.380 ACP vs. 9mm: What’s the Difference?

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The .380 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP) and the 9mm Luger (aka 9x19mm Parabellum, or simply “9mm”) are two of the most popular pistol cartridges. Although both share the same 9mm (0.355”) diameter bullet, the .380 ACP has a shorter case, and is therefore the more anemic round.

I prefer the 9mm for most applications, but my wife loves her 380 Auto. Either cartridge has benefits and drawbacks, so let’s dive into why you might choose one over the other.

380 vs. 9mm: Cost

When we compare 380 ACP and 9mm prices, we might assume the 380 will be less expensive because it’s the smaller round. However, that’s not the case. The 9mm is more popular and abundant, which helps lower its price compared to 380 ammo.

The Differences Between .380 and 9mm

The primary differences between the 380 ACP and 9mm are case length and power. The 380 has the shorter case. It contains less propellant, and has less power and recoil as a result. I don’t consider either cartridge to have heavy recoil, although the 380 definitely has less: a major reason why my wife prefers it.

380 vs. 9mm: Size

The 380 and 9mm both fire bullets of the same diameter, but the 9mm cartridge is bigger and fires heavier bullets than the 380 Auto cartridge. The overall length of the 380 ACP is just under 1 inch (0.984 inches), whereas the overall length of the 9mm is 1.169 inches. This is largely due to the 380’s shorter case.

The 380 Auto’s base diameter (0.374 inches) is slightly narrower than the 9mm’s (0.391 inches). The 380 is not bigger than the 9mm in any way.

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.380 vs 9mm: Recoil

This is one of the few categories where the .380 ACP is superior. Recoil from a .380 ACP is approximately half that of 9mm Luger. That’s a huge difference, to say the least!

Lower recoil is why my wife wanted to switch to the 380 Auto from her 9mm. It allowed her to be more accurate and flinch less, so she was more comfortable firing her pistol.

Being comfortable with your firearm is one of the most important aspects of self-defense and shooting in general. If you’re uncomfortable while shooting in a defensive situation, you’ll miss the mark more often and put innocent bystanders’ lives at greater risk.

For those like my wife who need a low-recoil cartridge, go with the 380.

Continue reading .380 ACP vs. 9mm: What’s the Difference? on Ammo.com

https://ammo.com/comparison/380-vs-9mm#acp-380-vs-9mm-stopping-power

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I dont like anything 9mm it just isnt enough for anything I like to do . I wouldnt use a 9mm on a deer or a bear or a wild hog . I dont even feel like they are very effective on the aggressive human types either. I prefer .357 magnum and upwards .
Now for a self defense carry especially highly concealable both fit the bill and hey anything beats nothing in that category

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The big difference is the price of ammo, why is 380 so much higher than 9mm?

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:clockwise_vertical_arrows:

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Shorter cartridge, less recoil = faster firing. How fast can you pull the trigger belly to belly? I will take the .380 ACP every time. As for “anemic” try a lighter projectile.

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I have long considered the 9X17 to be an European calibre. Those hombres seem to be put down with smaller guns. 9X17 fit that mold perfectly.

HOWEVER, these days 9X17 has “evolved”. You can buy Hornady Critical Defense with 95 gr projectiles in all the “modern expansion tech”, flying at about 1050 FPS. That’s not world beating but it’s a darn closer to 9X19. And the recoil is still well below the 9X19. So you have now a calibre about as good as a standard 9X19 without the recoil of a +P round.

Looks like a winner to me - for ladies, men who have arthritic hands or too weak to load a standard 9X19. And those 9’s in small form can be a bitch to pull the slide back.

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Yes and for small hands I do suggest a single stack in any caliber. That is one of the things I just love about a 1911 no matter the caliber ( 45acp or 10mm for the win) but a single stack has one disadvantage you have less rounds. Fix for that more practice.

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Single stack does make a lot of sense for smaller hands. 1911s are easy to get behind for that reason, and .45 ACP or 10mm in a slim gun is a pretty hard combo to argue with.

The tradeoff is real though: less capacity, so the answer is usually more reps and better reload work, not more gun.

Kilroy was here

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I always suggest practicing with a 22LR or 22WMR and then moving up to a bigger caliber .
Practicing , trigger pull, sight picture, hand grip, stance , switching hands . More expert practice single hand fire. Practice pilling thd weapon , focus on front sight and point and shoot etc..

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Ya ever shot one?

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So @kilroy your in the spray and pray category instead of accuracy camp ??

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More accuracy camp than spray-and-pray. A small, well-placed hit beats a fast miss every time.

Capacity and recoil matter, but if the rounds aren’t landing where they need to, the math gets ugly fast. That said, .380 isn’t some helpless little popgun, and 9mm isn’t magic.

Pick the gun you can drive well, not the one that looks best in the locker.

Kilroy was here

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