98s1lightning said:
I have no point in considering any pistols larger than the LWS for this intended purpose. Because going any larger I might as well pack my P30SK, which I LOVE...
With regard to the P30SK, which you LOVE:
- There's a gigantic difference between the LWS and the P30SK, while a number of other .380s are only slightly larger than the LWS. In almost every case, however, the larger size is due to the fact that the larager guns have substantially longer barrels which offers better performance from the .380 round. The Seecamp's 2.06" barrel doesn't give the ammo much time to burn before the bullet is out of the barrel. (That's the problem with many of the small .22 WMR pistols -- the barrels are so short, the round can't perform that well. Even my Kel-Tec PMR3 with a 4" barrel produces a big fireball with each .22 magnum round shot.)
- You also said you had to have the European-style mag release. None of the guns available here in the U.S. have that feature.
No other gun is as small as the LWS-380 and none have the mag release design you say is a critical feature. I
t seems as though you had already made up your mind before you posted here -- and were just hoping that forum members would confirm you choice. A few members here who own or are familiar with Seecamp guns
do like the .25 or .32 versions, but most (myself included) seem to say you might want to shy away from the .380 version of the gun. The one I shot was not pleasant.
I understand the reasons for your decision. I also had my own criteria when I was looking for smaller semi-autos. I've owned or tried a number of them. Some LEOs I know carry the P32 as a deep backup/last resort weapon. It can even be carried in a shirt pocket!
- 32 a.c.p.: I owned a Beretta Tomcat and I've shot a Keltec P-32. I was never really all that comfortable with the .32 a.c.p. round. I found the Tomcat a bit too wide for easy pocket carry, but comfortable to shoot (wide grip!) and accurate. I had reliability problems with mine.
- 380 - I've owned and shot all of the following: Kel-Tec P3AT, Ruger LCP, Kelgren P380, and most recently, the Remington RM380.
To further complicate matters, there's a big difference in felt recoil between a small blowback gun and one with a locked breech --
the LWS-380 is a blowback design. Blowback guns typically have a more robust (and generally more painful) recoil than locked breech models of the same caliber. That doesn't seem to be a concern for you.
All of the pistols I listed above were, in effect, pocket guns, but only the P32 came close to being the type of deep concealment weapon you are seeking. Interestingly, it has a lifetime warranty for the original owner.
I'm still evaluating the RM380, but so far so good. I've found it much more pleasant to shoot than the other .380s I've owned -- and accurate. With most of the 380s I've owned or shot, practice was unpleasant -- even when they had a locked breech! But I think I'll actually practice with the RM380. (I called to find out, and Remington recommends changing the recoil spring every 1000 rounds, so I may even order a couple from them.)
You also mentioned that you plan to use
appendix carry with an empty chamber.
Be sure to practice presentations with snap caps!
I think you'll find that the very small and very slick LWS-380 slide and its very stout recoil spring (along with the lack of a rear sight to push against) will make quickly racking the LWS-380 slide more of a challenge than any gun you've used.
- A deeply concealed weapon you can't get into action quickly is not likely to dissuade an attacker or stop him.
I've found in my experience with the guns I listed above (and a few others), that theory and practice seldom coincide -- what I expected to get often wasn't what I got.
Good luck with your purchase.
