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Crunching the 380 — A ballistics analysis (Part III)
Self (own blog post) ^ | 2/12/2020 | Self

Posted on 02/12/2020 6:30:25 PM PST by No.6

OK, here I am again with another self-blog post. Again, too much to just quote my article, so I'm requesting people go travel to my free and very slow Azure WP site to go read it.

It's still unmonetized, no ads, no begs for money.

It's still not a caliber wars post; this is still the .380 ACP and not proselytizing to people who instead (or additionally) elect 9, .40, .45, 10, or whatever. Please enjoy; this is the end of this series unless an odd inspiration strikes.


TOPICS: Hobbies; Science
KEYWORDS: 380; ballistics; banglist; firearms
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Das Ende. Share and enjoy!
1 posted on 02/12/2020 6:30:25 PM PST by No.6
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To: No.6; MV=PY; Mariner; Robert357; Yogafist

Pings to those that expressed interest in the prior ones.


2 posted on 02/12/2020 6:33:34 PM PST by No.6
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To: No.6

Thanks!


3 posted on 02/12/2020 6:35:02 PM PST by Yogafist
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To: No.6

I admit I know little about ballistics or how good a 380 is supposed to be.

But I’ve owned 2 380 autos, our daughter 1. We just were not impressed.

The next on the ladder is the 9 mm. I’ve owned three of those, and in terms of accuracy and penetration, they are OK.

But my favorites are the 38, 357, 40 and 45. If you’ve got to get serious with an opponent, then you need serious hardware.

Then there’s the 410 Taurus Judge firing pellets or discs. You just cannot miss and the penetration is awesome.


4 posted on 02/12/2020 6:52:47 PM PST by redfreedom
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To: No.6

The .380 you have with you beats the 9mm in the night stand every time.

L


5 posted on 02/12/2020 6:55:44 PM PST by Lurker (Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
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To: No.6

I’ve done some of my own testing of Critical Defense ammo in my Ruger LCP. I would NOT want to get shot with one of these things.


6 posted on 02/12/2020 6:57:22 PM PST by CrazyIvan (The Democrat party. A collaboration of Cloward-Piven and Dunning-Kruger.)
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To: No.6

According to DOJ crime statistics, guns are used somewhere between 235,700 and 2,500,000 times per year to stop crimes, 98% of the time without a shot being fired.

In other words, a .22 is as good as a Howitzer 98% of the time.

Source: GunFacts.info

https://www.gunfacts.info/pdfs/gun-facts/7.0/gun-facts-7.0-screen.pdf


7 posted on 02/12/2020 6:57:28 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (Truth is hate to people who hate truth.)
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To: No.6

As always, thank you for your efforts.

I think the big takeaway is that the .380 is not the perfect self defense round.

But neither is any other pistol round, with the possible exception of the big boomers.

It’s rare that anyone carries a big boomer everywhere.

But if you need something credible and light, .380 with a good round is adequate.

And there’s at least a half dozen good rounds.

Saber, Hornady and Federal to start.

Aim for the eyes. Or the groin.


8 posted on 02/12/2020 6:59:23 PM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: No.6
XTP is good, but I also like Critical Defense, even if rated so-so or OK. But I also a real fan of Buffalo Bore, which is loaded at the high end of SAMI with expanding lead bullets and low flash powder.
9 posted on 02/12/2020 7:03:04 PM PST by Robert357
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To: Mariner

Small handguns ... a 380 recoil slows second shot accuracy, whereas my eight shot 22 magnum revolver stays on target for immediate second shot follow ups.


10 posted on 02/12/2020 7:05:29 PM PST by MHGinTN (A dispensation perspective is a powerful tool for discernment)
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To: Lurker

The .380 you have with you beats the 9mm in the night stand every time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well said.

That’s frequently what it comes down to, putting the .380 in your pocket or going without.


11 posted on 02/12/2020 7:08:06 PM PST by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizens Are Born Here of Citizen Parents_Know Islam, No Peace-No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I’m 72. Twice I had to produce a weapon. And never had to use it. The first threat ended when I stepped into the closet and loaded a 20 gauge shotgun. Breach closed, threats vanished as quick as a covey of quail. (I was in college)

2nd time, Had driver try to run me off the highway when I was trying to pass him on open road, middle of nowhere, at 4:30AM. First time thought it was accident, 2nd time he tried I loaded the 9mm and set it on the dashboard, 3rd time (he was slowing down) I lowered the passenger window and aimed the 9mm Auto directly at the driver. Boom, it hit him. No I did not shoot him, he realized he was in trouble and hit brakes like he had a drag shute. End of treat.

Yes, you are right, most times simply producing a weapon ends it. But never produce one if you are not willing to actually use it.

I don’t look for trouble. But will protect myself.


12 posted on 02/12/2020 7:10:17 PM PST by Texas Fossil ((Texas is not where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind & Attitude!))
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To: MHGinTN

There’s always a better gun.


13 posted on 02/12/2020 7:12:01 PM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: Lurkinanloomin

“putting the .380 in your pocket or going without.”

Been there for 20 years at least.


14 posted on 02/12/2020 7:15:48 PM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: Lurker
And there are some extremely compact 380s available. I carry one in my front pants pocket every day and everywhere.

The police officer who taught our CCW class said that the 380 EZ is the officer's backup weapon of choice.

15 posted on 02/12/2020 7:18:11 PM PST by dhs12345
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Comment #16 Removed by Moderator

To: ping jockey

A hearty amen to that!


17 posted on 02/12/2020 7:33:23 PM PST by MHGinTN (A dispensation perspective is a powerful tool for discernment)
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To: dhs12345

Interesting, although it’s one of the larger .380s; but given I’m seeing a clear advantage to normal defensive gun barrel lengths, a 3.66” barrel can’t be a bad thing.

Unfortunately I didn’t manage to collect any ballistics gel tests using the 380EZ.

For those pocket guns, I started out with the hope of defeating Shootingthebull410’s snarky vlogging face, and (at least for that size gun) ended up agreeing with him. Data is fun but doesn’t care about what you want to happen.


18 posted on 02/12/2020 7:42:10 PM PST by No.6
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To: Mariner

I used to carry a CZ82 daily, but my age has caught up with my proficiency. I find my ability to hit a milk jig of water at twenty and thirty feet is all about practice, and with my 22 magnum revolver I can make those hits consistently and accurately with follow up shot(s). I carry it and a speed loader, with Hornady HP with the red pills removed. The milk jugs explode with the first hit, and I figure that should slow an attacker enough for me to get the second round in the melon.


19 posted on 02/12/2020 7:45:24 PM PST by MHGinTN (A dispensation perspective is a powerful tool for discernment)
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To: No.6

One of the more interesting defensive rounds for the .380ACP is made by Underwood and is loaded with a machined solid copper projectile made by Lehigh. It weighs 90 grains and has an advertised velocity of 1100 FPS. Of course, YMMV. The flutes in the projectile are made to cause a level of hydrostatic shock much in excess of the .355” diameter of the projectile. It is barrier blind and does not need to expand to be effective. I load these rounds in my Colt Mustang Pocketlite, my Ruger LCR .38 SPL, and my 1911 Commander .45ACP which are my carry guns depending on my “wardrobe”. They’re expensive rounds but how much are YOU worth?


20 posted on 02/12/2020 7:59:20 PM PST by 43north (Its hard to stop a man when he knows he's right and he keeps coming.)
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