.380 For self defense?

My LCP usually resides in my cargo pocket for backup regardless of whatever is in my waistband…

The gun in your pocket is more effective than the gun in your drawer. The size and weight of the small 380's make them easy to pocket carry, and are relatively easy shooting. They are not partucularly easy to shoot accurately due to the size, but at typical self defense distances are accurate enough. I have a small 9mm, LC9s, that I will holster carry, but the LCP is so easy to drop in the pocket that it most often gets the nod - especially in the summer months.

I recently purchased a Security 380. I find it to be almost as concealable as the LCP-II, not as 'snappy' when fired, and has a much better designed grip. All in all it is, in my opinion, a much better pistol.

When I was in my teens, three individuals broke into the house of a fellow who had been an Olympics team member, who lived down the street from us. He shot all three intruders with one of his .22LR target pistols, all in the neck. By the time the ambulance arrived, all three burglars were dead. No charges were filed, as it was a clear act of self-defense. All three burglars carried guns.

Anyone who argues that the .22LR is not suitable for self-defense should think of this. It's not the weapon or the ammunition which counts. It's the shooter's skill.

...I think... I may be worng.

Eclem said:

If you are not a cop or a soldier the purpose of your firearm is to break engagement with your attacker - not to kill. Start shooting a 22 or a 380 at someone inside of 15 yards and they are almost 100% likely to break off. The 380 is preferable to the 22 because center fire ammo is vastly more reliable than rimfire. But high quality 22lr ammo such as CCI Mini Mag 36g HP will bring quite respectable reliability to a quality rimfire semi auto pistol.

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Actually cops aren't supposed to kill, they are supposed to stop. Killing is just an unintended consequence. As to soldiers, there is the theory that if you seriously wound an enemy it takes two to care for him. But of course that only applies is some cases.

Me, I won't pull a trigger unless I am willing to kill what ever I'm shooting at. Whether it happens or not is up to God. But anytime you shoot someone killing is the intent. Unless of course you are the Lone Ranger and can shoot guns out of people's hands.

Few points from my perspective on some of the last post.... Yes, all us us , common civilians, police and even soldiers are just trying to stop the threat. As for the justification of shooting a bugler because they had a gun... when was it discovered they had a gun? Just like the news headline of a police officer shooting an unarmed person... when did they discover the person was unarmed.... I'm an old fat man and I have been trained to draw from concealed and put two rounds in your chest in less than a second and a half..... then again my father, who has 'seen the tiger' once told me you never pull your weapon on a living person.... what he meant was if you decide to draw you are going to shoot and in your mind you should consider them dead. If they lived through the five or six rounds he would put into them, they would be the luckies person on the planet..... he did not believe in center mass... I once saw him shoot the eye out of a rattle snake at 30ft.

Eclem said:

If you are not a cop or a soldier the purpose of your firearm is to break engagement with your attacker - not to kill. Start shooting a 22 or a 380 at someone inside of 15 yards and they are almost 100% likely to break off. The 380 is preferable to the 22 because center fire ammo is vastly more reliable than rimfire. But high quality 22lr ammo such as CCI Mini Mag 36g HP will bring quite respectable reliability to a quality rimfire semi auto pistol.

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As far as .22LR, CCI Uppercut, Federal Punch, and other defensive ammo will certainly up the effectiveness.

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