Over the years, the .380 ACP has had a lot of detractors. Yes, it doesn’t outperform the 9mm. But it is clearly equivalent to a snub-nose .38 Special revolver shooting standard-velocity ammo. Put +P ammo in a lightweight .38, and the recoil is more severe than many people can tolerate. Most .380s kick much less.
As for terminal performance, I’ve seen the results of quite a few gelatin tests with both calibers, and there’s very little difference between most standard-velocity .38 Special ammo and most .380s. The rounds with expanding or solid copper-fluted bullets in both calibers penetrate 11 to 14 inches in gel, and with the exception of some .38 standard loads, deliver within 40 FPE of each other.
Of course, you always have to take your gelatin with…
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Tactical Life (Digital) - 1 Issue, January/February 2022