Bretta 380

Question
I recently inherited a Bretta 380 automatic pistol from my Dad. Is this a good pistol for personal safety, etc. If in an emergency, is it dependable and does it have stopping power?

Answer
I don't know which model gun you have. The only Beretta .380 in current production is the Chetah.  If it is that gun, it is probably reliable in function.

Regarding the cartridge, however . . .

At one time, guns the size of the Cheetah were considered small and so chambered in a sub-par cartridge. Today, there are guns smaller than the Chetah (e.g. Kahr) chambered in 9mm and even .40.

Guns chambered in .380 today can be tiny indeed (e.g. the Kel-Tec 3AT).  In a MODERN gun, the only reason to get a sub-par cartridge like the .380 would be for exceptional concealability - your Beretta will not supply that for you.

The power floor for a serious self defense cartridge is the 9mm. With the right ammunition this can be a formidable weapon (as formidable as handguns get, which is not very much so).

That having been said, this is the gun you have, and it's better than nothing. The .380 is certainly to be preferred to a .32 or .22.

Check your literature. If it will allow the gun to be used with +P ammunition, I would consider keeping it loaded with MagSafe or something from Corbon to get your best performance out of it.

If you can't use +P ammunition in it, if you have to use the gun for self defense, I would seriously consider having a "Plan B" at the ready, as there is a good chance you will need it.