Which do you prefer for personal protection - .380 auto or 9mm auto? Why?

Question

The .380 is sub-sonic, the 9mm is not. Which is better? For safe personal protection, I am not sure what I like better. Thoughts?

Answer 1

In terms of Self defense... any weapon you have handy is good

If I were to choose between the two, I would choose the 9mm.

1 - is a faster round and has greater penetration power
2 - Today's Hollow points are excellent for this round, expansion ,etc.

.380 just doesn't have enough power to be a reliably consistent (IMHO) round for self defense. Will it stop an intruder... maybe. 9mm ... more than likely.

For a subsonic round to be effective, it has to have mass (like a .45 cal). without mass, velocity needs to come in to play (9mm).

Answer 2

I prefer to use .380 ACP, 9x19mm and .45 ACP. I avoid using .40 S&W and 10mm. I like the .45 ACP because it is very effective and in heavier full-sized pistols is generates a moderate recoil. The downside is that such full-sized pistols are a heavier burden to carry and may be difficult to conceal. For home defense or open-carry situations, the .45 ACP is a nice option. The 9x19mm cartridge is also effective and generates a moderate amount of recoil. While it has different ballistics from the .45 ACP, the 9mm is a smaller cartridge. The smaller size of the 9mm allows magazines to have a comparatively greater cartridge capacity. Additionally, a smaller & lighter pistol can be designed for the 9mm cartridge. This increases the options available to 9mm afficionados. They can have a smaller pistol with the same capacity as a larger .45 ACP handgun, or they can have a larger handgun with a larger magazine capacity, or whatever. The point is, the 9mm is a very good "all around" cartridge which has earned great popularity and which can be fired from the widest variety handguns and carbines. The .380 ACP is somewhat less effective, but also more pleasant to shoot and easier to design smaller handguns around its smaller size. The .380 ACP offers an option that is worthy of consideration by many people, especially those who are recoil sensitive or who need to discretely carry smaller handguns. I don't like the .40 S&W because of its "snappy" recoil characteristics. The 10mm is overkill in my opinion. I think it is a niche cartridge that is inconvenient to carry and has a poor 'cost-to-benefit' ratio.

Answer 3

If you were to choose from the 2 you listed I would take the 9mm.... but my personal preference would be a Springfield Armory 1911 45ACP..... you need something with stopping power..... the .38 and 9mm just dont have that power.... thats why law enforcement have switched from the 9mm to the 40 cal..... but it is your preference.....

Answer 4

9mm, because the .380 is a marginal cartridge to bank you life on.In I have a choice, I would prefer the .40 S&W, or the ,45 ACP.

Answer 5

9mm. It is cheaper to buy. I have JHP for my 9mm for home protection. I live in IL so I cannot carry.

Answer 6

9mm. Wider selection of guns and availability of ammo.

Answer 7

I'm partial to my 9mm and my .38 -- both fit my hand well and are easy to control with accuracy.

Answer 8

i like 9mm cause its only taking 1 shot in the knee to figure that ur not playing

Answer 9

My lover have both. His 9mm pistols big and heavy for me. Browning "hi-Power' is best. Walther "PPK" .380 best in my small hand. I weigh 44kg, 154cm tall. He 185cm, 165kg. handle big guns, .500 magnum pistol.

Answer 10

380 is faster,let off more shots and is more accurate