A good friend of mine has been rightfully upset by a vicious gang attack on his brother this past week. His brother is only 16 and was walking through the park of a nearby town when a group of other teenage kids, headed by a 30-something man, jumped him and beat him bloody. Even once the brother was on the ground, they continued, the older man kicking him in the face.
After the attack, the police managed to get most of the attackers. Mr. 30something claims that the youth had pulled a blade on the large group and that they had acted out of 'fear' for their lives. This is typical and expected sort of lie, so it doesn't surprise me. What surprises me is how the authorities dealt with the victim.
The younger brother was to attended a required counseling session. During the course of the session he was asked how he felt about the attack and the people who attacked him. While he said he didn't wish anything particular bad on the younger participants, when asked about the 30 something year old man who lead the assault and kicked him in the face, the teen replied that he 'would like to kill him'.
Due to the threatening nature of his 'anger issues' my friend's brother has been sent to a juvenile facility for treatment. He refused the medication that would treat his 'unhealthy anger'. After repeated badgering for him to take the medication and kept there against his will, the teenager lost his temper and punched a wall in frustration. Two orderlies forced him down and sedated him. Sadly, the young man has seen that he cannot go home without compliance. He now takes the medication and goes along with their treatment for his 'anger problems'.
A youth is viciously assaulted in a public place, and he ends up imprisoned because he's angry towards his attackers? He's not the only one angry. His big brother is angry, his mother, his father, me, and most likely you! Lets seem them take the lot of us in.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Friday, October 2, 2009
Proof the Police Cannot Protect Us
One of the big core beliefs of the pro-2nd amendment crowd is that we cannot expect to be protected by the government 24/7 from threats inside our country. Our personal protection is our responsibility. With our privately held arms, we provide that basic physical protection of ourselves and families that, if able, all creatures have a divine right to.
However, many misguided folks believe in the Nanny State. The government's agents are singly responsible for our safety. Only the police and other government based agencies have the training, mentality, and oversight to keep arms and use them to protect the peasants from themselves. We naturally scoff at this idea and strive to prove them wrong. I have found a perfect example at Walmart.
Walmart is a massive corporation that can claim to be the biggest retailer in the world. There are thousands of stores, and millions of employees. I am one of them. It is also one of the biggest victims of crime in the world.
Everyday in my store, we lose hundreds of dollars to theft and vandalism. In fact, may days that number is up into the thousand plus range. The range of the items stolen is mind boggling and disturbing. Commonly stolen merchandise includes video games, electronics, condoms, medicines, diet pills, cosmetics, clothes, infant care equipment, knives, and ammunition( As if it isn't hard enough to find ammo. God damn them all to hell!) Teenage kids, old women, men in suits, skeezy looking black guys, it doesn't matter what you look like. Someone that looks like you steals from Walmart.
Even some of my co-workers steal. One often brought stacks of DVDs to his department and later threw the packaging away with his trash. Though he was finally caught, he was never charged for the full amount of his theft during a year of work there. Most likely over five thousand dollars.
Walmarts are open for 263.5 days of the year. Everyone one of those days each one of the thousands of stores experiences shrink. Consider how much is lost, to simple greed? How much is passed on to the consumer? Or how many folks could have been on full time with insurance rather than the palry part time hours?
Well, with such an epidimic of crime, naturally the government would be falling over itself trying to clean up the communities of these petty fucks? You know, the ones not paying sales tax on their purloned goods? Wrong. Investigation and prevention of shoplifting is taken care of Walmart's own private asset protection department. Walmart has to pay for its own private 'detective' force to trying to fight back. These folks install cameras, monitor them, and actually stalk the shoplifters until they exist the building with stolen merchandise. Then they can use what little power they have to detain thieves. Only then are the police called for.
If an all-powerful, evil company can't rely upon the state to protect their millions and millions of lost property, what chance does Sally SoccerMom, and Tiffany TofuGnasher have of some protection?
However, many misguided folks believe in the Nanny State. The government's agents are singly responsible for our safety. Only the police and other government based agencies have the training, mentality, and oversight to keep arms and use them to protect the peasants from themselves. We naturally scoff at this idea and strive to prove them wrong. I have found a perfect example at Walmart.
Walmart is a massive corporation that can claim to be the biggest retailer in the world. There are thousands of stores, and millions of employees. I am one of them. It is also one of the biggest victims of crime in the world.
Everyday in my store, we lose hundreds of dollars to theft and vandalism. In fact, may days that number is up into the thousand plus range. The range of the items stolen is mind boggling and disturbing. Commonly stolen merchandise includes video games, electronics, condoms, medicines, diet pills, cosmetics, clothes, infant care equipment, knives, and ammunition( As if it isn't hard enough to find ammo. God damn them all to hell!) Teenage kids, old women, men in suits, skeezy looking black guys, it doesn't matter what you look like. Someone that looks like you steals from Walmart.
Even some of my co-workers steal. One often brought stacks of DVDs to his department and later threw the packaging away with his trash. Though he was finally caught, he was never charged for the full amount of his theft during a year of work there. Most likely over five thousand dollars.
Walmarts are open for 263.5 days of the year. Everyone one of those days each one of the thousands of stores experiences shrink. Consider how much is lost, to simple greed? How much is passed on to the consumer? Or how many folks could have been on full time with insurance rather than the palry part time hours?
Well, with such an epidimic of crime, naturally the government would be falling over itself trying to clean up the communities of these petty fucks? You know, the ones not paying sales tax on their purloned goods? Wrong. Investigation and prevention of shoplifting is taken care of Walmart's own private asset protection department. Walmart has to pay for its own private 'detective' force to trying to fight back. These folks install cameras, monitor them, and actually stalk the shoplifters until they exist the building with stolen merchandise. Then they can use what little power they have to detain thieves. Only then are the police called for.
If an all-powerful, evil company can't rely upon the state to protect their millions and millions of lost property, what chance does Sally SoccerMom, and Tiffany TofuGnasher have of some protection?
The Revolver vs the Semi-Automatic Handgun
I've had some good arguments about revolvers vs semi-autos. I usually carry a Smith 638 .38 special revolver. The plastic pistol patrol have made some serious derisive commits on that. I've had one fellow say that carrying a revolver for self-defense was like riding your skateboard to an office job. Doable, but no way a good idea. But is it that bad? Is a revolver such an abysmal defensive firearm? Is the semi-auto so leaps and bounds superior to the revolver?
I do concede that the double action revolver has some serious short comings. Capacity and reloading speed are the big one. Next, is the long heavy double action trigger of classic defensive revolver. The DA trigger can be difficult to master vs a lighter single action or DA-Only semi-auto trigger. However, this issue can be taken care of through proper practice and building good skills in training.
As for the question of how a revolver fares against a semi-auto? For the sake of argument lets say we have two guys. One has a S&W model 10 .38 special and the other has a Glock 17 9x19mm. Both guns are in excellent working condition, loaded, and both users know the guns well, and can shoot them well. What happens in the face off?
Semi-auto guys remember this: You have no advantage for six shots. The revolver is just as good as your Glock until it runs dry. There is no inherient disadvantage to revolver's design and no advantage to yours until that moment. It may be easy to say, "Well, he'll need to reload before I will, I win." However, a lot can happen in 6 shots. At the average distance of a self-defense situation, can you say for certain, you aren't hit and hurt before those 6 rounds have been spent?
Revolver guys remember this: You are on equal footing with the semi-auto for only 6 shots. Make them count before the Glock takes the advantage.
In the long run, the semi-auto will win. This is why they are the choice for military and police. However, in a defensive role, its no better than a revolver for the first 6 shots. Which are the shots in a magazine that count the most?
I do concede that the double action revolver has some serious short comings. Capacity and reloading speed are the big one. Next, is the long heavy double action trigger of classic defensive revolver. The DA trigger can be difficult to master vs a lighter single action or DA-Only semi-auto trigger. However, this issue can be taken care of through proper practice and building good skills in training.
As for the question of how a revolver fares against a semi-auto? For the sake of argument lets say we have two guys. One has a S&W model 10 .38 special and the other has a Glock 17 9x19mm. Both guns are in excellent working condition, loaded, and both users know the guns well, and can shoot them well. What happens in the face off?
Semi-auto guys remember this: You have no advantage for six shots. The revolver is just as good as your Glock until it runs dry. There is no inherient disadvantage to revolver's design and no advantage to yours until that moment. It may be easy to say, "Well, he'll need to reload before I will, I win." However, a lot can happen in 6 shots. At the average distance of a self-defense situation, can you say for certain, you aren't hit and hurt before those 6 rounds have been spent?
Revolver guys remember this: You are on equal footing with the semi-auto for only 6 shots. Make them count before the Glock takes the advantage.
In the long run, the semi-auto will win. This is why they are the choice for military and police. However, in a defensive role, its no better than a revolver for the first 6 shots. Which are the shots in a magazine that count the most?
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Been Shooting Today
Hit the range for some good ol revolver practice. In combination of heat and fired rounds my cylinder got really hot, making reloads kinda like a game of hot potato. I put 100rds of .38 special +P into some steel plates at about 25 feet. Didn't do too well actually. Single action is easy, but double action isn't. Even then, my front ramp is really hard to see against the gray steel plates. Going to add some of the paint I used on my Makarov's front sight to my GP-100. might be a bit different being a serrated ramp type. I need much more practice, too. I wish .38 special was cheaper.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Night Shoot!
I recently participated in a night-time IDPA match at my gunclub. It was fighting by flashlight. I have made some important observations on this.
- Night fighting is hard. Train moar.
- You need to practice with your EDC flashlight. Firing with and reloading mags with.
- Your EDC flashlight needs to be easy to use.
- Your EDC flashlight must not easily be switched to different light modes. IE I need a new light!
Undefendable?
As a collector and avid reader of comics and manga, I am more than a bit concerned with a recent case involving comic collector Chris Handley. The man was charged and ended up pleading guilty to "possession of obscene visual representation of the sexual abuse of children" a felony under the PROTECT act. The medium was Japanese comic books. He may very well spend a goodly amount of the next decade in prison.
Its hard to defend such vile comics, but I can't say that lines on paper are worth a felony conviction. Unlike child pornography, obscene visual depictions do not involve an actual child being harmed or exploited in any way. However, many state that it causes or enables such crime.
In one discussion, my opinion that a graphic drawn depiction of a minor being abused was a victimless crime was countered by "horseshit". "it's victimless right up to the point where some unstable person decides he wants to go try this out on an eight year old". one worthy blogger said.
That sort of logic... Under that logic I would have to burn many of my books, too. My comics would fall into the same category. Movies? I don't think my action films are going to survive it. My first person shooter games are absolutely forfit. Angry german music? Gone. Cable television will need to be cancelled.
Why?
Think about all the crimes mentioned, depicted or described in these media sources. Guess what? Some unstable person could decide they want to try any one or number of these on someone else. Just let them watch Law & Order: SVU. After a good TNT marathon, you'll have more ideas for deviant crimes than you can shake a stick at. As an added bonus, POLICE BRUTALITY.
I'm ashamed that a pro-gun individual would use this argument. How many times we been told that we are nothing more than criminals that are waiting to commit a crime with our terrible evil guns?
It is not cool to defend some freak's comic about little girls getting fucked by farm animals. I shouldn't have to! Folks should just know not to make shit like that. However, I cannot say that its morally worse than a comic about kids getting slowly fed in woodchipper. Its all gross shit! But it is one of those slippery slope things. What's next? We gotta stand with even the bad stuff sometimes, to make sure the good is protected.
For some further reading here's a post by Neil Gaiman on defending 'icky speech'. There's an excellent Southpark that makes some interesting points about obscenity and weapons. "Good Times with Weapons."
Its hard to defend such vile comics, but I can't say that lines on paper are worth a felony conviction. Unlike child pornography, obscene visual depictions do not involve an actual child being harmed or exploited in any way. However, many state that it causes or enables such crime.
In one discussion, my opinion that a graphic drawn depiction of a minor being abused was a victimless crime was countered by "horseshit". "it's victimless right up to the point where some unstable person decides he wants to go try this out on an eight year old". one worthy blogger said.
That sort of logic... Under that logic I would have to burn many of my books, too. My comics would fall into the same category. Movies? I don't think my action films are going to survive it. My first person shooter games are absolutely forfit. Angry german music? Gone. Cable television will need to be cancelled.
Why?
Think about all the crimes mentioned, depicted or described in these media sources. Guess what? Some unstable person could decide they want to try any one or number of these on someone else. Just let them watch Law & Order: SVU. After a good TNT marathon, you'll have more ideas for deviant crimes than you can shake a stick at. As an added bonus, POLICE BRUTALITY.
I'm ashamed that a pro-gun individual would use this argument. How many times we been told that we are nothing more than criminals that are waiting to commit a crime with our terrible evil guns?
It is not cool to defend some freak's comic about little girls getting fucked by farm animals. I shouldn't have to! Folks should just know not to make shit like that. However, I cannot say that its morally worse than a comic about kids getting slowly fed in woodchipper. Its all gross shit! But it is one of those slippery slope things. What's next? We gotta stand with even the bad stuff sometimes, to make sure the good is protected.
For some further reading here's a post by Neil Gaiman on defending 'icky speech'. There's an excellent Southpark that makes some interesting points about obscenity and weapons. "Good Times with Weapons."
Monday, May 18, 2009
Retro Tactical!
At the recent NRA convention, Stoeger unveiled something of an oddity. An ATAS side by side double barreled shotgun!
The Stoeger Double Defensive Coach gun comes in 12 or 20 gauge. It has 20inch barrels, is only about 36inches over all, has a fiber optic front sight, and possesses both a top rail for optics and an under slung accessory rail from forearm to muzzle. I'm sure this seems really overkill and downright silly, but I can see some real utility here.
The double barreled shotgun has long been an important utility weapon. Side by sides have served in just about every capacity a gun can serve in. Security, police, military, sporting, and even pest control in the past. It continues to harvest game, remove pests, and protect homesteads around the world. These additions are not an attempt to make the shotgun into a SWAT or infantry weapon, but rather to make it more useful a tool.
The optics rail allows for traditional scopes or newer optics like red dots and holographic sights. The new generations of modern optics allow a firearm to be on target faster and clearer in low light conditions. Useful when dealing with fast flying and destructive black birds or rabbits in the garden. The real winner is the accessory rail. When checking out noises outside the home at night, a light is an absolute necessity. Long arms need both hands to use properly and safely. Pump actions have a myriad of mounting options for lights, why not a double?
The tactical treatment could easily be applied to other older types of firearms. Bolt actions, lever actions, and pump actions rifles and shotguns. Also, double action revolvers, and even single action revolvers could be served with a few 'tactical' improvements.
The Stoeger Double Defensive Coach gun comes in 12 or 20 gauge. It has 20inch barrels, is only about 36inches over all, has a fiber optic front sight, and possesses both a top rail for optics and an under slung accessory rail from forearm to muzzle. I'm sure this seems really overkill and downright silly, but I can see some real utility here.The double barreled shotgun has long been an important utility weapon. Side by sides have served in just about every capacity a gun can serve in. Security, police, military, sporting, and even pest control in the past. It continues to harvest game, remove pests, and protect homesteads around the world. These additions are not an attempt to make the shotgun into a SWAT or infantry weapon, but rather to make it more useful a tool.
The optics rail allows for traditional scopes or newer optics like red dots and holographic sights. The new generations of modern optics allow a firearm to be on target faster and clearer in low light conditions. Useful when dealing with fast flying and destructive black birds or rabbits in the garden. The real winner is the accessory rail. When checking out noises outside the home at night, a light is an absolute necessity. Long arms need both hands to use properly and safely. Pump actions have a myriad of mounting options for lights, why not a double?
The tactical treatment could easily be applied to other older types of firearms. Bolt actions, lever actions, and pump actions rifles and shotguns. Also, double action revolvers, and even single action revolvers could be served with a few 'tactical' improvements.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Gunflight by Flashlight
I've been thinking a lot about fighting at night lately. Its certainly much different than fighting by day. I want to do some low light training. I'm going to see if I can get some other interested persons in my gunclub to join me in some extremely early morning IDPA style practice with a flashlight and a handgun. No score card, but just running through a stage or two with said flashlight and handgun in the inky black Tennessee darkness. Could be fun, too!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
20/20 needs a 30-30 to the face.
A few days ago, I heard that this week's 20-20 was going to be about guns. Specifically, the piece was titled "If I Only Had a Gun". Being the self-destructive masochist that I am, I went to ABC's website and found some of the segments from this show online. I've only watched two of them. However, I can only find that it is merely more of the yellow journalism that we have come to expect from the Media.
The clip I'll be bitching about was of an experiment about the folly of armed self-defense involving 6 college kids. ABC went out and selected 6 volunteers from colleges. Then they took them and gave them a course on handling and shooting handguns with a police instructor. They claimed that the course was more in-depth than most state CCW courses. The guns were modified to shoot paint cartridges. After receiving this training, they were set in a real life self-defense situation. They concealed their modified glock 17s in On-the-WaistBand holsters, and covered with a large bulky jersey type shirt. They also were armored against the paint rounds. Then one by one they sat in a classroom, not knowing when the SD situation would happen, but told it would happen later in the day. The other people in the classroom are 'cops or other people working for ABC to replicate the chaos of real people in real crisis'. Then at a random time, the shooter bursts into the room opening fire with his own paint firing handgun. In each case the CCW student fails miserably. Only one making any hit against the attacker. One of these students claims to have at least 100 hours of firearms experience. He fails to even unholster his pistol and is taken down 'execution style'. Oh, one thing I forgot the mention. The shooter is the very same instructor that trained these kids. A nicely stacked deck, ABC. Masterful work. Hamfist, smoked to perfection.
So how about they play a different game? How about the kids trade places with the cop? But wait, I don't think I could trust him not to throw it on purpose. How about, the kids go verses kids? Only on the absolute worst case scenarios would the shooter be a professional like a firearms instructor, or other similarly extremely proficient firearm user. In the best of circumstances you can't expect rookie kids to do well against such an opponent. We just aren't seeing any shooters with that level of skills and experience. A veteran cop is going react much differently than a scared guy with a few dozen hours at the range with a 9mm. Why not use just a random beat cop as the shooter? Or perhaps someone who is NOT a professional? You know. Like in most shootings. Why not use some folks that have had their CCW permits for some time too? Let them carry what and how they're most comfortable with. There's a reason while full sized handguns are less popular for CCW. Why not a babyglock? Thats much more reasonable and a very common choice for CCW. OWB might not work so well, but IWB might do better. With an open jacket, even seated, IWB can be easily accessed. Then there's pocket, cross draw, you name it!
ABC just stacked the deck to make the result that they wanted happen. It was expected, but it was just horrible to watch. Yellow bastards.
Just found an excellent(much better than mine) post on this very subject!
http://sensiblyprogressive.blogspot.com/2009/04/abc-anti-gun-hatchet-job-on-2020.html
The clip I'll be bitching about was of an experiment about the folly of armed self-defense involving 6 college kids. ABC went out and selected 6 volunteers from colleges. Then they took them and gave them a course on handling and shooting handguns with a police instructor. They claimed that the course was more in-depth than most state CCW courses. The guns were modified to shoot paint cartridges. After receiving this training, they were set in a real life self-defense situation. They concealed their modified glock 17s in On-the-WaistBand holsters, and covered with a large bulky jersey type shirt. They also were armored against the paint rounds. Then one by one they sat in a classroom, not knowing when the SD situation would happen, but told it would happen later in the day. The other people in the classroom are 'cops or other people working for ABC to replicate the chaos of real people in real crisis'. Then at a random time, the shooter bursts into the room opening fire with his own paint firing handgun. In each case the CCW student fails miserably. Only one making any hit against the attacker. One of these students claims to have at least 100 hours of firearms experience. He fails to even unholster his pistol and is taken down 'execution style'. Oh, one thing I forgot the mention. The shooter is the very same instructor that trained these kids. A nicely stacked deck, ABC. Masterful work. Hamfist, smoked to perfection.
So how about they play a different game? How about the kids trade places with the cop? But wait, I don't think I could trust him not to throw it on purpose. How about, the kids go verses kids? Only on the absolute worst case scenarios would the shooter be a professional like a firearms instructor, or other similarly extremely proficient firearm user. In the best of circumstances you can't expect rookie kids to do well against such an opponent. We just aren't seeing any shooters with that level of skills and experience. A veteran cop is going react much differently than a scared guy with a few dozen hours at the range with a 9mm. Why not use just a random beat cop as the shooter? Or perhaps someone who is NOT a professional? You know. Like in most shootings. Why not use some folks that have had their CCW permits for some time too? Let them carry what and how they're most comfortable with. There's a reason while full sized handguns are less popular for CCW. Why not a babyglock? Thats much more reasonable and a very common choice for CCW. OWB might not work so well, but IWB might do better. With an open jacket, even seated, IWB can be easily accessed. Then there's pocket, cross draw, you name it!
ABC just stacked the deck to make the result that they wanted happen. It was expected, but it was just horrible to watch. Yellow bastards.
Just found an excellent(much better than mine) post on this very subject!
http://sensiblyprogressive.blogspot.com/2009/04/abc-anti-gun-hatchet-job-on-2020.html
Friday, April 3, 2009
The .380 acp! 101 years old and going strong!
Since the rise of Concealed Carry laws in the 1990's, .380 acp has been enjoying an resurgence in popularity. Ruger just produced their Kel-tec look-a-like, the LCP this past year. Walther has redesigned their popular P22, in a larger size to accommodate this century old caliber dubbing the new polymer framed pistol the PK380. Even Sig has gotten into the swing of things. Pictures of new Sig p238, a virtual clone of the Colt Mustang, have been plastered all over forums and blogs since the last ShotShow.
The .380 acp or 9x17 Kurz(short) (as it is often known in Europe), was found in the magazines of many compact pistols favored by police and military in the early 1900's. It was to Europeans what the .38 Special was to the United States. It is not a powerful cartridge. It was designed to be used in blowback semiautomatic handguns. The blowback system uses a frame mounted barrel, and only uses springs to retard the effects of recoil on the slide and return the slide to the ready position. This system is very simple and cheap, but limits the power of cartridges that can be used. At its best is only roughly on the same power level as standard pressure .38 Special. The .380 is considered by most to be the dead minimum cartridge for serious defensive work. Despite this, a plethora of handguns were chambered in it. Its small size, low recoil, and ability to be chambered in the early 1900's smallest fighting handguns made for great success. Its position as a dominant military and police caliber was gradually encroached and supplanted by the more powerful 9x19 parabelum cartridge.
The .380 acp has enjoyed a lot of resurgence after the CCW laws started passing in the 90's. Both new and classic designs have done very well. New technology has worked to make .380s smaller and lighter to satiate the massive public demand for lightweight, easily concealable handguns. However, many of the same technological inroads have started to apply to more powerful calibers. 9x19mm started to gain serious ground with subcompact and compact designs like the Glock 36 and 19, Kahr's pm and pk lines, and even tiny allow 1911s from various companies. However, despite the power and cost advantage 9x19mm holds, the .380 isn't slowing down. Why choose a less powerful .380 when there are 9mm's in the same size factor? Cost, weight, and ergonomics.
Cost: .380 is definitely less powerful, even in +P versions. However, that lack of power is not a weakness in all areas. That lower pressure cartridge does not need the same level of structural strength in a pistol that a 9x19mm will. Aluminum alloy and plastic can be used more liberally, and are easy materials work with in comparison to steel. Also, the recoil operation need not be as complex. A 9mm in the same size may need much more complex operation.
Weight: Once again, less and lighter weaker materials can be used in your average .380. With the lower recoil, it can still be effective as a weapon at this lower weight.
Ergonomics: I can hold and use a full size pistol like a sig 226 without troubles, but my wife can barely use it in single action. Many CCW holders are women. Not all of the male holders have big man-hands. Double stack compacts and subcompacts are fine, if you can comfortably use it and conceal it. I can think of a few single stack compact and subcompact handguns of decent quality and modern manufacture in 9mm para off the top of my head. The Kahr 9 series(TP9. T9, CW9, K9,P9,MK9,PM9.), the Sig-Sauer p239, taurus PT709, Sky CXP-1, Kel-tec pPF-9. The Taurus hasn't even hit the shelves yet. I can name off only a few of double stack .380s. The Beretta Cheetah 84, cz-83, Taurus 138 millium, Taurus 58, Taurus 93, Bersa thunder 13rd, and the Glock 25 & 28(neither of which are sold to the American public). I can name a lot of single stack .380s. Their numbers seem to be growing. Also single stack designs tend to be flatter, and conceal a bit better. Especially in the butt. Heh.
The .380 is going to keep going strong until the big names in the 9mm business decide to make some handguns in similar sizes that work well. The .380 killer needs to be 20oz or less, single-stack, and at a $400 or less price point.
The .380 acp or 9x17 Kurz(short) (as it is often known in Europe), was found in the magazines of many compact pistols favored by police and military in the early 1900's. It was to Europeans what the .38 Special was to the United States. It is not a powerful cartridge. It was designed to be used in blowback semiautomatic handguns. The blowback system uses a frame mounted barrel, and only uses springs to retard the effects of recoil on the slide and return the slide to the ready position. This system is very simple and cheap, but limits the power of cartridges that can be used. At its best is only roughly on the same power level as standard pressure .38 Special. The .380 is considered by most to be the dead minimum cartridge for serious defensive work. Despite this, a plethora of handguns were chambered in it. Its small size, low recoil, and ability to be chambered in the early 1900's smallest fighting handguns made for great success. Its position as a dominant military and police caliber was gradually encroached and supplanted by the more powerful 9x19 parabelum cartridge.
The .380 acp has enjoyed a lot of resurgence after the CCW laws started passing in the 90's. Both new and classic designs have done very well. New technology has worked to make .380s smaller and lighter to satiate the massive public demand for lightweight, easily concealable handguns. However, many of the same technological inroads have started to apply to more powerful calibers. 9x19mm started to gain serious ground with subcompact and compact designs like the Glock 36 and 19, Kahr's pm and pk lines, and even tiny allow 1911s from various companies. However, despite the power and cost advantage 9x19mm holds, the .380 isn't slowing down. Why choose a less powerful .380 when there are 9mm's in the same size factor? Cost, weight, and ergonomics.
Cost: .380 is definitely less powerful, even in +P versions. However, that lack of power is not a weakness in all areas. That lower pressure cartridge does not need the same level of structural strength in a pistol that a 9x19mm will. Aluminum alloy and plastic can be used more liberally, and are easy materials work with in comparison to steel. Also, the recoil operation need not be as complex. A 9mm in the same size may need much more complex operation.
Weight: Once again, less and lighter weaker materials can be used in your average .380. With the lower recoil, it can still be effective as a weapon at this lower weight.
Ergonomics: I can hold and use a full size pistol like a sig 226 without troubles, but my wife can barely use it in single action. Many CCW holders are women. Not all of the male holders have big man-hands. Double stack compacts and subcompacts are fine, if you can comfortably use it and conceal it. I can think of a few single stack compact and subcompact handguns of decent quality and modern manufacture in 9mm para off the top of my head. The Kahr 9 series(TP9. T9, CW9, K9,P9,MK9,PM9.), the Sig-Sauer p239, taurus PT709, Sky CXP-1, Kel-tec pPF-9. The Taurus hasn't even hit the shelves yet. I can name off only a few of double stack .380s. The Beretta Cheetah 84, cz-83, Taurus 138 millium, Taurus 58, Taurus 93, Bersa thunder 13rd, and the Glock 25 & 28(neither of which are sold to the American public). I can name a lot of single stack .380s. Their numbers seem to be growing. Also single stack designs tend to be flatter, and conceal a bit better. Especially in the butt. Heh.
The .380 is going to keep going strong until the big names in the 9mm business decide to make some handguns in similar sizes that work well. The .380 killer needs to be 20oz or less, single-stack, and at a $400 or less price point.
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