.380 for summer carry

[Mark K. C.]

I just bought the Ruger LCP and am very impressed with it. I run Cor Bon 90 gr. JHP through it. According to Evan Marshall , author of Handgun Stopping Power: The Definitive Study (1992) this has a 70% one shot stop rate in a 20 year study of LEO shootings he investigated. Not too shabby in my books.

 

[ZeSpectre]

I like the Walther PPK/S and the Bersa CC .380, the only problem is that they are quite a bit bigger than the Kel-Tec and Ruger LCP. If you are pocket carrying this gun, go with the smaller Ruger and Kel-Tec.

Yeah the T380CC is a bit bigger, but not that much bigger
Size Comparison, Bersa T380CC vs Kel-Tec P-3AT (warning pic heavy)

 

[Eightball]

P3at

 

[benzuncle]

I'm throwin' in with the NAA 380. The extra weight doesn't concern me; it's a bonus if you plan on doing any serious practice at the range. Having a stainless steel firearm in the heat and humility is worth it. 102gr Golden Sabers will make someone leak at the minimum. The little hook on the magazine helps out as a .380 has some snap to it to be sure. I carry it in a Nemesis holster. Pretty nice fit and finish, eh?

Here's the Nemesis and a Sandisk for size comparision:

 

[ROVERMAN]

Consider the Kel-Tec PF9. 9mm, 7+1 rounds, very light and should the situation warranty can be concealed in the waistband of your underwear!! Also suprisingly very accurate to 10yds.

 

[ScottyT]

P3AT all the way!

-It is tiny
-It goes bang every time you pull the trigger (at least it has all 300+ times I have pulled it)
-The name is witty -- I actually didn't catch the meaning until long after I bought the gun.
-P3AT on a belt clip = gun? what gun?
-It is tiny

 

[Straight Shooter7]

P3at

 

[jocko]

Ruger lcp

No doubt for me the lcp all the way, but first choice is my Kahr pm9.

 

[wristtwister]

I've got a Llama Minimax and a Beretta 70S in .380, and both are very reliable and accurate. They're both reasonably old technology, but the bullets don't stop to check the gun's birthday before hitting the target...

The Minimax is a small gun that looks like a minature 1911, and is really small and concealable... as is the Beretta. Either one would pop the question if need be...

WT

 

[rondog]

I have a Bersa Thunder .380 and love it, but I'd really like to find a Colt Mustang. I missed out on a couple of great deals on them in the past.

 

[AndrewGWU]

Just got a P3at this summer and couldn't be happier.

 

[MedWheeler]

I voted "something else" because I absolutely LOVED the stainless PPK/S I used to have.. I wish I still had it. Had fallen on some tough times quite a few years back, and had to let it go..

 

[71Commander]

I have the P3AT but it's history as soon as the Kahr P380 is released.

PM9 next to the P380

 

[Girodin]

I like the colt mustanf but have not had a chance to compare it in size and weight first hand to some of the other pocket pistols out there, particularly the newer ones.

I'm very interested in the Kahr PM9 as I have been over all pleased with my past experiences with Khar. I'm also interested in their forthcoming P380 as well and is one of the reasons I'm holding off on the PM9.

 

[jocko]

71 commander: Isn't that P380 one awsome handgun. Everything about it eaks in quality. I really hope it is bugless when it hits the shelves. I have to have one to go along with my PM9. I seen it at the NRA convention. It was one of the hits of the entire show IMO. can't believe it is smaller than the lcp and kt 380, not by much but smaller and with all the bells and whistles on it. Not cheap in price, but neither is life.....

 

[rantingredneck]

I've owned 2 Guardians (fine weapons IMO) but saying the weight helps some with recoil compared to the lighter P3AT and LCP is kinda not so.

Guardians are blowback guns and while the weight does tame that blowback recoil they still recoil worse than the lighter LCP and P3AT which are locked breech designs.

Again this is from my experience having owned 2 NAA Guardians, a P3AT and now an LCP. Notice I no longer own the NAA's and Keltec. I voted what's in my pocket.

 

[71Commander]

I had a NAA Guardian. The recoil was harsh. The KT isn't bad at all.

 

[full metal]

Count me in for the SIG.

 

[falkon]

Well, considering I dont want to have a broken firing pin that scratches off the LCP (almost half have been returned to the local gun shop due to firing pin breakage). The Keltecs seem nice but quality is dicey at best (kudos if yours does work though). The PPK is nice but heavy AND large. The Guardians are heavy but reliable and a nice size. If you want to be cool, go PPK/S. If you want to be smart, go Guardian. If you want to be unproven/trendy, go LCP.

 

[Defensory]

I say forget a .380 and buy a pocket 9mm. There are a number of them that are scarcely larger than .380's, and the 9mm offers noticeably better stopping power.

Because of their blowback design, the .380 recoil is no better than the 9mm. .380 ammo is also more expensive than 9mm.