.380 Help

[Redcoat3340]

I bought my first .380, a Sig 320, after sticking to 9mm for many years.

I'm now thinking of maybe getting one or two more, not for carry (I have a Sig 320 and S&W Shield for that) but as something for the range, maybe my wife, and because I like interesting guns (it's why I bought a Browning 9mm BDM, Daewoo P51 and Swedish Lahti).

So, I'm wondering what I might look for in a .380 to go with the Sig.

Beretta 83 is where I'm starting. I don't want some pocket rocket, super concealable plastic piece. Something more classic, with good looks, not too small, and not over $1,000, say $350 to $650.

Browning BDA? Not Bersa. What else should I be researching? (To give an example...after I got a P38/P1 I decided I wanted the Beretta series that culminated in the 92. So I looked for and found good guns at good prices -- an M1951, 92s, and then to go beyond the 92, a Cougar.)

Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.

 

[pblanc]

Well, I don't own a .380 auto but my choice would be a Beretta Cheetah 83, 84, or 85 (probably the 84 F).

 

[usp9]

Some of the classic .380 pistols are the Berettas 81 series, (or earlier models), the Sig P230/232, CZ 83, Sphinx At-380, maybe the Llama Min-Max, and Walther PP series.

 

[Merle1]

I bought my first .380, a Sig 320, after sticking to 9mm for many years.

I'm now thinking of maybe getting one or two more, not for carry (I have a Sig 320 and S&W Shield for that) but as something for the range, maybe my wife, and because I like interesting guns (it's why I bought a Browning 9mm BDM, Daewoo P51 and Swedish Lahti).

So, I'm wondering what I might look for in a .380 to go with the Sig.

Beretta 83 is where I'm starting. I don't want some pocket rocket, super concealable plastic piece. Something more classic, with good looks, not too small, and not over $1,000, say $350 to $650.

Browning BDA? Not Bersa. What else should I be researching? (To give an example...after I got a P38/P1 I decided I wanted the Beretta series that culminated in the 92. So I looked for and found good guns at good prices -- an M1951, 92s, and then to go beyond the 92, a Cougar.)

Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.

I'm kind of wondering what you have against Bersa. From what I see online, most folks like them & many carry them.

 

[Acera]

I know a fellow who really likes his Browning Black Label in .380. It's their new reduced size 1911 style pistol.

I like the CZ 83.

The Colt 1902 is a classic.

I've always liked the Walther PPK


.

 

[bumbazine]

You could pick up one of the old Colt .380s. The sights suck, but they're interesting pistols.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

All metal "quality" .380?? Colt Mustang or Kimber Micro can both be had for $550-600. They are rather small though.

Only current sizable .380 I can think of is the Walther PK, but it's got some plastic.


I have no idea on "classic medium sized" .380's.

 

[Ironicaintit]

This one is not mine....just a pic on the net...

How 'bout a Mauser HSc? My lady has a post war version, and it's a very nice machine.
I like to shoot it a bit myself!
I think they're real easy on the eyes, and it's a lot of fun to shoot.
Ours has a nice crisp trigger, and is reliable with most JHPs...except Sierra JHPs. It doesn't care for those much.
Compared to a p238, the recoil is "brisk", but that's kinda what I like about it, too.

 

[CZ9shooter]

I was once in the market for a larger sized 380. Preferably metal. Something nice and mild for the wife to shoot at the range.

Ended up with the Bersa. However, a while later we sold it for a G42. MUCH nicer gun. Yeah, its smaller (but not tiny) and is made of plastic, but it is many times more pleasant to shoot than the straight blowback action of the Bersa. And I'm not even a "Glock guy." I only own this one.

I guess what I'm saying is try to stick with locked breach guns if comfortable shooting is what you are after.

 

[Tallball]

Elaborated on below...

 

[C0untZer0]

I think the Walther PK380 is the one of the softest shooting although the Girsan at 1.36 lbs and utilizing short-recoil, locked breech, has to be a soft recoiling pistol. The Beretta Model 86 is the largest 380 available in the U.S. it has a tip-up barrel, and they run $650 -$700

 

[zaitcev]

I'm now thinking of maybe getting one or two more, not for carry ... but as something for the range, maybe my wife, and because I like interesting guns (it's why I bought a Browning 9mm BDM, Daewoo P51 and Swedish Lahti).

So, I'm wondering what I might look for in a .380 to go with the Sig.

Sounds like a worthy endeavor. Perhaps the following list may be of use. In the descending order of desirability (for myself):

#1 Beretta 84F. The 83 might be interesting too, or, actually anything in the Cheetah family.

#2 Erma KGP-68A. I know that some people pan the Erma's quality, but this is certainly a distinctive gun in .380.

#3 Taurus Model 380 UL. It's pretty cute... Unfortunately, the force of the mainspring on it ruins all the fun, and my attempts to lighten it were not successful. Also, Taurus' stock clips have a rather short service time, and aftermarket is absent. At least you can fit Model 85 grips on it.

#4 Browning 1911-380. Unlike, say, SiG P238, which is a copy of Colt Mustang, the Browning is a scale model of 1911A1. Even has the miniature mainspring housing and grip safety. Unfortunately, it's not particularly faithful inside, although at least it uses a locked breech operation.

#5 Colt M1908 Hammerless - the gun that started the .380

#6 FN Model 1910 - I think it was even more popular than the Colt back when Teddy Roosevelt was President. See also Browning Model 10/71.

#5 Remington Model 51. Need I say more?

#6 Seecamp LW380. It has an unusual delay mechanism, which relies on deformation of the case, so it may be unfriendly to reloading. But it's definitely the smallest.

#7 Beretta M1934 Corto. Now, of course, Beretta 84FS is so much better in every possible respect, but if we start talking about .380 antiques...

#8 Llama III-A, or Especiale. (but not Max)

#9 SiG P290RS just for fun.

#10 SiG P232

#11 Sphinx AT 380-M. Now this is very magical and only goes on this list so low because there's basically no chance to find one anymore.

#12 Taurus Curve with laser - although I heard it wasn't a particularly wonderful gun...

Here's a list of other .380s, which do not interest me personally, but may be of interest to you:

- Walther PK380. Sure, it may fit your hand well, but the quality is reportedly Umarex, that is to say "low". Just buy Browning 1911-380 instead.

- Walther PPK & PPK/S. An iconic gun, but SiG P232 is better.

- Makarov Izh-70. Since it's not a service weapon, it has not collector value, except perhaps as a memento from 1990s and the hopes for friendship and cooperation between the superpowers. Those were the days. Otherwise, it's worsened Makarov with adjustable sights.

- Kahr PM680/CM680/CT680. I already had my fill of Kahrs. Good thing "T680" does not exist in their line-up, or I would be very tempted.

- NAA Guardian. The nastiest recoil this side of BFR.

- RIA 51912 Baby Rock. Just what kind of criminal builds a 1911-lookalike with blowback operation?! Even Walther and Browning used locked breech. Come on.

- SCCY CPX-3. Wake me up when it's actually available.

- Micro Desert Eagle. Points for the unusual gas-delayed system, like on VP9. But I heard it's a terrible gun, as far as guns go. Bad trigger, heavy recoil. I may be wrong.

- Savage 1907/1915/1917 in .380. Impossible to find, supremely expensive, and completely useless. An interesting antique for sure... I may get to it once I have my Model 51.

- Kimber Micro. Too modern and too practical to collect, and loses to SiG P238 in usability, as well as price.

- Vz.61 re-chambered into .380 by Czechpoint.

- Browning BDA. I would rather have an actual Beretta.

- Jimenez LC380. You know, this is kinda tempting in a perverse way. Walk into a poorly lit pawn shop, walk out with the most reasonable, reliable, and durable of Jimenez guns. But ugh... no.

- Beretta Pico. lulwhut

- Bersa BPCC. A service gun on .380? Oh my cookies.

- CZ-83. Quality guaranteed, but you have to love CZs. Also, good luck finding one.

- Grendel P-12. This is a historic curiosity for sure, but I'm not that much fan of George Kellgren to pay the asking prices for it.

 

[Robert101]

My 1980 or so Browning DBA is still working well. I've only shot about 1,500 rounds through it but all is good. My wife and daughters liked the Browning so much they bought the Bersa Thunder models (as the Browning is no longer made). We like to shoot .380 ACP. It is a fun round and inexpensive for reloading too.

 

[gc70]

I bought my first .380, a Sig 320, after sticking to 9mm for many years.

I assume you bought a classic SIG P230, although SIG could have quietly chambered it's P320 for .380.

SIG does make the P250 in .380 (model 250C-380-B, UPC 798681434961). The P250 qualifies as interesting and different; it is a modular, polymer, locked-breech design with a 15-round capacity. The P250 has a true DAO trigger system with a pull weight of 5.5-6.5 pounds. Originally sold as a 12-round subcompact, the current model uses an interchangeable grip module that has a rail and a longer grip with more capacity.

 

[Tallball]

Here is my Beretta 84. The surplus ones can be quite inexpensive. It was a little over $200. The finish is worn from holster wear, but it is a very good shooter. The alloy frame makes it a little snappier than some of the others, but an officer who had to carry it around all day probably appreciated the lighter weight.





Here is my CZ83. They are available as surplus starting at around $250. I think I paid $300 for this one. The Beretta is a good gun, but I like the CZ better. The trigger is better and it has an all-around slightly more sophisticated feel to it.




I lived in Dallas in the late 1980's and got this Russian Makarov at a local store NIB for $89. They chambered it in 380 and added adjustable sights for the US market. I like the sights myself, though I agree with others that they aren't well-suited for carry. The trigger is okay, not great or horrible, just okay. It is accurate and reliable. I have fired it many thousands of rounds and it has never malfunctioned for any reason ever. The heavy steel frame soaks up the recoil quite well. Like my other Russian firearms, it is simple and robust. I would not be at all surprised if my grandchildren were shooting it when it was 100 years old.

 

[kokapelli]

I'm not going to list every 380 in the world, just the ones l own and like.

By far my favorite is the G42. Not glamorus but shoots everything with never a problem, by far the softest shooter of all my 380 pistols.

Second is my Tanfoglio Panova. It is pretty soft shooting, holds 14+1 rounds and has an excellent trigger. It is by far the most accurate of all my 380 pistols.

I have two Bersa Thunder pistols that have been reliable and are pretty good shooters.

I also have a Thunder CC I actually like better than the standard Thunder.

My P238 is a nice pistol that is reliable, but I have lost my enthusiasm for cocked and locked, just my personal taste.

Had a Micro Desrt Eagle and an NAA 380 and am still surprised my shooting hand survived the two of them.

When I want to carry a Micro now it is my TCP.

 

[Tallball]

The Colt Government 380 is my favorite. It has an excellent trigger and I like the sights. It is just a little smaller than the other three medium-sized 380's I currently own, but significantly larger than the Colt Mustang or the Sig that is a copy of it. It is thick and heavy and feels good in my XL hands. Due to the weight and the locked breech, the recoil is negligible. My daughter doesn't like recoil, and she has been shooting it since she was nine or ten years old with no problems. I stalked them on GB for a few months and got this one for $440 or something like that. It is a great shooter and well worth searching out. I would take it over the "Baby Rock" or the Browning "1911 380" every day of the week and twice on Sunday. I have heard that one of the older Spanish ones, I don't recall if it was a Star or a Llama, is where Colt "borrowed" the design from. They did a very good job of executing it. I have read that they were manufactured from 1989 until 1997.

 

[bannockburn]

Redcoat3340

Lots of nice .380s out there for range use and concealed carry if you so choose at some point. Some of my favorites have been the Beretta Model 84 and 85, Colt Government .380, Browning Model 1910, and SIG P230. Some other oldies but goodies in .380 would include the Walther PP/PPKs, Mauser HSc, Beretta Model 34 and Model 70, and Colt Model 1908 Pocket Hammerless. Currently I have a Colt Mustang and SIG P238, both of which are very accurate, fun to shoot, perfectly sized for concealed carry, and also great to take the range for practice.

 

[MedWheeler]

If someone mentioned any of the old Commie-Bloc guns, such as the FEG PA-63 in .380, I missed it. You'd probably like one.

Someone actually did mention the Grendel P-12. I have had the P-10, with the internal (non-removable) magazine since it was new in around 1988. It has recently come out of the safe after decades of non-use for some renewed intrigue.

 

[Redcoat3340]

Thanks to all who shared their knowledge, enthusiasm and experience.

I found a Sig 250 in .380 on my WA Armslist for $270 and was over it like a cold sweat. Had it to the range today and it was stellar. Also had a Beretta 84f I bought and the Sig completely outshot it.

I won't get my p230 'till the end of the month...and so for now only thinking about whether I'll get "just one more." If I do it will be a locked breech, not a blowback....now I'll go searching to see what's out there.

Again, many thanks for the help.