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380 recoil
victorj19
Member Posts: 3,642 ✭✭✭
In a small pistol like Ruger's LCP, with a heavier defensive round what's it comparable to? I shoot the 9x18 makarov in a CZ 82 which is more powerful in a heavier gun. Also shoot 38s in a Colt Detective. Mostly factory rounds.
Comments
Hornady makes 1 9mm Makarov load and it runs 211 ftlbs. So with that in mind you can see they are all somewhat comparable--none are death rays but they are decent rounds and if you hit a man in the right spot with any of them they should produce at least 10"-12" of penetration.
If you want to really hit 'em harder then Buffalo Bore is the way to go.
Their Heavy .38 Special +p 158 grain load at 1000fps/351 ft lbs(this load is NOT fun for a day at the range out of a ultralight snubby-it stings the heck out of your hand but it is powerful)
Their Standard .38 Special goes out at 850 fps/ 253 ft lbs
Standard .380 (they have 3 different loads) the one with the highest ftlbs is their 100 grain hard cast at 975fps/211ft lbs
+p .380(they have 4 different loads) highest ftlbs is the 100 grain hard cast at 1150fps/294 ftlbs
9mm Makarov +p 115 grain hard cast 1000fps/255ft lbs
so as you see at least in the Buffalo Bore +p load the .380 can beat the Makarov but not by much and with a lot more felt recoil I would bet. In standard loadings at least of Hornday the 9mm Makarov and the .380 are virtually neck & neck in the energy dept.
Hope this helps your query.
Its not a "light" recoil, but its not punishing. .38 from a snubnose is probably the best comparison, but its not quite the same. If you an experienced shooter you really should not have any problem controlling the gun or even putting out rounds pretty fast.
I've found that two things REALLY help here:
a. The finger extension magazine. I still can't get my pinky finger on there, but at least with the finger extension I can get a decent grip using TWO fingers.
b. A little Hogue grip sleeve (requires trimming to fit, also works better if fitted upside down). The finger grooves here don't do much, but the built in palm-swells let you get a better grip.
EDIT:
I've shot a number of these (including the Kel-tec and Ruger side by side at the same time. . .they're more or less the same), and never really been impressed with any of them. Slide is hard to rack, grip is hard to hang onto when shooting, and many of them are unreliable.
I see two big plusses to this gun:
a. .380 really isn't much ballistically, but its a lot better than any .22, .25, or .32, and these guns are small and light enough that you can get away with carrying them pretty much anywhere no matter what the weather or how you are dressed. In my opinion its pretty much ONLY this factor that makes these guns worth consideration.
b. Low cost.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=198153403
Both guns are roughly palm-sized. With less than half the mass I would expect the LCP to be a good deal more difficult to hold onto.
I'm going to have to look for one at the local gun shops with indoor ranges, try shooting it. I'm sure there's a weekend coming along here any day now
Jim