Massad Ayoob - Is 380 Enough? Lehigh Defense Xtreme Defense

Massad Ayoob is answering your questions. One question we received was, "Is .380 enough?" Massad looks at the Lehigh Defense Xtreme Defense Solid Copper Bullet. When it comes to .380, ammunition selection is even more important. The right combination of stopping power and penetration is key.

Critical Mas(s) with Massad Ayoob is a show that provides expert analysis over a wide range of contemporaneous topics related to civilian and law enforcement self-defense, the use of force, and second amendment issues, provided by a renowned and established author with a career spanning decades in training law enforcement officers and the public at large, who is frequently called upon to provide expert witness testimony.

ABOUT MASSAD AYOOB:
Massad Ayoob has been handgun editor of GUNS magazine and law enforcement columnist for AMERICAN HANDGUNNER since the 1970s and has published thousands of articles in gun magazines, martial arts publications, and law enforcement journals. He is the author of some twenty books on firearms, self-defense, and related topics, including “In the Gravest Extreme” and “Deadly Force,” widely considered to be authoritative texts on the topic of the use of lethal force.

The winner of the Outstanding American Handgunner of the Year Award in 1998, Mas has won several states and regional handgun shooting championships. Ayoob was the first person to earn the title of Five Gun Master in the International Defensive Pistol Association. He is the current President of the Second Amendment Foundation. He served 19 years as chair of the Firearms Committee of the American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers, and several years as a member of the Advisory Board of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association. In addition to teaching for those groups, he has also taught
for the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors and the International Homicide Investigators seminars.

Mas has received judicial recognition as an expert witness for the courts in weapons and shooting cases since 1979, and served as a fully sworn and empowered, part-time police officer for 43 years, mostly at supervisor rank. Ayoob founded the Lethal Force Institute in 1981 and served as its director until 2009, and now trains through Massad Ayoob Group. He has
appeared on CLE-TV delivering continuing legal education for attorneys, through the American Law Institute and American Bar Association, and has been retained to train attorneys to handle deadly force cases through the Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network. Ayoob served for two
years as co-vice chair of the Forensic Evidence Committee of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He also appeared in each episode of Personal Defense TV (Sportsman’s Channel).

#MassadAyoob #WilsonCombat #CriticalMas

[randomlyfactual]

12 inches the minimum penetration according to the FBI?

Damn man, now I feel inadequate

[mattrushing]

The most effective defensive firearm is the one you're most comfortable with.

[coreyb]

I carry a .380 because I will carry it. Its very comfortable to carry everyday and you will forget that it is there. Have a 9mm and found myself leaving it at home because of the size and weight.

[davidhoffman]

I remember an article. The writer stated that his wife had significant difficulty accurately shooting a semiautomatic pistol chambered for 9mm x 19mm cartridges, So he had her switch to a pistol chambered for the .380 cartridge. Her consistency and accuracy increased significantly. He stated that it was better that she was now accurately and consistently hitting targets from various shooting positions than it was for her to be carrying a pistol chambered for the more powerful 9mm X 19 mm cartridge.

[j.geshua]

Most important is how accurate you are even the best caliber won't do anything if you don't hit the target

[ejp]

Underwood Xtreme Penetrator / Xtreme Defender ammo uses that Lehigh Defense bullet. It’s made in all popular handgun calibers. It’s a devastating round.

[ryankohls]

I'll take my .380 any day of the week or my .22 My goal is to defend myself in within a ten to twenty yard distance. Not going to be aiming the length of football field with a .380 anyway. With that said I have tremendous amount of respect for this man.

[joetaylor]

A solid hit with a .22 LR is much better than a loud miss with a .44 Magnum.

[aucklandsadventures]

Everyone wants to say a bullet is too small but those same people never want to get shot with it.

[nathanstrickland]

I suffered a extremely bad injury at work two years ago. Unfortunately it was in my dominant right shoulder. This has been a life changing event. All my rigs are naturally right handed. Before my first of three surgical procedures in the past two years. I went out and bought a ruger max 380. Its something i can carry in my left front pocket. I've only shot once in two years. The pain that goes into that shoulder. Even when shooting with my left hand. Is just to painful to go shooting. Its not what i want for protection. But right now its really my only option. 13 rounds of 380 is better than nothing. I also tried out a 38 special, and i do sometimes carry that. But the compression of the 38 just about brings me to my knees with pain in my shoulder. Hoping that adrenalin will get me through if i would ever have to use my gun in a defensive situation. Life is always changing for us all. This has been one of the hardest things I've ever had to go through. If not for my wonderful wife, i wouldn't have made it this far. More surgical procedures coming soon. Sometimes its not about what you want. Sometimes its about what your best option is.

[trillmixin]

FBI takes into account the shooting through multiple barriers of different material when it suggests 13 inches of penetration being the minimum for pistol caliber ballistics (for their standards and operations). In a one on one self defense scenario between attacker and defender, .380 ACP is more than enough caliber to get the job done. In fact, .380 ACP is known to overpenetrate in flesh targets. I personally would recommend hollow point defense ammo with reliable expansion such as Hornady Critical Defense in this case to avoid such a scenario and potential harm of a bystander.

[steventhorson]

The .380 caliber ( 9 mm short), particularly the Beretta pistol, is a adequate self defense weapon!!

[jefferyparsley]

Just recently killed a hog with my Glock 42 chambered in 380 I was using sierra outdoors 95 grain jacked hollow point and broad side double lunged a 150 pound sal and flipped her on her back I always questioned how lethal 380 would be in a self defense or survival situation and I already liked caring that gun In particular but now I trust that that 380 with good shot placement is more then capable of protecting me

[BrianEthridge-wgko]

I'm a new gun enthusiast and I have two brand new Glock 25 380s and this just answered one of my biggest questions I really appreciate it

[yellowboxster]

Good advice, and from what I’ve seen in dozens of ballistics tests, the most common .380 ACP barrel length is about 2.75”. I believe the .380 ACP is an effective round at up close and personal distances…the kind of distances that invoke the 21’ rule. Finding a JHP standard pressure round that can actually expand out of 2.75” barrel is a challenge…so the extreme defender loads make a lot of sense.

[datUsAfguy]

I have them exact rounds in my Kimber Compact Micro 1911 .380, it's my everyday carry as well as the full size Colt 1911 .45 ACP. Thanks for spreading the knowledge as usual and keep it coming

[Horror_Film_Aficionado]

I carry sig-v-crown 90 grain jhp elite defense. I only carry my .380rugerlcp as a "date night gun" or doctors visit or something under extreme concealment circumstances

[CHUBBYAMERICAN]

WORKED IN THE ER AT BAYLOR HOSPITAL DALLAS TX. SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE DIE FROM .380ACP WOUNDS. 22LR AS WELL. JUST MY EXPERIENCE.

[thisguy]

Literally a pellet gun is better than carrying nothing.

[MtnBadger]

The .380 has found new life with the improved powders and projectiles coming out today. The Xtreme Defender and Penetrator have given the .380 full sized, standard 9mm performance. (.380 is a "9mm short" round, same projectiles with a shorter case. Great for up close, personal defense in a very small package).