.38 Special Versus .380 ACP

05-28-2003, 06:28 PM

I love arguments like this...Say a Sig Sauer model 232 in .380 ACP against a Smith & Wesson J Frame snubnose revolver...I don't want to hear any idiotic .45 ACP nonsense either..:target:

practical · 05-28-2003, 07:42 PM

What a silly question. The 38spl is more reliable, more powerful, and holds almost as many.

Calvin · 05-29-2003, 01:07 PM

.38 Special is the winner here. No contest...

08-17-2003, 03:25 PM

there are an awful lot of people who carry the .380

08-17-2003, 03:49 PM

it's funny that nobody ever points out that John Moses Browning also had a hand in designing the .25 ACP, .32 ACP and .380 ACP cartridges. I wonder if it's a conspiracy from the .45 ACP fans

08-17-2003, 03:50 PM

btw ACP stands for Automatic Colt Pistol

Roy Collins · 08-17-2003, 05:26 PM

I like both. I have to say I have more .380s than 38 specials but there is a home for both. For me personally I carry the .380 more but my house guns are usually 38 specials since I live in an apartment and don't want to go through wall after wall after wall.

FEG · 08-17-2003, 08:38 PM

I thought that ACP stood for:

"Awww, Crap! Phillipinos!"

(A reference to the Moros' alleged role in the adoption of .45 ACP. Phillipinos need not get upset.)

.38 Special, no contest. If there were not so many decent, inexpensive .380 pistols available, then .380 would have died off in the US by now. Back in the day, it had an advantage in that .380s were just as small as a .32, but much more powerful. Now, there are several 9mms on the market that are as small (or even smaller) than a PP/PPK clone.

No one points out Browning's role in the development of 9mm Browning Long, .38 ACP, .25 ACP, or .32 ACP because they are either a) already obsolete and virtually unknown today OR b) well on their way to obscurity. Currently, most manufacturers only offer one .25 ACP load, if any.

einnor1040 · 08-17-2003, 09:14 PM

38 special. Duh!
:nod:

Shaun · 08-17-2003, 11:39 PM

38 special is good in a small revolver or in a small 357 if you don't want a but recoil. the 380 serves its purpose as a light weight defense pistol round in a small flat gun. I carry 357's 45's 9mm and 40 and all are great and would trust my defense to either or all

NRAJOE · 08-18-2003, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by logansdad
I love arguments like this...Say a Sig Sauer model 232 in .380 ACP against a Smith & Wesson J Frame snubnose revolver...I don't want to hear any idiotic .45 ACP nonsense either..:target:

.45ACP....:gangster:

FEG · 08-18-2003, 05:29 PM

Quote:

I carry 357's 45's 9mm and 40 and all are great and would trust my defense to either or all

Funny. All of those are considerably more powerful than .380!!!

08-18-2003, 08:00 PM

do you have a .45ACP there Joe ?

gwarokk · 05-10-2008, 08:07 PM

"Three .45 caliber casings were also located near the scene of the murder. The presence of these casings, along with eyewitness evidence, suggests a second shooter was positioned across the street from Cotton. However, it is undisputed Cotton was shot with a .380 caliber gun. " - Taken from here.

Mike Franklin · 05-11-2008, 02:08 PM

John Browning was a genius gun designer, he was not a gunfighter. He designed some real nice mouse guns, none of which I would use in a gunfight.

mitch_mckee · 05-11-2008, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logansdad

I love arguments like this...Say a Sig Sauer model 232 in .380 ACP against a Smith & Wesson J Frame snubnose revolver...I don't want to hear any idiotic .45 ACP nonsense either..:target:

The .380 produces slightly more power than a .38 Spec out of a snubby.

The belief that revolvers in general are more reliable than auto loaders is urban legend.

Taurus Fan · 05-11-2008, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mitch_mckee

The .380 produces slightly more power than a .38 Spec out of a snubby.

Check again Mitch, I'm pretty sure that's wrong. The .380 is a 90 grain bullet at around 900 fps , .38 Special with a heavier 125 grain should get the same velocity, give or take. A 158 grain bullet may do 800 FPS, that's got to have much more energy than the .380 can deliver in any load.

nathangdad · 05-11-2008, 02:57 PM

. . . . each cartridge has a long history and the facts are many shooters over the decades have chosen the .38 special as the preferred cartridge of the two.

This is not to say the .380 ACP is without merit. However, it is a cartridge that has never gained a great level of popularity even among
semi-auto fans. It has, however, hung on with enough demand to stay in production.

So, if I were you I would listen to the lesson of history.

mitch_mckee · 05-11-2008, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taurus Fan

Check again Mitch, I'm pretty sure that's wrong. The .380 is a 90 grain bullet at around 900 fps , .38 Special with a heavier 125 grain should get the same velocity, give or take. A 158 grain bullet may do 800 FPS, that's got to have much energy more than the .380 can deliver in any load.

The .38 Spec was made for at least 4" of barrel. It loses a considerable amount of velocity in a 2" bbl. +P ammo can make some difference, but many snubbies are not +P rated)

Here are some snubby ballistics:

.38 Special Snubnose Ballistics

and the .380:

Remington.com - Products - Ammunition - Ballistics

For comparison, see the 110 grain .38 Spec velocities at about 860 fps. vs the .380 102 grain at 940 fps.

For reference, the .38 Spec with a 110 grain bullet from a 5" bbl. travels at 950+/- fps.

Remington.com - Products - Ammunition - Ballistics

TXplt · 05-11-2008, 03:06 PM

Absolutely hands-down .38 special. More energy and stopping power (unless for some reason you just happen to shoot the 380 oh so much better than the .38). Cor-Bon and Buffalo Bore make good +P rounds, the BB +P 158 GR LSWHP gets better than 950 FPS from a 2" s+w model 40 (most all new .38's are +P rated as well).

The only reason I can see personally for the .380 (other than the James Bond "fun" factor of the PPK) is for pistols like the new Ruger--tiny and flat. I'd rather have a 9mm though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mitch_mckee

The .380 produces slightly more power than a .38 Spec out of a snubby.

The belief that revolvers in general are more reliable than auto loaders is urban legend.

Uh. Wrong on both counts

05-28-2003, 06:28 PM	#1
Logansdad Guest Posts: n/a	.38 Special Versus .380 ACP I love arguments like this...Say a Sig Sauer model 232 in .380 ACP against a Smith & Wesson J Frame snubnose revolver...I don't want to hear any idiotic .45 ACP nonsense either..:target:

05-28-2003, 07:42 PM	#2
practical Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Baton Rouge, LA/Casper, WY Posts: 736	What a silly question. The 38spl is more reliable, more powerful, and holds almost as many. __________________ Eric "The secret to life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made"

05-29-2003, 01:07 PM	#3
Calvin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 1,996	.38 Special is the winner here. No contest... __________________ I've gone to look for myself. If I should return before I get back, please ask me to wait.

08-17-2003, 08:38 PM	#8
FEG Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Behind the Iron Curtain Posts: 517	I thought that ACP stood for: "Awww, Crap! Phillipinos!" (A reference to the Moros' alleged role in the adoption of .45 ACP. Phillipinos need not get upset.) .38 Special, no contest. If there were not so many decent, inexpensive .380 pistols available, then .380 would have died off in the US by now. Back in the day, it had an advantage in that .380s were just as small as a .32, but much more powerful. Now, there are several 9mms on the market that are as small (or even smaller) than a PP/PPK clone. No one points out Browning's role in the development of 9mm Browning Long, .38 ACP, .25 ACP, or .32 ACP because they are either a) already obsolete and virtually unknown today OR b) well on their way to obscurity. Currently, most manufacturers only offer one .25 ACP load, if any. __________________ WARNING: CZs MAY BE HABIT-FORMING (Consult a doctor if nursing or pregnant).

08-17-2003, 11:39 PM	#10
Shaun Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 8,592 Images: 1	38 special is good in a small revolver or in a small 357 if you don't want a but recoil. the 380 serves its purpose as a light weight defense pistol round in a small flat gun. I carry 357's 45's 9mm and 40 and all are great and would trust my defense to either or all __________________ "Homeland Security is the responsibility of an armed citizen" ME http://webpages.charter.net/s.s.v/

08-17-2003, 03:25 PM	#4
Logansdad Guest Posts: n/a	there are an awful lot of people who carry the .380

08-17-2003, 03:49 PM	#5
Logansdad Guest Posts: n/a	it's funny that nobody ever points out that John Moses Browning also had a hand in designing the .25 ACP, .32 ACP and .380 ACP cartridges. I wonder if it's a conspiracy from the .45 ACP fans

08-17-2003, 03:50 PM	#6
Logansdad Guest Posts: n/a	btw ACP stands for Automatic Colt Pistol

08-17-2003, 05:26 PM	#7
Roy Collins Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Louisville Kentucky. Posts: 316	I like both. I have to say I have more .380s than 38 specials but there is a home for both. For me personally I carry the .380 more but my house guns are usually 38 specials since I live in an apartment and don't want to go through wall after wall after wall.

08-17-2003, 09:14 PM	#9
einnor1040 Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: middle tn. Posts: 86	38 special. Duh! :nod:

08-18-2003, 08:00 PM	#13
Logansdad Guest Posts: n/a	do you have a .45ACP there Joe ?

05-10-2008, 08:07 PM	#14
gwarokk Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1	"Three .45 caliber casings were also located near the scene of the murder. The presence of these casings, along with eyewitness evidence, suggests a second shooter was positioned across the street from Cotton. However, it is undisputed Cotton was shot with a .380 caliber gun. " - Taken from here.

05-11-2008, 02:08 PM	#15
Mike Franklin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Poteet, Texas Posts: 1,276	John Browning was a genius gun designer, he was not a gunfighter. He designed some real nice mouse guns, none of which I would use in a gunfight.

05-11-2008, 02:57 PM	#18
nathangdad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,437	Well, . . . . . . . each cartridge has a long history and the facts are many shooters over the decades have chosen the .38 special as the preferred cartridge of the two. This is not to say the .380 ACP is without merit. However, it is a cartridge that has never gained a great level of popularity even among semi-auto fans. It has, however, hung on with enough demand to stay in production. So, if I were you I would listen to the lesson of history.