9mm and .380 ACP cartridges — both popular choices for self-defense rounds — have the same diameter, but a 9mm round is longer. For a defense round I would suggest a round nose hollow point bullet as it should function without a problem in a firearm that has no mechanical issues. In the case your topmost priority happens to be stopping power, .380 ACP is going to be your best bet. The 380 ACP cartridge was designed by John Moses Browning in 1908 as a compromise between 2 of his earlier designs: 25 ACP and 45 ACP. Both are John Moses Browning babies. DAO Compact Pistol . While you cannot chamber .38 Super in .380 ACP you can chamber i.38 Super in a .38 ACP pistol, which is the equivalent of shooting .357 mag in .38 spl. Founding Member. The .45 ACP load is powered by 5.5 gr. Latest. The .38 Super retains the same case dimensions as the much lower pressure .38 ACP. S. somorris Master Class. This prevented people from attempting to fire it out of guns made for .38 ACP. Using the latest ammunitions, the .38 ACP / Auto velocity can reach roughly 1,040 – 1,150 Feet Per Second. Tite Group. It was a very compact and lightweight pistol with a unique “tip-up” barrel system that allowed easy loading of an additional eighth round of ammo. Hunting. The popularity of the .32 ACP waned amid stiff competition from the .380 ACP until 1996, when the Beretta Tomcat, a slightly enlarged version of the .22 LR/.25 ACP Bobcat, was introduced in .32 ACP. The main difference between the 380 and .38 special is that the .38 special has a larger cartridge. VS. Smith & Wesson . Cart. The following ammunition cartridge ballistics information and chart can be used to approximately compare .38 Special vs .380 Auto ACP ammo rounds. .380 ACP vs 9mm comparison. Tweet. 380 ACP semi-automatic pistol is one of the most popular categories. Browning himself was not done with 9 mm cartridges and would soon introduce the 9mm Browning Long (9×20mm) in 1903 and the .380 ACP (9×17mm Short) in 1908. One name gives credit to it's creator, one does not. Like the 9mm, it was designed off another cartridge, the .38 ACP. Though ballistically in the same general ballpark, each round brings with it certain advantages as well as negatives. Recently, a number of articles appearing in magazines and blogs pertaining to firearms have been touting the 380 ACP as the "New 38 Special". .380 ACP vs. .38 Special: Which is Better for Concealed Carry? Another one that causes a little angst at times is the British 380 designation, particularly if shown as 380/200. Good read on which is better for concealed carry, .380acp vs .38Special 380-acp-vs-38-special-which-is-better-for-concealed-carry . It was introduced in the 1920s as an improvement (with higher pressure loading) over the old .38 ACP. 380 ACP vs 9mm. The cartridge headspaces on the mouth of the case. The .380 ACP is one of the most popular calibers for concealed carry today. The .38 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol), also known as the .38 Auto or 9x23mmSR, is a semi-rimmed pistol cartridge that was introduced at the turn of the 20th century for the John Browning-designed Colt M1900.It was first used in Colt's Model 1897 prototype, which he did not produce. Customary Metric . The 9mm is better for long-range targets, whereas the 380 ACP excels at short-range targets. This isn’t as much of a problem these days, since no one makes guns in .38 ACP. Chris Mudgett. Explaining the difference in power between the .380 ACP and the .38 Special. It takes roughly 9.6 gr of AA#9 for the .38 Super load. Despite there being more potent handguns available in similar size packages, these two calibers continue to take a significant portion of the defensive handgun market share. For example, if you are facing a home intruder, either weapon will serve you well. 38 Special vs 380 ACP. First appearing in the late 1920s, the .38 Super retains the profile of the 38 ACP / Auto albeit with a higher pressure loading. The .380 ACP and .38 Special both offer compact handgun options for defensive shooters. The other side of the equation for energy is the weight of the bullet, .380 ACP normally tops out at about 100gr bullets while 9mm normally doesn't start until at least 115gr. .380 ACP is little brother to the .38 ACP. The Seecamp LWS 32 is the "ultimate pocket carry gun." The .38 (also referred to as .38 Super Auto) is simply a pistol cartridge used to fire the 9.04mm bullet. The .380 ACP round is cheaper and easier to handle and conceal, while the 9mm is more powerful overall. So if you want to get your money’s worth, think about what you want. 9mm Browning gives credit, neither of the two you posted above do. The bullet diameter on the other hand is virtually the same. The carrying capacity is another issue. How do you get to John Browning from Automatic Colt Pistol? Of course, we know that we need to dress around our gun and not the other way … Additionally .38 AUTO, .38 ACP, .38 Special and .38 SUPER are entirely different rounds altogether. Please note, the following information reflects the estimated average ballistics for each caliber and does not pertain to a particular manufacturer, bullet weight, o The following ammunition cartridge ballistics information and chart can be used to approximately compare .327 Federal Magnum vs .380 Auto ACP ammo rounds. Seecamp .32 ACP or .380 ACP – the ultimate pocket carry gun . This is the UK Army load for Webley MkIVs (from WWII era) and the Enfield revolvers from the same time period. The 380 Auto vs 9mm are both excellent calibers. There was also a 200 gr bullet load for .38S&W revolver Compare Views. I’m not saying a SIG P320 or a Glock 17 is a bad idea. was successfully added to your cart. Unlike the old .38 ACP, which propelled a 130-grain bullet at 320.0 m/s, this new, improved cartridge could do it at 390.1 m/s. The question is, which is better for concealed carry? M&P 9 Shield EZ. (YouTube) January 09, 2018 Dan "TheFireArmGuy" Abraham. Testing penetration and performance of 32 ACP vs 380 ACP vs 9mm So, when you buy a TV these days, the sticker at the store will describe it as something like a "60-inch class" television. The 38 special is usually loaded in a 6 round revolver and if you are talking snub noses then it will usually hold just 5. projectile at 1100 f/s has the same momentum as a 185gr. The Luger was ballistically similar to the .38 ACP but utilized a smaller case and higher pressures. The .38 Special is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge by Smith & Wesson. In equally weighted pistols, a .38 Super load that launches a 160 gr. Case length does not equate to either of those measurements. Uncategorized 38 acp vs 380 M&P 380 Shield EZ. Compare the dimensions and specs of Smith & Wesson M&P 380 Shield EZ and Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield EZ. This is why, in the 70s, most manufacturers began to mark their Super ammo as +P. 9mm vs. .380 Auto vs. .38 Special: Which Concealed Carry Cartridge is the Best? projectile launched from a .45 ACP. As both remain popular, we see debate on a regular basis concerning which is the "best." Article Posted: April 10, 2012. The hot version of .38 ACP was called .38 Super. While .380 ACP is x17mm Vs. 9mm Luger's x19mm, it is not 11% less powder or 11% less energy. .38 Special vs 9mm comparison. The Story of Black Duck Revival: “I Never Found a Place I Belong, So I’m Making One” Hunting. On the other hand, the .38 Super is able to push the velocity to around 1,215 – 1,450 Feet Per Second. Please note, the following information reflects the estimated average ballistics for each caliber and does not pertain to a particular manufacturer, bullet weight, or jacketing type. .380 AUTO and .380 ACP are the same. The 9mm Luger also known as 9X19mm Parabellum was designed by George Luger and is the most popular and widely used military handgun cartridge. Sometimes we find ourselves in a position where the clothes we are wearing do not suit the gun we are carrying. DAO Compact Pistol *Buying ammo from LuckyGunner.com helps support HandgunHero. .32ACP vs .38 Special A friend and me had a difference of opinion which of a Walther PPK in .32ACP (with a 7 round magazine and 1 up the spout) or a Rossi 5 shot .38 … Colt didn't create it, Browning did. Some great points, especially about the ammo available these days. Jan 8, 2021 #2 Thanks, Anni. BATTLE OF THE RUGER .380S: LCP VS… Reactions: KillerFord1977, 10mmLife, Bassbob and 1 other … Let's take a look at what we might expect from these or similar loads. Share. The … The best concealed carry gun holds plenty of ammo and shoots bullets that expand rapidly and penetrate deep. Flip. .380 Auto VS .38 Special in Pocket Guns Episode 1- Which Actual Cartridge is More Powerful? More Guns. The .380 ACP (9×17mm) (Automatic Colt Pistol) is a rimless, straight-walled pistol cartridge developed by firearms designer John Moses Browning. July 30, 2020. Compare the dimensions and specs of Ruger LCP II and Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard 380 What is forgotten is that the 9 Largo chambering will fit the 38 ACP and the 38 Super, but be very careful to engage brain before pulling trigger. At first glance we found this amusing as the 380 ACP with its 17mm case length looks absolutely tiny next to a 38 Special round with its 39 mm case length. Reactions: wmg1299, KillerFord1977, jmcd and 4 others. A Comparison of 9x18mm Makarov, .380 ACP, and .38 Special (2" barrel) A common topic centers on which is best: 9mm Mak, .380 ACP, or the .38 Snub. The 380, 380 ACP (automatic colt pistol), 9mm Kurz, 9mm Browning Short, 9mm Corto are different names for the same cartridge, depending on what part of the world you are in. 38 Special or 380 ACP? It’s pretty hard to make a conclusion about .32 ACP vs. .380 ACP without taking into account individual demands and requirements. by Richard Mann - Friday, January 8, 2021 More SUBSCRIBE It’s common for folks to overlook the concealed part of concealed carry when selecting a handgun for that purpose. The 380 handgun is smaller and more comfortable to maneuver in close range situations. Handgun Search; Tabletop Compare; Contribute; Contact; Smith & Wesson . Facing In; …