Stopping Power of .380 ACP

In this week's video, we take a look at the stopping power of the .380 ACP. We are firing into synthetic ballistic gel at approximate FBI Standards with 95gr FMJ and JHP. We also look at the difference in controlled firing speed, as well as testing penetration in the ballistics gel from a range of 50 meters.
Thanks for watching. New videos post every Thursday!
FIREARMS USED IN THIS VIDEO
Sig Sauer P230 SL
AMMUNITION USED IN THIS VIDEO
.380 ACP Speer Gold Dot 95gr JHP
.380 ACP Winchester PDX1 Defender 95gr JHP
.380 ACP Buffalo Cartridge Company 95gr FMJ RM

[@TheArtofGuitar]

People get really weird about the power of certain calibers. I'm convinced that even a well placed .22 could stop many bad situations from going down.

[@aberjaylopdollar1074]

You are on the money. Long ago, my Army Drill Sergeant pointed out ... it ain't about the size of the bullet, it's where you put the damned thing. .223 .22Mag. I'd not want to be at the receiving end of any gun. I pack Ruger .380

[@erichirsch5009]

Yes a 22 double tap does trick

[@erichirsch5009]

I think most miss with high calibers. But hey the bigger round costs more as do the rifle or handgun

[@erichirsch5009]

The 380 is strongest caliber most women should carry. 9mm being the most

[@pg6576]

John Browning designed the 380. Nuff said.

[@proudveteran4696]

As a retired police detective I investigated more death calls with a 380 than any other caliber. Don’t be fooled, a 380 cal is a formidable Killer

[@OldManMontgomery]

Great killer. I'm not a hitman, I carry for defense and want to stop attacks right away with the least amount of shots and bother. Don't confuse 'killing' with 'stopping'

[@BearNecesities1]

@@OldManMontgomery although sometimes they're the same thing. Well said

[@OldManMontgomery]

@@BearNecesities1 Commonly recorded cases indicate the villain was in fact killed, but not dead until after the villain committed his act of villainy. In which case, the defender looses. I prefer the villiain to be rendered unable to carry out the attack instantly - or a reasonable facimily - and I really don't care if he dies or not. "...sometimes they're the same thing" Yes. But not often enough for my peace of mind.

[@keyfitter]

I carry a .380 for two main reasons. It does not over penetrate for one which is safer for innocent bystanders. Many of the pistols made for this cartridge are highly concealable which suit my purpose. I only care about stopping a problem. If they end up taking dirt nap, oh well.

[@BearNecesities1]

@@keyfitter as do I. I don't want to make an innocent bystander collateral damage. If my 12(×2)+1 isn't enough to stop the threat evading is the best option. I'm not out here to be a hero, I'm just here to defend myself and the people I love.

[@davidhabener5767]

I’ve been saying this for years, great part is the level of technology that has been put into the .380. Hiding a small .380 is a lot more friendly.

[@BrianEthridge-wg6ko]

I got two block 25s today and there's a little bit bigger version but I did that on purpose so that it wouldn't have any kick and I've had Glock 380s before they work very very well. I'm trying to remember if I've ever gotten a gunfight though that's all I've had. Or even an altercation. I always use it as backup weapon I've never pulled it as the only one.

[@Boostgravyy]

To the people who think a bigger caliber is best, Never met anyone with a preference on caliber to be shot at with in a self defense situation. My wife wants to carry and she does great with a p365 in a .380 and is comfortable at the range with it. Great video!

[@rontoomey1187]

Have her fire the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0. Almost positive she would do better and enjoy it much more than the Sig. P365.

[@Saint-eg7yg]

I’ve carried a Bersa Thunder .380 for some time now. It’s light, accurate, and reliable.

[@larryrobertson3310]

carried the same for about 20 yrs, wore the blueing off !! good little gun

[@thearchitect817]

Good gun , long bad trigger. Reliable though.

[@memyself898]

That was my first carry gun. Still have it.

[@rayhanes1347]

Who remembers the surveillance video of the poor pharmacist shooting a robber to death that tried to rob his shop? 380 works.

[@daviddowns7552]

those are good guns. bersa. i had a 45 thunder pro. 7+ rounds.

[@1AXMRDR]

Thanks for the science. While I prefer shooting 9mm more, I find myself carrying a .380 more often because of the size.

[@rustyshackleford1877]

My LCP max is a game changer. After pocket carry, I'll never go back to IWB. Plus,my odds of needing the firearm is slim to none .

[@mnikss03]

@@rustyshackleford1877 usually carry my G26 in the winter time. But when summer reaches 100+ everyday/night, the LCP max is the go to in the pocket.

[@rustyshackleford1877]

@@mnikss03 I don't even know I have it on me sometimes

[@MADDOG100ful]

Agreed! Me too!

[@jdhill3jh]

Same here. Likely going with the Sig P365/ 380

[@jeffreyedwards2371]

380 ACP is a great caliber when used with the right ammo and in the right pistol. I carry the Bersa Thunder Plus, 15+1 magazine, it's a great pistol. Glad to see someone do an unbiased video about 380 ACP.

[@ryanhale4116]

I have the same gun as my daily carry. My law enforcement friends (one who is a pistol expert) have told me how much they like it and that it doesn’t feel like a small gun. That 15 rd mag is great too…most 380s have only 9 or 10. I’m getting a second Bersa for my wife.

[@justanotherdave7117]

Love my thunder plus with underwood xtreme defender

[@justanotherdave7117]

@little drane Hence the Underwood Xtreme Defender which doesn’t rely on expansion and I don’t think I will be shooting any animals with my .380, thanks though.

[@tommykawasaki9676]

Love my Bersa Thunder !

[@jimdunkle4823]

Great video! I'm a 45 acp guy, but 99% of the time it's my 380 in my pocket.

[@stevemccarty6384]

I have a Glock 380 and like it, but if I think I'll actually have to use a gun I drop a Makarov in my pocket. Why? It has never jammed, not once! And it shoots hard enough.

[@jackjetpilot]

I'm a .223 guy, but 99% of the time I can't fit it in my pants.

[@trevorjameson3213]

That was very interesting and proves the 380 is still lethal at 50m. I have a Sig P238 .380 and it's definitely my favorite carry piece. Very accurate and plenty of punch.

[@GummyNugget]

I love my sig p238

[@michaelsweaney3890]

I love my P238. Tough as a Russian tank. Smooth and precise as a Swiss watch. Only complaint is capacity.

[@wowKyl3]

@@michaelsweaney3890 Have another clip ready or consider maybe extended mag. I felt the same way. Great gun but needs a larger capacity.

[@naposthecavalierkingcharles]

@@wowKyl3the p238 does not use clips

[@Actheman1978]

This is a great video, very professional. And you get extra points for being truthful about the rounds recoil and for not saying the ubiquitous “It’s a great round for women or old people or people with strength issues”. It’s just a good round. The guns it comes in are very concealable and are true pocket pistols.

[@daviddowns7552]

380 is good. around 900 to 1000 fps with certain loads i think. lots of practice is an advantage.

[@davevabch]

I have been in a Club that shoots 380's for over a decade. And we all can attest to the fact that it most definitely a great self defense cartridge as well as a defensive weapon. They are under rated Period. And so many ways to conceal and draw fast. Thanks for the video.

[@dukeman7595]

Still a 9mm short.. Granted with the advent of superb bullet design the .380 is much better, however, I would not count it as a home defense caliber much better choices..

[@kurtdowney1489]

@@dukeman7595 I disagree I run Eagle talons in my 380.

[@keyfitter]

@@dukeman7595 Yep, when I run out of bullets, there is the trusty 12 gauge to finish the job.

[@daviddowns7552]

speer gold dot 90 g is good

[@daviddowns7552]

i appreciate your video also.

[@kevinb8527]

Great video. I agree, .380 is more than adequate for a conceal carry round. I carry a Ruger LCP loaded with Precision One .380 XTPs. I pocket carry it in a Desantis Nemesis pocket holster with 2 backup mags. Obviously I’m not going to be using it for a go to war gun, but it is more than adequate to get me out of a jam while going out to the grocery store haha.

[@texmex8220]

And thats what a concelead handgun is for, at least in my opinion. Its something to get you out of a bad spot

[@kevinb8527]

@@texmex8220 Exactly. I don’t plan to get into a prolonged shootout with it or anything. I’m well practiced with it and know it’s limitations. It’s a great little pistol. I sent mine off and had a tritium front sight and dovetailed rear sight put on it. It’s much more shootable now.

[@gephrygeph6480]

I carried a Sig P230 SL on duty as my backup for several years. It is now one of my "safe queens". Fantastic little gun!! I replaced it with a Glock 43, then changed to an LCP II. I carry the LCP II off duty on occasion and trust it to do the job.

[@soujrnr]

I just found your channel last night, and just the day before yesterday, I bought myself a Bersa Thunder .380. I was quite pleased by the presentation of the .380 you gave here! My previous EDC was a .40 cal S&W Shield. I had to get rid of that because my wife couldn't rack the slide on it at all. Yesterday, I bought her a Ruger LCP II .22 cal, and it's a very nice CC gun. She loves it. Dude, the fact that you hit the gel at 50 meters is very impressive with such a tiny barrel. I'd have to spray and pray at that distance because after having LASIK surgery on my eyes, my sighting ability sucks hind tit. I'm having to relearn sighting all over because one eye is for distance and one eye is for close up. That means the sights are out of focus with my dominant eye and everything beyond about 24 inches is a total blur in my non-dominant eye. It's called "monovision," and is a very popular method for LASIK recipients. Be that as it may, I'm going to check out your other videos! Also, I just about blew coffee out my nose laughing at the end of your video with the, "Back to weekly angst....and poultry." I busted out laughing. I'm sure some tree-hugging snowflake will give you grief for shooting up a dead chicken. (Pass the barbecue sauce). Have a great weekend, and thanks again!!

[@imaanon1668]

Lolol

[@Dontgetenslaved]

The great thing about the bersa thunder, extra mags are cheap along with lasers for it. The laser grips are a different story but a normal laser cost about $100 for it.

[@sevse23]

Your holy grail sir could be the new P365 in 380, and here's why: - easier to rack than the Bersa thunder, being a tilting barrel design (the thunder is a blowback) - 2 more rounds for a total of 10 rounds in the magazine - 4.3 oz lighter than the Bersa - best of all, it comes red dot ready, so you can add an optic sight, which could help a lot in near sight / far sight issues. I would seriously consider that Sig, since it seems to tick all the boxes you need.

[@Dontgetenslaved]

@@sevse23 is it going to jam like a lot of reports of sigs doing bad things here lately?

[@sevse23]

@@Dontgetenslaved I'm not aware of any jamming P365 380, care to show evidence? BTW I'm a Glock guy, couldn't care less for SIGs business had it not been for the gentleman who elaborated on his needs.

[@Me2Lancer]

Thanks for your post. You have definitely increased my confidence in the .380 ACP.

[@elblancobasura]

.380 was a military round like .32 was, and I think that gets lost on many people. I'd personally never use it in JHP configuration but I have zero problem using it in ball when I need to use .380. Thanks for the video.

[@rickjohnson3215]

I would like to bring up to you the Hornaday critical defense round in 380 and the Sig V Crown, both expand very well and meet the FBI standards for penetration of 12” - 18”. Both penetrates at the 12.5” to 14” range. My wife caries a Bersa 380 so I have researched the ballistics of 380 acp and these are the only rounds which expands and penetrates to FBI standards. Not much to choose from admittedly.

[@toddjohnson271]

Yup....380 used by police in Europe for ages. It's like people think 38 special no longer works as police carried it for 100 years.

[@tylerwill5250]

Rick…389 HCD does NOT meet fbi standards….never seen a test that it did. Use an xtp hp round of some kind of ball. Thats it!

[@scooterbob4432]

I saw a picture of two Dutch military officers armed with Browning 32 ACP pistols, taken I guess before WW2. You're right, 32 and 380 ACP were previously military rounds in Europe.

[@williamwatson4625]

I fill up the magazine of my Bersa Firestorm with Lehigh Xtreme Penetrator. They create larger and more messy wound cavities than the ball or flat-nose rounds. Yes, I'd never use JHP rounds on a .380 auto pistol unless I'm a mob assassin and my job is to kill a turncoat at the back of his head at point blank range.

[@tedgottinger121]

I carry a Ruger LCP in situations where a larger/heavier gun would not be feasible, and while I understand that it is NOT as powerful as my 9mm, I carry it with confidence.

[@DunnDealOutdoors]

Man, I love my LCP. It’s definitely my favorite pocket rocket to carry especially on days when the Texas/Louisiana heat is on full throttle.

[@exist7415]

Again I wouldn't want to get hit by it. Plenty powerful enough and those little girls are louder than some rifles imo.

[@TarmanDan]

I carry my LCP everyday!

[@exist7415]

@@TarmanDan loud!

[@mikegoodwin2386]

I'm a 45 lover who carries the LCP in 380 frequently because I'm too lazy to dress around the larger gun just for a quick trip to the corner store. I've more recently bought a very compact 9mm to split the difference and it is threatening to become my main carry weapon. (More testing is in order before I can say it's my new #1, but I'm leaning in that direction.)

[@normcote270]

Awesome video my friend, and thank you...I carry a S&W .380 Bodyguard purchased 5 yrs. ago. It's simple, reliable and safe to carry without worrie's of accidentally discharge. I put around 400 rounds through it over the years WITHOUT a single misfire or having to pull the trigger a second time!! I feel very confident with it as my EDC!!!

[@abc456f]

Been pocket carrying mine for around 9 years. Seriously looking at the new Bodyguard 2.0.

[@deb1120]

Thank you for the demo! I really like my "little" .380...but wasn't sure if it would be 'enough' if I ever had a need to use it. **scurries off to buy another one!! LOL**

[@jonastknotts3504]

All I can say is that I am totally Impressed by your demonstration/instruction/description of field testing. 💥 This has to be almost if not the very best well demonstration videos on firearms ive seen on KZbin. Nice clear narrations, excellent video shots. Not like many that just get out there and speak and babble so fast run through the numbers and mags and think you got something out of it. This is the example of instruction and presentation that has great standards. I like real world demonstrations. If you got a good shooter and place and materials and equipment all in harmony. I know sometimes some think that a vice and chair is scientific about ballistics but i want to know how effective something is in real world r simulated type testing truly is. Like I said with a really good shooter as yourself this is the example to know what is possible to archive for the average citizen. Thank you very much a well-done video. 👍💯

[@jasonashley4579]

Excellent video, love it or hate it the .380 has put lots of people in the ground.

[@kenpeters9807]

Including Arch Duke Francis Ferdinand and his wife, triggering The Great War (WWI) - not really a world war, but one hellova European War!

[@richarddavenport31]

Good to know, I will get one

[@anthonylandino7709]

According to a police officer friend it has also let a lot of people get up!!!!!

[@jasonashley4579]

@@anthonylandino7709 So has PCP

[@gonzob9609]

@@anthonylandino7709 No offense, all handguns suck. You're poking holes in people. Need a critical shot, or they'll just bleed out. If you do the math on the difference of frontal area of both bullets, compared to the human body, there is little to no difference. Shoot what you shoot best that's capable of penetrating to, and through the spine. Keep firing until the perp drops.

[@kl0wnkiller912]

I have carried the same .380 handgun for the past almost 40 years... a Mauser HSC. Excellent pistol, very compact and excellent to control. Never had a jam or a misfeed shooting all sorts of ammunition. The only thing I don't like is the bottom magazine release and the 7+1 single stack but it is a very concealable, easily controllable weapon.

[@scooterbob4432]

The 380 ACP is a good alternative to 9mm especially for seniors with wrist/hand problems. I have an Interarms PPK/S and I just love my classic beauty.

[@funnyfack9854]

You should check out the ruger lcp max . 10 plus 1 i believe

[@loveydovey4u]

380 is a mouse gun

[@kl0wnkiller912]

@@loveydovey4u MAybe but if you know how to use it, it can be just as effective as any other. I also carry a .40 but the .380 has advantages for concealed carry that the .40 can't.

[@shootermcgavin2819]

@@loveydovey4u How bout you stand down range and I use you as target practice. Your manlet ass won't last an entire magazine of .380, not even close

[@michaelangelo7511]

What a nice thorough and honest presentation. Great job. I have carried a .380 for a lot of years. The business end is plenty ample. I sure wouldn’t want to get whacked with one.👍🏻🇺🇸

[@blaineedwards8078]

You have a carrot....WTF??

[@michaelangelo7511]

@@blaineedwards8078 Ha Ha! Thanks for catching my poor editing. The auto spell kicked me in the a$$ and I didn’t catch it. 👍🏻🇺🇸

[@blaineedwards8078]

@@michaelangelo7511 Brother Mike, it's all good, amigo! You are a great American....carry on.

[@michaelangelo7511]

@@blaineedwards8078 👍🏻🇺🇸

[@Zappy1210]

.380 is my favorite carry piece. Very easy to conceal, lightweight and very easy to drawl quickly.

[@thebestofj.fraley]

I actually really like the 380 ACP. I bought my wife a Bersa 380 and she was quite effective on the range and she was very accurate as well. I was so impressed with it that I sometimes carried it concealed and left my 45 ACP at home. I would definitely recommend it for women because it is small enough to conceal in a purse or fanny pack.

[@colt10mmsecurity68]

Good stuff. .380 is my ccw gun when visiting Hawaii, since it’s easy to conceal with board shorts, tank top and chonklas.

[@AmmoMart]

That is an excellent point. I fear some think that with a smaller sized gun comes less lethality which is not true in a quality firearm and good ammunition. Big does not spell bad. Thanks for viewing and I hope we hear from you in the future.

[@colt10mmsecurity68]

@@AmmoMart Indeed. The ammo I’m mandated to carry with my .380 is Federal HST 99gr HP. Sadly it doesn’t expand at all really when passing through clothing. However it does penetrate like a FMJ. With no clothing barrier, it expands greatly but only penetrates about 10.5-11”. Heck, that’s good enough for me. I’ve always training for the “failure drills,” of two to the heart and one to the “coconut.” …then it’s time for a reload. .380 will ruin a bad guy’s day just fine and it’s better than using a length of sugar cane on the islands. 🍍

[@danielescamilla182]

How the hell did you get a ccw permit in Hawaii?

[@colt10mmsecurity68]

@@danielescamilla182 HR218

[@erichaas4525]

I've heard that chonklas can be pretty effective in the right hands...

[@frogfoot198]

I've asked many but no one has ever volunteered to be shot by my .380 to see how affective it is. I use Underwood Extreme Penetrator ammo which is a plus P round. This bullet gets great penetration and does the same tissue damage, or more, than a hollow point.

[@GrenadeMcSticki]

Extreme Defender or Extreme Penetrator? I hope you are not carrying the XP for self defense for your own sake.

[@cp300blackout4]

kkkk true!

[@rushthezeppelin]

Yup the monolithic noon expanding rounds are really a game changer. I've got G9 in my bodyguard 2.0

[@johnmcclain3887]

I used to carry a 1911 in 45, for a decade, been carrying a Llama 380, and am gratified to know the equal penetration at fifty yards, as at ten feet. I enjoy the comfort feel of a locked breech 1911 action, and the high accuracy potential it gives. I've long know the accuracy potential, and this demonstration of penetration was a welcome surprise. I also enjoy a couple 1911's in 38 super caliber, as very accurate and quite pleasant to shoot. I've also chambered a Llama 380 in 9mm Makarov, and that pistol is equally pleasant and fun to shoot. Thanks for doing this ballistic gel test, very nicely done.

[@deet_boii]

Fixed barrel blowback is more repeatable than a locking design. Ask gun Jesus.

[@hotrodray6802]

@@deet_boii Are you saying the Llama is not good enough since it's a linked barrel?

[@johnmcclain3887]

@@hotrodray6802 I've had both and like the recoil of the locked breech action better. It's a nice backup caliber, I've also had it in 9mak, slightly hotter, and very easy to handle.

[@davidkandell2804]

Great video. Always "worried" carrying my SIG P238 being 380ACP. It's a great light, small gun BUT never knew really how potent it would be if I needed it. You changed my mind. I actually bought a S&W 9 Shield + thinking the 380 wouldn't cut it. Guess I didn't need to. Thanks for the great review!

[@blaineedwards8078]

When trying to decide a choice for the handgun for James Bond, the producers chose a Walther PPK because it looks cool and futuristic, like something the shadowy world of espionage would come up with.

[@YaoEspirito]

That gun is fantastic, in every way.

[@1LonePuma]

We seem to be in total agreement that the .380 is plenty of Fire power. What's left is to become proficient with not only two hands but with one hand. We have two Bersa 380's, one a single stack and mine which is a 15 rounder. It's amazing how many people under estimate just how awesome it holds true to its trajectory, perhaps flatter than most realize within reason. This was fun to watch your expertise with the mighty.👍

[@danielpadgett2831]

I think alot of people underestimate the 380 it is a good self defense ammo in my opinion

[@berrylee6787]

Thanks for the lessons I inherited as 1993 Colt mustang plus 2. Being a Marine, love the look little recoil. 8 rounds is a great number of rounds. Only fired 20 times. Fits perfectly in you pocket. Keep it up. Neal

[@jerrydonquixote5927]

The Colt Mustang or the ones that started all these 1911 380 like Sig P238 the Kimber micro and the Springfield Armory whatever there's is called I love that little Colt Mustang I've never had one though! If I could have any of them I would choose that one secondary I like the Sig P238 the Kimber micro!

[@jedironin380]

I have the Colt Gov't Model .380. If you've only fired yours 20 times, you need more practice! :)

[@berrylee6787]

@@jedironin380 went to range and the is amazing in every way. Neal

[@theoracle3747]

Stumbled onto this vid by accident, and glad I did. Very interesting, and good shooting. I've always been partial to .45 ACP, and own several, but my EDC is a Sig P238 SAS .380 ACP in an ankle holster.

[@Cobra6.5]

You Sir have become my go to person for ballistic testing. Hands down a great source for knowledge.

[@paideiadistribution2786]

I’m definitely not an expert, and if I’m not mistaken. When the bullet doesn’t totally penetrate, the kinetic energy it totally absorbed by the target. Maximizing the trauma by distributing it throughout the body. I think I read an article by Winchester on this years ago. My son gives me a hard time for carrying a .380. Lol Great Video!!!

[@mkshffr4936]

Technically true that the energy is expended in the target however at handgun velocities the energy is almost a moot point as it takes velocities more in the 2000+fps range to get any real hydrostatic shock. An exit wound can help increase blood loss which can be an advantage in some situations. The biggest factor in tissue damage (other than placement) is bullet shape which is why full wad cutter revolver rounds perform so well even at very low velocities.

[@hotrodray6802]

Look at Liberty Civil Defense ammo.

[@duroisgawd]

.380 direct blowback is snappy, but delayed blowback guns like the p238 or lcp makes shooting .380 a breeze.

[@Followme556]

Really the best handgun study to date is Greg Ellefritz's work. In his study there is no significance statistical difference between 380 and any of the other Duty calibers in real world shootings.

[@EducatedBlackMan]

With today's advances in ammo technology, the 380 is an effective self-defense gun. I carry the Ruger LCP Max because it is the most concealable high capacity 380 on the market. I carry the 12 rd mag with Hydro Shok Deep, Underwood Xtreme Penetrator and Precision One XTP.

[@kenpeters9807]

I’ve never used the Underwood Xtreme Penetrator and I didn’t know Precision One made .380. I like their products. I just made a lengthy response to “Brian” on these blogs about the P238. The doggone thing seems to consistently penetrate nearly 15”. Check out my reply to Brian’s reply. Of you can’t fid it, tell me and I will send it to you. We are big Sig and Ruger fans. I think Sig makes the best and Ruger is very very high quality with the best price to quality ratio. The P238 holds 8 - no comparison to the quantity of the LCP Max. The P238 could be easily racked and handled by my wife. (Her first semi-auto pistol.) I eventually got one too. Now she can readily rack a .40 and a .45ACP. I don’t think you can beat a quality .380 mini pistol for EDC. With the right modern ammo - whew! Ken

[@e2sealoperator561]

I have a bersa thunder 380 in my daypack. Only comes out once a month to get cleaned and ammo rotated.

[@christopherhall5361]

hydro shock rounds are the ONLY way to make a .380 effective, and even still it doesn't hold a candle to a regular 9mm, a meth head will still be coming after you if you shoot them with a .380

[@paisteplayer1040]

@@kenpeters9807 I would get one of these if they made it with a thumb safety switch.. Right now I carry a springfield armory 911 7+1 mag w/safety.

[@williamteague2291]

The LCP Max is the best value in the concealed carry market....with arguably the best night sights, another home run from Ruger!

[@theundeadbeholder284]

Great video. In my experience the .380 ACP is a very effective caliber especially in short range situations, long time ago I owned a Bersa .380 13+1 (here in the US Thunder Combat+ I think) it was the original version sold in Argentina, with a 4" 1/4 barrel, the performance of the gun was excellent under 115ft (35m).

[@builtfordtough4499]

By the time you get to a 4" barrel you might as well carry a 9mm unless recoil is an issue. But, I agree 380 is under rated with the ammo these days. All the tests I have been seeing place it on the same level as 38 special given modern ammo.

[@giulioespositi9052]

Exatly: my old (a nearly a mint-one) Beretta"mod.1934", cal 9-Corto/1941=XIX"E.F"(Era-Fascista) with "Mamba-type"/Fiocchi-ctg: are ideal-"binomio" at short distance (for a realistic self-defence: 0-10mt)😊

[@robinreiley1828]

Well done! Useful information about an often dismissed round!

[@Blimpie1000]

Interesting on the close range ballistic. At longer ranges I would try to run away if possible. As far as the cost; .380 is not a fun round like .22 LR; it is a business round. Just like the .30-'06 hunting rounds, I only use a relative few, so cost is not a real object. Good review. Thanks

[@charlesolmos8975]

I love my g42 for CCW. EXTREMELY manageable recoil even with infrequent periods of live fire practice. I can dump a mag with no problem and hit every round center mass. It’s small and super easy to carry. I have no problem trusting my life with .380. I carry 21 rounds in total and absolutely believe it’s more than enough for a self defense situation. I’ve had no desire to upgrade caliber or firearm for CCW since I bought my g42 when it came out. Great video!

[@stephenschroeder6567]

I also carry a G42 as an EDC. I load the Underwood Xtreme Defenders and feel very confident in the system's performance. Hopefully it will never need to be tested.

[@jbhickok7796]

Yes, and I regret that I traded mine away. Going to have to pick up another one.

[@carllove3705]

Excellent video. I carry a pocket pistol chambered in .380 and I feel confident as far as a self defense situation goes. Meaning that if I knew I was going to go to a gunfight I would choose a different firearm, but for any emergency situation where my life is in danger it will be just fine. Big difference between self defense and battle. I watch the show on ID Discovery about the homicide detective LT Joe Kenda, and about half of the homicides he investigates are committed with a .380 pistol.

[@krashdude1]

Great video as always. In 380 defense rounds the Hornady Critical Defense with an XTP bullet has very good performance from a typical CCW size barrel...LCP Max is a great choice for pocket carry.

[@dogwalk3]

i use federal punch with a 380 EZ & it's the perfect combo for me

[@earlwithmore9065]

I cared the BDA 380 on my ankle for 30+ years. Running between 500, 600rds per month. I then switched to shoulder holster for another 7 years. It still runs and dependable, however I did change to the 40 and 45 FNP. I like full size frames. Good vid

[@randyrush9856]

Like I have always said, John Browning perfected the science with a ball round, but manufacturers are constantly trying to fix what wasn't broken.

[@hansblitz7770]

Quality JHP is not just about more damage, it is about staying in the target.

[@moustachio334]

I’d rather over penetrate and get two holes for the price of one anyday. I’m not shooting someone knowing there are friendlies behind him even if I had JHP. JHP also have a hard time actually hitting the vital organ you aimed at. There’s scenarios where people get shot centermass and the bullet ricochets after penetrating and while it creates a big wound cavity, it doesn’t actually hit a vital organ. A FMJ doesn’t behave like this. It goes where you place. The wound cavity size and under penetration are all marketing BS that’s probably killed more people than it’s protected.

[@libertyprime9307]

If you can get reliable expansion while keeping adequate penetration, why wouldn't you? A bigger bullet can make a bigger hole, and having a sharp shoulder especially is better than a round shoulder because tissue will stretch over a round nose, but be cut by a sharp one, leading to a larger primary wound cavity.

[@randyrush9856]

@@libertyprime9307 .380 is generally relegated to small pistols to help alleviate recoil. These compact pistols have less room for the mechanical function. Changing the shape of the round, reducing the weight of round (hollow point), changing the length of the round, can result in a less reliable cartridge or negatively effect acceptable penetration, i.e., 12" to 16" FBI ballistics gel, etc...

[@libertyprime9307]

@@randyrush9856 Sure, I agree with all of that. That said, I own the original LCP, an LCP 2, and used to own the Taurus TCP. None of them ever failed in my hands with any kind of ammo. I've seen some of my relatives reliably limp-wrist them though. It's obviously user error. To me, when you buy a gun (especially one intended for defense), the first thing you do is go to the range and run a few hundred rounds of your defensive ammo through it to check for reliability, and I'd say this process isn't special for .380. It's not a reason to not purchase a .380, because you should be putting it through the same test as anything else.

[@Pharto_Stinkus]

In 1989 Myself and two friends were involved in a street-fight when we were attacked by 5 gang members for being in the wrong neighborhood (not being racist, they were actual gang members, later verified by police when they were caught). During the course of the scuffle, one of them pulled a pistol and shot one of my friends two times, once in the stomach and once in the chest, and then all five of them ran away. My other friend waited with my friend that had been shot, while I ran to find a payphone and call 911. I found one several blocks away at a 7-11 (a convenience store). When I returned to the scene, my friend that had been shot was dead. About 10-15 minutes had lapsed between the time I left and the time I returned. We later found out from recovery of the shell casings, and verified through the course of the trial (all five of the gang members were caught), that my friend had been shot with a .380. People that talk about .380 not being "enough" for self-defense don't know what they are talking about. No amount of debate, ballistics testing, or supposed real-world accounts of people that got shot with .380 ACP and lived (of course I know it happens, I'm talking about people that try to imply that that is the usual result, with death being the exception), will EVER convince me that .380 is not powerful enough for self-defense.

[@zitiboylilo5789]

My father is a retired homicide detective with over 20 years experience as a detective and 15 as a regular deputy. Make no mistake about it any bullet is capable of death if placed in the right place. He’s even had cases where people were killed with through and through headshots from .17 caliber BB guns/ air rifle calibers. He carried .380 only as a backup gun in public and a .357 in the night stand and a 12 gauge behind the headboard. When he first started out he had the option of a .38 special or .357 and the backup guns were small .32 revolvers then. When he left on duty carry was Sig Sauer .40 caliber pistols and backup guns were any gun they chose but had to be at least 5 rounds. It was guys who carried Dillinger’s with 2 shots of .45acp as their backup 😂. He said from what he saw it really wasn’t a difference between what a .380-9mm-.40 does inside the human body once it hits soft tissue, muscle, organ matter, bone, etc. they all had about the same amount of damage. .45’s and .357’s and of course .44 magnums did a lot more damage but the recoil wasn’t suitable for rapid follow up shots. The stats for the last 40 so years on homicides and calibers used had 50%+ if not more almost 60% of all the fatalities were from .22s, .32s and .380s. So these small calibers these people today talk about as not being enough “stopping power” were more than enough to kill thousands of people with one or two shots from those small calibers. Most shooting fatalities believe it or not, I’m talking 3/4 of the homicides were one or two shots only. Not 17 shots. People today are insane and have no real world proof to back up their fanatical need to carry 40-50+ rounds with them to Wendy’s 😂 practice and practice some more with your piece and try to perfect the art of head shots. Because lately these mass shootings taking place all of these guys are wearing soft armor. Or perfect femoral artery hits 😂

[@WillyK51]

Very sorry about that one, long before that, I carried a S&W 36 in 38 and it happened to be a deterent in several confrontations, without shooting, Today at home I tuck it under belt in change pocket when I put on my jeans, Just in case

[@danwhyte3524]

Hey D man I'm sorry for your loss!!

[@michaelgibbs3011]

A 38 is better than a 380 performance wise, but 5 shots is insufficient to my mind, and the bulk is more than a 380, which is my EDC. That said, if i go to Walmart at night I carry a nine or 45. I am a 34 year veteran of a state police agency where part of my duties was as a crime scene tech. Certainly a 380 will kill. It will also stop, just not as quickly as a more potent round. Where a .380 may be stopped by a barrier, that same barrier would not protect against a stronger caliber. Then there is the distance factor. I know that MOST gun fights are at very close range, and there are those who say if the conflict is 25 - 50 yards away, a defender can simply find cover, but that is always not the case. I am a proponent of the 45acp because that is the best I can reasonably have with me if using an auto. I mean to say the familiar 1911 has more chance to handle more scenarios. I have learned that any given violent conflict is unlike any other. So most people carry with convenience as a primary consideration; I am guilty of that. A 380 is on my belt as I write this.

[@hunterironside9969]

I carry 380. I love it. the guns are compact and easy to conceal. It carrys easy and comfortable.

[@mikeys7536]

I carry a p238 and an additional magazine in the summer months. It’s super easy to conceal even with shorts and a t-shirt.

[@1rukie]

I load all my ammo and a .380 takes just a couple less grains than a 9mm I would say it’s pretty effective.

[@Dan-qn3su]

Unless you putting head shots in while using in self defense, I would not have it. I reload everything I shoot except 22lr

[@Unclean_Official]

Really cool you actually show the missed shots!

[@edsharonnotter5370]

Excellent, confirms what I've experienced and suspected for years. Like to see a gel test using ball & JHP through winter clothing. I've done my own amateur test and was very pleased with the results.

[@markkeplinger6218]

Great video and well presented. I carry a Glock 42 when out in warm weather. Nice to see this round proven to show what it can do. For all those guys that say a 45ACP is the only one to carry,,,,,,, I don't want to get shot with a 22.lol Thanks for your review and nice shooting!

[@MarkTimblinvaperman]

I got shot in the leg with a 22 long rifle hollow point. Fucking hurts like hell!

[@banjohappy]

@@MarkTimblinvaperman But if you were a bad guy all drugged up it would not have stopped you from your intended crime. You'd have to take it in the eye to be stopped in your tracks.

[@randallburgess46]

This is a very educational video for everyone who practices self defense and conceal carry.

[@fightingmonk123]

Nice video. I like the set up. I definitely want a .380. I like the side by side comparisons too.

[@duaneridings6591]

Great video I am a big fan of Carry the largest handgun you can handle (.40) , But I also preach any gun (caliber) is better than a gun at home 3 days ago I was in a suit and tie with a 380 , That's what I could " HANDLE " being dressed the way I was to conceal

[@AmmoMart]

That is so true. Some weapons will only be suitable in 3 seasons or you lose the idea of "concealed" all together. Thank you for supporting the channel and be safe.

[@EducatedBlackMan]

Carrying a large caliber depends on where you live. a .40, .45 or 357 may be reasonable In a wide-open state like Texas. In a crowded east coast city, you may be hit with a reckless endangerment charge if you over-penetrate and God forbid hit a bystander.

[@shevetlevi2821]

The performance of the JHP rounds was dismal. I'll take penetration over expansion anyday so in this case the ball ammo carries the day. Check out Underwood's Extreme defender ammo in .380acp. You get excellent penetration in gel even through barriers like windshields, sheet metal and plywood, yet its design produces a decent wound channel in gelatin. Nicely done video and it's the first time I've seen a gel test at 50 meters. Thanks.

[@dullonion797]

What he said. My everyday carry gun is a 100% reliable Glock 42 with Underwood Xtreme Defender….8 plus 1. Reliable, effective, easy to carry.

[@nathanlambshead4778]

I use the Extreme penetrators myself. The name is misleading. It does not over penetrate, but it does have the sectional density to get through bone and heavy clothes better than the light bullet. Just my own reason for using the heavier bullet. If I had the defenders only, I would certainly use them.

[@dullonion797]

@@nathanlambshead4778 I’ve tried XD, .380 on a version of Paul Harrell’s meat target. Lots of denim, then pork ribs, then a watermelon and the XD made a real mess of the watermelon. One round. I might try XP…just to see.

[@nathanlambshead4778]

@@dullonion797 You have a longer barrel with the Glock 42. Keep that in mind. If I carried a larger gun in summer, than my LCP Custom, I would probably keep the XTP or Critical Defense Hornady rounds in it. But when the belt and jackets weather hits, I carry a 9x19 with Gold Dot 124 grain +p. A different animal. But like I said, I would use the XD if that was what I had. I am probably just too 'old school' to trust high velocity lightweights over more standard weight for caliber. Maybe it is from my Hunting days. Hyper velocity often does not make it through and through on a Whitetail, whereas a decent sectional density would always push though creating that perfect chest sucking wound and blood trail to follow here in the deep woods. I have seen super high powered rounds fail in that. More than once. Funny how living tissue can act. Never quite predictable.

[@bruceallen6016]

This video has confirmed what I always thought, ball ammo is best for .380.

[@willbill7250]

Cause the barrel is ramped ball works better. I load two balls then hollows every other. Kahr p380

[@DuvalRypr]

This video doesn’t confirm that at all lol. Using the worst JHP ammo available for .380 doesn’t prove anything. Just go to Tools&Targets videos and watch his .380 videos. Underwood JHP +P and Federal Hydra Shok Deep are among the best performers out there. Much better performance than ball could ever be.

[@maxdoles5806]

​@@DuvalRyprWinchester's Defender series was found to be very good as well.

[@FrankH-d6x]

@@DuvalRypr He went with Winchester FMJ for his pick in that video. The deep got clogged and didn't expand, underwood is great, but for the money FMJ's performance was the winner.

[@bigrich6750]

Great video with useful info and I appreciate your demeanor. So many KZbinrs are over the top (no pun intended) and annoying. You seem to be honest and real, and that’s refreshing on KZbin.

[@Tmonroe]

This comprehensive video is well done. Great job

[@shelley131]

First time watching, great video. Used to carry a 1911 for about 35 years and always practiced shooting at 100 yards, just in case I was unlucky and got caught in an active shooting scenario and I had no choice left but to defend. Experience has shown me that even with a slow moving bullet at around 850 to 900 fps, point of aim just below center or 6 o'clock produced more hits. Now I carry a 686 with a 3" barrel and it is the same thing. Also the PMR 30 produces same results at 100 yards with point of aim below center or 6 o'clock. Bullet drop is not as significant especially if you are shooting down at target, and depending on your height, I figured it is like shooting and compensating for angle shots. No scientific data to prove my point from me , just observation and speculation. Again great video, thank you.

[@RickJZ1973]

Excellent video! Good thourl review of what the. 380 cartridge is capable of. Sig P230/ P232 is an excellent quality pistol. Nice distance shooting during the test.

[@sullybiker6520]

I remember the first time I shot a Bersa thunder in 380 I was quite surprised how snappy it was. Between the thin backstrap and smaller grip I have to say it wasn't comfortable at first. As you say, training is key.

[@elpepinazo7801]

I think it may be because the Bersa Thunder is a blowback pistol. I am wondering if a .380 would be smoother shooting when shot from a locked breech pistol. I had a Bersa, it was snappy.

[@Larry-gn1xj]

The real pain is finding ammo for it you can afford OR find...

[@lindawilkins6075]

I had 2 of those Sig P230 SL in 380 Cal. 1 is my everyday CC now and I traded the other in on a new Sig 229 in 40 Cal. The Sig P230 has been a great CC.

[@Swampytheroot]

I'd never have imagined the FMJ would penetrate so much further given the 16x greater distance. Gonna have to bust out a slide rule and a math book to sort that out. Enjoyable video with solid information. Thanks!

[@rickjohnson3215]

That was pretty good shooting with a less than ideal sighting system. When I have to tuck in my shirt I carry a Bersa Thunder 380. A good little gun even at 30-50 feet. I’m not nearly good enough to try at 30-50 yards. I usually carry an IWI Masada but if I need deep concealment I go for Kel Tec p32. Small but it shoots well at 25ft.

[@AmmoMart]

Thanks for viewing and I appreciate the compliment. I have shown the Bersa on the channel previously as I too think it is a fine little weapon. I always appreciate hearing from our viewers and getting their take on things. Once again thanks and train hard and train safe.

[@joeyoung4121]

Bersa is good sold pistol. Barrel is attached to the frame. Mine have been good performing. Before the boating accident😢😭

[@davidcreely693]

Your gun safety technique is outstanding! As for 0.380, I carry it. 90 grain Hydrashock JHP is a really good way to tell someone to stop what they’re doing, if not stop them directly. YMMV

[@jedironin380]

My only complaint with the Hydrashoks is that they tend to fill with fabric and not expand properly sometimes.

[@davidcreely693]

@@jedironin380 that is true! What do you recommend?

[@jedironin380]

@@davidcreely693 Any load with the Hornady XTP bullet in it is good. There are many to choose from, they'll say XTP on the box.

[@davidcreely693]

@@jedironin380 Thank you! For my 9, I carry sig v-crown. Do you have experience with them in the FBI test? Mine are 147 gr and devastate denim covered dog food cans. 😎

[@jedironin380]

@@davidcreely693 Not as familiar with those, but it sounds like they're good! Functioning is, of course, most important. 100% reliable is a must!

[@GregoryBrown6283]

Great video. Very informative. I hit the sub button. My everyday carry is either a LCP Max, a Taurus m380 revolver chambered in 380, or a Taurus 856 revolver in 38 special. Since I bought the LCP Max. Smaller package for pocket carry with 10+1 capacity. Again, thank you for the great video. I’m looking forward to more.

[@D.L.W.]

My every day carry is a Glock 42 .380 with Trijicon HD XR Night Sights and a 9 round ETS magazine fitted with an XGRIP for a full three-finger grip. I load the magazine with 8 rounds maximum, plus one in the chamber, to ensure 100% reliability. Ammo of choice is Underwood Extreme Penetrator 380+P. This combination has very little recoil, is very controllable and EXTREMELY accurate! I carry it 24/7 in a pocket holster and honestly it's so light and compact that I forget it's there. The best self-defense pistol is the one you never leave home without!

[@tominmo8865]

As far as recoil, it matters a lot what gun you are shooting the .380 ACP with. My Ruger LCP Max is downright snappy, but my all-steel CZ 83 is a pleasure to shoot. Heavy is good.

[@bicentennialamerican4200]

Just my 2 cents but i think the 380 is a great little cartridge. I bought the wife a s&w 380ez. That thing is great to shoot! I will probably get myself one soon. With decent ammo it will definitely get the job done. It's quick back on target making a second round possible if needed. The only negative is the extra cost for ammo because it's not as popular as other rounds.

[@kenpeters9807]

I understand! My wife got a P238 a few years back. Then I got one a few months later. We love ‘em.

[@deea1754]

380 appears to be sufficient.

[@jacqueslefave4296]

Years ago, my dad had a .380 ACP Beretta, he was working on a weekend at his business, he heard some activity on the roof in the warehouse area, there were a couple of hoods trying to pry off the large bubble skylight so that they could drop down through it, so he got it out and shot it twice through the plywood ceiling and could see daylight through the little holes, all of the sudden they started bounding away in giant strides, scrambled down the fire ladder, and dropped to the ground. in the gap between the bottom of the ladder and the ground, there was enough of a gap, one of the guys hobbled away with a badly sprained ankle. Nobody was hit, he intentionally aimed a foot or two away from them, but they sure got the Hell out of there in a hurry and didn't come back. 🙂

[@gonzob9609]

I have an 85F Cheetah. Probably the sexiest, and best built pistol in the world.

[@jerrydonquixote5927]

@@gonzob9609 I had a cheetah and Vine I didn't like because the barrel rubbed against the frame but the one thing about that cheetah you can shoot the hottest 380 rounds and it's not going to hurt it and Buffalo Bore has some extremely hot I mean I'm talkin 1200 ft per second 90 grain bullet, and they make some 100 grain hardcast flat nose that are doing about 1150 I don't like shooting a lot of that out of my Sig P238 I had it or Kimber micro because it's just I feel like a little hard on those little guns!

[@garyhendrick4391]

@@gonzob9609 kzbin.info/www/bejne/m57LZ5avp99lfsU Clone

[@OldManMontgomery]

The same application would have worked with a .22 long rifle. Perhaps even a starter pistol. I am delighted your dad solved the problem with no harm to himself. But the caliber of firearm he used doesn't seem to matter.

[@jacqueslefave4296]

@@OldManMontgomery It's what he had. When trouble comes, the best firearm is the one that is available right now. He was getting elderly at the time, it's what he felt comfortable with. Keep'em in the X ring.😉

[@sunson1491]

I like the side-by-side recoil comparison that was genius

[@matthewpyoder]

I’ve shot at least a thousand rounds of Buffalo Cartridge Co. ball ammo. Zero problems, comparable quality to best range ammo out there at a very reasonable price. Keep it up!

[@G-Man.God_Guns_Guitars]

Hi, and greetings from Las Vegas Nevada! REALLY good job man! I really like that you talk "to" your viewers instead of talking "at" your viewers! You come off as your incredibly knowledgeable buddy giving some solid advice to a friend instead of some "gunstore counter commando", LOL... I used to carry my Glock 30sf, but as you can imagine, with the 100° plus heat in Vegas, I wear very light clothing in the summer, so I've been carrying my Ruger LCP II with two backup mags when it's hot here. Thanks for the useful info! You have a new sub here my friend! Continued success with the channel! Keep the faith and keep fighting the good fight brother! God bless and take care...

[@theincredible9168]

I love when people's excuse is "well knockdown power." I've shot whitetail in the heart, with .308, 30-06, 45-70, 300 win, and the deer still ran 40+ yards. I'll take more rounds, quicker follow up shots and accuracy over anything. You may think your perfect and "oh I never miss." But plenty of hunters miss that one shot at 50 yards because of adrenaline. Now take a living being trying to harm you.

[@tylerwill5250]

It always baffles me when people thing a shotgun or some other round will ‘knock someone down’. Seems people have seen too many movies and not enough hunting.

[@hotrodray6802]

Wait til the adrenaline hits as you're in fear of for your life.

[@theincredible9168]

@@hotrodray6802 I don't think you read my entire comment.

[@jw-sigp2258]

Nice video. With fmj 380 exhibited sufficient penetration even at 50 meters. As usual 380 hollow point rounds fall a little short of the fbi 12 inch minimum however I think close to 10 inches is good when you consider how much damage was done to the block.

[@terrygoolsby2160]

First Time I watch one of your videos. Very well done what i like most of all it’s a common sense approach.Into place those rounds into the jelly at 50 yards awesome.

[@daveh9551]

This is why I tell people to never settle for just one handgun. Every handgun I have serves a different purpose. I have a Ruger 380 and because of its small size and capacity, I sometimes take it on trips to California because its the only auto handgun I have that shoots less than 10 rds. I like it and they do make .380 Critical Duty defense rounds for it.

[@Lee-rq1ek]

Back in the day, I often carried a Browning BDA 380 (still own it)...people scoffed at it, but a good friend and colleague of mine (we worked in the Homicide Division together) said, "Just button his shirt with them !" I've seen murders using the venerable 380.

[@markdavid4897]

I love my Ruger .380 pocket gun. A great little pistol, well made and very comfortable to shoot.

[@gerrycarmichael1391]

I own a Ruger and a Kel Tec 380. I like them both. Either fits nicely in my back pocket and I'm sure they would let the air out of an assailant effectively.

[@denniswiemer72]

Fortunate to own the same sig230s. Love how it feels like an extension of my hand.

[@BlueRidgeCritter]

I have a friend who was a state trooper until a couple of years ago when he retired, and he told me about a case where a “bad guy“ with a knife soaked up 13 rounds of .380 at close range without even slowing down, until he finally got up to the “victim”, who also pulled a knife and carved him up. That state trooper, who I have a lot of respect for, won’t touch a .380 with a 10 foot pole. He said that wasn’t the only time he had seen things like that. He won’t carry anything less than a 9 mm, and he doesn’t even particularly like that. He said over 35 years he just saw too many failures in “people stops”. He generally carries a .45 or a .357 Sig. All that said, I do carry a. 380 as a pocket postal for Quiktrips out, and when I just can’t carry anything else, it’s better than a pointy stick. But I wouldn’t give it a whole lot more than that. It’s good for stopping someone who’s brain is capable of telling their body to quit the attack, but I wouldn’t trust it to be able to physically shut the machine down via ventilation if they are high, or out of their head.

[@pete4633]

There is always one exception I’ve seen guys take 5 - 40 gold dots in the chest survive and live to poop in a bag and then one take 1 and croak. Same with 45 acp. 2 center mass went in about 3 inches doctor pulled it out unexpanded dude lived So who knows. Handguns aren’t great for ending fights quick. These aren’t rifles

[@TheHandHistoryVault]

@Dan G. Your comment is beyond ignorant and quite frankly laughable. There are tons of shooting reports from different calibers where the bad guy survived 15+ hits and kept going. As an example: One report, had a bad guy surviving 18 rounds of 45 ACP. What does this tell us? Simple, shot placement is above all categories in comparisons.

[@fudgepie1]

Yes, I don't doubt that at all, especially if he was shot with FMJ. But there are plenty of records of the same thing happening with 9mmP FMJ. Friend of mine is a trauma surgeon in a government hospital in Cape Town. He has spoken of people being shot multiple times with .45 FMJ and didn't stop them. So did your state trooper friend perhaps say what type of bullets the guy was shot with or how many rounds went through the centre of the chest instead of being spread around the peripheral areas of the torso, arms and legs? The South African Police and Municipal Police here in South Africa are issued with 9mmP and are restricted to FMJ ammo. Im a conservation manager and also a law enforcement officer but I get to carry hollow points in my personal CZ83 / 380acp.. Guess what, unless the criminal / attacker is hit in the head or spine with FMJs, its normal to have to go find where they may have run out of steam and died 500m or even a kilometer away or they get picked up in a hospital. On the other hand the JHPs work just fine for the purpose of incapacitating an attacker. Providing people shoot straight.

[@thomassmestead2801]

"Stopping power" is a myth. What is critical is placement. Even though my carry gun is a .45 ACP, other calibers when shot placement is adequate, are as lethal as that .45 ACP that I carry. Even .22LR.

[@urpoturakainen4958]

Stopping power = an amount of damage from the bullet to the subject. It means how much your hit will drop the target's blood pressure, meaning as you say, the shot placement. .380 to the forehead has more stopping power than .22 to the buttocks, but .44 mag to the middle mass has more stopping power, than .380 to the middle mass. Plain and simple, .22 is enough to kill, but .500 mag kills even with not so perfect shot placement. If someone try to argue, ask him that would he take one or two shots plainly for proving his point?

[@AshGreen359]

What's tricky is practicing for shot placement while crapping your pants. I haven't figured out a way to really simulate the sheer terror of being in an actual firefight

[@danielk0106]

@@urpoturakainen4958 I've seen .45 ACP bounce off a windshield when 9mm penetrated the same windshield. Placement is key even with .22 and Once a person gets the FIBS factor (fuck I've been shot) they usually try to leave the scene. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWS8l4yjoZlno5I🤣

[@eventhisidistaken]

I'm betting that all else equal, more energy is better. A poorly placed shot at higher energy may be as effective as a well placed shot at lower energy. But it could be the case that a .22LR is just as effective as anything else in the real world, because once you feel that slug in your chest/abdomen, your priority switches pretty quickly from robbery to survival.

[@eventhisidistaken]

@@AshGreen359 I have not been in such a situation, but I have been in situations where adrenaline kicked in and overcame fear, resulting in hyper awareness instead of incapacity. It may be that instinct just has to handle it for you. But part of having good instinct, is training. If you train regularly in simulated situations, you are less likely just to freeze up, fail to flee and also fail to fight well.

[@SuperSneakySteve]

That sig P230 is a beautiful handgun, but you really see the advantage of the .380 when you use a lock breech pistol like the S&W EZ380. Follow up shots are as fast as you can pull the trigger.

[@uscgsemperparatus6472]

Hell yeah 👍

[@YaoEspirito]

For sure. Wish he'd taken a minute to show off that pretty gun.

[@batcavenc43]

Great review, dispels the usual gun range gossip. I shoot my wife's sw 380. Great trigger , accurate. Close to a nine mm , recoil is manageable, but it does kick to your point.

[@sub095]

This guy is super knowledgeable and entertaining, love this video 👍

[@nickliberto6583]

Enjoyed the video. Don't shoot as well as this young man. Don't get to the range often enough. Been carrying a .380 for sometime because of the size. I have always felt comfortable. This video gave me even more comfort. Thank you so much.

[@kenpeters9807]

Using a Sig P238 with a Hornady XTP, we got 13 to (believe it or not) 15” in 10% gel. There is a video (somewhere) on KZbin that also shows this.

[@epps1217]

I think it was Paul Harrell. The XTP was the best combination of expansion and penetration.

[@kenpeters9807]

Hey Brian, thanks for the reply. My wife carries a P238, got it dour or five years ago. Her first automatic. At the time she could easily manage the minimal recoil and she could rack it. Now she can rack a .40 and a .45 with no problem as well as handle the recoil. I liked it so much for EDC that I got one myself a few months later. Funny, or not so funny, it seems when we get things, putters, handguns, whatever, we try them without looking at price tags. Then the choice usually ends up being one of the most expensive. In some cases I guess you do get what you pay for. Well, I’m off the subject. I’ve noticed that very very often when demonstrating .380 rounds in gel, the pistol of choice is the P238. (Wild guess: the ammo manufacturer and the demonstration KZbin channel guy made that decision.) The penetration of the Hornady/American Gunner FTX and XTP rounds are consistent in deep penetration and expansion out of the P238. The other pistols, the inexpensive and popular Ruger (very nice for its price) and even the pocket sized Glock do not match the penetration of the Sig P238. I’ve noticed this over and over to the extent that it makes me think that the designed and manufactured tolerances in the Sig are tighter (maybe significantly so) than the other pistols. Actually, having purchased two of them at a 20% to 35%+ difference in price, I would hope there’s a difference; I was just surprised that there really is. A friend of mine has a chronograph? (that antenna looking device that measures velocity of the round). Using that I was getting substantially the same velocity as the testers on KZbin (with the Sig and XTP/FTX). Hmmmm, maybe there is a difference? Ken

[@surfingonmars8979]

That is MY gun and MY very round. Totally satisfied, and the gun is so small that it is virtually invisible in my IWB appendix carry holster…..

[@kenpeters9807]

@@surfingonmars8979 yup! My wife got one; I liked it so much, I got one 2 months later.

[@surfingonmars8979]

@@kenpeters9807 I originally got mine for my wife, but selfishly kept it for myself. Gave her a S&W Shield instead….

[@jeffreyyoung4104]

Many people put down the 380 auto, but if they think of the round as a 9mm short, it might get more attention. Like any firearm, practice is the way to get proficient with the tool.

[@jimeagle1155]

A 380 is 100% a CCW self-defense round, there's no other practical use for it, and it fills it's need very well. I like to refer to it as a 9mm short.

[@kenpeters9807]

Hey! It started WWI. Need I say more? (And that’s before today’s incredible advancements in ammunition.)

[@stevenscott6337]

Though I have three other 9mm handguns, 90% of the time I’m using my Glock 42 .380 ACP with a +1 round magazine extension for every day carry. It’s easily concealable, lightweight, and handles very well (though cost of ammo keeps me from more rounds fired at the range as compared to my 9s).

[@Nigriff]

Do you carry a backup mag?

[@vvr881]

@@Nigriff I do...10 rnd backup and 7rnd loaded

[@sevse23]

The G42 is addictive. Pity that my Magguts started acting up occasionally. If Shield Arms do a Z9 mag for the 42, I'll be seriously tempted.

[@wolfman2702]

Your test results are consistent with all of the other gel tests I’ve seen on you tube - if the bullet expands it doesn’t penetrate enough, if it does penetrate to FBI specs it doesn’t expand. I have a Kahr P380 that isn’t reliable with any hollow points so I carry FMJ in that and recently upgrade to an LCP Max that runs with any hollow point that I have run through it.

[@ChukBxr]

As an LTC holder in Texas, l carry an S&W, easy slide, M&P 2.0 in the .380. I use the Winchester Silver Tip and Hornaday Critical Defense.

[@stevenbrewer7314]

I have the same weapon and ammo

[@johnnybbgunner2136]

Shooting someone that far away in my state would have me charged with murder.

[@donnybrook6791]

The 380 is probably the most underrated caliber out there. I’ve had everything from a 22 to a 50 caliber handgun and I feel super safe carrying my 380. Yes I like my 9 mm only because the ammo is cheaper and more plentiful but it’s 380 was cheap and plentiful as 9 mm, I have all 380 and I’m 270 pounds between control and effectiveness. This is definitely one of my favorite Browns ever. It’s not my favorite.

[@STARZFAN31]

I carry a Ruger Security 380. Great gun, plenty of capacity, easy to shoot and handle. Could easily drop an attacker within reasonable range.

[@andymullarx6365]

I would think so. Consider how common it was years ago for people to carry 25s and 32s and I doubt that anyone back then was telling them that it wasn't enough gun.

[@veganlifestyleloveanimals1744]

I carry my bodyguard everyday. The debate of 380 is hilarious to me. Bunch of whiny so-called men.

[@AmmoMart]

Thanks for supporting us and we appreciate the feedback. I certainly learned throughout testing that the idea of .380 being of insufficient power was non-sense. Well placed is well placed and she proved to be as effective as some of the "manly" calibers.

[@user-oy9zy4ds9m]

I’m a hardcore gun guy, got full autos , machineguns, you name it, and I’ve been carrying a .380 for years lol

[@veganlifestyleloveanimals1744]

@@user-oy9zy4ds9m A good friend of mine is ex Delta. He recommended the .380 to me.

[@user-oy9zy4ds9m]

@@veganlifestyleloveanimals1744 Nice. the 380 pocket pistols available now are game changers. I can carry 12+1 rounds in a gym shorts-pocket and forget it’s even there. That fact alone IMO far outclasses any marginal advantage a larger caliber weapon might have.

[@sherrywyllie2163]

I think just about any gun is better than no gun. My Dad was retired LEO and after he had a stroke that confined him to wheelchair, he took to carrying a Derringer in his boot. Thanks for the video.

[@arthurtatnell3851]

Love the 380 ACP!..easy to conceal, fires smoothly with some recoil but not excessive and easy to replace/insert a new mag(my Ruger LCP2 has the slide stay open when the mag has been emptied)