Sig 230 is the Caddy of the .380's. You can take the Sig. and hit a pop can at 25 yards about ever shot. Try that with a Ruger or a Kel Tec and I am not knocking them but to me they are 7 yard guns period. If I am going to carry a .380 I at least want to hit what I shoot at and just not scare it to death.
.380 quandary
- Thread starter fireman5069
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Kernel
Member
My dad has a Sig P232. For it’s size it’s scary accurate. It’s a viable small game kit gun.
WardenWolf
member
I, too, didn't want to deal with all the problems a lot of commercial .380 pistols have. I went with its Russian cousin, 9x18 Makarov. My father and I both carry Polish P-64's, used by Polish military and police from 1964 to 1993. I figured a proven military design would be a better choice than a modern commercial gun. They've both proven extremely reliable and very accurate. All my Makarov-caliber guns have. And 9x18 ammo is inexpensive and easy to find.
If you're looking for a .380, it's definitely worth considering a 9x18 instead. You have a good selection of handguns to choose from, and they're built to military standards. Many of them are very compact and concealable. The Polish P-64 and P-83 are probably the most concealable, though. The round itself is a little more powerful, so you benefit there, too.
If you're looking for a .380, it's definitely worth considering a 9x18 instead. You have a good selection of handguns to choose from, and they're built to military standards. Many of them are very compact and concealable. The Polish P-64 and P-83 are probably the most concealable, though. The round itself is a little more powerful, so you benefit there, too.
bikerdoc
Moderator In Memoriam
Bersa 380 CC. Accurate, reliable, and quite a pocket gun when I cant tote a 357
MedWheeler
Member
Yet another Bersa Thunder vote here (keep in mind the OP's inquiry regarding "time-proven" reliable guns in this caliber, not specifically the newer generation of "keychain" guns.)
If ammo for the Thunder were as available and inexpensive as .22LR ammo is, it would be one of my most fun guns to shoot, even beating out my Mk-II Ruger. I have mixed ammo from two to twenty years old in the same mag, as well as aluminum-cased mixed with brass-cased, HP with FMJs, and they have all run through with nary a stumble. The only reason I stopped using it as an EDC piece is that I ran into a PF-9 for a good price when I wasn't even looking..
If ammo for the Thunder were as available and inexpensive as .22LR ammo is, it would be one of my most fun guns to shoot, even beating out my Mk-II Ruger. I have mixed ammo from two to twenty years old in the same mag, as well as aluminum-cased mixed with brass-cased, HP with FMJs, and they have all run through with nary a stumble. The only reason I stopped using it as an EDC piece is that I ran into a PF-9 for a good price when I wasn't even looking..
Arizonagunrunner
member
Bersa Thunder is the way to go.
SmithMan
Member
.380 Quandry
"years ago" I carried a Walther PPK/S. Very reliable. A bit heavy by today's standards, but a really good carry .380. I had a 1982 version and wish I had never sold it. Of course, I say that about my Python, Tooper, 66, 19, and Winchester model 12 shotgun too! Arrrrrgghhh!:banghead:
"years ago" I carried a Walther PPK/S. Very reliable. A bit heavy by today's standards, but a really good carry .380. I had a 1982 version and wish I had never sold it. Of course, I say that about my Python, Tooper, 66, 19, and Winchester model 12 shotgun too! Arrrrrgghhh!:banghead:
Steve 48
Member
The Walther and Sig Sauer are the priciest and the best but my TCP is the one that sits in my pocket.
Rex B
Member
old Llamas
I have about 16 380s of various brands - Colt, Keltec, Ruger, etc.
The oldest are Llamas built in the 1940s. gorgeous little 1911s. These are the size of a Colt Govt .380, but slimmer, more accurately scaled-down. I don't shoot them much, but one shows some wear so I call it my shooter. It runs like a train. It was one of the few pocket pistols of that decade, and a lot of them were sold 1940-1990.
Star made a few pocket .380s, but they are very scarce. Most came out after GCA68 which killed their import.
The walther and it's clones - Astra, Daewoo, others I can't think of - were just enough bigger to put them out of the Pocket category. The Star S was closer to PPK size than the Llama. Besides those, there really weren't any pocket .380s until the 1990s, when the FI Model D, IJ Pony, Colt Pony & Mustang came out. there was also the American Arms Escort, which I think qualified.
I have about 16 380s of various brands - Colt, Keltec, Ruger, etc.
The oldest are Llamas built in the 1940s. gorgeous little 1911s. These are the size of a Colt Govt .380, but slimmer, more accurately scaled-down. I don't shoot them much, but one shows some wear so I call it my shooter. It runs like a train. It was one of the few pocket pistols of that decade, and a lot of them were sold 1940-1990.
Star made a few pocket .380s, but they are very scarce. Most came out after GCA68 which killed their import.
The walther and it's clones - Astra, Daewoo, others I can't think of - were just enough bigger to put them out of the Pocket category. The Star S was closer to PPK size than the Llama. Besides those, there really weren't any pocket .380s until the 1990s, when the FI Model D, IJ Pony, Colt Pony & Mustang came out. there was also the American Arms Escort, which I think qualified.
I would like to show some positive for todays 380's. Here is my 380 story.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=551311
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=551311
76shuvlinoff
Member
The only .380 I know about is the one I own and it's the only one I've ever had, a Ruger LCP. I bought it a couple months ago and as of today the round count is at 200 plus. Some 30% HP and 30% FMJ ball and the rest were Winchester BEB. No failures of any kind.
I have a subcompact .40, a fullsize 1911 and a big ol Blackhawk revolver but this LCP has been moved up to always with me status, pants pocket, jacket pocket or clipped in my belt. I figure it's better than a pointy stick. Winter is here, filled it with ball for the season.
I have a subcompact .40, a fullsize 1911 and a big ol Blackhawk revolver but this LCP has been moved up to always with me status, pants pocket, jacket pocket or clipped in my belt. I figure it's better than a pointy stick. Winter is here, filled it with ball for the season.
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