Please vote for one.....

I'd like to vote for the Glock 42 and 380 is inadequate* but since I can't - I'll explain both (needs explaining anyway):
I'd pick a 365 over the 42 except that the poll choice has a manual safety; I'd go with a no safety 42 over a 365 with one.
380 is inadequate... I begrudgingly carry a LCP 380 in gym shorts when I can't do better. 380 Hydra-Shok deep penetrates 15-16'' and expands to .49 after heavy clothing in test I've seen using a LCP; that result is arguably not inadequate, but is is not as good as I would get with a better 9mm HP.

ETA: 15 replies and surprisingly I'm still not too late!
In before: "Better than nothing" / "Wouldn't want to get shot by it" / "Nobody volunteer to get shot by it".

I like and carry .380 and consider it not just adequate but in many ways superior for SD but have no interest in the two models you mention so unable to vote in your poll.

Glock 42 mine eats everything perfectly.We are a Glock family so we are bias.

P365 without manual safety.

Edit to add: I've fired several magazines through a friend's P365 in 9mm. It was a sweet shooter. I can only imagine how much easier to shoot the .380 version would be.

chicharrones said:

P365 without manual safety

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Yep…The safety should be between your ears.

My vote went to the SIG P365, complete with the manual safety. Since I already have a P365 in 9mm. with the manual safety, I would feel right at home with the safety (probably because of all the years I have spent carrying 1911s).

I don't mind 380 ACP but I want it in wee little gun. I have a Remington RM 380 that is very convenient. The similar Kel-tec and Ruger with polymer frames would be good options. If they get much larger you might as well go to 9mm if you can tolerate the recoil.

I can say from personal experience that you do not want to go with anything like the Kel-Tec P3AT, Ruger or similar if you have arthritis or other issues with racking a slide.

I didn't vote since I have no experience with the models listed. I have handled both models but have never shot either. For a slim and easy to conceal package, look at the Sig P238 or Kimber Micro. Those two are only single stack though.

As far as 380 for EDC goes, most do feel that it I the minimum caliber size while others won't go smaller than 9x19. But with any caliber, shot placement is important. And I would rather have a 380 in my pocket versus the 45 I left at home.

The .380 is a good round, some hate it, some love it and some think it's akin to hitting someone with a spitwad, ignore the first and last ones.

As for your gun choices I also have no idea since I've never even handled either which excludes me from voting.

As I'm getting older (68) and having some arthritic issues I did some research and in almost every case the top recommendation is the S&W EZ series.

kje54 said:

The .380 is a good round, some hate it, some love it and some think it's akin to hitting someone with a spitwad, ignore the first and last ones.

As for your gun choices I also have no idea since I've never even handled either which excludes me from voting.

As I'm getting older (68) and having some arthritic issues I did some research and in almost every case the top recommendation is the S&W EZ series.

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And also the Ruger Security 380 and Walther CCP 380.



The pistols are S&W Shield 2.0 9mm Luger, S&W 380EZ, Walther CCP M2 380 , Ruger Security 380 and LCP II 22lr.

jar said:

And also the Ruger Security 380 and Walther CCP 380.

View attachment 1141975

The pistols are S&W Shield 2.0 9mm Luger, S&W 380EZ, Walther CCP M2 380 , Ruger Security 380 and LCP II 22lr.

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Yup, I saw where you posted that in another thread asking about the same arthritis friendly sidearms.

I checked my KelTec P17 and the slide retraction effort is 9 pounds. Not bad but not great considering the other options.
Luckily I'm still able to rack all my sidearms including my 1911s with relative ease.

I have a bunch of Glocks but I picked the 365 for two reasons. The Glock 43 I have (9mm) is not a lot of fun to shoot and the 42 .380 is similar, plus you put manual safety in your choices so that may mean something you prefer. (My strikers are all Glocks, so I don’t use manual safeties with them.)

Best thing would be to handle and rent one of each to shoot and see which one fits you best.

Stay safe.

I've got a Glock 42 and a Sig P365-380 without the manual safety, but I could live with the safety so I voted Sig. They both are great guns but the Sig has more versatility with the ability to use 10 and 12 round magazines. The Glock 42 loaded 6 +1 weighs 16 ounces while the Sig loaded with 10 weighs 19 ounces, if that matters. I think the Sig trigger is much better than the Glock trigger.

As far as ammo is concerned, the Underwood brand standard pressure 68 grain XD runs well in the gun and is barrier blind. I think it helps the .380 punch above its weight. Hollowpoints do not do well against barriers other than cloth, which isn't much of a barrier.

I like the P365 and would like it even better with a manual safety so this is the easy pick for me. 11-13 rounds of soft-recoiling .380 with a manual safety to reduce the chance of accidents with that striker.

It’s an objectively superior self defense choice compared to many others. The Glock isn’t bad but I like the capacity and safety on the P365 better. I also just don’t get excited about Glocks in general.

P365 without manual safety

I voted SIG, as the 43 has always felt like a whittled 2x4 in my hand--which is entirely subjective. G-19 & G-17 feel just fine to me. Only that the compact Glocks have a poor "hand-feel" in my mitts.

Safety or not is your choice--availability may be a greater limitation, though. I have yet to see a 9x17 SIG in the wild yet, let alone the various optional versions of it.

As I have a 9x19 365X (ok why did SIG not make a new model number, huh?) I might be inclined to a 9x17 365XL; but a 365X would fit the holsters I have better.

I would take a Beretta 1934 over the two choices mentioned.

I considered swapping my P238/P938/Colt Mustang platform guns for a G42 but just couldn't shoot it as well. The Glock also just felt.....flimsy, by comparison.
No experience with the 365 so no opinion there.
I ended up going back to the P938 and dont regret it.

I have a G42, but I consider the .380acp a inadequate for self defense, if the person carrying is capable of shooting something more powerful. It's fine as a backup, and it's grudgingly acceptable in venues where carrying anything larger is just not feasible. It will make a hole, it may even make several, but I have serious doubts of it causing a fast stop on a determined attacker without a CNS hit.

But if you're gonna do it, more rounds would certainly help. In that case get the P365. Then practice drawing from the holster, disengaging the manual safety, and putting several in the heart and one or two in the head. Drill it til you get it right every time. Then it will be adequate.

+1 on the P365 without manual safety.

CDW4ME said:

I'd pick a 365 over the 42 except that the poll choice has a manual safety

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Targa said:

Yep…The safety should be between your ears.

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someguy2800 said:

P365 without manual safety

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I personally don't think that 380 is an adequate defense round, but I also understand why it is a better option for some people.

Of your two choices, I will just say that you should find a range and rent both and maybe a few others.

A lot of folks like the Sig, so when my wife expressed an interest in a smaller gun for purse carry, I took her to the range in Austin and rented one and she absolutely hated it and decided to stick with her Ruger SR9. When she was done with it, I ran two magazines through it, and I kind of agree with her, I was not impressed, but I also just prefer a full sized handgun so I was biased before I fired the first shot.

All I am saying is that nobody here is going to be able to tell you what you are going to like or what you are going to shoot well.