FAQ
Here is what I believe about the .380acp situation.
Fact: The .380acp has been sold as a smaller recoil round that can do the job in a self-defense situation.
Part of that statement is true and part of it depends on the gun you buy.
Many of the smaller guns that are sold for self-defense in .380acp caliber have more recoil than most 9mm handguns. Why? because the barrel is short and the gun is hard to hold onto. Many times the handgun does not fit the shooter’s hand.
The .380 has the potential like any other handgun round to stop individuals. Is it the best round? I do not think so. Many times out of these little guns the hollow point round does not expand because the velocity is so low because you are shooting a round with less powder through a short barrel. The FBI tests showed that these rounds did not cut the mustard so they are not considered for serious law enforcement situations.
Fact: .380acp ammo is getting hard to find
Here is the problem. I have an ammo manufacturing company and I have my machines set up to run 9mm ammo and I can sell all I can make. Three shifts a day 7 days a week. Why? Because 9mm is the world standard at this point, and definitely the standard in this country. The FBI, the Military, and much of law enforcement are on this round. Why would I change all my tooling and machines to make the .380acp round that is not as popular and takes the same materials and time to produce?
Fact: Ammo is hard to find and getting harder by the minute
We have had several of these tight ammo markets in my lifetime. When President Obama was coming into office all that was available on the shelves was .40S&W. Why you ask? Because Police departments all over the country were using .40S&W and 9mm was not very popular at that time. Then came the Concealed Carry Boom. Manufactures of guns found out they could stuff more rounds in the same size magazines, have less recoil than the .40S&W so many new designs of guns were made for both law enforcement and for the concealed carry market. Then the ammo companies came along and developed ammo that was just as powerful and effective as the bigger rounds these agencies had been using. Both the .40S&W and the .45acp. Are those bigger rounds still being used? Yes, but they are also harder to get and more expensive by the minute.
Fact: Should you sell your .380acp handgun?
I don’t think so. Many people have guns that are hard to find ammo for. You have to be on the hunt for it at all times. During the good times when President Trump was in office, you could have stocked up. Is the .380acp more expensive than the 9mm? Yes it is, and it will always be that way. One of the solutions people have found is to find a .22LR handgun that closely matches your self-defense .380acp handgun and practice a lot with that gun.
I’ve given you some things to think about. All ammo is going to be harder to find and more expensive. The price of the materials, labor costs, and the gun boom have all entered into the equation. When you find ammo buy it, and don’t forget to have fun shooting.
Warning shots are intended to change someone’s behavior. You are warning someone to back off or I’ll shoot. This means the threat has not reached the level of deadly force required to use a deadly force weapon. If it had you would be defending yourself. That round you fired in the air has to land somewhere. Above all warning shots are dangerous and illegal.
There are five
IN Your Home
IN Your Auto
IN Your Business
On Land that you own
and
Hunting when somethings in season and you have a permit to hunt
In Colorado, menacing involves knowingly placing someone “in fear of serious bodily injury” or attempting to do so. Menacing with a deadly weapon would be the act of threatening another person while brandishing a gun, knife or similar item. Also, see Brandishing
Carrying a firearm for self defense puts us at risk from loss of life, freedom, and of course our finances. Let the USCCA (United States Concealed Carry Association)Â help you with some of those risks.
Open carry is legal in Colorado but I have some reservations about it with the current legal climate. One of the things we’ve seen happen around the country is that when carrying open in places like Walmart or the grocery store we’re seeing criminals take guns from people and then the DA or the local jurisdiction charge that gun owner with negligence when he loses the gun to the criminal. Of course, carrying in an open space like the mountains or a river trail, or some walking trail is generally accepted practice. Colorado has some areas that it’s illegal to carry open and you can be arrested namely Denver and Denver County. It is not true that open carry deters crime. It is just the opposite. Open carry attracts crime to you and makes you a target both for police and criminals. It tends to make the public nervous and attracts too much attention to the open carrier.
Sure, we have safety training in our Pueblo, Colorado classroom or we can schedule a time to do it on site with you, your family or friends. Gun Safety is a primary skill and everyone should know proper gun safety.
Take my class and I will teach you everything you need to get your permit. After my class, you will go the the Sheriff and apply for the permit. The process is easy. I will teach you the process to get your permit, and many other important facts you need to know if you are going to carry a handgun concealed in Colorado.
Colorado Law says it must be issued within 90 days or show cause. Most people get them in 6-8 weeks. Since Covid, the process has been backed up and can take longer. My class gets you the info you need to streamline the process.
I work with people so that they will pass. I give you the gun training material in a logical way that anyone can understand it
Yes….you actually have an advantage over people who have handled guns all their lives. Most long-time gun owners have become complacent and are not as safe as they could be. A new person usually does not have those pesky bad habits that experienced owners sometimes have.
Yes…Colorado statutes say that you may have a loaded revolver or pistol in your vehicle no permit required. You are not however allowed to have a loaded long gun (rifle or shotgun) in your vehicle. Loaded in Colorado means chambered.
Get all the Colorado regulations and your questions answered in my short class Concealed Carry Rules, Regs & Tips. 2.5 hours
Do not worry about having a gun. Some of my students want to learn more about it so that they can choose the proper gun for them and their situation. I will have guns available for class
NO. In fact, state law prohibits firearms registration by local or state government (the Federal Brady Act is another matter, though that’s not “claimed” to be registration). Colorado has no waiting period for a gun purchase at this time.
NO. In fact, state law prohibits firearms registration by local or state government (the Federal Brady Act is another matter, though that’s not “claimed” to be registration). Colorado has no waiting period for a gun purchase at this time.