.380 choices

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guitararmy

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Hi. I'm new to the forum. I have a stash of .380 ammo and was interested in
suggestions for a semiauto to use it in. I currently have a .380 Sigma (oh no
that one!) and was looking for a suitable replacement as a backup to my Kel-Tec P11. Maybe the P-3AT?
Gary
 
IMHO the best .380s on the market today are the Sig 232, Beretta 84/85, Sphinx AT 380 (if you can find one).

Second best are the CZ 83, KelTec, Bersa.

Happy shopping. :)
 
My wife uses a Sig.

The P232, specifically. She really likes it and the controls are simple. I wind up doing the maintenance on it, so I can say that it appears to be well made. She's never had any problems with it.
 
Not a pocket pistol, but if you want to shoot a lot of rounds a Beretta M84/85, Sig 232, or CZ-83 are fine choices. I own the Beretta and really like it.
 
I have

A Walther PPK/S That I like. It gave me a little feeding trouble for a while but it appears to be okay now. certainly my prettiest handgun.
 
I like .380's and have a Walther PP, HSc Mauser, Browning 1910, Bersa, Makarov, CZ 83, Sig 232 and Colt Mustang. I had 2 P3AT's that I really had high hopes for but didn't pan out. Nothing against the Kel-Tec but I like reliability right out of the box and didn't get it with the K-T. Yeah, I did my K-T research on-line before buying and thought maybe I'd get lucky. When the first one jammed once or twice per magazine I dumped it and bought another. Had no better luck the second time. I'm hoping someday to meet someone with a perfectly functioning P3AT who is hard up for cash so I can add one to my collection.

I like them all but the Bersa is the best value for the buck. Only problem with Bersa's is that their magazines seem a bit overpriced.
 
If you can find one, a Makarov .380 is sweet! It's kinda big and heavy for the caliber, but it's an extremely pleasant gun to shoot. BTW, the Sig 232 is an awesome pistol, if it's in your price range.

Regards,
Dirty Bob
 
My favorite .380 is the SIG p232. I love this gun, and it is my current concealed carry piece. Very accurate, and fits in a pocket holster I can carry well in most pants.
The Bersa is also an excellent gun, and a great value. I don't like an external safety on small carry guns, so I don't like it as well. Still, its a solid piece.
The CZ 83 is an excellent gun, but it also has an external safety. Ditto for the Beretta's and Browning BDA.
I like the SIG so much I'm looking to get another one...
-David
 
Another vote for the Sig 232. Mine runs flawlessly and is extremely accurate. There are other good ones out there, but I'll stick with my 232.
232WholeGun_Nill_Grips_800.jpg
 
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I have a Bersa for range work and a P3AT for "social work". No problem with either. Once you carry a P3AT, the Bersa/CZ 83 size guns seem silly. Especially since you can get sidearms the same size in 9mm...... To each his own!

Take care,
Mike
 
I have been through big, and small .380's. I settled on the .380 Guardian. Reliable, affordable, small, lifetime warranty, and built like a tank. I have about 5000 rounds through mine.:D
 
If your primary is a P11, why would you want a back-up that's bigger and harder to conceal? :rolleyes: I say the P3AT and the NAA Guardian are the two I'd look at, personally, and I'm quite sure I'd go witht he P3AT considering the weight and price difference. I know if the KT doesn't work, KT will make it work. My P11 had no problems, though, so I can't see where the P3AT would. It's been out for quite a while, now.
 
I have a 3AT that I love and I'd recommend that...except, that mine is ammo sensitive, and some ammo it just DOES NOT like. Once I found what it likes, it works 100%.

I'm saying that, because if you have a lot of .380 ammo stashed, and you want a gun to shoot it, if you get the 3AT and yours for some reason does not like your ammo stash....well, not good and there goes your big reason for getting a .380 in the first place. But then again it may eat it up and you'll be happy. Never know till you try.

Or, go a safer route and get something along the lines of a Bersa or PPK, but sacrifice size.
 
I have a Bersa for range work and a P3AT for "social work". No problem with either. Once you carry a P3AT, the Bersa/CZ 83 size guns seem silly. Especially since you can get sidearms the same size in 9mm...... To each his own!

Take care,
Mike
Click to expand...



Then why have a P3AT, when you can have a 9mm the same size? Rohrbaugh

As you say; To each his own.
 
CZ 83, Beretta 84, and Browning BDA's are very close in proportions. Original Berettas had 12 or 13 rd mags. The CZs still do. All three are good guns (I think the BDA is just a Beretta with Browning's name on it). If you find a holster that fits one or the other, it should fit all three.

Only thing is, the HK USP compact is the same size as a CZ 83 - and can be had in a more potent caliber.

It's also about 2.5 to 3 times the price.

A CZ is probably the cheapest high-cap .380 ($300-$400), without sacrificing much/any reliability or accuracy.
 
If you can find one, a Makarov .380 is sweet! It's kinda big and heavy for the caliber, but it's an extremely pleasant gun to shoot. BTW, the Sig 232 is an awesome pistol, if it's in your price range.
Regards,
Dirty Bob
Click to expand...

'Plus one' to everything said by Dirty Bob. I like the SIG 232 as well, but the sticker price is more than I'm willing to pay. The Maks are less expensive (though, with the milsurps in 9x18 drying up, prices may be climbimg on all Maks), and they hold one more round. The CZ83 looks pretty cool too, and it's a double-stack mag design.

Forgot to mention: The Mak's ergonomics are superb, hardly any chance of slide-bite. Add a pearce grip for the ultimate in comfort at the range. AND, the mak's safety/decocker is one that's to my liking. Up is safe/decock, down is fire.
 
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Rohrbaugh cost a 1000bucks Their closer to the size of a p-11 not the P3AT. I carry my KelTec everyday its been a 100 % perfect(gen 2) as have been my 2 P-32's I use Corbon DPX as my carry round and S&B for practice.
I also have 2 PPK/S ,Bersa,Mustang. I like 380. except for Sig. To me they don't feel right.
 
.380

I looked at the P3AT but ended up with an NAA Gurdian .380 (used) for the same price. I also have a Beretta 84 and a CZ-83 both of which I like alot. I like the looks and feel and would like to have a PPK or P230 except for the fact that they have always left slide marks across my hand on the web between my thumb and forefinger. If your hands aren't too big they may not bite you. I haven't tried the newer PPKs from S&W with the extended tang. Obviously I wasn't the only one getting bit. I had a Bersa 380 once but sold it before I had a chance to fire it much. Just a collection thinning and not a problem with the pistol. I have found that I don't care for or function as well with slide mounted safeties.
 
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