Suggest a 380 as a shooter

Another vote for Shield EZ. I’ve got one and it’s a great range shooter, and easy to conceal if necessary. Might also consider the RIA Baby Rock. Got very good reviews on Gun Tests.

12Bravo20 said:

The hardest part is finding the spent cases at the range.

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They are all inside other spent brass []

CapnMac said:

They are all inside other spent brass []

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Yeah the 380 brass will even find other brass to hide in on a clean range.

Unfortunately, we don't have a range shooter gun in .380/9 Browning Short in this country.

Beretta comes close, but its blowback operation and a short, chunky grip, lack of modern sights all make it less desirable than it should be. At least its safety works in a sensible way. Modern models (such as 84FS) supposedly corrected the awful peening problem of the earlier versions.

My personal favourite as a shooter is my custom Glock 42 with a Fraurem grip, which I glued on permanently. But you really have to be dedicated to modify the gun that way. I know I will never be able to sell mine. Even with the pleasantly shaped grip, Glock 42 retains its small trigger guard that rubs, as well its typical Glock trigger.

I ended voting for Browning 1911-380 in the end. It is a soft shooting gun. Unfortunately, the capacity is very limited (8 rounds), and the trigger takes forever to break in. But it's not like we have any choice.

Sadly, I do not have S&W 380EZ in my collection.

BTW, I wish someone around here came through and ordered Grand Power ROXOR in .380, just to be different. Unfortunately, it also is blowback operated, but at least the grip is long.
https://www.grandpowerusa.net/pistols/roxor/

Got both the 1911-380 and the EZ. Both great shooters. If you have big hands the EZ is probably the better choice.
There's a performance center version of the EZ that has better sights and looks.

Beretta 84FS is my choice...

In comparing the Bersa and the Beretta it should be pointed out that the Beretta ain't got no keyhole!
IMO the two are not even in the same class.

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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I'd actually look at a Bersa Thunder Plus.. With the double stack magazines it makes for a fun shooter and certainly a viable edc for one wanting to do so. Just be aware that with the alloy frames these guns are known for not standing up to a very high round count. But as an occasional range shooter that sees up to 1000 rounds a year I don't see why it wouldn't last for several years.

barnetmill said:

You are talking about hysteria prices. .380 pricing for brass fmj is normally more than it is for 9x19 base case ammo. There is steel case .380 and I am not sure how many .380 guns out there like that type of case.

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Yup, it is, the 'hysteria', it's in all the papers. Also called 'new normal', we'll see...

My G42 shoots steel cases stuff no problem.

My favorite 380.....the Sig P230.
Older West German pistol most were made in the '80s.
Quality you would expect from a West German Sig, accurate and nothing feels better in my hands.

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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Walther PK-380 - a polymer gun with a decent side gripping area....

I have a very long hand and the Browning 1911 380 is one of my favorite guns! It is also very popular with everyone I take out shooting with me. It has all the virtues of a 1911 without any recoil to speak of and 1911's are my favorite range guns.

If the Beretta 85 is really a better range gun than a 1911 380 I really need to get one as it must be one phenomal weapon!

A Kimber micro 9 is a very good alternative. Same size as the 380. Ammo is cheaper and more available in normal times. Recoil is about the same and the pistol is the same size. Just my opinion.

I have a Kimber micro 9 and big mits. Very comfortable to shoot.

Just to throw some size comparisons in here. These pictures include a Springfield M1911, a Browning 1911-380 Compact, a Colt 380 Government Model, and a Kimber Micro 380.





I felt that the cutting board made it easy to see the differences.

Until you stated "new", I would have suggested the commercial Makarov in .380 Auto.

You might already know that Makarovs are considered to be some of the most rugged and reliable DA/SA guns in the world, but might not fit your overall criteria.

They are certainly more concealable than my Sig P6 etc.
This is just for a general contrast in size.

As for the weight of carrying an >> all-metal gun << in .380, .380s are not usually thought of as heavy guns, are they?

I've wanted one of the Berettas for decades. Beautiful little gun. I don't think I have ever seen one in person, though. I've not really sought one out, though, because I simply have no use for .380.

They don't make one in .22lr, do they???

Stophel said:

I've wanted one of the Berettas for decades. Beautiful little gun. I don't think I have ever seen one in person, though. I've not really sought one out, though, because I simply have no use for .380.

They don't make one in .22lr, do they???

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Ask and you shall receive. Model 87

I can't lie, even with the Llama IIIA being small (same as 1911-380) it is fun to shoot. I don't own but have shot the Sig P238 and Kimber Micro 380 and they are fun too. The Makarov and Walther pistols in 380 were snappier in recoil. I'm sure that something bigger like the Beretta or similar would be very soft shooting.

12Bravo20 said:

I can't lie, even with the Llama IIIA being small (same as 1911-380) it is fun to shoot. I don't own but have shot the Sig P238 and Kimber Micro 380 and they are fun too. The Makarov and Walther pistols in 380 were snappier in recoil. I'm sure that something bigger like the Beretta or similar would be very soft shooting.

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Not as soft shooting as you would expect. The differences in snappyness is largely due to the locking system, and lack thereof. Blowback firearms generally exhibit a lot of snap. I suspect that it could be reduced by perfectly balanced springs, but that isn't a realistic solution.

That said, other than a small number of exceptions, if you look at 380 pistols introduced in this century, most will have a locking breach, most using the system introduced in the Browning Hi-Power. The old blowback Berettas are a good choice for a plinker, however, I would point a person toward the S&W M&P 380ez. First, I like grip safties. It is a locking 380, which generally results in lower recoil, and it isn't absurdly expensive, for what it is, like the Browning 1911-380. If you are sold on old-style blowbacks, if you like the Beretta, but don't like the open slide, the Browning Double Action is the 380 Beretta with a closed slide.

Added:
That got me to thinking. Are there any 380 pistols, introduced in this century, that are not just slavish copies of pre-existing designs, that are blowback?
For a moment I thought Hi-Point, but it looks like it dates to the 90s'. I'm not thinking of any. That seems unlikely, but are there any?

I know the Bersa Thunder series, but it is a copy of the Walther, in addition, the "new" models are little more than different colours of a pre-existing model.

I found one! The Bersa BP380cc! So there is one! This conversation on a Bersa forum discusses it.

So, other than the Bersa, are there any 380 pistols, introduced in this century, that are blowback?


. . . but yes, for a plinker, I would give the old Beretta a hard look. It is a good looking pistol.

So many choices. If it's mostly for the fun and uniqueness, I'd go with either the Makarov or the Walther PP.

I have to say I like ALL the Modern made by other folks Star Modelo S pistols. Was just shooting an actual Model S recently. It is a wide base magazine model so finding magazines that don't break the bank is a pain. I recently cut the lip off a narrow base magazine and when driven in flush it locks with the magazine latch and functions in the pistol but does not activate the slide stop after the last round. in an attempt to bend the trip bit on the magazine up to maybe get the slide stop to work I learned that the followers are harder than woodpecker lips and break before they bend. The modified magazine does not drop free either. I plan to ty attaching something like a wide base to the bottom of a narrow base magazine I have another narrow base somewhere ( I bought a pair before I knew there were two different models) and hopefully magazine removal will be easier with the fake wide bases attached. Oh look there is a tube of Super Glue laying on my desk next to a popsicle stick! A sign I tell you!

Neat mid sized .380 with locked breech "baby 1911a1" , what's not to like?

-kBob

And on the subject of Spanish pistols I have enjoyed a friend's Astra Constable a good bit ... think cheaper knock off Walther PP.

I will say some FI Ponys ( another Model S clone) have seemed to be made of soft metal and a diet of the old Super Vel did one in back in the 1970's.

-kBob

12Bravo20

"Reloading the 380 does help with the cost/availability of 380. The hardest part is finding the spent cases at the range."

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.....

-kBob