DA/SA locked breech hammer fired .380?

http://www.waltherarms.com/handguns/pk380/#

Learn something new everyday. I had no idea the PK380 was locked breech. I did not think the 380 had enough popcorn to it.

I had one, wouldn't recommend it.

Triggernosis said:

What was the problem with it?

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It was the most inaccurate handgun I've ever seen but that may have just been my specific one. In order to take the slide off to clean it you need to have a small and rather fragile looking little plastic key to rotate the cam through a hole in the side. It would be difficult or impossible to improvise a tool to do it because of the design of it. I also very much disliked the safety. The safety is not a decocker and it does not deactivate the trigger. It only blocks the hammer from hitting the firing pin. Its very easy to bump on or off. I carried mine as a woods gun and very often I would engage the safety by accident in the holster and when I would pull it out to shoot it the safety be on. When you pull the trigger with the safety on the hammer will cock and fall like normal, only the hammer cant touch the firing pin so you have no indicator that the safety is on. Its really a terrible design all around. The ergonomics are fantastic but everything else on it makes it a no go for me. Honestly I wouldn't take another one for free and there are very few guns I would say that about. I bought it at a whim without doing my homework.

The S&W 380 EZ might be a good option if you were willing to compromise on the DA/SA trigger. From what I’ve read, the trigger pull weight and pull length are pretty friendly on it.

You betcha it does, and on sale now:
CZ83 AIM Surplus
These are excellent pistols.

Taroman said:

You betcha it does, and on sale now:
CZ83 AIM Surplus
These are excellent pistols.

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Nope, CZ83 is blowback. Still a nice gun!

Sorry, my bad.

Robbins290 said:

Learn something new everyday. I had no idea the PK380 was locked breech. I did not think the 380 had enough popcorn to it.

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There are quite a few locked breech .380s.....SIG P250 .380, Colt Mustang (and derivatives), Kahr P380, Ruger Lcp, Beretta Pico, Smith and Wesson Bodyguard, arguably the old Remington M51, among others.

But all of these were either striker fired and/or DA only.

The PK380 is the only one I know of as well which is locked breech, hammer fired, and DA/SA.

someguy2800 said:

When you pull the trigger with the safety on the hammer will cock and fall like normal, only the hammer cant touch the firing pin so you have no indicator that the safety is on.

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I didn't know modern gun designs were made like that anymore. That's not good at all in a self defense handgun, IMO.

chicharrones said:

I didn't know modern gun designs were made like that anymore. That's not good at all in a self defense handgun, IMO.

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Yep that crap could get you killed. I can see someone pulling that out under stress and panic and clacking away at the hammer not realizing they are not actually firing the gun. Especially if your in a physical struggle.

I also bought a PK 380 w/factory laser on a whim. I like the "9 mm short" and own a few so for $370 NIB with tax I thought it to be a pretty good bang for the buck. At 20 feet it always shot low and left. Great groups in the seven ring but somewhat better with the laser activated. My LEO son and a couple of his buddies didn't fare much better. Have to agree about the design of the safety. How Walther thought this was a good idea is beyond me and I like Walther products.

I know its not exactly what you asked, but the Browning Black Label has a locked breach, and is hammer fired. I only bring it up because the locked breach makes the recoil very light, about 1/3 of a PPK. A friend has one, even with the recoil, I prefer the PPK.

NIGHTLORD40K said:

There are quite a few locked breech .380s.....SIG P250 .380, Colt Mustang (and derivatives), Kahr P380, Ruger Lcp, Beretta Pico, Smith and Wesson Bodyguard, arguably the old Remington M51, among others.

But all of these were either striker fired and/or DA only.

The PK380 is the only one I know of as well which is locked breech, hammer fired, and DA/SA.

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Actually the Beretta Pico is hammer fired. Just what the OP is looking for. Excellent, though odd feeling, quality pistol.

usp9 said:

Actually the Beretta Pico is hammer fired.

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So is Ruger LCP II. And it has a magazine release that works. And does not break firing pins. But the OP asked about DA/SA, which neither of these is.

usp9 said:

Actually the Beretta Pico is hammer fired. Just what the OP is looking for. Excellent, though odd feeling, quality pistol.

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Actually, what I said was "striker fired and/OR DA only"

The Pico is DA only. I can bloody well see the hammer.

OK, I've calmed down now. No snark intended. Yes, excellent gun.

NIGHTLORD40K said:

There are quite a few locked breech .380s.....SIG P250 .380, Colt Mustang (and derivatives), Kahr P380, Ruger Lcp, Beretta Pico, Smith and Wesson Bodyguard, arguably the old Remington M51, among others.

But all of these were either striker fired and/or DA only.

The PK380 is the only one I know of as well which is locked breech, hammer fired, and DA/SA.

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You forgot the Glock 42 (Yes, I know, it fits into "among others") .

I felt really dumb with his initial question. I was at a loss to name even one, and I have a PK380; I just didn't think of it.

I don't think the PK380 is all that bad, it just doesn't have a place in my needs. My EDC is the Glock 42.

I would not hesitate to recommend the PK380. However, it needs to be carried hammer down, and safety off.

The Browning Black Label is ssoooooooo close...

But not quite.

I'm depressed, I just found out that the Full-Size Tanfoglio FT9 is blowback

Hard to believe that Walther, having produced such excellent designs going back so long, allowed such a blunder with the PK380. And they had to know a .380 was only really going to be marketable to the home/carry defense market.

I’ve been searching high and low for one, and I asked the same question a while back here and received some close suggestions.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...a-da-that-isnt-blowback.829286/#post-10696170


Only one is the pk380 and I agree the pk380 is a terrible gun. In hand It feels Poor quality and also that terrible “safety”. But:
1. Walther recently improved their p22 in .22lr and gave it a proper decocker. It used the have that junk the pk380 has.
2. The pk380 was manufactured for Walter by S&W and I believe that recently has changed.

So maybe we’ll see an upgrade to the pk380. I know a lady that would buy one if they did.

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Another thing to keep an eye out for is Taurus makes the TH380. Which is a sa/da in 380. Problem is they only import the 9mm version into the US.

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RPZ said:

Hard to believe that Walther, having produced such excellent designs going back so long, allowed such a blunder with the PK380. And they had to know a .380 was only really going to be marketable to the home/carry defense market.

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The PK380 was not a Walther gun. It was developed by Umarex, just like the PPX (now Creed). After the merger, Umarex slapped the Walther label on their wares. That's what they paid for.

The PK380 is built in the Umarex factory in Arnsberg and bears the shield mark of the Koln proofhouse.

The PPX and Creed were built in the Walther factory in Ulm and bear the antlers mark of the Ulm proofhouse.

Other than the odd takedown procedure, what is so bad about the PK380? Mine was cheap at $300, is accurate, has easy to see sights. is reliable, easy to load, softer shooting than most other .380s, has OK ergos, and the trigger is good enough for good shots. It isn't a HK, but it isn't supposed to be. I don't see big faults.