Ballistic information on these rounds from these specific guns: The .380 ACP is a 90 gr Gold Dot and gets 890 FPS/158 ft lbs energy from this Ruger LCP. The .38 Special is a 125 gr Gold Dot and gets 830 FPS/191 ft lbs energy from this S&W 342PD. The 9mm is a 124 gr Gold Dot and gets 1,064 FPS/312 ft lbs energy from this Diamondback DB9.
For a compact. concealable pocket pistol, the .380 did some good damage. For a quick self-defense gun for its size, I would definitely pony up for the .380 auto. Like you stated, I wouldn't want to get hit by that round either!
.380's are pretty good, but in my experience with ballistic testing they cannot meet the FBI type of protocol. They will do fine with a front on shot, but a minimum of 12" in gel, or a minimum in my bologna/fiberboard/water jug testing of 3rd jug is required to show the bullet can penetrate through an arm and into the body. The .380 typically does not meet the 12" minimum but it would do just fine with a straight on center mass shot.
I just purchased my S & W 36 made in 1976. You can see why this was the standard carry gun for detectives. They had a lot of trouble with felonious fruit back then.
They each have their own advantages and I wouldn't want to get shot by any of them. I'm looking at a .380 browning 1911, it fits great and has enough capacity against one or two knuckleheads.
@@GunSam We all know theres not one perfect gun for any given scenario. If it was one person, a 5 shot .38 snub is fine. A .380 with 8 rounds is even better and some of the 9mm micros have reliability issues plus a touch of recoil.
I carry all these calibers in a pocket style gun. Impressed enough with all to feel good about carrying them. Thanks. I really love my wheel guns but tend to carry my Sig p365 more now.
I have two of them. They’re great guns once you change the springs in the magazines. The factory springs are shit and cause the feed issues. Once changed out, I’ve never had a single feed issue.
@@theredneckwizard8738 I bought one used and had the slide rails shear off on me. I replaced the mag spring with the pf9 spring and it didn't jam though. Now I'm waiting for diamond back to contact me to buy the part off of them..
I've handled, but not fired, the DB9. I didn't care for how it fit my hand. I have a Kahr CM9, which is about the same size, and I had the trigger polished just a little. It is a great shooter and one of my favorites! I did add the finger extension to the magazines, also. My .380 is the Taurus Spectrum, it's a great shooter with hollow-point rounds.
I love my LCP2. I take it Everywhere. I also have a 9mm and 40. Cal but I always find myself carrying the 380. I stagger my rounds jhp, fmj, jhp, fmj and so on. I've never felt like I cant protect my family.
.380 auto actually has impressive numbers for "stopping power". I think probably why is because it's not a LE round, the people who are shot with it are not adrenalin/drug filled psychos running at cops, so the .380 to an average attacker is like dynamite.
My daughter carries a .380 and the wife has a 38 spl. One day out of the blue we decided to shoot at a coke can that washed up on a fallen tree, about 25 feet away. The .380 stove piped on the second round and was difficult to clear due to dust, makeup, and other purse dander that had gotten into her holstered gun. The wife carries hers unholstered in the purse, and it fired flawlessly, hitting the can twice. I would swear the 38 spl sounded louder and caused bigger splashes, too. Ammo choice makes a big difference as well.
Always a good time when you get to see stuff blown apart with hollow points I have 17 loaded in one of my many mags and for their sakes I hope I don’t have to do the watermelon test on their chest
But the question is which would you want to have in your hand if someone or something was trying to harm you or your loved ones. But a 380 is always better than the 9mm or 38 left at home because of the discomfort of weight and size.
Once again tests prove that watermelon is the king of ballistic fruits. Good showing by all, pleased the std. pressure .38 did so well. Very colorful test, good going Sam.
Any gun in the pocket beats any "better" gun left in the gun safe. ;) Of those I think any of them will definitely do the job. They each have their own advantages and disadvantages. The .380 can be in a smaller frame, though often at the expense of shootability, comfort, and practical accuracy. The 9mm these days can be smaller than ever, though the smallest don't seem any smaller really than a J-frame, but then, as noted, one can get into reliability issues (also comfort, shootability, and ammo finickiness). The J-frame ... well it's a J-frame .38. Can't do much about ammo capacity but they tend to go bang every single time and you can pick from a much wider array of ammo choices from light wadcutters up to darn-near-magnum loads. All differences aside, every single one of them will drop a bad guy hit in the right spot, and none of them are more likely than the other to drop a determined bad guy with a bad hit or a miss. FWIW, some of the reliability issues I've seen with the tiny autos comes from shooter error. Folks used to shooting bigger guns use the same two-handed grip which can (depending on grip) soften the shooting hand a bit at the backstrap of the pistol and allow the pistol to move further under recoil than it should. It only takes a tiny bit more free rearward motion to mess up the cycle. I've suggested for some time folks with problem tiny autos that are having reliability issues shoot the gun one-handed only before they get rid of the piece. Most of the time that clears up the problem. Note, however, that I have zero experience with the little DB9 you have there. In any case, great (and fun!) video!
9mm HSTs in my regular EDC but sometimes I'll pack a Taurus TCP or a S&W J frame airweight loaded with Hornady Critical defense when I can't pack a full sized nine 👍
I carry either a full size 9mm or a snub 38 ,but that 380 is not a bad round.I don't own a 380, but it will get the job done.I would not want to be shot with one.
It comes down to what works for you. A .380 or .32 beats harsh language, but if you have a choice you want something more. I recently popped a couple of raccoons with .380 because it’s what I had in my pocket at the time, but I’d have been better off with one of my wife’s +P loaded .38 Specials.
I do have larger and more powerful calibers than the .380 but when I run out anywhere I’m legally allowed to carry, my LCP max goes with me. I do bring my M&P Shield 9mm when I know it won’t print under certain clothing.
Someone put a ballistics gel expansion-test of the .380 online, using the Gold Dot, and I was really surprised by how well it did. My take away: I wouldn't want someone to point ANY of these at me!
I have faith in the .380 caliber but not the platform itself. I've seen too many malfunctioning micro pistols to completely trust them. my S&W Bodyguard .380 started off good and then it started having malfunctions as early as the 250 round mark. I'm thinking "is this gun really falling apart this early" turned out to be the mags, both of them! but why so fast? they're inexpensive so bought new ones but somewhat lost faith in them believing this is just a ticking time bomb until they fail again. when I throw my bodyguard in my pocket, I'm now like "eh" .. so i moved towards my .38 snub in either the LCR or 442 as my bottom floor and I'll know it will work when I need it . I chose reliability over capacity anyday.
Downsized from a Colt 1911 .45 to a Sig p238 .380 and feel confident with this round. Eat all brands of ammo but After several thousand rounds I like the Speer Lawman.accurate to over 100 yrds IF your name is Jerry or Hickok45; we do well 7-10yrds. Thanks for another fun comparison.fruit salad, anyone?
I think the .38 Special has it's rightful place in the middle of the test as it combines the best of all of them, better reliability than 9mm but harder to shoot than .380. I never carry 9mm for self defense unless the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, so only when I have a 4" barrel 15+1 in 9mm will I carry one.
Yep, it's that gun. Time to breakout your new Smith & Wesson 9mm for testing & leave that "non-feeder" on the shelf for a while. My Springfield XD9-TACTICAL has not choked on ANY ammo fed to it in over a 1,000 rounds & I'm willing to bet your new kid will have at least, if not even better results. Thanks for your work Sam!
Well IMO, my LCP II is the most easy to deep conceal in my pocket or ankle but I do carry my Glock 43 or my S&W snub nose in my pocket. I think it all depends how you feel about what is in your pocket and if you trust your life with it!
I know what you mean. After having some time with the .327 LCR I found that to be right for me. I know I could pull it up and make like 3 head shots in one second if I had to, no other gun I have is like that yet still fitting in a pocket.
@@GunSam Wow are you talking about shooting actual .327 Fed Mag rounds that fast or did you mean .32 HR Mag or .32 S&W Long rounds? I've never shot the .327 Fed Mag but they look like they have pretty good amount of recoil.
I have a secondary pocket 380 with 7 shots and if I have to use it I know I have to put at least 3-4 rounds or depending if its winter all 7 round to stop the threat. Pocket pistols are not the end all be all but I have it on me all the time. Even now as I'm feeding the toilet it's in my pocket
Back to old school! I think all three calibers have their place. 380 is nice in tiny guns because it has less recoil and the recoil spring is not as heavy, so smaller, weaker hands can work it. It is also a capable round even though it won't pass the FBI tests. It will still make you bleed. 38 Spl is nice because revolvers are generally more reliable than tiny autos. You get fewer rounds, but you can be confident that you get to use all of them if you have to. 9mm is better for medium frame and up guns because it will recoil in featherweight small autos which will start running into reliability issues if they are not good quality. For my Sig P365 SAS, I like the 12 round magazines because they give my pinky finger solid purchase. The ten rounders don't and the recoil is most definitely there. I suspect that there is a large group of people for whom the Glock 42 would be a better choice than the Glock 43. S&W has the 380 EZ which is not so tiny and would also be good for old arthritic hands or tiny female hands. A S&W 642/442 would be a nice light carry gun that conceals fairly well. Easy to get at due to grip size. And it will pack a punch although the recoil will be there. You also have to master that heavy trigger. I would be more confident of the safety of the revolver due to the heavy trigger.
@@GunSam My PPK/S is larger than the P365! It's also heavier. However it is ammo finicky and the new ones are priced rather high. Too high, IMO. Also the straight blow back does not shield you from recoil. But the Glock 42 or S&W 380 EZ should both make decent "large" sized 380s. However, I haven't handled either of them.
Do a spring kit and have the innards polished out by a gunsmith and you will make that snubbie shoot like a champ. It will make it smooth as butter and reduce the pull weight on double action to about 7 1/2 to 8 lbs. Instead of 12 to 13 pounds.
So what your saying is the speed of the bullet and weight of the bullet determine the wound cavity . All three of them are the same diameter . They have different shell casings but use the same diameter bullets . Check out a reloading book . And you can put the .357 magnum in that group too . Happy New year
well there's a tad difference, in jacketed bullets 9mm is .355" as where .38 Special and .357 Magnum are .357". Now in lead bullets 9mm is .356" typically and .38 Special and .357 Magnum are typically .358".
Summer fruit not withstanding I still carry my LCP more often than my 340PD b/c it’s easier during warm weather. Guess I’ll have to admit to being lazy, good video Sam.
Thank you. And that's why I still carry a revolver, not this one as much but usually a .327 because it's 6 shots faster and more accurate than a .38 Special.
Ammo tests in summer means melons become fruit cocktail, I'm keeping my LCR .38 as my edc in case of the next "Attack of the Killer Watermelon"!! Now to try to find anyplace that has ammo..... By the way, it looks like you're slimming down, looking really healthy.
Yes, But these 3 are not to big, nor to small AND these are (roughly) the same bore diameter (.356" ~ 9mm) making a very valid comparo. .38 Super and .357Mag are similar in bore, but a bit "much" for avg "pocket" guns.
Would the 327 Fed mag Gold Dot out of your Ruger LCR out perform the 9mm?? At 568 ft lbs of energy and 1600 ft per second it just may...Your review on Midway was impressive. Alas the 327 fed mag in Gold Dot is out of stock.
I think 440 ft lbs was what the Gold Dot gave in energy when I tested the 100 gr .327 in the snub, but even lesser .327's with the same energy as a 9mm would do better than a 9mm because the velocity is a little higher
@@redneck400m3 You have one shot advantage over my 5 shots but I guess we have the same mindset. We believe our revolvers are good enough for self defense.
@@scooterbob4432 Exactly. Id rather have 5 or 6 shots i know are gonna fire everytime then 15 that may jam after 3...or be stopped by the bad guy even grabbing the slide
I would like to suggest a similar test with 22 Magnum in Speer Gold Dot and Hornady Critical Defense, each fired from both a Ruger LCR with 1.875 inch barrel and a Ruger Single Six with 6.5 inch barrel.
I like 380, it's easier, more accurate, and not that expensive. I once shot about 20 rounds at a uhaul box, didn't flat it out, just shot at letters on the box. I picked up box and started to break it down to recycle, I found a 380 bullet inside. As in it managed to penetrate only one layer of cardboard and fell inside the box. Granted it could be an under-powered round, but I loss interest in carrying 380 ACP.
Must've been some super low power boutique or target load. My 380 experience is that they'll go clean through 2x4's at self defense ranges and a little further. Not saying it didn't happen, just saying it was likely a fluke
No Gold Dot 327 Federal? It is a standard pressure load. 😂😂. Actually very nice test I guessed the 38 and 9 would do well but the 380 surprised me but then again Gold Dot is just a fantastic round.
Sam----I live in upstate NY but I am visiting my son who works for Dark Storm AR15s....now I carry 9mm Gold Dot 124 in my PC Shield for EDC ....if possible to buy more would you stick with this ammo or consider something different........thanks so much
I still to this day load Gold Dot in my 9mm pistols. There are other rounds maybe equally good like Winchester Ranger or HST, but I find Gold Dot to probably still be the most consistent in 9mm.
On that note I feel like the best melon shooter would by the LCR .327 with .32 H&R mag ammo. For me, I could easily shoot two melons in the time it would take to shoot one melon with these.
@@GunSam I'll check it out. I'm a fan of big-bore stuff, but I firmly believe in using the right tool for the job. At five feet, a 44mag is possibly more than necessary for even the most rabid melon.
Depends on the person, but I'd say 38 and 380 seem to work better in small guns. The 38 will fire all 5 rounds no matter the angle. The autos might not.
Ballistic information on these rounds from these specific guns: The .380 ACP is a 90 gr Gold Dot and gets 890 FPS/158 ft lbs energy from this Ruger LCP. The .38 Special is a 125 gr Gold Dot and gets 830 FPS/191 ft lbs energy from this S&W 342PD. The 9mm is a 124 gr Gold Dot and gets 1,064 FPS/312 ft lbs energy from this Diamondback DB9.
Was the DB9 the gen 3 or new gen4?
On a "tiny" poly auto, I like the .380, But I NEVER feel "undergunned" with .38Spl even from a lil'ol "J" frame 😊
Yes. The .38 is sort of the balance between the others.
For a compact. concealable pocket pistol, the .380 did some good damage. For a quick self-defense gun for its size, I would definitely pony up for the .380 auto. Like you stated, I wouldn't want to get hit by that round either!
.380's are pretty good, but in my experience with ballistic testing they cannot meet the FBI type of protocol. They will do fine with a front on shot, but a minimum of 12" in gel, or a minimum in my bologna/fiberboard/water jug testing of 3rd jug is required to show the bullet can penetrate through an arm and into the body. The .380 typically does not meet the 12" minimum but it would do just fine with a straight on center mass shot.
I just purchased my S & W 36 made in 1976. You can see why this was the standard carry gun for detectives. They had a lot of trouble with felonious fruit back then.
They each have their own advantages and I wouldn't want to get shot by any of them. I'm looking at a .380 browning 1911, it fits great and has enough capacity against one or two knuckleheads.
That would be a good gun for the .380 ACP Federal HST. Very hot for a .38 and closer to 9mm for energy.
@@GunSam We all know theres not one perfect gun for any given scenario. If it was one person, a 5 shot .38 snub is fine. A .380 with 8 rounds is even better and some of the 9mm micros have reliability issues plus a touch of recoil.
9mm and .38 Special hit harder than .380. I'd go with .38 Special plus P.
A 38 spl plus P even better. Out of a 3" ir 4" revolver makes a huge difference.
I don't think you can go wrong with either of these especially for pocket carry! Very cool test and data for comparison. Thanks Sam!👍🙏🇺🇸
Thanks
Great demo. You called the shots perfectly.
I carry all these calibers in a pocket style gun. Impressed enough with all to feel good about carrying them. Thanks. I really love my wheel guns but tend to carry my Sig p365 more now.
Yeah, a good follow-up would be various .32 caliber loads vs. .380, .38 special, etc.
Glad you stick up for .38 spec. Thanks for another good vid!
note to self... don't buy a diamond back. Thanks for the info.
I have two of them. They’re great guns once you change the springs in the magazines. The factory springs are shit and cause the feed issues. Once changed out, I’ve never had a single feed issue.
@@theredneckwizard8738 I bought one used and had the slide rails shear off on me. I replaced the mag spring with the pf9 spring and it didn't jam though. Now I'm waiting for diamond back to contact me to buy the part off of them..
I've handled, but not fired, the DB9. I didn't care for how it fit my hand. I have a Kahr CM9, which is about the same size, and I had the trigger polished just a little. It is a great shooter and one of my favorites! I did add the finger extension to the magazines, also.
My .380 is the Taurus Spectrum, it's a great shooter with hollow-point rounds.
I love my LCP2. I take it Everywhere. I also have a 9mm and 40. Cal but I always find myself carrying the 380. I stagger my rounds jhp, fmj, jhp, fmj and so on. I've never felt like I cant protect my family.
.380 auto actually has impressive numbers for "stopping power". I think probably why is because it's not a LE round, the people who are shot with it are not adrenalin/drug filled psychos running at cops, so the .380 to an average attacker is like dynamite.
My daughter carries a .380 and the wife has a 38 spl. One day out of the blue we decided to shoot at a coke can that washed up on a fallen tree, about 25 feet away. The .380 stove piped on the second round and was difficult to clear due to dust, makeup, and other purse dander that had gotten into her holstered gun. The wife carries hers unholstered in the purse, and it fired flawlessly, hitting the can twice. I would swear the 38 spl sounded louder and caused bigger splashes, too. Ammo choice makes a big difference as well.
The .38 Special has essentially the same amount of powder as the 9mm, so it would be louder than .380 and its usually more powerful than the .380
Good and interesting video. I was impressed that the .380 did that well. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks!
That's why I carry the .38spl or 9mm depending on what I'm wearing. Both can get the job done!
Always a good time when you get to see stuff blown apart with hollow points I have 17 loaded in one of my many mags and for their sakes I hope I don’t have to do the watermelon test on their chest
.32 ACP (semi) and .32 Long (revolver). Yes, "8" is a lucky number, and those two are as close as you get.
Thanks for the comparisons Sam. Each can get the job done but hard to beat the 9mm.
Thanks for watching
Good test. Amazingly, I just bought some of that same ammo in .38. Haven't tried it yet, but soon.
Thank you. I did a full test of it awhile back and it did pretty good. th-cam.com/video/SFJOJkQU_nM/w-d-xo.html&t
Great video... the 38 special always has a hidden wallop... I know the flies and ants had a field day with all that wallamena laying around
Thank you
I'll take the .38 SPL hammerless for a pocket pistol. I can see why others would choose a semi though.
J frame with a crimson trace laser and +P ammo means accurate, lethal shots from the hip.
Any of them could ruin your day ! Good video!
Thank you.
But the question is which would you want to have in your hand if someone or something was trying to harm you or your loved ones. But a 380 is always better than the 9mm or 38 left at home because of the discomfort of weight and size.
@@ericsnow3663 True!
Vegetarian friendly video this time!
Always great to watch some fruits disappear.
I have the Ruger revolver (SP101) chambered in 9mm. I keep it on the night stand. On my belt is a S&W 642-1 in 38 spl+p.
It's watermelon time....like they say on Kentucky Ballistics. Great video Sam. You need to say its Gold Dot time!!!
Thank you. My daughter said I needed to do more stuff like this. So, that means I will get more views from 14 year olds lol.
@@GunSam I'm sure it would.
Great video. Id love to see a similar video but with critical defense.
38 special for me. Thanks for the video!
Thanks for watching
Just wanna say that I am listening to Lady A........I mean Lady ANTEBELLUM just because, on the television set tonight. AND, I am NOT WEARING A MASX!
Nice video Sam... the 9mm is definitely the most powerful round of the 3 but Nobody should feel like there underguned with any of these options..
Thank you. Yes, it has some good power, but too much for a small pistol maybe.
357 Mag 125 SJHP Remington is my choice..
Pretty powerful
I like the .357 125 grain flat point Colt Match by DoubleTap (hollow point is not allowed where I am). Quite controllable at 7 to 10 yards.
Once again tests prove that watermelon is the king of ballistic fruits. Good showing by all, pleased the std. pressure .38 did so well. Very colorful test, good going Sam.
Thanks
Any gun in the pocket beats any "better" gun left in the gun safe. ;)
Of those I think any of them will definitely do the job. They each have their own advantages and disadvantages. The .380 can be in a smaller frame, though often at the expense of shootability, comfort, and practical accuracy. The 9mm these days can be smaller than ever, though the smallest don't seem any smaller really than a J-frame, but then, as noted, one can get into reliability issues (also comfort, shootability, and ammo finickiness). The J-frame ... well it's a J-frame .38. Can't do much about ammo capacity but they tend to go bang every single time and you can pick from a much wider array of ammo choices from light wadcutters up to darn-near-magnum loads.
All differences aside, every single one of them will drop a bad guy hit in the right spot, and none of them are more likely than the other to drop a determined bad guy with a bad hit or a miss. FWIW, some of the reliability issues I've seen with the tiny autos comes from shooter error. Folks used to shooting bigger guns use the same two-handed grip which can (depending on grip) soften the shooting hand a bit at the backstrap of the pistol and allow the pistol to move further under recoil than it should. It only takes a tiny bit more free rearward motion to mess up the cycle. I've suggested for some time folks with problem tiny autos that are having reliability issues shoot the gun one-handed only before they get rid of the piece. Most of the time that clears up the problem. Note, however, that I have zero experience with the little DB9 you have there. In any case, great (and fun!) video!
Thank you. I still think the .38 is the best compromise.
Cool comparison video Sam.
Thank you.
Fun vid. Thanks👍!!
Thanks for watching!
Always great videos
Keep them coming. Good info
9mm HSTs in my regular EDC but sometimes I'll pack a Taurus TCP or a S&W J frame airweight loaded with Hornady Critical defense when I can't pack a full sized nine 👍
I carry either a full size 9mm or a snub 38 ,but that 380 is not a bad round.I don't own a 380, but it will get the job done.I would not want to be shot with one.
It comes down to what works for you. A .380 or .32 beats harsh language, but if you have a choice you want something more. I recently popped a couple of raccoons with .380 because it’s what I had in my pocket at the time, but I’d have been better off with one of my wife’s +P loaded .38 Specials.
Great Video, I really like my SIG P238 and the little 380 does pretty good. -Gunny T sends
Some guys have ALL of the fun!
You realize I am a single dad with two teenage girls lol. They get mad easy, not so fun during certain weeks!
Good video. It's fun seeing the melons react to being hit by the different calibers.
Thanks.
I do have larger and more powerful calibers than the .380 but when I run out anywhere I’m legally allowed to carry, my LCP max goes with me. I do bring my M&P Shield 9mm when I know it won’t print under certain clothing.
Someone put a ballistics gel expansion-test of the .380 online, using the Gold Dot, and I was really surprised by how well it did. My take away: I wouldn't want someone to point ANY of these at me!
I do like the gel tests, but they are so easy to find one for what you are looking for now days, short story of why I do my style of tests lol
I think the one that performs the best is the one you are comfortable with
Nine mm and 38 special are what I break out first then the 357-125 g sjhp and last but not least the 45 g21. Those are all good rounds.
Great review on the 3. Would definitely go with 9mm. Wish i could find a pocket 10mm though!
As always a great video. Thank you Sam
Thank you
I like my sp101 3 inch in 357. I keep leaning towards the 9mm small semi auto with higher capacity an lighter carry weight .
Yip! Great test. Real world carry guns & real world ammo. Great job!
Thank you.
Ahh, yes another fun one. But in the interest of science of course.:) I think we should dedicate this one to the legend Grant Imahara RIP.
Trick question: it's .32 ACP or .327 Federal Magnum.
Thanks as always for the videos my dude. 🤙
.327
38 Special has my vote.
All three past the test 👍
The best caliber is the one you actually carry everyday
Summer School Science project.
Neat results.
.380 FMJ 👍
38 wad cutters 👍
9mm 147 grain JHP 👍
Get it done !!!
Any idea what 38 long Colt would do to that melon? Just bought a box as there were no 38spl available at the time.
I have faith in the .380 caliber but not the platform itself. I've seen too many malfunctioning micro pistols to completely trust them. my S&W Bodyguard .380 started off good and then it started having malfunctions as early as the 250 round mark. I'm thinking "is this gun really falling apart this early" turned out to be the mags, both of them! but why so fast? they're inexpensive so bought new ones but somewhat lost faith in them believing this is just a ticking time bomb until they fail again. when I throw my bodyguard in my pocket, I'm now like "eh" .. so i moved towards my .38 snub in either the LCR or 442 as my bottom floor and I'll know it will work when I need it . I chose reliability over capacity anyday.
I know what you mean. Even is street stats the .380 is really good, but these pistols are just not good. The bigger framed .380's do better.
I have a DB9 with over 2000 rounds through it. I carry it every day as my work gun. I had similar malfunctions as yours with rem. Goldensaber 124gr
A Kahr P380 had similar feed usues with my prefered 124 grain Gold Dots.
Downsized from a Colt 1911 .45 to a Sig p238 .380 and feel confident with this round. Eat all brands of ammo but After several thousand rounds I like the Speer Lawman.accurate to over 100 yrds IF your name is Jerry or Hickok45; we do well 7-10yrds. Thanks for another fun comparison.fruit salad, anyone?
I'd say all 3 are acceptable pocket carry calibers, although some did better than others.
I think the .38 Special has it's rightful place in the middle of the test as it combines the best of all of them, better reliability than 9mm but harder to shoot than .380. I never carry 9mm for self defense unless the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, so only when I have a 4" barrel 15+1 in 9mm will I carry one.
Yep, it's that gun. Time to breakout your new Smith & Wesson 9mm for testing & leave that "non-feeder" on the shelf for a while. My Springfield XD9-TACTICAL has not choked on ANY ammo fed to it in over a 1,000 rounds & I'm willing to bet your new kid will have at least, if not even better results. Thanks for your work Sam!
It's not a great gun, but i'm still going to use it for testing short barrel ballistics.
Well IMO, my LCP II is the most easy to deep conceal in my pocket or ankle but I do carry my Glock 43 or my S&W snub nose in my pocket. I think it all depends how you feel about what is in your pocket and if you trust your life with it!
I know what you mean. After having some time with the .327 LCR I found that to be right for me. I know I could pull it up and make like 3 head shots in one second if I had to, no other gun I have is like that yet still fitting in a pocket.
@@GunSam Wow are you talking about shooting actual .327 Fed Mag rounds that fast or did you mean .32 HR Mag or .32 S&W Long rounds? I've never shot the .327 Fed Mag but they look like they have pretty good amount of recoil.
I have a secondary pocket 380 with 7 shots and if I have to use it I know I have to put at least 3-4 rounds or depending if its winter all 7 round to stop the threat. Pocket pistols are not the end all be all but I have it on me all the time. Even now as I'm feeding the toilet it's in my pocket
Over sharing there, dude. Over sharing.
Back to old school! I think all three calibers have their place. 380 is nice in tiny guns because it has less recoil and the recoil spring is not as heavy, so smaller, weaker hands can work it. It is also a capable round even though it won't pass the FBI tests. It will still make you bleed. 38 Spl is nice because revolvers are generally more reliable than tiny autos. You get fewer rounds, but you can be confident that you get to use all of them if you have to. 9mm is better for medium frame and up guns because it will recoil in featherweight small autos which will start running into reliability issues if they are not good quality. For my Sig P365 SAS, I like the 12 round magazines because they give my pinky finger solid purchase. The ten rounders don't and the recoil is most definitely there. I suspect that there is a large group of people for whom the Glock 42 would be a better choice than the Glock 43. S&W has the 380 EZ which is not so tiny and would also be good for old arthritic hands or tiny female hands. A S&W 642/442 would be a nice light carry gun that conceals fairly well. Easy to get at due to grip size. And it will pack a punch although the recoil will be there. You also have to master that heavy trigger. I would be more confident of the safety of the revolver due to the heavy trigger.
I really really do want to get into a larger .380 as i'm curious how it would do.
@@GunSam My PPK/S is larger than the P365! It's also heavier. However it is ammo finicky and the new ones are priced rather high. Too high, IMO. Also the straight blow back does not shield you from recoil. But the Glock 42 or S&W 380 EZ should both make decent "large" sized 380s. However, I haven't handled either of them.
Do a spring kit and have the innards polished out by a gunsmith and you will make that snubbie shoot like a champ. It will make it smooth as butter and reduce the pull weight on double action to about 7 1/2 to 8 lbs. Instead of 12 to 13 pounds.
9mm
I like .38 Special. But where I live, the bears here run from bb gun shots.
So what your saying is the speed of the bullet and weight of the bullet determine the wound cavity . All three of them are the same diameter . They have different shell casings but use the same diameter bullets . Check out a reloading book . And you can put the .357 magnum in that group too . Happy New year
well there's a tad difference, in jacketed bullets 9mm is .355" as where .38 Special and .357 Magnum are .357". Now in lead bullets 9mm is .356" typically and .38 Special and .357 Magnum are typically .358".
38 & 9 are the way to go for personal protection
Great video, subbed
Wow. And that was standard 9mm pressure. I carry gold dot +P in my glock 19
Summer fruit not withstanding I still carry my LCP more often than my 340PD b/c it’s easier during warm weather. Guess I’ll have to admit to being lazy, good video Sam.
Thank you. I carry my LCP once in awhile.
I would liked to seen what the 38 +p would have done.
It would have been about the same as this 38 ammo. Unless I used something like Buffalo Bore
.357would make express fruit 🥗
Really good video. Enjoyed this. That particular revolver just speaks to me, in terms of reliability and coolness, coz it's a revolver... fk yeeah.
Thank you. And that's why I still carry a revolver, not this one as much but usually a .327 because it's 6 shots faster and more accurate than a .38 Special.
38 said stop playing with me
I'm surprise you left out the LCR in 327 fed mag. 6 shots of more stopping power than the ones you tested.
Was trying to use the most common talked about
As always a great video. Love My MC1sc for everyday carry
Thanks. Is that the Mossberg pistol?
Gun Sam _Revolver Aficionado_ Yes it’s the one that came out last year. 9mm subcompact. You should shoot one it rocks.
Ammo tests in summer means melons become fruit cocktail, I'm keeping my LCR .38 as my edc in case of the next "Attack of the Killer Watermelon"!! Now to try to find anyplace that has ammo..... By the way, it looks like you're slimming down, looking really healthy.
Thanks. I think it's the vest. It looks good so it slims me as my weight hasn't changed more than 5 lbs. I been dieting for awhile though.
Aren't there more than three pocket gun calibers?
Of course, but the most common seem to be these. I wanted to pull out my .327 and .357 snubs, but that wouldn't be fair.
Yes, But these 3 are not to big, nor to small AND these are (roughly) the same bore diameter (.356" ~ 9mm) making a very valid comparo. .38 Super and .357Mag are similar in bore, but a bit "much" for avg "pocket" guns.
I liked the video. Very entertaining!
Thanks!
Would the 327 Fed mag Gold Dot out of your Ruger LCR out perform the 9mm?? At 568 ft lbs of energy and 1600 ft per second it just may...Your review on Midway was impressive. Alas the 327 fed mag in Gold Dot is out of stock.
I think 440 ft lbs was what the Gold Dot gave in energy when I tested the 100 gr .327 in the snub, but even lesser .327's with the same energy as a 9mm would do better than a 9mm because the velocity is a little higher
Would love to see you show off a kimber K6s
very scientific lol.....the music made me laugh
Yes, thanks!
So the .38 packs basically the same punch as the 9 but didnt jam after every shot. Now im reminded why i bought a .38 revolver lol
Good choice sir. Love my S & W Model 60. Five for sure. No jam.
@@scooterbob4432 I got a taurus 856 6 shot. Love the little bastard. I figure if its not over in 6 shots im probably dead anyways
@@redneck400m3 You have one shot advantage over my 5 shots but I guess we have the same mindset. We believe our revolvers are good enough for self defense.
@@scooterbob4432 Exactly. Id rather have 5 or 6 shots i know are gonna fire everytime then 15 that may jam after 3...or be stopped by the bad guy even grabbing the slide
Good stuff!
Thanks!
Informative...and FUN!!!
Yes, was going for fun this time.
New sub. Really enjoying the videos
-Kevin
Thank you.
38 sp has not much to envy
It always does well with most of my tests, with the exception of hard barrier. The 9mm beats it there.
I would like to suggest a similar test with 22 Magnum in Speer Gold Dot and Hornady Critical Defense, each fired from both a Ruger LCR with 1.875 inch barrel and a Ruger Single Six with 6.5 inch barrel.
Well, it sounds simple. However, I don't own those handguns.
Gun Sam _Revolver Aficionado_ If you weren’t located so far from Texas, I would loan you mine. 🙂
I like 380, it's easier, more accurate, and not that expensive.
I once shot about 20 rounds at a uhaul box, didn't flat it out, just shot at letters on the box. I picked up box and started to break it down to recycle, I found a 380 bullet inside. As in it managed to penetrate only one layer of cardboard and fell inside the box. Granted it could be an under-powered round, but I loss interest in carrying 380 ACP.
Must've been some super low power boutique or target load. My 380 experience is that they'll go clean through 2x4's at self defense ranges and a little further. Not saying it didn't happen, just saying it was likely a fluke
you rock man!! nice vid... thanks! :)
Thank you
No Gold Dot 327 Federal? It is a standard pressure load. 😂😂. Actually very nice test I guessed the 38 and 9 would do well but the 380 surprised me but then again Gold Dot is just a fantastic round.
Thanks. I wanted to actually use .32 H&R as its very comparable to 380 and 38, but figured the ones I used were more common.
Sam----I live in upstate NY but I am visiting my son who works for Dark Storm AR15s....now I carry 9mm Gold Dot 124 in my PC Shield for EDC ....if possible to buy more would you stick with this ammo or consider something different........thanks so much
I still to this day load Gold Dot in my 9mm pistols. There are other rounds maybe equally good like Winchester Ranger or HST, but I find Gold Dot to probably still be the most consistent in 9mm.
@@GunSam thanks so much
If I'm going to go small for concealment, I'll go 380. The extra power of the other two isn't really a factor when you aim for the melon.
On that note I feel like the best melon shooter would by the LCR .327 with .32 H&R mag ammo. For me, I could easily shoot two melons in the time it would take to shoot one melon with these.
@@GunSam I'll check it out. I'm a fan of big-bore stuff, but I firmly believe in using the right tool for the job. At five feet, a 44mag is possibly more than necessary for even the most rabid melon.
You need to get an M&P Shield and ditch the DB9. I've had great luck with reliability and shootability with the 9mm in the small form from S&W.
I have the Taurus G2C for my testing, but the DB9 was a gift and still a good test pistol.
looks like the 9mm cleaned the table hehehe
One thing though, didn't see any table holes until the last 9mm shot.
It is the .327 federal magnum no doubt :)
Yeah, I think so too or even .32 H&R in the +P loadings. But, I figured staying most common would work well for this test.
@@GunSam Would be fun to see it versus the melons as a reference point, now we are all curious!
Why didn’t you consider a 32? 22 magnum? Or 25 acp?
I don't own a .25 ACP or .22 Mag, I have the .32 but I figured why not just test the most common.
I don't agree with the comparison of the fire arms why the 9.mm got to be all suited up for comperison
What is easiest to use under pressure?
Depends on the person, but I'd say 38 and 380 seem to work better in small guns. The 38 will fire all 5 rounds no matter the angle. The autos might not.