Carry Enough Gun: Just Say ‘No’ to Mouseguns for Off-Duty and Back-Up
ByThere seems to be a proliferation of “mouse guns” on the market. You know the ones I mean: they are small, lightweight, and very easy to conceal. Couple these features with the fact that many of them are less expensive than other larger handguns, and it is easy to see why many people are drawn to them for use as a back-up gun or to carry off-duty. In fact, one of the runaway hits in the 2008 firearms industry is the Ruger LCP.
However, there are some serious drawbacks to the use of a mousegun for self defense. For example, the sights are typically awful and the sight radius is very short meaning it is going to be very difficult to hit your assailant in the right spots. Even if you do hit your assailant in the right spots, mouseguns are normally “sub-caliber” pistols, meaning .22, .25, .32, and yes… .380. These calibers, even with modern ammunition, frequently fail to penetrate very deep and hollowpoints almost never expand.
Some of my fellow officers would argue (and some have) that the .380 ACP is adequate for self defense. The most frequent argument I have encountered from fans of the .380 is the size of the guns make it easy to conceal and there is very little recoil. If you notice, neither of these arguments actually address the effectiveness of the caliber in stopping an armed criminal. Besides, I’ve never believed that “adequate” was good enough when we are talking about my life or the lives of my family members.
To show the effectiveness of the .380 ACP, take a call officers on my shift responded to two nights ago. A distraught man intending to commit suicide pulls out a .380-caliber gun, puts it to his head, and pulls the trigger. The round cause quite a mess. Although he looked dead when officers arrived, the bullet failed to penetrate the skull and the man was merely rendered unconscious. In fact, the man was sitting up and talking to paramedics on the way to the hospital.
Two of the officers at the scene carried .380′s as off-duty guns, and they are now for sale…cheap.
One possible exception to the “mousegun” calibers is the .327 Federal Magnum that was introduced earlier this year. The .327 Magnum launches a .32 caliber bullet at much higher velocities than any of the previous .32 chamberings. Try a 115 grain Gold Dot at 1300 fps (3″ barrel). That is pretty darn impressive. However, I am not aware of any ‘real world’ shootings with this caliber, so I don’t know how the narrow profile, even at high speeds, will fare in both penetration and expansion.
I firmly believe that the .38 Special +P is the minimum anyone should carry for self defense or back-up. In an autoloader, 9mm is the base line. A .357 Magnum, .40 S&W, or .45 ACP are even better. Anything less leaves too much to pure chance, which is never good in a life and death encounter.
Stay safe!
10 Comments
September 17th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Well, now you’ve gone and put a kink in my plans. I was thoroughly convinced I wanted to carry a .380 when I get my CCP.
Hmmm…guess I’ve got more thinking to do.
September 18th, 2008 at 2:04 am
I’m glad you are getting your CCP! I wish more people were taking steps to provide for their own safety! After all, when seconds count, the cops are only minutes away…
Keep in mind that even large bore handguns can be easy to conceal. A flat pistol like a traditional 1911 is a favorite for many people because it fires the potent .45 ACP, but is also pretty easy to carry concealed.
I really like the Glock 19 for concealed carry, and the Smith and Wesson M&P compact in 9mm has me very interested for concealed carry also.
We are really living in a great time for a wide variety of quality handguns. Don’t go cheap on a tool that you may need to save your life. Also, invest in a quality holster. A -good- holster will conceal easily and be comfortable!
September 18th, 2008 at 2:10 am
Awh, it is always fun to see what people carry. I just like my .40… 200 grain at 990 fps from a 3.5″.
What did the guy use to shoot himself with, though? I mean, with .380s, you can get a 95 grain that will go 1085 from a 3.5″. Not your ideal… but it should go through your skull… no? Maybe not… disturbing, however.
Oh well. Double Tap Ammo is your friend… those 200 grain Hornady XTPs that they load are nasty-fun.
September 18th, 2008 at 10:38 am
I’m a 5’4″ female, and I have no problems carrying an all-steel Commander-size 1911 in .45 ACP. The heavy match cone barrel makes it more controllable and a softer shooter than my 9mm’s.
You’re absolutely right on a good holster being the key. Appendix carry in a good IWB and the gun just disappears.
September 18th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
The Chief Special by Smith and Wesson is a great option http://tiny.cc/CS45 It is compact and chambered in .45 and is a great off duty weapon
November 11th, 2008 at 1:09 am
Penetration is the key, along with expansion. If the bullet expands adequately but doesn’t penetrate far enough, you’re in trouble. Conversely, if it penetrates well without decent expansion, more big trouble.
What I want is a bullet that will penetrate at least 14 inches in a body, with maximum expansion between 7 and 9 inches. That will cause the most damage in the human chest cavity, and there are two gun/cartridge combination’s that will do this without punishing recoil; the 85 grain Federal Hydra-Shock 380 fired from a Ruger LCP, and the 85 grain Hydra-Shock 327 Federal Magnum fired from the 3 1/16″ barreled Ruger SP-101.
I have yet to test one myself on a living human, and have no great desire to do so. However, tests with a full pork shoulder did achieve quite acceptable results. The 380 did an adequate job stopping at about 12 inches and staying in the meat while the 327 went clear through, a distance of about 17 inches. The interesting point is that both made fairly straight tunnels for about 7 inches; at that point they created a double-fist sized cavity before continuing on, leaving an exit tunnel about twice the size as the entrance wound. In actuality the 380 made several short tunnels; when that rodded-hollow point hit full expansion it fragmented most impressively, but the largest piece continued on as noted above. Since approximately 7 inches puts it right in the middle of the typical human torso, that seems like a very acceptable performance.
So, here’s how a couple of concealed carry permit holders in Kansas are gong forward: the LCP is going to be our primary carry from late spring through early fall since its small size is easy to conceal even in shorts and a t-shirt. The 327 Magnum will be our primary in fall and winter when more and heavier clothing makes concealing the wheel gun easier. We may use the LCP as a BUG during the cold months.
If I could only have one gun for concealed carry, I would definitely take the SP-101 over the LCP, simply because of the noticable edge in penetration. Thankfully I don’t have to make that choice and can have the best of both carry options.
Oh, regarding the attempted suicide that failed at blowing his brains out: from wounds seen in combat theaters I would guess the gun was held to his head at a high angle and the bullet actually ricocheted off his skull. Most people who try to shoot themselves in the head without eating the gun don’t hold the piece at a right angle; it’s an uncomfortable position. Most will just lay the gun against their head the way their arm and wrist normally fall, which gives a 30 degree angle. If the gun is held low in front of the ear they will likely succeed, but if it is held higher on the skull the angle of attack becomes great enough that it has more than a 50/50 chance of producing a non-fatal glancing blow. That’s been my experience at least.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
I am going for my CCW in California. I have a few guns I own now to use but my money is on my xd40. I could carry my Ruger p95 but really I think my life is worth more than it. Its better than nothing but stepping in higher range is better.
So far I have 1000 rds and no pop ups or feed jams. I do clean my weapons which is a must. I was going to get a .38 but a brother of a old friend tried to take himself as well. It did the same thing. He stayed in the hospital for a few hours before being transferred to mental health.
My next semi auto will be a springfield xd 45 acp. I played with one and I love it. A very good option when 1911′s are going up in price every year.
May 7th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Honestly, given the lack of availability and soaring cost of .380 (that, besides the inadequacy of the round itself), I set the bar at 9mm when I went to do my shopping for a carry piece. To be a truly responsible and effective sheepdog, you must practice a lot with your weapon of choice, and cost does factor in (though, don’t go cheap on the tool – you are placing your life or that of your loved one on the line). The best pocket carry 9mm I was able to find and subsequently try and buy was a Kahr PM9. Shooting +P ammo in it makes it buck a bit, but it shoots accurately and reliably – and it’s size makes it a perfect pocketable or IWB carry weapon. Many of the police around here use it as their off-duty carry calling it their baby glock. I generally carry hydrashok low-recoil in it, with a mag of speer +p gold dots and a mag of cor-bon powerball as well. Each round has it’s benefits and drawbacks – but I figure between my baby glock and three different magazines of cartridges, I’ve got all of my bases covered in a sweet covert package and 18 rounds of firepower to make sure I’m not completely undergunned.
When I’m feeling like I want to carry something more substantial, a Kimber 9mm Aegis is the ticket (LOVE this weapon and you will too – Springfield EMP is a clone of this gun and just as excellent).
February 5th, 2010 at 10:48 pm
[...] Originally Posted by theicemanmpls Only $120. to break in your new .380 for carry. That bereta bobcat is looking even better. Thanks to the OP for the link. It is a good one to comparison shop. Wondering if the .380 is enough gun. Read this article but also the comments at the bottom. Conflicting info to be sure. Carry Enough Gun: Just Say ‘No’ to Mouseguns for Off-Duty and Back-Up :: Blue Sheepdog [...]
February 5th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
[...] but the ammo might be scarce. Started me wondering if a .380 is enough gun. Found this article. Carry Enough Gun: Just Say ‘No’ to Mouseguns for Off-Duty and Back-Up :: Blue Sheepdog If seems to indicate that it is not but one of the commenters at the bottom of the article has a [...]