better pocket gun: Micro Eagle or Kahr P380

[hector]

Looking for a new 380 pocket gun and was thinking either the Micro Desert Eagle or the Kahr p380 for an everyday BUG or primary when i wear gym shorts. Ive checked out a lot of the reviews/comments on the site but was wondering if anyone has any specific comments comparing the two of these.

Here is my criteria from most to least important:

1. DAO
2. reliability/dependability
3. ease of maintenance
4. concealability
5. accuracy
6. cost

thanks

 

[M2 Carbine]

I can't compare them head to head, I've never shot the Kahr but for what it's worth I have the MDE.

reliability/dependability
I don't recall a jam of any kind.
The slide cracked at 180 rounds. Magnum Research took care of it and no problem since.


ease of maintenance
Easy to clean.


concealablity
It's a little heavier than like a P3AT but I pocket carry it and forget I have it.


accuracy
Everyone that's shot mine comments on the accuracy.
I tried it out at 52 yards, standing, two hands. I missed low twice because I wasn't correcting enough for the bullet drop.

 

[VA27]

I have only seen and handled one Kahr, but I didn't get to shoot it.

After a little research I got the MDE in blue. It cost a couple hunnert less than the Kahr and it's been 100% so far with Federal AE, WWB, GoldDot, Hornady and it really likes GoldenSabre.

Easy to field strip and clean.

Hides in a jeans pocket.

More accurate than it has a right to be. Standing, offhand at 7 yards=three shots touching at POA with WWB.

Another plus is that the parent gun (the Czech made ZVI Kevin) has been around for a number of years, so the bugs (if there were any) are all worked out.

It's a keeper.

 

[19-3Ben]

With the #4 criteria...conceivability... do you mean concealability? I can conceive of many many guns. Concealing them all is tougher though.

I do not have experience with either, as my pocket carry gun is the LCP. but based on my experience with the LCP, I can tell you that having a lightweight gun in the pocket is very very nice. Given the weights of the guns, I'd go with the Kahr P380 simply because it's so much lighter.

 

[harmon rabb]

supposedly, the mde is a pain in the ass to reassemble after field stripping. i have no personal experience with this though.

 

[M2 Carbine]

supposedly, the mde is a pain in the ass to reassemble after field stripping. i have no personal experience with this though.

Not true.
THE MDE is a very simple gun to strip and reassemble.

For the heck of it I just timed taking the gun apart and putting it back together again.
My left shoulder is hurting to the point I can't hardly pull the slide. I dropped one spring and plunger. I let the barrel turn too soon when reassembling.
In short, I took too much time for the job and still took only a minute and five seconds.

You just hold the gun in the left hand and hold the slide back with the left thumb.

 

[Tooquick11]

I have the kahr p380. It has become my favorite grab and go pistol. At the range it is more accurate than it should be for the size and recoil is next to nil. Its light enough to almost never realize your carrying and fit and finish are flawless

 

[kokapelli]

My Micro has been flawless since the day I got it and with at least a half dozen brands of ammo.

I decided on the Micro because it is a proven design, all metal, (JMO) I felt the blowback action may be better suited for these pocket guns and fit and finish is excellent.

Take down and reassembly is a snap after you do it a few times.

 

[hector]

"With the #4 criteria...conceivability... do you mean concealability? I can conceive of many many guns. Concealing them all is tougher though."

haha yes it was supposed to read concealabilty... i wasnt trying to get existential on anyone.

 

[blkbrd666]

Be sure to read the comparison in American Rifleman this month if you haven't seen it. They compare 9 different pocket .380's...both are in the comparison.

 

[MICHAEL T]

I think the AR test is way off To many people own these pistols and don't have a problem Yet he has trouble with every one except the most expensive. I think trouble was in the tester . He was the weak link in the test . Can't believe all the company's decided to send troubled guns to be tested at same time .

 

[kokapelli]

I think the AR test is way off To many people own these pistols and don't have a problem Yet he has trouble with every one except the most expensive. I think trouble was in the tester . He was the weak link in the test . Can't believe all the company's decided to send troubled guns to be tested at same time .

I was thinking the same thing! In addition to my Micro Eagle I have a P-3AT that has also been 100% since the day I bought it.

 

[sidheshooter]

+1 on that line of thought. Plus, what's with using only the SA on the walther test? These are last ditch defense guns, not SAA colts...

That said, Clapp has obviously been around the block–and for a lot longer than I. Still, i can't help thinking that a lot of the folks here might shoot these things a bit differently, if I'm reading in between the lines.

 

[Guns and more]

I can't get used to the end of the trigger guard being on the front of the frame.
I often put my off hand index finger on the front of the trigger guard. That would hurt.

For my money, the Sig 238 is the same size as the Kahr p380, and is a heck of a lot more fun to shoot. But it's S/A.

Maybe someday I'll spring for a Seecamp, but not yet.

 

[hector]

thanks all for the responses... ive felt both in my hand they they are both ok- each has thits pros and cons for me... i like the MDE for being all steel but hate it for its weight. I guess ill have to go in with gym shorts on and see if the 15 oz is too much of rthe elastic waistband.

 

[GunNut]

The Kahr P380 is a very nice gun and very easy to shoot well having a locked breach system.

Another gun to consider is the Diamondback Firearms .380acp, it's thin and fits a normal hand better than most of the other micro .380's on the market.

 

[verdun59]

O.K. I've have/had both. The Micro is gone. It was reliable with most ammo but not all as is the case with many autos. It's well built and take down was fast and easy. I found that it had some sharp edges but nothing that some 600 grit wouldn't take care of.
Sooooo why did it go, because to me it was brutal to shoot, being a blowback (not my favorite thing) I found the recoil to be unpleasant and the trigger just gave me big time trigger slap or pinch. In order to practice with the Micro I had use the old band aid trick....I'm old fashioned so I like to practice with the gun I'm going to carry, I'm not with that "carry a lot, shoot a little" program.
Anyway I've since gotten a Kahr p380 and it also is well made, accurate and a soft shooter surpassed only by my Colt Pony Pocketlite. It small enough to be carried in the pocket and weighs less than the Micro. Take down is easy, I believe I made the right decision. Good luck with yours.

 

[xXxplosive]

Wouldn't discount the Guardian 380 either......