Suggest a 380 as a shooter

Which

  • Beretta 85

    Votes: 34 33.3%

  • Browning 1911-380

    Votes: 19 18.6%

  • Neither

    Votes: 8 7.8%

  • Other

    Votes: 41 40.2%
  • Total voters
    102
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Mosin Bubba:
Oh yes, lots of .380 Makarovs are out there.

There have been quite a number on Gunbroker, at least during normal times.

Note also that the single-stack magazines for a .380 are 100 percent identical with the s.-stack mags used in a 9x18 Makarov.

But make sure that they are from an Actual, True Makarov-not from a P-83, P-64 or Hungarian gun etc.
 
I find them mostly in my range pick up 9x19mm bucket... and initially curse before adding them to the coffee can of .380 joy.

I say worse things about MAK brass.....
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Finding MAK brass almost makes me dance a little jig,
After looking for MAK brass telling 9mms and .380s apart is easy:D
 
I agree with Kbob, the Star S model is the most ergonomic pistol ever made IMO. It's said that the Remington 51 (Not the recent attempt at using the same retarded locked breech concept) was designed with more attention to ergonomics than any gun ever before it, and it was designed well over a century ago.
The Remington is one of the finest .380's ever made IMO but all .380's stand beneath the Star S and Star SS models. It was made up until the 1970's I think but factory refurbished one's were sold as new in the 1990's I think. The two I have will outlive me many times over. I also like the Llama locked breech .380's, watch out though as they sold many thousands of blowback in the same model designation.
As for "New", I don't know, I like the PPK's a lot but they aren't a Star by a ways, prettier though and for me that's a factor too.
 
The Russians made Makarovas in 380acp with adjustable sights to sell in the US. They turn up on Gunbroker regularly and are not expensive.
 
Mosin Bubba said:
My dad's got some money burning a hole in his pocket and wants a new 380. I have no interest and little experience with 380s, so I figured this would be a good one to ask the internet.

Some details to help.

-Use will be 95% as a range shooter and a fun gun. It might get thrown in a motorcycle saddlebag, but it's not going to be an EDC.

-No micro 380s: LCP, Kahr, etc. We've both shot those and agree that they aren't fun.

-My dad has large palms and vise like grip strength. Larger is probably better and recoil isn't a big issue.

The two I've got down for him so far are the Beretta 85s being imported through Bud's and the Browning 1911-380, so info on those would be appreciated. He likes the look of the Beretta but is hesitant about buying one without being able to get hands-on with it first.

Any other suggestions are more than welcome; like I said, I really don't know what's out there for 380s. If there isn't a 380 you really care for as a shooter, that's a valid answer too, cause personally, I can't think of any really small autos I've enjoyed shooting.
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You state your Dad had has a vise like grip and recoil is not a Big Issue. So given your criteria, why are you even looking for a 380? I love the 380 Pocket guns. In fact it is a Hobby of mine and shoot the snot out out them. but I have never had the interest to get a larger one.
At this point, why not just get a Micro 9mm? Some excellent sweet shooting guns out there. Kahr, Beretta, Sig, Hellcat and on and on. Ammo much cheaper, more available (normal times) easy to shoot,and better ballistics etc.
You, the OP, state that you cannot think of any SMALL guns that you enjoy. Is that the same for your Dad? If that is the case, why not get a Compact. Something like a Ruger SR9 etc? Why the focus on a 380? Just asking.
 
Ernie Bass said:
You state your Dad had has a vise like grip and recoil is not a Big Issue. So given your criteria, why are you even looking for a 380? I love the 380 Pocket guns. In fact it is a Hobby of mine and shoot the snot out out them. but I have never had the interest to get a larger one.
At this point, why not just get a Micro 9mm? Some excellent sweet shooting guns out there. Kahr, Beretta, Sig, Hellcat and on and on. Ammo much cheaper, more available (normal times) easy to shoot,and better ballistics etc.
You, the OP, state that you cannot think of any SMALL guns that you enjoy. Is that the same for your Dad? If that is the case, why not get a Compact. Something like a Ruger SR9 etc? Why the focus on a 380? Just asking.
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He doesn't have a 380 in his collection and wanted to add one. Most of the 380s on the market are of the Ruger LCP two-finger grip variety, and they're good to carry but aren't any fun to shoot.

A shootable 380 isn't really a need, but need stopped being a problem for either of us a few dozen guns ago.

Anyway, looks like I missed the boat on the Berettas at least at Bud's, but there's several other good options. I was able to get hands on with a Browning 1911-380 at my LGS and it felt pretty good, and then I saw this online. Tisas clone of the Beretta 84 (12 shot model) for ~$400.

https://www.classicfirearms.com/tisas-fatih-b380-semi-automatic-pistol-380-acp-12rd-black/

Then there's the Makarovs too... I'd say the Browning is the leader in the clubhouse but there's lots of neat options available.
 
Ernie Bass said:
You state your Dad had has a vise like grip and recoil is not a Big Issue. So given your criteria, why are you even looking for a 380? I love the 380 Pocket guns. In fact it is a Hobby of mine and shoot the snot out out them. but I have never had the interest to get a larger one.
At this point, why not just get a Micro 9mm? Some excellent sweet shooting guns out there. Kahr, Beretta, Sig, Hellcat and on and on. Ammo much cheaper, more available (normal times) easy to shoot,and better ballistics etc.
You, the OP, state that you cannot think of any SMALL guns that you enjoy. Is that the same for your Dad? If that is the case, why not get a Compact. Something like a Ruger SR9 etc? Why the focus on a 380? Just asking.
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My dad's got some money burning a hole in his pocket and wants a new 380.
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I voted Beretta 85 since I own one. BUT, I also have a Sig P238, Colt Government, PPK, and Glock 42, all of which I like better for one reason or another. The one I shoot the best is the Glock 42 followed closely by the PPK.
 
The mention of 380 barrels earlier in this thread sent me looking, and it seemed like the business making them got closed down a few years ago after a run-in with the ATF. If there's any left, I'm not looking for them in the right places.
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https://www.gunpartscorp.com/gun-manufacturer/makarov/pistol-mak/parts-list-makarov

Appears to have them.
Be aware that changing barrels is not a drop in thing.
Some disassembly and tools are required. (barrel press)

(schematic of pistol as well, about as few parts as possible (27)to make a semi auto DA pistol)

You should be able to find one in .380 if you look
 
Old Dog said:
Beretta 84, 85 or 86.
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Being blowback these have more recoil than you might expect. The prices on these have gotten beyond reason IMHO (~$600 last I saw one). I'd say get the S&W Shield EZ .380 or maybe the Walter CCP .380 (~$400) and spend the savings on ammo which right now is not easy to find or inexpensive.
 
I've owned a few Walthers in my day. They were not that reliable in my experience. Newer ones seem to have an atrocious DA trigger pull. I have also owned a few Berettas and a Browning double stack. Nice quality. My choice would be the Bersa Thunders including the new double stack Plus. Comfortable to shoot with it's wider rubber grip too. Smooth double action and properly indexed sights.

Now then, where do you find easily available ammo at a reasonable price? I've seen panic buying years ago where a box of 50 went for 50 bucks at a gun shop managed by a friend. Crowded counter, several people wanted the last box. No one was ready to pay--when an arm came over the top with a fifty dollar bill in it's hand and slapped it on the counter. LOL. Pistols and ammo are in demand but scarce. Good luck.

M
 
Dudedog said:
Maks are blowback, so the barrel is pressed into the frame.
You just need to take the gun apart then press out the existing one with a barrel press.

https://www.gunpartswarehouse.com/Makarov-Barrel-Press_p_23.html

Some Mak info
https://www.makarov.com/index.html
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Makarovs are also easy to detail strip. I remember many years ago when I got my Makarov, the trigger, and just about all other moving parts, were terrible. I detail stripped it and used green pads on all mating surfaces (other than the sear surface). I took them to a state of polish. After doing that, it was a completely different pistol.

On another note, since this thread started ad now, I have confirmed that by getting a 1911-22 slide assembly and magazines, the 1911-380 can be used to shoot both 380 and 22lr. This can make for a lot of cheaper practice.
 
I voted for the Browning 1911. A friend has one and it's nice. I have a BabyRock and my wife has a Shield EZ. The Ez is a little easier to rack the slide and definately EZier to load the mag than the BabyRock. I made a set of fatter grips for my Baby Rock and the recoil seems about the same with both and isn't bad at all. Any of the three would be a good choice IMO and are not so tiny as to be hard to grip.
 
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doubleh said:
I voted for the Browning 1911. A friend has one and it's nice. I have a BabyRock and my wife has a Shield EZ. The Ez is a little easier to rack the slide and definately EZier to load the mag than the BabyRock. I made a set of fatter grips for my Baby Rock and the recoil seems about the same with both and isn't bad at all. Any of the tree would be a good choice IMO and are not so tiny as to be hard to grip.
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I posted photos on page 1 of this thread showing my Llama IIIA next to a full size govt. 1911 and also photos me holding each in my hand. I have small hands. I don't know how much the Llama IIIA differs in size compared to the Browning 1911-30 and Baby Rock. I would say it is problem close to the same size as the Baby Rock since it and the new Llama IIIA are now made in the Philippines.
 
I voted for the Beretta 85. I like them. I have an LCP II 380 I use for pocket carry but I wouldn't consider putting a lot of ammo thru it. Recently I was looking for a 380 to blow up some of the excess 380 ammo I have. I was going to go with a CZ-83 in 380. They are solid pistols with a nice trigger, but somewhat difficult to find. I ended up buying a Walther CCP M2 380 for the wife instead. We both like it. Good trigger, accurate. That said I can see another Walther PPK/S 380 in my future.
 
12Bravo20 said:
I posted photos on page 1 of this thread showing my Llama IIIA next to a full size govt. 1911 and also photos me holding each in my hand. I have small hands. I don't know how much the Llama IIIA differs in size compared to the Browning 1911-30 and Baby Rock. I would say it is problem close to the same size as the Baby Rock since it and the new Llama IIIA are now made in the Philippines.
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Before I got my 1911-380 I had the opportunity to examine it and both a Llama and a Baby Rock, all side by side. The Llama and the Baby Rock are virtually identical. The 1911-380 is larger and an entire level above the others in apparent quality; which for what it costs, it should be.
 
Hasaf said:
Before I got my 1911-380 I had the opportunity to examine it and both a Llama and a Baby Rock, all side by side. The Llama and the Baby Rock are virtually identical. The 1911-380 is larger and an entire level above the others in apparent quality; which for what it costs, it should be.
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Yeah the Llama IIIA and Baby Rock look tiny even in my small hands.
 
Having owned both, my example of the Browning 1911-380 was completely unreliable.

The Beretta has been a joy to shoot.
 
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