Concealed Carry with the .380 ACP

[@Lee-rq1ek]

As a former Crime Scene Investigator with a large police department, I can attest to the effectiveness of the 380.

[@carpetcop6173]

I spent a long time as a detective for a county agency in a major metro area and I agree. The .380 is no joke.

[@Lee-rq1ek]

@@carpetcop6173 Yeah...worked half my career in the Homicide Division...retired 2009...and, you're right...no joke.

[@davidcreely693]

@little drane Really? Do you hate the 38 special as well? If so, let’s talk!

[@Valorius]

@little drane .355 > .22

[@jasonusaf6326]

@little drane So I guess you’re one of the “experts” Paul Harrell did videos about

[@proclivio5629]

I live in LA and carry my .380 most of the time. And yes I am one of the few out here with a CCW. Main reason is that 80% of the year out here we're in summer clothes, and being a skinny dude I print more easily with a concealed handgun then most guys. When it gets a bit chilly I always go with my .357, but my .380 is what I carry most of the time. It's simply for concealabilty reasons. Even the micro 9mm prints on me in summer clothes...

[@EducatedBlackMan]

As a retired attorney, I advise not to carry a 357 in LA. Even CCW are subject to excessive force laws just like the police. If your 357 over penetrates and hits a bystander even in a justified shooting you could be charged with reckless endangerment and face civil lawsuits. I EDC the Ruger CLP Max and Bersa Thunder. I will carry a 9mm in winter. But LA is anti-gun and I wouldn't risk carrying a 357.

[@vanglorious11]

I'm exact same way, .380 for summer 10mil for winter.

[@nathanlambshead4778]

I carry a 380 pocket pistol (LCP Custom) all summer. Once the belt and jacket weather hits, I carry my 9x19. I have carried for over 4 decades, and I can't tell you (ashamed to admit to myself) how many times I left my 1911 45 or my SW 357 at home rather than try to belt up and hide the bloody thing. Way more often than not, other than when I was an armored car driver way back in the 70s. This little pocket pistol is awesome, and on top of that, the only gun I have ever fired in self defense. It was a dog attack of me and the missus. A BIG dog, which the owner had no control over. One shot and the attack was over, nobody hurt. Except the dog. (Not killed though. I tried to scare if off the attack by shooting in front of it but it lunged at that moment and the bullet went through it's shoulder and into the dirt road, some of the dirt being splattered into my face) It survived, but the attack was stopped.

[@libertycowboy2495]

Welcome to my world!

[@nathanlambshead4778]

@@libertycowboy2495 Me? probably. I do own a double barrel coach gun, and I shoot woodchucks and rabbits from the back porch.

[@jasonashley4579]

Love it or hate it the .380 has put a lot of people in the ground.

[@AmmoMart]

Thanks for viewing! It certainly has and will continue to do so. It has a lot of positive traits at close range and is very controllable.

[@texasbeast239]

@@AmmoMart The data isn't clear. But I suspect the mouse calibers and .380 may have such a high success rate because they tend to be fired from smaller guns, which make it easier to get up close and intimate with someone. This might make these smaller calibers more common in up-close assassinations. The '30s gangsters sure liked .380. And that might distract from/cover over the greater difficulty to shoot accurately or effectively at distance.

[@G-Man.God_Guns_Guitars]

Amen brother! I used to carry my Glock 30sf, but I live in Vegas. With 100° plus heat in the summer, I simply had to come up with an alternative for the summer when wearing light clothing. I LOVE my Ruger LCP II with the Crimson Trace Green Laser! I carry two extra mags because they too are small and lightweight! Keep the faith and keep fighting the good fight my friend! God bless and take care...

[@Nigriff]

So have The Clintons 😆

[@jasonashley4579]

@@Nigriff yes they have.

[@jamesrodriquez2863]

I settled on .380 for EDC not too long after I became a gun owner several years ago. It didn't take me long to realize that caliber wars here on the innerwebs were a thing, so it was difficult to know whose information was good and what was just "thinking with your balls and not your brain" hype. I went a little overboard with gun buying, so I ended up with .380, 9mm, .40cal, .38/.357 guns in a short amount of time, and I just couldn't decide which would be best for me to carry every day. Once I learned how to shoot all my guns accurately, I realized that caliber doesn't matter as much as shot placement in self defense situations. A .22 to the heart or other vital organ results in the same dead bad guy as a .45 does. So I focused more on what was comfortable to carry, what fits my hand better, what I shoot better one handed (no guarantee I will be able to assume proper stance, hold, etc.), and what I was better at just pointing and shooting. My Bersa Thunder .380 became my EDC gun, and I don't regret it one bit. It goes everywhere with me. So, my suggestion to anyone wanting to carry a gun for self protection is to find what you can carry comfortably and shoot well. If that ends up being a 5 shot LCR .38 special, so be it. If it ends up being a full sized 1911, so be it. It's more important to have something you're actually going to take with you all the time that you know that you know how to shoot than to get caught up in arguments over stopping power and caliber wars.

[@bertblue9683]

Amen brother

[@stevenklinkhamer9069]

Nice post. I intend at present anyways, to carry a full size 9mm with me, and a .380 for backup too. Overkill you say, maybe, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. (When in my vehicle) Otherwise the .380 or micro 9mm for concealment purposes.

[@machinistmikethetinkerer4827]

Couldn't have said it better myself. Exactly what you wrote and I'll add that as I get older and now retired(and getting lazy)my LCP has become my grab-n-go. No muss no fuss and out the door.

[@allenbolen9705]

The Bersa is a sweet 380!

[@stevenklinkhamer9069]

@@allenbolen9705 I know what you're going to say: your not "James Bond." And you are absolutely correct in that assumption. But I got what he carried. Probably not my best choice I know. A sucker for a nice pistol I guess.

[@E52O4]

My wife had a difficult time managing a Glock 9mm due to her small hands and weaker grip. We’ve tried Glock 17, Glock 19, Glock 26, Glock 43 and Glock 48 (she does have an easier time controlling the Glock 48, but still hates the felt recoil). I bought her a Glock 42, and took her out to the range to try it out. She immediately improved in shot placement, and enjoyed shooting the gun (her comment was her hands didn’t hurt after our range session). She even asked me when we were coming out to the range again!

[@marc4199]

Preferring Glock over S&W myself, I must admit that the S&W EZ pistols in 380 and 9mm are very user-friendly.

[@timdeters9026]

Bought Glock 42 ‘s for my wife and myself We both carry these pistols every day My wife loves her’s loves to shoot it. Happy wife happy life

[@butchie2752]

I love my 42. Added a ghost trigger bar which dramatically improved the trigger at very low cost.

[@hamiltonkingsley6212]

I love my 42.

[@nmr6988]

once I got a glock 42 I stopped carrying my 19 all the time. I now carry the 42 more often, and I do carry 100% of the time. I bought two ETS 9 round magazines. it only minimally makes the grip larger, and it's still incredibly easy to conceal. I found that it jams if you have one in the barrel and eight in the magazine, so I settled for one in the barrel and seven in the magazine. and yes, I do carry that extra magazine with eight bullets in it.

[@GP-pl9hm]

I personally Conceal Carry a Ruger LCP MAX, but my wife recently decided that she wanted a SIG P365-.380, which I was more than happy to provide her with! It is a bit bigger & somewhat less concealable, but after shooting it, I was AMAZED at the comfort, smoothness & accuracy with which it consistently cycled!! This is a FANTASTIC pistol for virtually everyone, interested in a Concealed Carry option! It's Reliable, accurate, very manageable recoil, and nearly "idiot" Proof! Key word here being "nearly"... We also have the P365 in 9mm, and it is equally amazing as well, with a few hundred rounds through it!

[@lm1174]

Ruger Max is a much better concealable weapon. Also with the 12 shots magazine. It's easier to shoot. You have to remind yourself it's on you.

[@thorman944]

@@lm1174 P365 is slightly heavier and slightly bigger than the LCP max. Both are good guns. But P365 in 380 is one of the softest-recoiling sub-compact guns ever made.

[@ChrisfromGeorgia]

@@thorman944 I’ve got the Glock 42. It was purchased before the Sig P365 380 came out. I’m happy with the Glock, but definitely interested in the Sig. If money wasn’t an option, I’d already have one! Take Care & Stay Vigilant ⚔️

[@KZIGGYZIG]

I carried 9mm for years, I switched to 380 a few years ago. I bought a Bersa Thunder and loved it so much that it's my EDC, and also my wifes.

[@ohbeammeup42]

I bought a Bersa Thunder satin set with two mags, two grips and a case at Cabelas some years ago with an excellent deal. I love how it feels to hold , shoot and it's damn purty. Though I have NEVER had an accidental discharge, I appreciate the magazine safety. My wife likes it too. I was showing it to our real estate agent while looking at properties in Wisconsin. He was going to a gun show to pick up a handgun later. He had some reservations about the 7 round magazine. What I said to him was if I can't hit my target with 7 tries, I should hang up my guns.

[@marc4199]

Your video was a no -nonsense presentation of indisputable facts. You did an excellent job of getting your point across in a professional manner. Real shooters and sportsmen are tired of the long bearded, tattooed tac-ta-cool fanatics who tell us that no matter what we do, our guns aren't new enough, expensive enough, our ammo isn't powerful enough, we don't train enough and so on. Shot placement trumps everything. Shooters who are not hardcore fanatics who do not live and breathe tactical whatever, will preform better with .22, 38spl, .380acp, and 9mm than they will with more powerful .40S&W, .45acp .357mag etc. People have been beating this dead horse for decades, trying to make something out of nothing. As the great Elmer Keith said, "Shoot the biggest damn gun you can handle". What You can handle is different than what someone else can. There's no shame in that. We can't all run marathons or have the desire to drive 600hp Dodge Challenger. In the last 30 years I've carried 1911 Government Models in .45acp, Browning Hi-Powers in 9mm and .40S&W, Glock 19 in 9mm, WaltherPPK/S in .380acp, and a slew of revolvers in 38spl and .357mag. As I've gotten older I now limit myself to 9mm and .380acp. I am very comfortable with my choices and do not feel undergunned. The moral of the story, Do What Works for YOU. Be safe, Be aware of your surrounds. Enjoy life.

[@donaldthomas7696]

That's the whole enchilada. Well thought out and written.

[@Riverboat374]

I have two .40s, but I switched to .380 ACP because I find it MUCH more comfortable to pocket carry - so I naturally gravitated to pocket carrying all year round. Yeah, it's harder to shoot than a mid size .40, but I practice enough to be proficient. And yes, I carry a Taurus Spectrum. It runs like a top for me.

[@jar6588]

Yep I switched from a 6 shot taurus 856 revolver to a 380 SW Bodyguard ✌️🍺🇺🇸

[@scottphipps3577]

I carry the taurus spectrum also. Do you ever have problems chambering the first round in a magazine? I find that mine runs fine.... As long as I get that first round chambered without it nose diving.

[@fordsrule35]

@@scottphipps3577 That problem happens if you don't sling shot the first round in. If you sling shot it you shouldn't have that problem. Hope that helps. Edit The Taurus is a nice shooting .380.

[@aft5264]

The Taurus spectrum is a piece of shit lol. My buddy had 2 of them and they both jammed at least 2-3 times on every magazine

[@markgriffin9287]

So true about placement. I carry my lcp2 380 everyday and everywhere and do trust it with my family's lives.

[@yungthorough]

U lost your damn mind & by the time u get in a real situation to really put It to the test to find out that it really ain't enough it'll be too late & u & your family will be badly hurt or dead... If u not carrying at least a 50 cal dessert eagle then your life is in tremendous trouble my friend 👌🏾

[@JeWCyDuDe]

I'm a sig Sauer fan...I LOVE the p238 legion. All metal manual safety, upgraded trigger spring and recoil spring...and extended magazine capacity makes this gun the best carry gun yet.

[@michaelshapiro1543]

Very clear, fair & logical presentation of FACTS. What's not to like? THANK YOU FOR THIS BRIEF OVERVIEW.

[@EducatedBlackMan]

I own the Ruger LCP Max and after watching videos and doing some research, I carry Hornady American Gunner & Critical Defense in warm weather to avoid over penetration and Federal Hydro Shok 99 grain and Precision One XTP in winter to penetrate heavily clothed assailants.

[@allenbolen9705]

I bought two boxes of the precision one XTPs really great penetration! I also have some xtreme defenders.

[@2jcward]

Thanks!

[@mickjagger5469]

If you are looking for a great all around 380 ACP pistol you can’t go wrong with the Ruger LCP Max. Relatively inexpensive, good magazine capacity, very reliable, good accuracy and very small for easy pocket carry..

[@8475143117]

I am seriously considering the Ruger LCP Max as I currently carry an M&P Bodyguard 380 and find it snappy to shoot especially when shooting my carry ammo DOUBLETAP Controlled Expansion which is HOT to shoot.

[@brianbuchert6382]

I just bought one about 3 months ago and I found my first trip out with it I started off all over the paper but by the end of 150 rounds I was hitting inside the numbers,looking Togo back out next week and put more through it!

[@rosssalupo7271]

@@brianbuchert6382 best 380 out there in my opinion mild recoil the lcp2 is snappy the max is not.

[@libertycowboy2495]

I got one last year with extended mags. I've never looked back

[@mycaddigo]

Got the older model….. that’s def the work horse in the 380 word ..

[@grunyonthoughtsfromagrunt8264]

Little pocket rockets like the LCP II are excellent Little guns to just stick in your pocket to go to the store. It's up close and personal not designed for long range or long days at the range. Will definitely do the job though.

[@AmmoMart]

That is the key, understanding what the weapon was designed to do. They are effective weapons at that distance. Thanks for viewing.

[@RIFFRAFF104]

Call them parking garage or elevator guns. I carry a .380 everywhere I go.

[@grunyonthoughtsfromagrunt8264]

@@RIFFRAFF104 depends what cloths I have on or what I'm doing. Some clothes are just more conducive for my little LPCII then a larger handgun. Also if I'm at the house and need to go to the gas station or store real quick and don't feel like dealing with the whole holster thing or changing. I'll grab my little. 380 and stick it in my pocket. Now in a perfect world I'd have one of my larger handguns on me every time I walk out the door. But myself nor the world is anything close to perfect lol. Hence my trustee little .380 auto.

[@Valorius]

@@AmmoMart Hey Brother here is a direct link to that Ellefritz study data, It has all the relevance statistics in a slick package. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKrGiquYYt-BrcU

[@grunyonthoughtsfromagrunt8264]

@little drane My regular carry. Is .40 Sheild. And let's be honest here how many people will actually take the time to put on a holster and pack your regular Cary gun. If your in gym shorts or whatever and just headed down to the gas station to grab something not many people myself included. That's why these little pocket pistols are so great you can just jam them in your pocket for just such occasions.

[@jimmyj422]

Good information about the 380. I've carried a Ruger LCP for a while now and feel confident it be able to get me out of a jam if the need arises. I'm not looking for a gun fight just enough to get a round or two off and get the hell out of Dodge. It's a sad state of affairs that you have to carry these days but, I would have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

[@johnzajac9849]

See a video done by Jerry Miculek, in which he shoots the S&W .380 'Bodyguard'. He uses Hornady Critical Defense rounds, which he demonstrates are extremely effective. Miculek also fires standard .380 rounds from about 200 yards and hits the target! Amazing with such a small pistol.

[@P_RO_]

It's been proven that a 1 1/2" to 2" barrel will stabilize a bullet- the rest is on you and the gun.

[@glorybound7599]

In the past 2 years the 380 ammunition has tripled in price and has become all but not available. Recently Bass Pro Shops has been stocking FMJ in 380 for $35 for a box of 50 rounds. Great video, keep them coming.

[@BoRnMuSh]

the BPS around here only will sell you .380 ammo if you buy a .380 firearm ....how crazy is that

[@usa-rb5fi]

Online I’m seeing it around $22 a box

[@BoRnMuSh]

@@usa-rb5fi shipping included? thats where they get you

[@usa-rb5fi]

Depends on the site, when I was a member of target sports USA, shipping was free.

[@BoRnMuSh]

@@usa-rb5fi yea I recently got free shipping on 500 .45 rounds from lax as like a first time customer Deal

[@nathanstrickland6508]

I completely destroyed my shoulder in my dominant arm June 8th of 2021. I've had two surgical procedures in less than a year. All my rigs were right hand draws. I bought a ruger 380 max to carry on my left side. 12 rounds of 380 beats a sharp stick any day. My dominant arm is still useless for now. So it has become my everyday carry.

[@3-2-1-.]

Man, I'm sorry to hear about your shoulder and arm, but you have done the best thing by switching to your non dominant hand. Probably going to be up close and personal if anything happens, anyway. Racking the slide will be a challenge too, but you can do that in several unique ways. Improvise. Adapt. Overcome. Good luck to you and yours.

[@Richaag]

The bridge between the .380 & 9 is the 9X18 Makarov. It is literally right between 9X17 and 9X19.

[@mi777ke777]

PM and P64 are laser accurate blowback pistols!

[@drewmunny]

Looooove my Cz82

[@Valorius]

380 plus p is right between 9x18 Makarov and 9x19

[@3-2-1-.]

KGB loves them, too. Just ask Putin.

[@stevepoe3667]

Very interesting and informative, information about the 380acp. I have several conceal carry options to choose from, but I find myself holstering up the sig Sauer p238 quite often, I think it's due to the fact that it's lighter and more comfortable and concealable than my other larger caliber of pistol, and my confidence level is pretty high with the p238 380APC. 🇺🇸👍

[@aaronsalek238]

Excellent choice

[@duke927]

Thanks for your informative video. The myth that 380 will not do the job is very persistent. IT WILL DO THE JOB! carry an older first Gen if you will LCP Custom as my EDC. 7 round mags and one in the chamber. I carry with a Kydex holster on my belt. It is so compact and light everyday carry is a breeze. You don’t hardly know it’s there. I put a Hogue grip specific to the LCP which is pinned to the frame. It helped my grip and tamed recoil immeasurably. I have carried a Glock 26 and as “light” as that was and very concealable I always knew it was there and became uncomfortable after a time. Thanks again.

[@stuartmarkman769]

I have a Beretta model 85F in 380 and it is a great carry gun. It is almost too nice too shoot. It has a decocking safety and it can be fired singl pr double action. It looks just like my 92FS only a little bit smaller. Great gun and rare.

[@tonycolca2241]

A glock model 42 shoots as accurate as any other glock regardless of size but you are right get proficient with something bigger and heavier the reason why I mentioned the glock 42 is because a lot of 380 even bigger ones don't shoot as good.

[@soujrnr]

That is what I carry...the .380 ACP. I have a Bersa Thunder, and I love it. THANK YOU for this great review! I tire of the constant assault on the .380. It's rather nauseating, and is akin to "who has the biggest wheels on their pickup truck." It's like children arguing in a sandbox. You summed it up PERFECTLY when you said that it's not how many, but WHERE. Marksmanship will save your butt a lot more readily than will the caliber you're shooting. If I bring a Howitzer to a battle, but I can't hit the broad side of a barn with it, it's useless. Same goes for carrying a "bigger" caliber, but not able to get shots on target.

[@sean0181]

I have shot and carried mostly 38 and 357 mag revolvers and 9mil glocks over the last 26 years i recently bought an lcp 2 and put it through my 400 round no failure test ,I am dam impressed with the lcp 2 to me its a soft shooter and follow up shots mag dumps at 10 yards were cake ,I actually just put 2 boxes of hst through it today ,cleaned and lubed loaded up 3 mags with the hst and 1 in the pipe and its going in my rotation.

[@ocelblack9823]

I went with the SIG P238 HD (all Stainless) for EDC due to Mississippi weather despite it weighing a few ounces more than the Aluminum frame models. It has a very easy to handle recoil despite being a locked breech action. And I find it plenty accurate for social distances, I'm not going to be trying any Eli Drills at 40 yards. Carry what you shoot well and shoot often with what you carry, a hit with a .22 LR is more effective than a miss with 12Ga. Buckshot (yes you can miss with a shotgun).

[@carlmontney7916]

Thank you so much for posting this video. This is one of the best explanations on the 380 that I have seen on KZbin. The eternal question that always gets asked of anyone who is a shooter by a person who is thinking about becoming a shooter , is always, what is the best gun and caliber for me to own? A beginner can easily get sucked into the world of KZbin and the caliber wars. They will come away thinking that they must have a Glock or some other type of high capacity 9 mm. That's just not necessarily true. They might find a revolver is a better option for them. The answer I give is always the same. It is the gun that you are the most comfortable shooting and the most accurate with. Also, shot placement is far more important than what caliber the shot that's placed is. I also tell them to practice, practice, and when they think they're good enough, practice some more. Anyone who's new to shooting Handguns or has never fired a gun. I suggest setting up a visit with one of their local shooting ranges. When you are a newbie meeting with an experienced shooter and range instructor can make all the difference in the world to a beginner. At shooting ranges where they also sell firearms a beginner can get a chance working with the instructor too. Shoot different types and calibers of handguns. Then they get an idea of what they like. One of the reasons I always advise going to a range and dealing with a certified instructor is that it's a lot safer than just calling up your gun buddy and saying hey, I want to learn how to shoot. You have no way to know what kind of a shooter your gun buddy might be if you have never been out with them when they are shooting. Range instructors put thousands of rounds downrange and are familiar with every type of product they sell.. IMO They won't steer you wrong or recommend something that isn't right for you. A new shooter has to remember that a range has a vested interest in making sure that you, the potential customer are going to be satisfied and want to return to use their facilities and purchase additional firearms from them.

[@berettaguy5414]

I pocket carry an LCP and I do well with it at the range. Sometimes it’s a back up gun other times it’s all I bring. Good video

[@Terminal-Vet]

I bought my wife and daughter each the S&W EZ Shield, and I have no doubt it will work just fine. It beats a 22 long rifle.

[@azranger8408]

Love the 380!! I have carried a PPKS for 40 years now. My only issue now is that I am 75 years old and my arthritic hands have trouble racking the slide even though I have upgraded to a lighter spring.

[@labradoolepapa]

underwood extreme defense meets FBI spec and gives 2x the wound channel of HST, Gold Dot, or XTP, plus it is barrier blind. I don't feel under gunned with a .380 for CC.

[@blueduck9409]

Hornady Critical Duty is also supposedly made to meet FBI and other agencey specs. Good stuff.

[@jimeckenrode1271]

I have the Ruger LCP MAX and you are right about the recoil but it is manageable. I also find it to be quite accurate.

[@abc456f]

Been pocket carrying my bodyguard over four years. Adding a pinky extension makes it much more controllable to shoot. Magguts +1 gives me 7+1, critical defense or hst's. Not a single hiccup.

[@colt10mmsecurity68]

Good video. I know that 99% of today’s .380 hollow point ammo either expands beautifully but doesn’t penetrate to at least 12” (HST’s, Ranger’s, Gold dots, etc….) or penetrates deep, but fails to expand when the hollow point cavity clogs up (HST’s, FMJ’s, etc…). However I still like carrying the round for ultra concealed use. I love the Glock 42 (plus two spare magazines) and it’s what I legally EDC concealed while vacationing in Hawaii or in other states I go to for business purposes. A quick double tap of .380 to the heart and one to the head, and I’m sure the attacker will “get off me.” I don’t care for the new LCP MAX, as it’s heavier than the Glock 42 due to more capacity. 6+1 with two spare mags is good enough for me with ultra concealed and light weight carry.

[@AmmoMart]

That study is pretty impressive I referenced by Greg Ellifritz. I also agree that .380 is adequate and combined with the shootablility factor, seems a solid choice.

[@AOMartialArts]

I've said this for years... If you're ever in a gun fight, no one will stop to analyze the sound from the muzzle or the chamber stamps in the barrel.... What they WILL know is the thing in your hand goes *BANG* and they'll want to run!

[@TPaine1776]

@@AOMartialArts Great point.

[@douglloyd9662]

My favourite EDC is the Walther PPK in .380 incredibly accurate out to 40 yards.

[@stoneblue1795]

Well stated. The trick with the Walther is that the barrel is "fixed" and does not float around. Much more accurate indeed.

[@Quality_Guru]

I prefer the Glock 42 for a.380 ACP pistol. It's a little bigger than most .380 pistols, but it doesn't have the recoil of a blow back design. Additionally they make several mag extensions to enhance the grip to mitigate recoil. Best part is that you can send it out to get an optics cut on it. It's still able to be pocket carried and slim enough for IWB & Appendix carry.

[@jamesmiller7283]

Yea it is ! Damn that sux t b in hosp

[@roadking681]

Another great video my friend!! I especially love your 40cal video. U definitely know your stuff and now I don't feel like I'm alone in this world. U have great knowledge and not afraid to come on this platform and educate all the Tactical Charlies out there who s*uck butt to the FEEB and think 9mm is the only game on tv! I love 380 especially with the new Underwood .380 ACP +P 90gr. Xtreme Penetrator Solid Monolithic Hunting & Self Defense Ammo. My favorite 380 pistol is the Kahr CW 380 deep concealment pistol. I have lots of friends and family in law enforcement and many of them back in the day carried a 380 as their back up pistols and many of them carried the Walther PPK & Beretta 84B as a thigh pocket back up piece, and many detectives also carried them as their primary carry in a shoulder holster. Keep up the good work my friend and keep these great ballistic videos coming cus U are going to eventually have one of the biggest followings on this platform.

[@patrickclark1000]

For my Bersa boys: if you want to reduce recoil of your snappy Thunder or Firestorm, you can order an 18lb Walter PP Recoil Spring from Wolff Gunsprings. Big upgrade in recoil management, cycles no problem.

[@leocastrillo759]

Do you have to add the firing pin it comes with or is that not necessary?

[@patrickclark1000]

@@leocastrillo759 No change to firing pin necessary. Literally just change the spring.

[@jonnyt16]

Good discussion on the .380 ACP thank you. I used to conceal carry a Sig P232 loaded with Hornady Critical Defense.

[@magiccarpetrider4594]

P238?

[@livebaitlarry5783]

lol! who are you, jonnyt? lol!

[@tylerwill5250]

Good thing you didn’t have to use it. Hornady CD is the worst 380 hp for penetration you can get. Put fmj’s in.

[@Cw81Deut6n4]

That bersa 380 is awesome. Loved the one i had. Wish i still had.

[@tobywilliams4614]

I love my LCP Max. I keep it in my pocket comfortabley, and it's very accurate and easy to put on target. I also conceal a Glock 19. Sometimes both at the same time. I practice with having both.

[@stoneblue1795]

I like how you roll, friend. Bring the thunder!

[@kevinmccarey5015]

Great clip again , very much interested in (380) carry, but that’s just me. Thank you for your insight.

[@barbaradulin306]

i would like to hear from those who were shot with a 380 vs those who were shot with a 9mm

[@jckeltz]

I was a street cop in Miami, in it's most violent zones, for 25 yrs (1988-2013) & I handled or was the back up, or at least went by the scene on hundreds of shootings. The most common rounds used were .38, .380, .22, 9mm, .45 & 12GA. Of those that died, the .22 had the least rate of death with the .38 & .380 leading the death toll. 9mm & .45's often left the body, (especially if shot into a limb) & those victims frequently survived. I starting shooting at age 6 & have been for 52 yrs now. I too, as did my older family members, poo-poo'd the .380 as a 'pussy round' & we all avoided it. When I became a cop at age 24 & witnessed its kill ratio first hand over the span of my career, I became a believer in it as a viable round & have been buying & shooting them recreationally. Since mine are so light & handy I've been carrying them fairly frequently since I now can due to my retirement from the P.D. (my Dept didn't authorize it's use). The modern self defensive ammo is outstanding compared to the old school FMJ's that don't expand....but even those have put many a scumbag into their forever boxes. People that dismiss the .380 are not in touch with the real world facts of how it performs on the street. I wouldn't shoot it out with someone 100 yards away using one, but for up close work or across the street contact it does just fine as long as one is judicious with their accuracy.

[@blueduck9409]

Theyd all say ouch

[@jayplay3412]

@@jckeltz set’em straight cuz…👍🏻🇺🇸

[@stoneblue1795]

There are lots of them in pits and unmarked mass graves in Europe. The ones shot with Walther .380's just as dead as the ones that got the Luger. ~ Sadly.

[@AshGreen359]

My Bersa Firestorm shoots right where I point it. It's kinda fun

[@alandavis6205]

Great discussion. Fantastic spokesperson.

[@acme9538]

I recently purchased a Sig Sauer P238 HD .380 acp, (all stainless steel version). Even with the added weight of the stainless, it's still a snappy little piece. I'll be buying the extended magazine for a little extra grip. Adding the 'Mag-Guts' spring kit, I'll be able to hold 8 rounds +1 in the chamber, which I feel will be very adequate for CC. I agree, loaded with some good quality self defense ammo, the .380 is no joke.

[@jimelliott8438]

The Sig P238 is a great gun. Compared to most small. 380 pocket guns you will find it to be less snappy to most of them. Great sights, easy to rack slide and very accurate.

[@Valorius]

Ruger LCP max, 13 shots and under 1lb fully loaded. I do not find 380 pocket pistols to be Snappy at all, but I have been shooting 44 Magnums since I was literally about 3 ft tall. Once you get good with these little pistols it is no problem to make consistent hits at 20yds on an 8x12 IPSC mini silhouette.

[@timhallas4275]

I used to carry a Glock 19, which has a 17 round capacity. Now I carry the Ruger LCP MAXX 380, with 12 rounds in the mag and a second LCP MAXX with 10 rounds in the mag. YES, I can shoot right or left handed equally well. I am looking forward to my next gunfight.

[@stufoo]

just bought my first 380 and cannot wait to take it to the range

[@MPGunther1]

Enjoy your straight forward no BS videos, subbed

[@dougr5379]

What many people tend to forget when calculating energy of a bullet, higher velocity, larger caliber and heavier bullets do not always equate to better stopping power. Kinetic energy = 1/2 x mass x velocity squared. Larger caliber rounds like 9mm and larger may pass completely through the body and may actually impart less delivered energy to the target since. In order to fully realize a round's energy, the bullet must stop inside the target. Being a smaller round, the 380 is more likely to stop in a target and thus dump the bullet's full energy inside the target instead losing a big % inside a wall or some other stop on the other side of the target.

[@oldcop18]

For years I heard the stopping power thing about the .38 too, but after three on duty shootings I know this is BS. I’ve carried the LCP for almost 10 years & never experienced a malfunction w/any kind. It’s the perfect always-gun in a pocket holster.

[@tobylopez445]

I really enjoy the informative videos that you provide to us, you are an awesome source of information that is reliable and factual. thank you so much, Sir.

[@surfingonmars8979]

My EDC for years has been the Sig P238. Reliable, crisp, easy to carry, safe.

[@randymyers5086]

proofed. Carry my Ruger LCP 380 in warm weather and change to my 40cal. in the winter.

[@Vaille32]

I own a lot of handguns and carry different calibers for different reasons. My EDC is a S&W Shield .380 ACP. While it’s larger than my Ruger LCP Max .380, it has little recoil and a longer barrel, meaning it will hit harder and I can put shots on target quickly and with precision. It’s still very easy to conceal. I’ll carry my full size 9mm or .357 mag when I don’t care about concealability. My .38 spl loaded with +p rounds is a great, but I don’t like that it’s limited to 5 rounds. I “home carry” .22LR (Ruger LCP II) or WMR handguns like a NAA mini-revolver.

[@P_RO_]

The problem with the 380 is that historically it's been ball ammo or old-tech HP's which might expand- or not. With ball ammo it's hardly better than 32ACP and you can put the 38Spl RNL into that category too. The modern loads have greatly increased the 380's performance over the 32ACP, bringing the 380 into it's own. Not commonly seen but a full-sized service pistol in 380 is a joy to shoot, especially for the ladies, and it gives up little to a 9mm that way. In a pocket rocket the 380 is simply the best as long as you don't have to shoot through something to reach the meat.The 32ACP isn't a slouch anymore either, but there's little to recommend it except it kicks less than a 380 and it may offer one more round. Lots to choose from now, but being older I have a soft spot in my heart for the grand-daddy of pocket rockets- the Seecamp. Superb craftsmanship, excellent design, and I'll never be able to afford one but I can dream!

[@madmancla]

I like the Glock 42 it shoot smooth. Very thin and light hides well

[@LS1LE]

I am a Glock enthusiast as well. The general public doesn’t understand the benefits of Glock. Shoots every single time, unless you have bad ammo.

[@Richaag]

I have a 42 myself because they go bang every time you pull the trigger. When it comes to self defense, a decorative (but unreliable) pistol with cool custom grips and fanciful colors is no match for a bland, all black Glock that reliably cycles every round you put through it.

[@seanwhitman4365]

Glock 42 is the perfect edc gun

[@anonymouslee2083]

Glock 42 with Hornady Critical Defense performs beautifully!

[@usa-rb5fi]

No, the general public hates the Glock fanboys that think that Glock is the best handgun ever. Not Glock itself

[@anon6952]

Underrated caliber

[@OnTheRiver66]

Another good video. I look forward to your next .380 video.

[@AmmoMart]

In a couple of weeks we will publish a stopping power video of the .380 ACP. Watch for that and thanks for your viewership.

[@Fuzzybeanerizer]

I've had a carry permit for about 25 years, from actually before my state went "shall issue," but I don't live in a very dangerous area so I never felt enough motivation to carry any of my favorite old steel-framed guns such as an M1911A1. But recently I thought I should get with it, so I bought a Taurus G2C 9mm and a Kahr .380. Well... OK, so I bought 4 of the G2C's and 2 Kahrs, but anyway... These are my first plastic-framed pistols. I consider the Taurus to be overall a compact gun, and remarkably efficient considering its 12-round magazines. But the Kahrs (CW380 & CT380) are definitely what I want to carry. They are WAY smaller and lighter than even the Taurus. On the matter of recoil, I also own an old North American Arms mini-revolver, and yes the recoil of that is pretty snappy when firing .22 long rifle ammo. So I was expecting the small Kahrs to be at least as snappy as the Taurus is, but happily that turned out not to be the case. In fact they seem more comfortable to fire, despite being so much lighter. A couple comments about this video: One, guns like the PPK, Hi-Point, etc. are not 'delayed blowback" but simply "blowback." There has possibly been a delayed blowback .380 pistol made, but I can't think of any. And two, I don't have personal experience on this, but everything I've read/heard elsewhere says that locked breech .380's have LESS recoil than blowback .380's of similar weight, not MORE recoil. However it may be possible that the locked breech allows lower overall weight, and the lower weight increases the recoil back up again. Oh, I wish I could get a full-sized M1911A1 set up for that .30 Super Carry... that seems like it would be a neat, flat-shooting gun for plinking.

[@rsl82568]

Lehigh Extreme, Underwood Extreme and the like ammo has brought the 380acp, Short Barrel 9mm, Short Barrel 45acp, and 38spl Snubs to life. 13-17 inches in Ballistic test.

[@lornenoland8098]

I believe you meant the 30 Super Carry. Most reports say you can tell any recoil difference between it and 9mm out of similar guns, but the advantage is similar ballistics to 9mm in a smaller round so you get more capacity, if that’s a priority to you. Anyway, as to 380, I agree with all you said. Good presentation!

[@speedomars]

The best .380 is the Sig Sauer P238. But is is all metal and relatively heavy despite being small. The best conceal .380 is the Seecamp LWS 380 for size and weight, and the Glock 42 for weight and quality.

[@usa-rb5fi]

Sig now has the P365 in 380, looks like another competitor.

[@berettaguy5414]

I don’t mind carrying a .380 I like my Bersa

[@RoadieWingZZ]

Shot placement is king. Always.

[@peteralexanderharrison9309]

I shoot a 380, Beretta 84. I practice with a 1911 22lr. The Beretta is also my carry pistol. since I live in Florida, and I’m wearing shorts all the time, the Beretta is very considerable.

[@neiljohnson6815]

Great gun!

[@burkholdst.rudderberg3574]

I was carrying a Beretta 84BB this very day! ( The problem with concealed carry is no one ever complements me on my beautiful gun! )

[@allenpapir-jo6yw]

Very informative thank you very much I enjoyed your video

[@MrGraybeard7]

EDC is a Colt Government .380 Nickle. Have carried it everyday since I bought it in '89. I have Never felt Under Gunned......With mag. 664 grams, very little recoil....

[@DrumandPianoDude]

I agree with you in that the .380acp is a good defensive round. However, it's been my experience that my S&W Bodyguard had less felt recoil (to me) due to the difference in physics between the lock breech/tilting barrel action as opposed to my straight blowback Walther, Bersa, and FEG pistols. The Walther feels snappier.

[@mynock250]

I have many handguns including subcompact 9mm(365,G43) but my everyday is a ruger LCP2, easiest to conceal for everyday carry. The most effective handgun is the one you carry everyday, program compliance.

[@2greeksandacamera]

VERY INFORMATIVE THANK YOU

[@noahgrady3628]

94 percent?? Okay, but it certainly hasn’t felt that way to me. I also might be crazy, but, my .380 is VERY loud, coming from same length barrels?? Again, maybe crazy…all things said, I love my Springfield 911 chambered in.380. Carrying Underwood Xrreme Penetrators.

[@valkrys68]

While the FBI loves the 12-18 inch penetration, it should be pointed out that all vital organs in a human body sit between 3-5 inches within the outer layer of skin, therefore any caliber capable of penetrating to at least six inches will do the trick in killing an adversary. Given the average human body is only about 12-15 inches thick, it appears over penetration is the goal of the FBI, which stretches out energy.

[@68roadster]

Probably have to account for layers of clothes

[@Desperado3248]

Cost was not always a factor. 380 used to be cheap until the ammo shortage . I reload 380 and have for years . It can be reloaded with cheap cast bullets for practice, about half of what factory 9 mm is today

[@vvr881]

I do the same but most don't seem to want to reload

[@DangerClose13E]

Check the diameter of those cast projectiles well. I have been getting alot of "keyholes" from them. It was the only thing I could find at the height of the pandemic. What has your experience been with them?

[@robertkwiatkoski1292]

thank you for your video. I'm searching for an answer. My sister 65 with weak hand strength just got her ccw. We shot multiple weapons. 43x,365 in 9m,9mez and my 380ez. She still looked uncomfortable with the 380ez. She agreed that she wasn't all that comfortable with it. My arguement is yhey made a easy to rack. easy to load in a light wieght package. Light wieght doesn't minimize recoil. Mayb the will make it in their new metal configuration. Thank you again and all comments/ ideas are welcome. And no, she is not a wall flower. she shoots her 686+ with 5" barrel like a champ!

[@sean0181]

J frame with federal or winchester wadcutters,low recoil ,no chance of a limp wrist.

[@MrBuckeye63]

The Ruger Security 380 makes the 380acp a more viable carry option .. the Security 380 os basically the size of the Glock 26 .. but slightly lighter .. 10+1 or 15 +1 with extended mag. Allows fast and accurate follow up shots .. very controllable..

[@mustafahajj]

Al carried 1911 .45 acp. His niece Diedra M. Capone just auctioned the .45 off to the highest bidder along with other Capone "artifacts" last fall.

[@jetpilot-jp3kh]

I carry a Beretta 85 with Lehigh extreme defense ammo and a spare magazine. Sometimes a Beretta 84 with same ammo and a spare mag.

[@PPISAFETY]

One issue not getting enough attention, is who exactly and under what circumstances, are being shot with the various pistol rounds in studies of "stopping effectiveness". When an armed individual decides to go to his guns against a police officer or multiple officers, it is a pretty fair bet that he is more committed to winning than some opportunistic stick-up man who accosts a private citizen he initially believes to be unarmed. Likewise, there is a world of difference in the requirements for a police duty round and one for private citizen self-defense. In the first case, the officer must win, defined as incapacitating the bad guy and taking him into custody, as opposed to the private citizen who must merely break contact and make an escape. Firearms researcher Claude Werner has done some excellent work on this and in the process and analyzed more than 7,000 actual shootings. He concludes that some handguns that might be considered "underpowered" for police work might well be enough for citizen self defense. My last law enforcement job before retirement was as the only officer in our department who actually lived in the town I served. For this reason I had a take home car which I could use anytime. In that setting, I never left the house without my duty sidearm, a Glock 19, and it came in handy on several occasions when I suddenly was called upon to act as a police officer. But now that I m retired and live in a completely different state, I realize that my chances of having to do anything more than ward off an armed robbery attempt on my person and escape, I have very little issue with carrying a good .380 in my pocket for self defense. When I do that, my own personal choice is the Glock 42, loaded with the 90 grain Speer Gold Dot load. Although some discount this round because it typically only penetrates 10 inches in bare gelatin in properly run FBI ballistics tests, it was the only approved backup round for over 20 years in my home state's State Police Department, and I had access to a number of actual shooting reports using the cartridge and know that it works,. I have a great deal of confidence in it for what it is. I choose to run it in the Glock 42 because even though some people find it too large for a .380, for me it is very controllable.

[@vrooooom4487]

I carry a Bersa .380 It works for me You carry what you want

[@davidmclaughlin2796]

That's a great video, thank you. David

[@alexperkins8361]

Thanks for the information

[@mohawkdriver2504]

I am surprised that no one ever mentions the colt mustang. I have carried it as a backup when I was a police officer and have been carrying it as my daily for several years and trust the 1911 platform.

[@stoneblue1795]

Great guns, now expensive as hell if you can find one.

[@vovachammonet5771]

Like others here with the full array of at the ready hand guns in all the big n sexy calibers - I'll grab my GL-42 when going out with some warm HPs 9x outta 10 0 The manageability is off the charts to the good which in my view translates into effectiveness.

[@lawson9102]

I have a LCP and just recently got a LCP max I do like the amount of ammo in the max

[@brianminkc]

Thanks. I carry one every day

[@heeebeeegeeebeee]

I agree that 380 is a very effective round and that Mr. Ellifritz’ study is very telling. But I commonly hear that the study shows that 380 is more effective than 9, which is not true at all. In fact, if we go just by the numbers, .32 ACP had the best one shot stop percentage at 72%. But Greg himself points out in the study that’s not what that means. 380’s and 32’s are harder to shoot quickly, so statistically people get off less shots per unit of time. It doesn’t show that 380 is more effective than 9mm. What it really shows is that the caliber you choose just doesn't matter that much.

[@jamesmorrison7847]

I've seen the stats, and the ammunition round responsible for the most deaths by far, and no other round is even close, is the .22LR.

[@veganlifestyleloveanimals1744]

I carry the s&w m&p EZ 380 and the bodyguard. I have no concerns.

[@martinmaddox5315]

Whattttttttt? I have the 380 ruger which I carry, glad to hear this.

[@zszs123]

Carry the 380 and 40 most of the time..Excellent video thanks for the vdeo and time 👍

[@FoulPet]

A 25 ACP over the heart, won't matter much if it doesn't penetrate enough. I'll assume the average gun owner won't be able to hit a 8 inch moving plate under duress, consistently or at all. A near hit with a 357 mag will probably have a better chance to incapacitate a predator than a 380. Not saying placement doesn't matter but people hopping on board the only thing that matters is placement bus, should just carry 22 short revolvers. You'll never need more than 8. Realistically you'll never need more than 1 or 2 since you always hit what you're aiming at. You need to take into account your target is not paper and will probably be moving or shooting back. So factor in that a leg or arm shot may be all you get.

[@tomashernandez3039]

Very knowledgeable

[@drizler]

My LCP lets you know it’s there. Great for encounters but awful to ever try to teach someone on. For rookies learn on something bigger then feel out the small fry. A box of my light reloads is plenty while I can shoot my SW 642 all day long with no messed up hand. You’re right about the 380-9MM being close. I reload both and believe me telling the cases apart is hard. No they aren’t any harder to reload than the 9. I do plenty of both and they’re the same. Finding those tiny cases at the range is next to impossible.😒.

[@brannonevans3685]

If you CCW carry a gun, no matter what size, caliber, whatever, when a self defense situation comes up, and you have to use it to defend your families life and/or yours, then recoil, the trigger pull, caliber will not matter. What matters is, is that you have a gun, PERIOD. A 22LR is better then a 380,9mm, 40 or 45 acp you left at home. A CCW gun is not a range gun, or a competition gun. Some have gritty triggers, long pulls, etc. They are self defense guns, thats what they are designed for. The Glock trigger is much to be desired, I know, but I have never replaced the triggers in my Glocks, because they are CCW guns. The only thing I replaced on them are the sites, I replaced with night sites.

[@dskentfield]

New Ruger Security 380 looks interesting at a great price, if you can find one...

[@dobermanfreak2a112]

I carry an LCP MAX everywhere I go whether I’m wearing basketball shorts or a suit. I use NOVX monolithic hollow points 80gr 12+1 Super light nasty little rounds. No regrets.

[@TheAirplaneDriver]

My Ruger LCP is my main carry gun. It fits comfortably in any pant or jacket pocket, it’s light, doesn’t print, and conceals very well. It is, however, my least favorite gun to shoot. Yup…it is “snappy” and difficult to control. The thing is I’m not planning on taking out bad guys on the run at 50 yards. It is intended to be used as a belly gun if someone comes at me close and personal. Mission accomplished if I manage to scare the guy off or hurt him to the point where he decides to leave me and mine alone. That’s the mission and the weapon fits that purpose well. Hopefully I will never have to use it.