Are 38 Special and 380 ACP different? Yes! These cartridges are very different because they were created for different types of handguns. Yet, they also share some similarities. As you continue reading this 38 Special vs. 380 ACP comparison, you’ll discover which cartridge is the better option for your situation. And yes, one is better than the other.
Overview of the 38 Special and 380 ACP
The 38 Special was designed in 1898 for use in revolvers. It has stood the test of time, and remains a favorite among many shooters for its low recoil and relatively inexpensive 38 Special ammo Whenever I’m feeling a bit nostalgic, I like to take my grandpa’s 38 SPL revolver to the range and punch a few holes in some paper.
The 380 Automatic Colt Pistol (also known as 380 ACP, 380 Auto, 9mm Short, or simply “380”) is the brainchild of legendary gunsmith John Moses Browning. He created the cartridge in 1908, though it remains a popular choice for self-defense and plinking because of its low recoil, inexpensive 380 ACP ammo, and abundant firearm selection.
38 Special and 380 ACP Pros and Cons
Performance Aspect
Better Choice
Why
Recoil
380 Auto
The 380 generally has less recoil, so recoil-sensitive shooters will find it more manageable.
Home/self-defense
380 Auto
Though less powerful, the 380 Auto is better because semi-auto handguns tend to have higher capacity and are more easily concealed.
Ammo selection and availability
Tie
Both cartridges offer a large selection of practice and self-defense ammo.
Capacity
380 Auto
The 380 pistol generally has a magazine capacity of 6 to 15 rounds. The 38 SPL revolver has a cylinder capacity of 5 to 6 rounds.
Firearm availability
Tie
The 380 Auto is chambered in semi-auto pistols like the Glock 42, S&W Shield EZ, and Beretta 84. The 38 SPL is chambered in revolvers ranging from small-frame snub-nosed to larger police and target revolvers. Also, every 357 Magnum firearm can additionally fire 38 SPL. It ultimately depends on personal preference.
J frame air weight 442, reliable,fires through pocket without jamming. Cross draw in car in Desantis Roscoe holster. At near 73 it works fine for me. The 380 is too snappy for me and fifty years of snubnose use in 38 special,it’s five for sure reliable. I tried the walther ppk in 1970 In 380. Not reliable. Not for me
That has happened on the past. Interarms went out of business and was Walthers importer. Production ground to a halt on PPK’s. When S&W started importing them production increased again. Not sure the cause now. Dad had a PPKS in the 1980’s. Quit working double action. I never trusted them after that.
I have an old German PPK and 2 American PPK/S’s - one in .380 and one in .22 LR. Can’t seem to recollect where the .22 went; I saw it about 3 years ago but it has since disappeared. I suspect my wife “cleaned up” the area and it’s where ever she thought to put it. My .380 American had mag issues, a peculiarity of the S&W production. I sent it back but it didn’t seem to make any difference. The old German is reliable as all get-out but it leaves railroad tracks on the web of my hand.
I’ve had a few .380s. Right now I have an FEG PMK-380, which is just a PA-63 chambered in .380 instead of 9mm Makarov. It’s a Hungarian clone of the Walther PP.
I also have a Hi Point .380. It is the exact same pistol as their 9mm, except it is chambered in .380 instead of 9x19. It will handle pretty much any load you can stuff in the case.
I had an AMT Backup for awhile; sold it to a neighbor.
My first .380, one I kinda’ wish I still had, was a Star Model S. That was a reduced size, all steel 1911 clone. Locked breech and all. I used to load 115 grain JHP over a charge of Red Dot that gave it ~1000 fps. That Star shrugged it off like it was nothing. So will my Hi Point, btw. Star doesn’t exist any more, but they made great pistols. They were vastly underrated. I wish I had back every Star I ever owned.
But, .380 vs .38 Special? Not even close. Those +P+ .380 loads barely make it up to the level of standard velocity .38. I can (and have) load .38 Special to a level that, even my Taurus Model 85 snubby, outperforms any 9x19 load even in a full sized pistol.
The Star Model S is a sleeper — locked breech, all steel, and they run forever. Underrated is right.
On the cartridge gap, you’re spot on. The .38 Special case holds more powder and runs at higher pressure when loaded right, so the ceiling is just higher.
A hot .38 +P handload out of a snubby will beat most .380 loads out of a full-size gun, and it’s not close. The .380’s real job is fitting in a pocket, not winning a power contest.
LOCKED BREECH. That’s the big secret. Most .380’s are a bear to pull the slide back since they have to have a strong enough spring to resist rearward movement enough to allow chamber pressure to lessen. With a locked breech you have much better pressure handling, allowing hotter loads, AND a much lighter recoil spring so easier slide racking. That is a significant thing for females and older shooters with weaker hands. (Another reason revolvers are making a comeback.)
A locked breech does not necessarily mean a fixed barrel. It means the slide and barrel stay locked together briefly after firing, allowing pressure to drop before the action opens.
In many locked-breech pistols the barrel tilts; in the Star Model S, the barrel is fixed and the locking arrangement is different. The Desert Eagle does have a fixed barrel, but it is gas-operated with a rotating bolt locking into the barrel.
That’s a locked breech too, just a very different system from the simple blowback action used in many . 380s.
The Desert Eagle is fixed barrel, but it’s not locked breech — it’s gas-retarded blowback. The gas port bleeds off pressure to hold the slide back until the bullet’s left the barrel, so you don’t need the Browning tilt or a rotating bolt to unlock.
Locked breech means the barrel and slide actually travel together for a few millimeters before the barrel drops or rotates out of engagement. Fixed barrel just means the barrel doesn’t move relative to the frame.
Two different ways to solve the same pressure problem. The Star Model S uses a fixed barrel with a separate locking block that drops out of engagement — clever design that keeps accuracy without the tilt.
