I was shooting one of my 380 ACP handguns this weekend. Compared to the 9MM and 40 S&W guns I was using the 380 seemed kind of puny.
How effective is the 380 as a Concealed carry gun. Could it stop an attacker?
I was shooting one of my 380 ACP handguns this weekend. Compared to the 9MM and 40 S&W guns I was using the 380 seemed kind of puny.
How effective is the 380 as a Concealed carry gun. Could it stop an attacker?
As I recall from the old (and hotly debated) Marshall and Sanow "One Shot Stop" study, .380 ACP was the smallest caliber which could be considered "fairly effective" (greater than 70% probability of a one shot stop). But it's effectiveness was even more highly dependent on the exact ammo used than larger calibers, i.e. Cor Bons and Hydra Shoks worked pretty well, but nothing else much did.
Of course bullet technology has improved since then.
I shoot and would carry a .380 pocket pistol with one of these premium defensive rounds (if I didn't live in MD). Because of the short barrel/sight radius I consider it mostly a "7 yards or less" proposition.
For anything other than a pocket pistol I would go with a 9mm or .45 acp since ammo is cheaper and there are more choices.
No , Bond used a 7.65mm aka .32acp PPK .
Geoffrey Boothroyd recommended the 7.65mm to Flemming as a significant upgrade from Bonds previous 6.35mm .
No , Bond used a 7.65mm aka .32acp PPK .
Maybe the 380 would be best suited for an ankle carry weapon. Last resort for a close-in shot.