When it comes to self-defense, a bigger bullet stops people faster. But a gun with big bullets also holds fewer bullets. Guns with smaller bullets typically hold more ammo but have less stopping power. Wow; what a predicament. Darned if you do and darned if you don’t.
I would like to say the answer is simple. But it is not, and I can only give you my opinion based on my own experience with firearms and my time in law enforcement. What works for one person may not work for someone else. The good thing, however, is that you can gather information and make your own determination on the caliber and type of gun you want to use for self-defense. Let’s look at the 12-round magazine Ruger offers for their LCP .380.
Ruger’s LCP (Light Compact Pistol) has been around for a while and their LCP Max was one of the best models they have made. It’s a lightweight, small, semi-auto gun that can hold 10 rounds. And for a 1/4-inch in added length to the base plate of the mag, you can get a 12-round mag. Even for a .380, that’s a lot of rounds for such a small gun. Ruger’s 12-round factory mag is a blue-steel, bottleneck, double-stack mag that comes with a pre-installed flush-fit floor plate.
Why fewer bullets vs bigger bullets?
There is a lot to consider when choosing the caliber that will be carried for self-defense. The larger caliber guns not only hold fewer bullets, but they kick more too. The felt recoil of a gun can also change based on the size and weight of the gun.
An example is a full-sized 1911 chambered in .45 ACP. While .45 ACP may not be the largest round, it is on the larger side. And a 1911 is a heavy pistol that can help reduce the felt recoil on the gun. Compare the 1911 to a small lightweight polymer handgun and you will notice the difference when you pull the trigger. If you are going to shoot a smaller gun, a larger caliber can make it harder to handle. For this reason, I prefer smaller calibers for smaller-frame guns.
Typically, I would prefer a larger round, but I also want something small enough that it can be concealed in the summer when I’m not wearing bulkier clothes. To me, small and lightweight are important characteristics for a gun to have on those days when you just can’t lug around a big heavy gun. The Ruger LCP Max with the 12-round magazine allows me to have a small gun with plenty of ammo. With a 2nd mag in my front pocket, I can carry 24 rounds of ammo with ease.
The Need for More Bullets
The need for handguns to hold more bullets was driven by the military’s desire to have more rounds in their guns. Manufacturers were starting to make guns that were lighter and held more ammo while still being reliable and accurate. The military decided that soldiers having the ability to fire twice as many rounds without reloading outweighed the need for a larger bullet. They switched to the 9mm when Beretta won the contract to produce the US Military’s sidearm in 1985.
The .380 has been a contested caliber for some time, with people arguing it is insufficient for a defensive round and others stating it can do the job at close ranges for self-defense. Most shootings involving self-defense take place between seven-10 yards. So, for me, a .380 isn’t something I plan to shoot 20-30 yards away, but up close for protection. If I am going to carry a smaller caliber like the .380, having 12 rounds is a reasonable ammo capacity for a compact firearm.
Testing the .380 12-Round Magazine
When testing a magazine, the first thing I look at is the magazine spring. One of the most common reasons for failure to feed issues with handguns is weak or faulty magazine springs. After loading and shooting the mag multiple times, I found no issues with it.
I also like to drop test mags to make sure the floor plate will stay secure. The floor plate on poorly constructed magazines can fly off when dropped. For the test, I dropped the loaded Ruger mag onto a wood floor multiple times from shoulder height and it held up just fine.
The final and most important test, however, is running ammo through it on the range.
For the cycling test, I started with several brands of .380 FMJ ammo. Winchester, Federal, and PMC all cycled through it without any issues. Next, I went to hollow-point ammo and fired Hornady FTX Critical Defense and Winchester Defender. The ammo cycled flawlessly, and the magazine was able to activate the mag catch at the end of each round.
The mags are small enough that an extra mag was easy to keep in my front left pocket during range drills. I ran several drills using an inside-the-waistband holster and a mag in the front pocket like I would carry it in public.
Final Thoughts
Not everyone wants to carry a smaller caliber like the .380 and there is nothing wrong with that. Some dress for the gun they want to carry, but I like to wear the gun that works for how I dress. Sometimes that works with a 9mm or .45. Other times it requires a very small compact gun like the Ruger LCP Max. A bigger bullet will have more knockdown power, so maybe you don’t need as many bullets. But when I’m going to carry something as small as a .380, I want more ammo in my gun.
The Ruger LCP Max 12-Round mag is compact and a must-have for anyone with a Ruger Max handgun. I was impressed with the included 10-round mag but having 12-round mags are a game-changer for such a small gun. The recoil is not too high for the size, and I was able to shoot quickly even though it is so small. The length of the 10-round mag is 3 ¼ inches and the 12-round mag is only 3 ½ in length. If you want to carry in comfort, try the Ruger Max with their 12-round mags.
