With modern up-to-date defense ammunition these two rounds are very comparable, but with ballistics analysis one has to give a slight advantage to the venerable old 38 Special. I had her handle both and pointed out the safety features of each, how to load, and further the complexity of the pistol design over the SA/DA six shot revolver. A standard load for the 38 Special is a 158 grain bullet putting out a muzzle velocity of around 700-890 fps. In the gun world, ballistic knowledge is power, so let’s take a look at how the .380 ACP performs in … The truth is that .380 ACP is as accurate as the person shooting it. At first glance we found this amusing as the 380 ACP with its 17mm case length looks absolutely tiny next to a 38 Special round with its 39 mm case length. Some shooters feel more comfortable with a revolver, but when it comes to revolvers, you’ll not find one as compact or as light as a .380 semi-automatic. With several new tempting 380 self-defense loads being introduced, the comparison just had to happen. As a cartridge, the .38 Special gets the nod simply because of the wide variety of loadings. The .380 ACP’s bullets were far lighter than most found in the .38 Special and came in at about 90-100 grains. That brought up two issues. The first is the inexpensive 85-grain Punch load. The cartridge holds a bullet the same diameter as the 9mm (.355”) but in a smaller case with diminished capacity (roughly speaking, 15% less than the 9mm in … The .38 Special is now a bona fide centurion (and then some) but back in 1974, it got a well needed kick in the pants when SAAMI gave a +P rating to any load over 17,000 PSI but under 20,000 PSI. Compare the dimensions and specs of Ruger LCP II and Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard 380. Granted, there are some bigger guns that either are or have been made in this caliber (the CZ 83 is/was a good example; it's a compact service pistol) and are capable of doing everything a 9mm pistol of the same size is doing in terms of accuracy. And, this is mainly due to the type of guns that chamber it. When I had a need for a pocket-gun, I chose the LCR in .38+P. Which handgun was better suited for her, the 38 Special revolver or the 380 ACP pistol? 38 Special vs 380 ACP. .380 vs 9mm: Recoil Among the most blatant arguments for the .380 ACP is the caliber is much milder. While .380 ACP is x17mm Vs. 9mm Luger's x19mm, it is not 11% less powder or 11% less energy. Most pistols chambered in .380 ACP are small, subcompact to micro size. In a self-defense situation, I prefer more lead than less on target. Which handgun will you be able to conceal the easiest, and which handgun are you most comfortable shooting and operating? Those are what the buyer’s choices boil down to in the real world. These produce an MV of around 1000 fps with 189 ft. lbs. of energy at the muzzle. The .357 cartridge is a bit longer and will not fit in a .38 gun. Friday, January 8, 2021. SAO Pocket Pistol . For comparison, standard pressure .38 Special loads have a SAAMI specification of 17,000 psi while higher pressure .38 Special +P loads top out at a … You can hide this gun in a lot of places on your person, and it is so small and light you may even forget it’s with you. Despite the usual lower capacity and larger size of the typical platforms that chamber 38 special vs 380 ACP. I’m not saying a SIG P320 or a Glock 17 is a bad idea. I could tell she was not a shooter or even accustomed to guns, but the question came up. Though once the darlin cartridge of law enforcement, the .38 Special has fallen from grace and many consider it less than idea for personal protection. To put this into perspective, a Boeing 737 commercial airliner travels at a cruising speed of 600 mph, or 880 fps. Side by side on the table were several 38 Special revolvers by Smith & Wesson and Taurus with the same brands of pistols chambered for the “9mm Short” a.k.a. And now, with the 9mm Ammo Quest, I’m starting to get requests to test “+P+” ammo. But I’m surprised with all the hoopla over the hoard of new 380 semi-auto pistols flooding the market it has not surfaced before. LCP II. That is good to know that the popular 380 ACP is up to par with the venerable 38 Special. The 5-round Ruger LCR weighs only 13.5 ounces and is only 6.5 inches long. Both having similar velocities makes the 38 special a much better penetrator and a much better self defense round as a whole. Then he asked about the rounds they used. M&P Bodyguard 380. They shouldn’t; with the right ammunition it can be a fight stopper. E-mail your comments/questions about this site to:ShootingIllustrated@nrahq.orgFor questions/comments about Shooting Illustrated magazine, please e-mail:Publications@nrahq.orgYou can contact the NRA via phone at: NRA Member Programs1-800-672-3888, To advertise on Shooting Illustrated, visit nramediakit.com for more information. Arguments that .380 and .38 are comparable in performance are based on incorrect data, imo. The 5-round Ruger LCR weighs only 13.5 ounces and is only 6.5 inches long. 380 ACP. Given the best loads for both cartridges, I don’t think there’s enough difference to argue about; a snub-nose .38 Special revolver will deliver slightly better terminal performance, but capacity will be slightly less. The main difference between the 380 and .38 special is that the .38 special has a larger cartridge. There are .38 loads that pass FBI protocols, but they are few. It’s also a bit more comfortable to shoot than the diminutive .380 ACPs, even with +P .38 Special ammunition. When it comes to stopping bad guys, good hits matter, but so too does the ammunition you’re using. 9mm vs .38 Special – Conceal and Carry. The real difference might come down to how many rounds are available to deliver. Though many consider both the minimum for personal protection, they are way better than a larger and heavier gun you’ve left at home. In my ongoing series of testing .380 ACP ammo from micro-pistols, I’ve been repeatedly asked to test some of the so-called “+P” loadings. A big handgun you find uncomfortable to carry will likely not be carried. Hello! They are 38 Special +P, 9mm Luger +P, 38 Super Automatic and 45 Automatic +P. This also means more gunpowder can … The difference is that the .38 Special will toss slugs of slightly greater weight at these speeds. The key to shooting these ultra-compact handguns effectively is practice and their effectiveness is determined by shot placement and the ammunition you feed them.
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