.380

Discussion in 'Firearms' started by monkeyman, Nov 6, 2005.


  1. monkeyman

    monkeyman Monkey+++ Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    I was just wondering if anyone here has a .380 and if so if they might have ever shot game with it like say a deer? I'm hoping after the first of the year to get my CCP. For the winter it shouldn't be a problem for me to carry my .357 but in the rest of the year or if I didn't want to carry it then I'm thinking of getting another handgun. Ive always thought a .380 was underpowered as a defensive gun but like has been said the best defensive gun is the one you have with you when you need it and the one you can hit with. I would rather get something along the lines of the S&W chiefs special in either .38 special or .357 but the reality is semi autos are cheaper and so its more likely I could get an auto, then the fact that .380 is cheap ammo and so I could actually afford to practice some with it. But I would like to know a little more about how it dose on tissue and what the ballistics are like.
     
  2. Clyde

    Clyde Jet Set Tourer Administrator Founding Member

    9mm is about the same cost and is the same size bullet as the 380 (9mm kurz which is short in german). I purchased a 380 for my wife last year and it doesn't hardley kick at all.

    I would buy a 9mm before a 380 and there are many great concealable 9mms. For deer hunting I wouldn't choose either mostly because you would need to become a hell of a shot with the handgun to become succesful.

    I believe the bulk prices for 9mm are less than the costs for the 380.
     
  3. E.L.

    E.L. Moderator of Lead Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    A .380 is a little "light in the pants" to take deer humanely with. I wouldn't even shoot one with my .45. Deer are tough animals, the smallest handgun caliber that could humanely and ethically put down a deer with any consistency is a .357 Mag. I have seen this discussed in many articles, with penetration, caliber size, barrel length, veolocity, etc. considered not to mention past experiences and reports. Although I haven't killed a deer with anything smaller than a .357 Mag., I don't believe I would try, unless it was just to put down one that was already injured.
     
  4. magnus392

    magnus392 Field Marshall Mags Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    MAybe if you snuck up and pistol whipped it the .380 would work, LOL...J/K man...I wouldn't use it myself.
     
  5. ghostrider

    ghostrider Resident Poltergeist Founding Member

    The ballistics put the .380 on a par with a .22 Magnum, somewhere around 180 foot pounds, off the top of my head, just more bullet weight. The 22 will kill a deer, with a neck shot or, if you can trail real good, but the problem with most .380s made for concealment is accuracy. Maybe one of the mini 9 mike-mikes would fit your purposes better, like the S&W mini guns, or the Firestar.
     
  6. melbo

    melbo Hunter Gatherer Administrator Founding Member

    I agree that the 380 is a little underpowered. I wouldn't carry one myself. Funny though, I had a Walther PPKS that really hurt to shoot. It seemed real 'snappy' and wore out the wed of my thumb after a few mags. must be the frame

    I also thought the ammo was more than 9mm ball ammo.

    How much were you looking to spend?
     
  7. Valkman

    Valkman Knifemaker Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    If you get the right ammo .380 can be a round you definitely don't want to get shot with, but I'd never try it on game. I have a Makarov in .380 that has a 12 round mag and with Federal Hydrashocks it would be ok for a carry gun. Not great, ok and that would go to poor if your target was wearing lots of clothes, coat, etc. Me, I'm not carrying less that .45acp.
     
  8. monkeyman

    monkeyman Monkey+++ Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    The less I can spend the more likely I am to be able to get something. I figure I should be able to get to a $200 neighborhood but less (and still a reliable gun) would be much better.
    I agree that cal. wise the .380 would be far from my first choice since I know a .38, .40, .45 and several others would be FAR better but most of the other caliburs seem to cost a lot more to get the gun and most of them are more for the ammo. My two reservations with the 9mm is over penetration and that I know they can have a tendency to create a shock wave that will push organs out of the way rather than punching through them, that said if the ball ammo is around the same price as .380 ($8 or so per 100 rounds) then it would be preferable to the .380 if I could find a reliable on that was concealable, acurate and that I could afford. The main reason I was wondering if anyone had shot deer with one is just that a deer is about the closest in mass and such to a human as anything most folks would hunt. The main reason I figured the .380 MIGHT be a viable option is just that could afford to practice and be sure I could hit my target with that gun, I could afford the gun better than most, and that even a .22 would be miles ahead of a pocket knife especialy if you empty the clip.
    That said what would be the lowest priced 9mm anyone knows of that is reliable and reasonably accurate? I do want to stay with a common cal. that has cheap, plentiful ammo, so 9mm wouldnt be bad or if I can get lucky and find a snub nose .38 or better yet .357 revolver I could afford.
     
  9. Valkman

    Valkman Knifemaker Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    9mm can probably be bought as cheap or cheaper than .380. You can get 1000 rounds of 9mm for $129 or even cheaper - I buy it for my Uzi. At Bass Pro Shops a box of .380 is 10.49 for 50 so you'd need to find it in bulk.
     
  10. ghostrider

    ghostrider Resident Poltergeist Founding Member

    http://www.gunsonthenet.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=39799034
    Is a Star BM, they work, in your price range, not as concealable as some.
    I have a Firestar 9mm, the M43 that is a PPK sized 9mm, sometimes you can find them in the 250-275 dollar range.
    http://www.gunsonthenet.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=39716194
    Sometimes you can find some good deals, here's a P95 for 250.
    http://www.gunsonthenet.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=39626173
    Maybe the best would be small frame five shot .357 like the Taurus 605 or Rossi. In your price range used, you gain by only having one caliber.
     
  11. monkeyman

    monkeyman Monkey+++ Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    I figure idealy I would like something that, even if it makes a significant bulge, will fit in a hip pocket without the butt or anything sticking out much if any, that way it could be in a pocket under a shirt, comfortable in the waiste band or possibly even in my boot if needed.
    That one looks like it would likely be ok if I can find a similar deal when Im ready to buy. My employers generaly take taxes out even though I dont make enouph to have to pay so I get it all back at tax time, I figure once I get my tax papers after the first of the year I want to get my permit and see if I can get a new handgun that would be better suited to concield carry durring times of the year when an over shirt or jacket wouldnt be worn. Im a big enouph boy though and have worn a shoulder holster enouph that if Im wearing a jacket my .357 would work, but not so much in T-shirt weather.
     
  12. Quigley_Sharps

    Quigley_Sharps The Badministrator Administrator Founding Member

    Get a S&W Mod 10 38 special Police trade in. Talk to Martin97 and see what he can do for you, he had access to them a little while back.
     
  13. monkeyman

    monkeyman Monkey+++ Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Is that the 5 shot snub nose like the chiefs special or detectives modle or whatever or is the modle 10 the old general issue sidearm for the patrolemen?
     
  14. Quigley_Sharps

    Quigley_Sharps The Badministrator Administrator Founding Member

    Yeah cept these are 6 shot ones
     
  15. monkeyman

    monkeyman Monkey+++ Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Cool, I'll have to give him a hollar and see what we can do.
     
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