.380 Underpowered for self defense?

[frazzled]

I think the better question is how do you get the wife to carry something bigger than a .380 when she likes the Bersa better than she likes you.

"But a 9mm is a better all around round"
"I don't care."

"But, I've been trying to get .380 ammo for 11 months now"
"I don't care."

"But a Walther is the same size as your Bersa and is epic cool"
"I don't care. Now quit bugging me or I am going to sic the dogs on you, or accidentally run you over with rosie."
Texas women.

[A-R]

If you're looking for a slightly larger gun that fires a more potent cartridge, I'll strongly recommend a snub-nose revolver firing .38 Special +P ammo. S&W J-frame, Taurus 85, Ruger LCR - lots of good choices, even good used guns available. I MUCH prefer these to a pocket 9mm or .40 for reliability and easier shooting. But shooting a two-inch barreled revolver takes some practice. The practice just doesn't "hurt" as much as firing a Kahr PM40 or the like.

[texjames]

I carry a Ruger LCP under shirt IWB during warm weather and bought this ammo. As some JHP can be finnicky.
Designed for finicky-feeding pistols, Pow'RBall is a great choice for all of your semi-auto pistols or revolvers.
- Reliable feeding.
- Consistent, reliable expansion.
- Deeper soft tissue penetration.
- Quicker recovery for follow-up shots.
- Reduced Recoil.
- High Velocity.

Caliber: 380 Auto.
Bullet Wt.: 70gr Pow'RBall.
Velocity: 1100fps.
Energy:188ftlbs.
Test Barrel Length: 3.0 Inches.
20 rounds per box.

[frazzled]

Lead soft nose. Haven't seen any of those outside of my M1 carbine ammo for pistols in some time.

[Keith B]

Lead soft nose. Haven't seen any of those outside of my M1 carbine ammo for pistols in some time.

The CorBon are not lead soft nose, that is a polymer ball in the hollow point that assists in feeding up the ramp. I use them in my PM9 because they feed well and have one heck of a muzzle energy at ~483 ft lbs for a 9mm (that is approaching 357 magnum numbers.) http://www.dakotaammo.net/Glaser-PowRBa ... 00/Product" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[A-R]

I'd love to try some Pow'rball some time. Anyone know where to buy it without having to put it on layaway or take out a loan?

[frazzled]

Lead soft nose. Haven't seen any of those outside of my M1 carbine ammo for pistols in some time.

The CorBon are not lead soft nose, that is a polymer ball in the hollow point that assists in feeding up the ramp. I use them in my PM9 because they feed well and have one heck of a muzzle energy at ~483 ft lbs for a 9mm (that is approaching 357 magnum numbers.) http://www.dakotaammo.net/Glaser-PowRBa ... 00/Product" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Woops, ok. Ayah I have heard of those. They and the Hornady versions seem to do quite well.

[Keith B]

I'd love to try some Pow'rball some time. Anyone know where to buy it without having to put it on layaway or take out a loan?

Check the link above. I buy mine locally at the gun store. Runs a little over $1.25 a round, but for reliability of feeding and punch, I don't think you can beat it.

[joe817]

I think I posted this article by Massad Ayoob one other time. It's on topic and a very good read. This article is but one valid reason to not discount the lowly .380 as an adequate self defense round. It's a good read. Please take the time to read it:

Urban Assault: The Elaine Wingren Incident by Massad Ayoob:

"...He is scrambling out the window, obviously about to come straight at her. She raises her .380, right hand only, takes him at gunpoint, and yells in a strong command voice exactly the words she has been taught. "Don't move!" Kevin Anthony Anderson is not impressed. In his 37 years on this planet, he has terrorized his share of women. This small one with her small gun is just one more."

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m ... ntent;col1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[texjames]

I bought my Pow R' Ball right here....
http://www.corbon.com/

[The Annoyed Man]

Next question: What do you tell your wife when she asks why you need so many guns?

You answer a question with a question: "why do you need so many shoes?"

[frazzled]

Next question: What do you tell your wife when she asks why you need so many guns?

You answer a question with a question: "why do you need so many shoes?"

As I like breathing I don't think I'll ask that.

[The Annoyed Man]

I'd love to try some Pow'rball some time. Anyone know where to buy it without having to put it on layaway or take out a loan?

Will it feed in my revolver?

[gregthehand]

I carry the Kel-Tec .380 ACP almost all the time now. I use Speer Gold Dot 90 grain bullets and have ran two boxes through it with never a jam. I'm thinking about getting a Bersa just to have one I guess!

[The Annoyed Man]

I think I posted this article by Massad Ayoob one other time. It's on topic and a very good read. This article is but one valid reason to not discount the lowly .380 as an adequate self defense round. It's a good read.

Joe, please understand, I'm not discounting it. As I posted, I'm not exactly volunteering to step in front of one. I just think that there are better choices if one can accommodate them into one's lifestyle, that's all... ...and I suspect that Massad Ayoob would agree with that. In fact, his article all but so states that premise, noting that Elaine Wingren was a petite Asian woman who carried a .380 Sig because that is what fit in her hand and in her purse. His article also says that her 6'4" husband carried a full sized P226. At no point in the article is Ayoob advocating for her 6'4" husband to carry a small .380 designed to fit into a small woman's hand.

In this particular case, Elaine Wingren behaved admirably. She said and did all the right things, and I hope that I am able to act with her sang-froid if faced with the same terrible decision. That said, discarding what is essentially the "miss" which hit the BG in the arm, Elaine Wingren was extremely fortunate to have gotten a 1 shot stop with a .380. She had to have hit his aorta to cause instant incapacitation and nearly instant death like that. The aorta is maybe an inch in diameter in the average man, and she hit that on a moving target. Even from just a few feet away, that was a lucky hit (for her). Two inches to her left, and that bullet goes into the BG's right lung and doesn't even slow him down; and she doesn't have time to get a third shot off before he's on her.

If she had missed the aorta like that with a .40 or a .45 (or a +P 9mm, or a .357, etc., etc.), it is not unreasonable to expect that the sheer magnitude of the impact might cause him to pause, even if only for a second or two, giving her time for a followup shot to the vitals. Yes, her shot killed him, but it is equally true that she was very lucky to have escaped going to ground with this guy on top of her and grappling for the gun.