The current trend with concealed-carry handguns is to go small. The reasons should be obvious; the smaller a handgun is, the easier it is to conceal, and, therefore, the more comfortable it is to carry. The two most popular cartridges for small, self-defense handguns are the 9mm Luger and the 380 Auto. If you’re trying to decide which one might be the best option for you, there are some things about both cartridges that you should know.
9mm Luger
The 9mm Luger has been with us for 120 years. It began life as a cartridge for the German military, and it wasn’t until after World War II that it began to find real popularity in the United States. In 1967, the Illinois State Police adopted the Smith & Wesson Model 39 – chambered for the 9mm Luger – as their issue sidearm, and other agencies soon followed suit. The cartridge remained very popular with law enforcement until the 1990s when the 40 S&W entered the scene. The 40 was the premier law-enforcement cartridge up until just a few years ago when the FBI switched back to the 9mm Luger. American law enforcement remains greatly influenced by the FBI, and now the 9mm Luger is once again commonly found in the holsters of policemen.
380 Auto
Though often called the 380 ACP, the correct name for this cartridge is the 380 Automatic or 380 Auto. It was designed in 1908 by firearms genius John Browning, who also designed the 45 Auto several years prior. The bullet diameter of the 380 Auto is 0.356 inch, and the bullet diameter of the 45 Auto is 0.452 inch. Interestingly, it appears that with the 380 Auto, Browning simply reduced the case dimensions of the 45 Auto cartridge by the same degree as the difference in bullet diameter; the 380 Auto is almost exactly 22 percent smaller than the 45 Auto in every way. Early on, the 380 Auto was also known internationally as the 9mm Kurz – 9mm Short – and was quite popular in Europe, especially in the Walther PPK. But the cartridge did not really find its legs in America until the interest in concealed carry spiked toward the end of the last century. Today the cartridge is quite popular in sub-compact semi-automatic handguns.
Capacity
9mm Luger cartridges are just minutely larger in diameter than 380 Auto cartridges, but the difference is only 0.017 inch and is not to enough to cause a capacity difference in single- or double-stack magazines with similar-sized handguns. However, the 9mm Luger cartridge is about 2/10 inch longer. This can translate to a slightly deeper grip in 9mm Luger pistols. When pistols of the same size are compared, magazine capacities are generally identical. However, because the 380 Auto operates at a lower pressure and is slightly shorter, 380 Auto pistols can be smaller and lighter than 9mm Luger pistols of the same basic size. The Glock 42 is slightly lighter than the Glock 43, and some 380 Auto pistols can even weigh less than 10 ounces.
Terminal Performance
Terminal performance can be looked at in a variety of ways. Some people like to compare kinetic energy, while others are more interested in penetration combined with how much the bullet will upset. The best you can expect in kinetic energy from the 380 Auto is about 250 foot-pounds at the muzzle while with its best loads, the 9mm Luger can exceed 400 foot-pounds. The 9mm Luger’s extra power gives it an advantage in the penetration and bullet upset category as well. The best-performing 380 Auto loads will penetrate to between 8 and 12 inches and bullet diameter will increase by about 1.5 times. With the 9mm Luger, bullet upset will be similar or slightly more, but penetration generally ranges from 14 to 18 inches. The 9mm always hits harder and penetrates deeper.
Recoil
The best way to compare the recoil between these two cartridges is to compare similar guns, like the Glock 42 and 43. Fully loaded, the G42 380 Automatic pistol weighs 15.87 ounces; the G43 9mm Luger pistol weighs 20.64 ounces. If both are being fired with standard self-defense loads, the nominal recoil energy of the G42 will be around 3.63 foot-pounds and about 5.71 foot-pounds for the G43. From a recoil standpoint, that is a tremendous difference that will not only affect shooting comfort, but it can also impact the time required to accurately fire multiple shots on target.
And the Winner is…
You would really have to stretch your imagination to say that the 380 Auto is as effective at stopping bad guys as the 9mm Luger. There’s a reason the duty guns for most American law-enforcement officers are chambered for the 9mm as opposed to the 380. It is worth noting, however, that the 380 Auto is a popular chambering for back-up guns for cops. This is because 380 Auto pistols can be very compact and easier to carry in ankle or pocket holsters.
While duty use seems to be the forte of the 9mm Luger, when it comes to ultra-deep concealment, the 380 Auto has the advantage. Miniature semi-automatic pistols chambered for the 380 Auto can weigh less than one pound fully loaded and are almost as easy to conceal as a cell phone. This gives the 380 Auto immense appeal for those who want to carry a concealed handgun as comfortably as possible.
The 380 Auto’s lack of recoil is also appealing to some. Novice shooters, recoil-sensitive shooters, and those with limited hand strength will find that with guns of a similar size they can shoot the 380 faster and more comfortably and accurately. Fortunately, with both cartridges there are a lot of excellent self-defense and practice loads available for shooters to choose from.
FAQs
Q: Is the 380 Auto more comfortable to shoot than the 9mm?
A: Generally, yes, but only in similar-sized handguns. Some ultra-compact 380s can be uncomfortable to shoot because the grips are so thin and the pistols are so light.
Q: Is the 9mm Luger or the 380 Auto best for concealed carry?
A: The answer mostly depends on how you dress and how you carry a concealed handgun. If you need the smallest and easiest-to-carry handgun, the 380 is a better option. If you want the most powerful, go with the 9mm. Since the 380 Auto cartridge is smaller than the 9mm Luger, does 380 Ammo cost less? Actually, the cost to shoot both cartridges is very similar. However, when the least expensive loads are compared, the 9mm Luger can be shot for less.
