard was a get off me gun. I have one of those and so does my daughter. The 2.0 is on another level. So far it cycles fmj and jhp flawlessly. I carry IWB under my shirt and on my right side in a CYA holster. It was necessary for me to lightly sand the grips to make it comfortable. My edc before this was a Micro 9 and I’m very partial to the 1911, but so far I’m very satisfied with the 2.0.
WANT
My PT-92 is one of my favorite guns and that’s a mini version of it. They offer it in stainless, too. Sold.