WB
Your pet .380, a very weak sister.
Friday, February 05, 2021, 19:52

I too carry a .380 auto from time to time. Very handy and no doubt much more effective than the old pocket pieces of days gone by. My personal model is not much bigger than a "big" .25 ACP and about the same size as the older smallest .32's. It has it's useful place for sure.

But powerwise, it's no cannon! It's sole redeeming trait is the ability to barely penetrate 12" of ballistic gelatin (which BTW has no bones). This is the accepted (in some circles) baseline character for adequate penetration for self defense. Ballistically it is the same, basically, as the old top-break revolvers in .38 S&W. Even those typically used a more effective 146 gr. FN lead bullet than modern wonder JHP we have today, as to straight penetration. There were the military 200 gr. loads and 150 gr. RNL but look honestly, comparing it vs the 90-95 gr. .380 ACP bullet running 750-900 fps.

Your pocket rocket .380 is about the ballistic twin of it's great grandaddy the old .38 S&W. Not much more than a rimless version with a lighter bullet and ONE more round in the gun!

I had the misfortune to dispatch a terminal 40 lb. goat with my Kahr .380 and $5 worth of Hornady Critical Defense 90 gr. FTS ammo, point blank. I was NOT impressed. Terminal performance was very similar to a .22 LR 40 gr. bullet, only larger in diameter. There was minimal impact shock and I do not think the bullet expanded more than becoming flat nosed. I was not looking forward to the deed but the lackluster performance only magnified my displeasure. Even a .38 Special with the wonderful SWC would have been most welcome by comparison. No the .380 is not a powerhouse. It might work in a pinch, but it's a just barely "do" round in my view. About anything bigger would be better if it were truly a possibility that it might be called into service. Fine for a back up, but no way a primary for me. I carry mine when I do not feel much of a real threat.

P.S. The Makarov .37 cal. is a 95 gr. at 1100 fps and not in the same class in my view. Worked as good (if not better) than a 9X19 for me on hole digging Armadillo.