How often do you carry

[Barth]

voted 100%, before I would have stated 50-75% but as of late I've been carrying a KT P32 with spare mag with 73gr Fiocchi hardball.... gun and 15 rounds in two mags weigh as much as my LCP loaded with Lehigh Xtreme.... I have my pea shooter .32 with me always no matter what, mowing yard, in pajamas etc.... this is a gun that you can truly say you forget its there....

yeah a .32 will get the job done, especially in summer.... when cooler months abound I will still use it in back pocket BUG to my primary hi cap guns (preferably glock 26 or 19)...

I have carried both this summer when I headed toward a crime ridden part of town, never believed in NY carry but my mind has changed dramatically in the last year...

Crime happens anywhere.
Time for the next dramatic change...
My forget it's there gun?
S&W 342 ti 11.1 oz unloaded.
13.5 oz loaded with Speer GDHP SB 135 gr +P.

[kwh]

TheLastDaze,where are the pics of the Kel-Tec .32?? Some worthy firearms get no respect! Full disclosure,I also have the K-T.32. Grip clip, extended magazine, & neck lanyard. Now a BUG inside car 100% of time.

[wyntrout]

Not to start a caliber war or whatever, but just to point out that the popular and often maligned .380 ACP is comparable and somewhat superior to the .38 snubbie with a 2" barrel or less... 1.8", etc. You get 6+1 rounds plus quick reloads and more performance as evidenced by Bruce's testing here. Underwood revised the velocity to 1,200 fps for the 90-grain bonded Gold Dot bullet and that's what I carry since Buffalo Bore stopped using the Speer Gold Dots.

The P380 weighs in at just under 10 ounces and under 14 ounces loaded with 6+1 rounds of 90-grain Gold Dots +P by Underwood.



Bruce's full test is here:

http://mousegunaddict.blogspot.com/2...dhp-clear.html

This is not my first choice or regular daily carry, but I don't feel under-armed when I carry it at home or, for short convenience trips, or where maximum concealment and on and off wear is needed.

And here's Bruce's test of the Speer +P .38 special 135-grain Gold Dot Short Barrel in a similar pistol:

http://mousegunaddict.blogspot.com/2...-speer-38.html



Wynn

[Longitude Zero]

I would prefer a 380 to nothing but with mini 9's not much bigger the 380 as a primary CCW makes some sense. Kahr helped introduce and popularize 9mm that rivaled 380 in size. 380 is an acceptable option but there are far better ones out there.

[Bawanna]

I expect a hail storm but I think they are perfect for folks that want to carry a gun but don't really want to carry a gun.

A 22 Long Rifle will get the job done but that don't mean bawanna is gonna make a habit of traveling around with a 22 long rifle.

That's the beauty of the country we live in, you can carry what works for you, what you have confidence in which is 90% of the battle and in todays' world it is indeed a battle.

[wyntrout]

With similar loadings... 124-grain +P GDSB in the PM9, it weighs 6 ounces more than the P380. I forget that I'm wearing the P380, especially for all-day carry in and around the house.

I'm fixin' to mow the yard and a lot of lawn applications if the rain holds off. I add a 7-round reload and my F.A.S.T Draw Gerber to my carry when doing the yard work. I have Kydex OWB mag holders for everything and switch to my C.O.M Kydex IWB holster with a metal clip. I try to stay situationally aware when outside like that, and I watch the house, too.

Wynn

[Barth]

Not to start a caliber war or whatever, but just to point out that the popular and often maligned .380 ACP is comparable and somewhat superior to the .38 snubbie with a 2" barrel or less... 1.8", etc. You get 6+1 rounds plus quick reloads and more performance as evidenced by Bruce's testing here. Underwood revised the velocity to 1,200 fps for the 90-grain bonded Gold Dot bullet and that's what I carry since Buffalo Bore stopped using the Speer Gold Dots.

The P380 weighs in at just under 10 ounces and under 14 ounces loaded with 6+1 rounds of 90-grain Gold Dots +P by Underwood.



Bruce's full test is here:

http://mousegunaddict.blogspot.com/2...dhp-clear.html

This is not my first choice or regular daily carry, but I don't feel under-armed when I carry it at home or, for short convenience trips, or where maximum concealment and on and off wear is needed.

And here's Bruce's test of the Speer +P .38 special 135-grain Good Dot Short Barrel in a similar pistol:

http://mousegunaddict.blogspot.com/2...-speer-38.html



Wynn

Guess we interpret those numbers differently.
9 5/32" penetration is unacceptable to me.
I think ~12"-15" is the FBI accepted standard?
.380 is better than nothing.
But I don't agree on .380 ACP = 38 Special +P.
Also, if you want to compare overpressure boutique ammo?
Compare apples to apples - Underwood .380 ACP to Underwood 38 Special +P.
IMHO at the end of the day, all things equal, 38 Special +P bests .380 ACP every time.

As Jocko would say.
I'm just saying...

Barth

Underwood
38 Special +P 125 Grain Bonded Jacketed Hollow Point

Technical Information

• Caliber: 38 Special
• Bullet Weight: 125 Grains
• Bullet Style: Speer Bonded Jacketed Hollow Point
• Case Type: Brass
  
  Ballistics Information:
• Muzzle Velocity: 1200 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 400 ft. lbs.

Underwood
380 ACP +P 90 Grain Bonded Jacketed Hollow Point

Technical Information

• Caliber: 380 ACP
• Bullet Weight: 90 Grains
• Bullet Style: Speer Bonded Jacketed Hollow Point
• Case Type: Brass
  
  Ballistics Information:
• Muzzle Velocity: 1200 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 288 ft. lbs.

[wyntrout]

The .380 is out of a Kahr P380 and I don't know what the +P .38 that you're listing is fired from. I was pointing out the OP's +P 135-gr GDSB shot from a SHORT barrel... usually less than 2 inches, though it is a revolver and has a bit more actual barrel counting the cylinder. I'm not the FBI shooting through car doors, so I think about 10 inches of penetration will work for most people.

I did say somewhat superior... which to me is round capacity and ease of reloads, besides energy and penetration. The P380 is thinner and holds 6+1 and I carry a 7-round reload.

The .380 is a compromise, for sure, but I don't always need a larger pistol... at least I hope not. My usual carry is the P40 with 180-gr GDSB and I'm trying to adapt to my G30S with 230-gr GDSB, but it is quite a bit larger... and fatter. I don't like "boutique" ammo, especially the ones with lighter weights and higher velocities.

I like bonded bullets and only use the GD's or GDSB's and the bonded Remington Golden Sabers.

Wynn

[Barth]

The .380 is out of a Kahr P380 and I don't know what the +P .38 that you're listing is fired from. I was pointing out the OP's +P 135-gr GDSB shot from a SHORT barrel... usually less than 2 inches, though it is a revolver and has a bit more actual barrel counting the cylinder. I'm not the FBI shooting through car doors, so I think about 10 inches of penetration will work for most people.

I did say somewhat superior... which to me is round capacity and ease of reloads, besides energy and penetration. The P380 is thinner and holds 6+1 and I carry a 7-round reload.

The .380 is a compromise, for sure, but I don't always need a larger pistol... at least I hope not. My usual carry is the P40 with 180-gr GDSB and I'm trying to adapt to my G30S with 230-gr GDSB, but it is quite a bit larger... and fatter. I don't like "boutique" ammo, especially the ones with lighter weights and higher velocities.

I like bonded bullets and only use the GD's or GDSB's and the bonded Remington Golden Sabers.

Wynn

12 inches is through whatever including nothing.
That's what it takes to get to vital organs on a reliable basis according to the FBI.
That's just the way it is...

[wyntrout]

I won't be shooting into jello and from most testing the hollowpoint usually gets filled with clothing material and then you get PLENTY of penetration!

Wynn

[Barth]

I won't be shooting into jello and from most testing the hollowpoint usually gets filled with clothing material and then you get PLENTY of penetration!

Wynn

FBI protocol testing isn't jello.
And if i were to carry a .380 ACP?
I'd likely use FMJs just to get acceptable penetration.
It's just an ice pick, but it's better than nothing - LOL!

Barth

[mr surveyor]

FBI protocol testing isn't jello.
And if i were to carry a .380 ACP?
I'd likely use FMJs just to get acceptable penetration.
It's just an ice pick, but it's better than nothing - LOL!

Barth

That's exactly my feelings on the .32 acp. I bought my wife a KT P32 about 10 years ago, and she still won't let me get rid of it. It's never failed, so I guess that's o.k. I do keep one CorBon HP chambered, and one on the top of the stack. Not only because of the risk of "rim lock" in the .32 acp magazine do I only load the top one with a HP, but also I figure if the two hollow points don't have enough punch she should eventually get down to the ice picks that will.

I've had a couple of .380's over the years, and just never had a warm and fuzzy feeling for them.

jd

[Armybrat]

When is somebody gonna do tests with the CT380? That little bugger has a 3" barrel which should make a difference from the shorter CW/P380.

I'm totin' mine with Hornady Critical Defense 90gr. FTX - it runs real smooth with those.

[kwh]

Just my opinion,but in the .380 compared to the 9mm it is more difficult to have BOTH expansion and adequate penetration. Penetration trumps expansion. Until a superior bullet is "proven", I will keep the XTP in both my Kahr CW380 and Walther PP. My Daughter uses LeHigh in her Walther PK380 and XTP in herCW Kahr. All run 100%.
I too would like to see results on the longer barrel .380's. Seems like the .380's are catching up to the snub nose .38's.

[wyntrout]

I don't want FMJ's that blow through the BG or ricochet like crazy for long distances. I WANT my bullets to stop in the BG. If you want to shoot at angled windshields, ATK found that the hollow points cut holes through the glass without much deflection and hit the dummies reliably, unlike the FMJ's which were deflected badly. The edge of JHP ammo caught on the glass and punched straight through. There are tests through clothing and a 45° angled and 15 ° canted windshield.

ATK ammo testing available at this link:

http://www.kiesler.com/videodetail.aspx?id=1534

Wynn