Best reply of the thread! Sadly no can do. Wife wants a .380... But that's a whole 'nuther discussion...sigh That'll be the next purchase after my 9.
Indeed it is. Of course, I have to follow up with the obligatory "there are much better choices than the .380 out there". It's better than nothing, of course, but the usual reasons stated for preferring it over a defensive caliber "low recoil" "compact size" etc. don't really stand up to scrutiny.
If she likes the double-action trigger common on so many small guns chambered in the .380 caliber, based on my experience she would be happier with a good-quality revolver chambered in S&W .38 special. If that's out of the question, please have her at least try one of the newer compact 9mm parabellum chamberings -- I've had great success teaching even smaller-framed women to shoot well with the Smith and Wesson M&P, just as an example. Of course, there are many, many other options out there as well.
Random aside here: the S&W .38 Special and the 9mm "Parabellum" are generally loaded such that they have essentially the same terminal ballistics. Yes, all of the gun nerds out there will point out that there are subtle differences, but those discussions can last for hours. Bottom line is they pack about the same punch, for all practical purposes.
Getting back to the .380. The problem with the .380 (aka 9mm short, corto, kurtz etc. etc. etc.) is that while it may well kill someone (eventually), it's been proven over the years to not stop an aggressor quickly enough to solve whatever dire problem led him to need shooting in the first place. So you're left with the intimidation factor, and the element of surprise, and the pain of the wound. All of which are just as likely to piss the guy off as stop him.
/rant. Just some food for thought...