380 Question...

[JReedEsq]

I can shoot my 380 faster than I can shoot any glock, even the realy long slide ones. It has a shorter, tighter, better trigger than any glock, and lower recoil as well. I reload my practice ammo, but not my carry ammo, so its $4 per box of 50 roughly -- same as my practice 9mm actually. Many of your points are due to your specific circumstances (gun model, inability to reload, etc) and have little or nothing to do with the 380 round as a caliber or choice. I agree a larger pistol in a larger caliber with more rounds is more powerful, no doubt about it, but there are pros and cons to every gun choice. I could go buy a kel tec p-11 and tell you that the 9mm round sucks, its the same thing... DAO guns are just not fun to shoot for anyone short of a weightlifter

Which .380 do you have with such a great trigger? I not saying Glocks are for everyone. Quite the contrary, I think there are lots of choices from M&P, XD, Sig, CZ that are probably fine choices too. If you reload and you can shoot your .380 as well as a bigger weapon that's awesome. My point is that in my experience, most people shoot more accurately with a gun that is slightly larger than your average pocket .380. I've got no problem at all with the round. Just discussing my experience.

[JReedEsq]

I can shoot my 380 faster than I can shoot any glock, even the realy long slide ones. It has a shorter, tighter, better trigger than any glock, and lower recoil as well. I reload my practice ammo, but not my carry ammo, so its $4 per box of 50 roughly -- same as my practice 9mm actually. Many of your points are due to your specific circumstances (gun model, inability to reload, etc) and have little or nothing to do with the 380 round as a caliber or choice. I agree a larger pistol in a larger caliber with more rounds is more powerful, no doubt about it, but there are pros and cons to every gun choice. I could go buy a kel tec p-11 and tell you that the 9mm round sucks, its the same thing... DAO guns are just not fun to shoot for anyone short of a weightlifter

I'm not sure if you consider the striker fired guns (Glock and copies) to be DAO, but I sure do find them fun to shoot.

[Jonnin]

the sig, its basically a SAO 1911 micro. The trigger travels about 2/3cm from untouched to fired at maybe 3 lbs (guessing the weight here). It has the moving barrel like a 1911 and greatly cuts the recoil down. I cannot shoot it anything like a full sized gun --- I can empty it fast, and I can keep it in the vitals of a man sized target at 15 or less yards, that is as much as I am willing to claim! I meant a real DAO with the comment (the 10 pound triggers moving an inch or more), glock triggers are nothing like that. I can tolerate the glock trigger, its not that bad until you compare it to a single action. They are fine -- its not that I hate glocks, its that I like other things a lot more, if someone gave me one I would enjoy it, but I don't miss them much either If someone gave me a DAO, I would have it sold NIB inside a week.

[daddyo]

I can empty it fast, and I can keep it in the vitals of a man sized target at 15 or less yards, that is as much as I am willing to claim!

Have you considered what happens when you are under the stress of a real life SD scenario, and you lose your fine motor skills? I know I won't be as accurate as when I am shooting at paper targets.

[Jonnin]

Have you considered what happens when you are under the stress of a real life SD scenario, and you lose your fine motor skills? I know I won't be as accurate as when I am shooting at paper targets.

Yes, I have worked on shooting on the move and at moving targets, and reloading on the move etc. And I expect those are also easier in practice than under stress. But apart from going down to a rough area and starting some stuff to get in some practice, I have to make do with paper.... and this stuff is beyond the scope of the 380 discussion apart from the low capacity issue, which is a real concern if one misses a few times under stress. I have 3 mags, if I still didnt escape or "win", then no other weapon would have saved me either. The 15 -25 yard stuff was seeing what the gun could do, I also expect an attacker will be closer than this, and I have used it at various ranges under 15 yards.

[Guest kcb37]

I will agree to some extent that a glock can be eaiser to aim and more accurate. Or any larger pistol for that matter.

However between myself and my brother in law we are both very close in shot groups with his 9mm glock and my .380 LCP.

It just takes practice.

To add to this, (not really trying to start another conversation/disscussion/argument, but) think real life you need to use it. Are you really going to get the best sight picture you can then shoot?

The best thing you can do is shoot your gun regardless of what it is period. In addition, reloading, drawing from your holster and quickly firing. This will allow you to realize how hard it can be to actually draw quickly. If you have a bilfold holster (going for my wallet) not much of a problem. Someone runs in a gas station gun in hand you need to be quick. Having a CC can be hard. Getting under your shirt, then getting the gun past your shirt without hanging up, etc...

I also ran across a holster for girls. Basically the pistol (LCP in this case) is in the pants in a "horizontal" position. Basically right behind the zipper. Think of how hard that would be to draw. As a back up fine, but primary to much work to much to hang up on.

So practice a quick draw. Empty first or with dummy rounds. Helps keep you from shooting yourself regardless of how long you have carried owned etc...

Then work into draw and fire. My suggestion would be draw aim down the barrel, not the sights, fire. You may not hit the target at all. But if you can walk yourself in. Maybe a quick draw, little slower still aiming the barrel not sights, you will walk it in. If you can hit resonably torso area your doing good. Just keep practicing and use the sights.

This way, when you do use the sights you should shoot better and tighter shot groups. In a real world situation you will not shoot the same tight shot group, but you will much more likely to have a quick trouble free draw, and be able to hit your target in a reasonable shot group.

For a CC just going to a range and shooting a paper target does nothing. You can shoot, but your not going to shoot well under stress.

If you can do moving targets, all the better.

[Fourtyfive]

Take a look at the Kahr , smallest and well made.