As most will know, the .380 ACP cartridge was designed by no less a personage than John Moses Browning himself and was introduced in 1908 by Colt, the "ACP" designation being an acronym for "Automatic Colt Pistol." It is known by many other names around the world, such as:
9 mm Kurz
9 x 17 mm
9 mm Corto
9 mm Court
9 mm Short
9 mm Kratak
9 mm Browning Short
9 mm Scurt
It is particularly valued as a personal defense cartridge in countries which consider weapons chambered for more powerful calibers (e.g., the 9 x 19 mm Parabellum [Luger] or .45 ACP), to be "military" weapons and therefore not "suitable"
for civilian ownership.
The heaviest bullet that can be safely loaded into the .380 ACP is 115 grains, though the standard has long been 85, 90 or 95 grains. With practice (and especially with a "double tap") the .380 can be a very effective cartridge and has seen extensive use in European military and law enforcement agencies -- witness, the vaunted Walther PPK.
