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These are the two most popular pocket pistol calibers in the world but which is better for you and what are the differences? Check out our 380 ACP vs. 9mm guide to determine which is a better fit in your life for personal protection.
“ACP” is a designation given to many different cartridges. Standing for “Automatic Colt Pistol,” this moniker is used by cartridges that were created by Colt’s Manufacturing Company, more commonly known simply as “Colt.” The cartridges, including the .25 ACP, .32 ACP, and .45 ACP, are all made specifically for Colt firearms. For marketing purposes, companies want their name on ammunition, so while the .38 ACP was created by the famous designer John Browning, he was working for Colt at the time so it took the “ACP” surname.
Want to learn more about ACP's place in the shooting world? Check out this article on our blog.
There is a chance you would be able to fit the .380 ACP in a firearm made to fire .38 Special, but we definitely don't recommend it. These cartridges have slightly different dimensions for both bullet and neck diameter (the .38 Special is slightly wider), and the overall length is significant, as the .38 Special is over a half-inch longer. Also, the .380 ACP is designed for pistols, while the .38 Special is generally a revolver cartridge.
The .380 ACP is certainly not a exotic cartridge, but you are less likely to find it at the range than the .38 Special and 9mm Luger. There may be many reasons for this, but it really comes down to power. The .380 ACP rarely has muzzle energy over 215 foot-pounds unless it is “+P,” a high-pressure, cartridge. The .38 Special often exceeds 250 foot pounds, while the 9mm Luger is usually well above 300 foot-pounds.
Yes. Despite the smaller stats, the .380 ACP is certainly capable of stopping a threat. In fact, many concealed-carry enthusiasts appreciate the small, compact nature of the .380 ACP, claiming it allows for convenient, discreet firearms that still carry a reliable number of rounds. If choosing rounds for self defense, look for expanding bullets such as jacketed hollow points. You might take a look at our 380 ACP gel test results below to get an idea of how each round performs relative to others under identical circumstances.
If you compare the .380 ACP to other cartridges such as the 9mm Luger or .38 Special, you will often find that it is slightly more expensive, or at the very least the same price as these rounds despite having a smaller profile. Generally, smaller rounds, which require less material, are cheaper, but because other rounds are often produced at higher volumes, manufacturers (and hence distributors) can charge less for the cartridge. Many militaries across the world use 9x19 ammo in duty - so there's a ton of it produced annually all over the world. This is why you may find comparable .380 ACPs are as much as $.05 more per round than, say, the 9mm Luger.