.380 With the Least Recoil

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Yes, anything locked breech will have less felt recoil for the most part. My Russian commercial Makarov in .380 with Pearce grips is hard to beat though. Probably due to the grips and all steel construction it has a bit less felt recoil than my Beretta M85FS. Both are straight blowbacks, and both are great shooters.
 
As a few others have mentioned, one of my favorite .380's has been the Bersa Thunder .380 acp. When you add the rubber Bersa grips, the recoil is so light that one could shoot it all day. Well, if the ammo didn't cost so much.

The Sig P238 was a decent gun, however I always felt that I was going to break the trigger. I hated the trigger. Also the 238, being a shorter barreled firearm to the Bersa Thunder .380, was not as accurate.

Lastly, others have mentioned the CZ 83. I've never shot the 83 but I've held one at the local gun shop. It has quite a bit of weight to it so I can only imagine that it's felt recoil would even be lighter than the Bersa.
 
Felt recoil is dependent upon a number of things, not just energy vs weight. The softest shooting (or, maybe better put, most *pleasant*) .380 that I have shot is the all-steel 230/232. Darn big for today's .380, but something about the grip angle/shape/width, spring rate, slide, bore axis, or whatever, just works.

The softest shooting "micro" .380 that I've tried (out of P3AT, LCP, Kahr P380 and even original short PPK) is by far the Sig P238. For some reason, I just never was totally satisfied with the platform, so I sold mine, but it wasn't because it was hard to shoot.

FWIW.
 
I've only owned pocket-sized 380's. Just about all of them available over the last 3-4 years. To date, the lightest recoiling is the Sig P238. I also liked the Kahr P380. They are both light guns, but I think a lot has to do with the way they are sprung.
 
Beretta 84

I have shot several different different .380ACP pistols and the BERETTA 84 was the softest recoiling to me. However, it is a large gun for this caliber and the wide grip to accommodate the double stack magazine and 1 1/2 pound weight are the reason.
I also really like the SIG 232 blue frame model with the non fingergrip plastic grips. It weighs 17 ounces, yet the recoil is not wearing at all to me.
Both are very reliable, accurate and usually have very good triggers.

Jim
 
I have and do own several 380 autos and the easiest recoiling was my Taurus PT58HC, followed closly by the Beretta 84, Bersa Thunder 380 Plus, and then there is my Colt Govt model 380 and Walther PK380. The worst recoiling of the lot is the LCP but then for such a small pistol there has to be a trade off, light small pistol combined with a cartrige like the 380 and you have got to expect some recoil. and the last although not a 380 it's a 9mm Mak is my CZ83 which is one great little pistol and if the 380 version (CZ82) si anything like its 9 mak brother I would rate it right up there with the PT58HC and Beretta 84. That CZ has one of the sweetest triggers both single and double action that I've ever had the pleasure of shooting.
 
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PK380 all the way. I shoot my buddies and its a great gun. I just don't like the magazine release at allm probably the same reason why I'm not a huge fan of HK pistols
 
In a larger full-size gun then the Beretta Model 84 or Browning BDA 380. Great for the range and a decent home defense gun. For something a bit smaller for CCW I would go with the Colt Mustang or the SIG P238.
 
My PPK/s isn't bad for blow back due to the weight.Colt govt/mustang series with the locked breech are good for small guns.
 
My new Colt Mustang is the first .380 I've enjoyed shooting. Waaay more comfortable than an LCP or Kel-Tec.
 
I think I have only fired a PPK and a Beretta 84 in .380, but the Beretta made me feel like I was shooting a .22....
 
I agree with the Beretta 70s. Also the 1911 style lock breech autos in .380 like the colt mustang and Llama III-A
 
The Llama .380 with the locked breech (mini 1911 design) is a joy to shoot. They went to a blow back design in the 70s but the Especial models were well made and had very low recoil.
 
Browning M-1922.

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I'm not sure the point of the post. This is how I see the issues. If you want really low felt recoil in .380 then yes shoot a heavier weighted gun. Try the full size versions as others have mentioned. The felt recoil will be less. Now the point of the .380 is to have a smaller package for CCW and the like. To that end the Bersa, or my old Browning DBA, or similer sized guns all have very manageble recoil for male or female. If you are just recoil sensitive then maybe a 22 is the way to go.
The point of the post is to satisfy my curiosity. My wife is recoil sensitive and she wants a home defense gun that hasn't too much recoil.
 
Everyone that has shot my Walther pk380 has loved it. This includes my wife and mother who had never shot before and both of my daughters. We all agree that there is no more recoil than any of my .22's.
 
If you can find one, you might try the Remington Model 51. Locked breech, delayed recoil operation with very low perceived recoil. It naturally points where you want it to hit, and has a very ergonomic grip design.

It is a flat, easily concealable design, and was one of General Patton's favorite pistols.
 
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