9mm vs. 380 for women's CCW gun

**caribstv** · August 25th, 2022, 10:01 PM

The best thing to do is go and test any you thinking of buying.
Most pockets are very snappy and requires practice. The best one is the for you is the one you want to have on your at all times.

The only gun I loved shooting is this which I rented four the session.

https://staccato2011.com/handguns/staccato-p/

Absolutely a pleasure to shoot and very accurate. Price tag tho... Hefty

**ROCK-IT3** · August 25th, 2022, 10:16 PM

Originally Posted by caribstv

so we on the same page:

380 auto and 9mm ammunition are all the same caliber. (Caliber is the size of the projectile, or bullet.) The different names are for marketing reasons or because of where the cartridge was developed.Feb 18, 2016

They are different cartridges. The caliber (bullet diameter) may be the same, or very close, but may be different weights between cartridges. All 9mm are not the same cartridge, and cannot be used in interchangeably.

**phill** · August 25th, 2022, 11:15 PM

We have tried several small carry guns over the years, Ruger LCP and other clones. Along with watching students work on their carry permits it has settled on the small locked breach .380's. For my wife and I the Sig 238 has won the contest and has been our carry pieces since 2014.
Any of the micro-1911 herd will have less recoil and be easier to cycle. With my 81 yr. old body and related problems the little 238's and family are the cats meow.

**fallenleader** · August 26th, 2022, 05:46 AM

try all the guns, rent some of the guns, borrow the guns.
then look at something like those composite screwdriver shaped bullets because theyre very light and perform well might reduce felt recoil shooting a 65gn 9mm vs a 115, 124 or 149gn
same for .380.
and they punch deep.

**imashooter2** · August 26th, 2022, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by Emptymag

The felt recoil and overall ability to manage it has far more to do with the type/size of handgun than the caliber.

A small .380 can be brutal, while a mid-size or large 9mm can be a pleasure to shoot.

It's a little more complex than "three eighty's for the ladies."

Concur. A locked breech 9 typically feels better than a blow back .380.

**Sparks** · August 26th, 2022, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by caribstv

so we on the same page:

380 auto and 9mm ammunition are all the same caliber. (Caliber is the size of the projectile, or bullet.) The different names are for marketing reasons or because of where the cartridge was developed.Feb 18, 2016

Caliber yes, but they are not the same cartridge.
380 is a 9 X 17 AKA 9mm Kurtz (short), 380 ACP, plus some other names
9mm (Parabellum) is 9 x 19

380 is a straight wall case, 9 Paabellum is tapered

Nothing to do with marketing.

**MMH** · August 26th, 2022, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by Sparks

Caliber yes, but they are not the same cartridge.
380 is a 9 X 17 AKA 9mm Kurtz (short), 380 ACP, plus some other names
9mm (Parabellum) is 9 x 19

380 is a straight wall case, 9 Paabellum is tapered

Nothing to do with marketing.

A key difference is that 9mm is loaded to much higher pressures than a 380. Per SAAMI, the max pressure for 9mm is 35,000 psi & for the 380 21,500 psi. THis directly translates to KE. a 9mm approaches 350 ft.-lbs. of energy whereas a 380 is under 200 ft-lbs.

**Bethzur** · August 29th, 2022, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by caribstv

The best thing to do is go and test any you thinking of buying.
Most pockets are very snappy and requires practice. The best one is the for you is the one you want to have on your at all times.

The only gun I loved shooting is this which I rented four the session.

https://staccato2011.com/handguns/staccato-p/

Absolutely a pleasure to shoot and very accurate. Price tag tho... Hefty

That does look like a very nice gun. But $2400 wow.