Posted on 03/02/2018 1:38:05 PM PST by kjam22
Just looking for advice. Purchased a new 380 S&W. Not owned 380 before and trying to decide best round for "when you need it." Not sure I'm smart enough to really know the differences between the two mentioned in the title. (Obviously one is 95 and the other 90 grain) But I would appreciate any advice and specifics on the differences.
Thanks much!
Hope I'm getting this posted to chit chat....
Hornady personal defense (TAP?)
That’s it. Hornady Critical Defense. Hands down.
Have a Kahr CW9 that has been my carry. It’s a very good gun. Just doesn’t fit in a pocket like this little 380.
My Ex latched on to a
Sweet REVOLVER...
HR model 999.
Break top .22
Damn.
That is an informative site....
Gunsmith (former Marine gunsmith) friend of mine mis-remembered that I was looking for a Sig P232 in stainless, and gave me a Christmas gift of a Walther PPK/S.
Jamming problems always. Sent back to Walther for repair, their repair SEEMED to fix the jams, but I just could never trust the weapon. Waited a few years, sold it with whole story, got my Sig P232 in stainless with Sig Night Sites and Hogue grips - Never a jam, and FAR more accurate.....love it....
No longer made, and the P238 (.380) and P938 (9mm) are great pistols, but I love the feel and handling of the P232 more than either....
Yes it is. I was using Underwood extreme defender in my LCP but I decided to go with Hornady FTX Critical Defense after looking at this site.
I used to carry a shortened 1911 45 auto, finally decided to go to a subcompact 9mm for easier carry but with all the crap going down I switched to an oversized double stack 10mm with full power rounds. I’d be carrying a rifle if I could.
Winter is easier to carry bigger gun. Got the pocket 380 for summer time carry.
His boss, the sheriff, mandated all carry pistols had to be 9 MM or above.
Thus, my aqusion of this near-new pistol with less than a box of ammo though it.
I'm very pleased with this little gun. It fills a need I didn't know I needed: confidence...
Ammo Quest .380 Final Wrapup: finding the BEST ammo for a .380ACP pistol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=578&v=GNtPHYwcDts
Fiocchi Extrema, .380 ACP, XTP HP, 90 Grain, 25 Rounds (look for sales, free shipping offers)
I run the Extrema in my Ruger LCP-Custom. I like the nickel case, Hornady XTP bullet, and it just feels “tuned” to my gun.
I keep Hornady Critical Defense rounds in my .380s - also 90 grain and, like most .380 rounds, has about the same velocity and energy as the Hydra-Shock - probably a tad more accurate over longer distances due to not having the big old hole in the front, but it’s a self defense weapon/round so why worry?
I own a Springfield 1911 as well, it’s very reliable with thousands of rounds through it. I carry a .45 because they don’t make a.46.
I started just using a bag, summer and winter.
“... a Christmas gift of a Walther PPK/S. Jamming problems ... repair SEEMED to fix ... could never trust ... got my Sig P232 ... Never a jam, and FAR more accurate.....love it....”
All handling qualities are in some measure subjective, but the P232 has to top the list. I’ve a 232 in 32 ACP with a manual safety; said to be an overrun from a Japanese police contract. Unremarkable accuracy - frequently the case with 32 compared to 380, otherwise superior in every aspect, and by huge margins.
Never encountered enough German-made PPK or PPK/S in 380 to get a clear picture. The American-made PPK/S are heavily correlated with poor reliability.
380 seems to have earned a reputation as a nasty kicker. Much of it stems from the PPK/S, which used to be attributed to its straight blowback design. Not limited that way, though: many users report more intense felt recoil from the SIG P238 than from the P938. Both are very similar locked-breech systems.
Picked up an original PP 40 years ago - war souvenir. Exterior finish was rough, but internals were great. Aside from warping grip panels of 1941-vintage German plastic, it’s been flawless. Far more accurate than the average 32.
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