.380's?

[huntsman]

I'm a .380acp fan, LCP for pocket Sig P232 for light belt carry BDA for hi-cap, a little bit of everything all in 1 cartridge.

 

[AJChenMPH]

The four that I've handled are the P3AT, the LCP, the TCP and the Diamondback 380. To me, the TCP had the best trigger, and the DB380 had the best sights and best overall feel.

I've only shot the TCP, and it's the only one I've ever owned. However, I've since sold it and the buyer (who's on this board) came back to me to tell me that it malfunctioned constantly and that Taurus had to replace it. I had had problems in the past with the TCP (the notorious "light strike" problem that is chronicled on TaurusArmed.net), but they appeared to be fixed after I sent it in to Taurus last summer (2010) and I put about 200-300 rounds through it with no problems after that (mix of FMJ and JHP).

 

[JERRY]

first consider the primary mode of carry for this little .380acp you want. then you can make a better choice.

there are many quality guns out there in this caliber, but some are better suited than others for certain modes of carry.

 

[shootingthebreeze]

Picked up the my Kahr P380 - now will be cleaning first, range testing, overall shakedown. I'm pleased on how it fits in my hand. It's invisible and not heavy like my Taurus Millenium .40-yes I love the Millenium and it fires extremely well. But the difference in carrying is night and day.
Will give my range evaluation eventually.

 

[Cop Bob]

I guess in this brave new world of hi-tech polymers, old favorites like the Walther PPK/PPKS have been written off...

Granted the new ones made by Smith have had some issues, but with a little stoning/fitting... still a fine pistol...

 

[heeler]

Sure they are fine Cop Bob.
But at twice the empty weight of the LCP,P3AT,Diamondback,etc.
The cry in the land is for small,thin,and super lightweight.
Which is why they melt in your pocket and not in your hand or some such.

 

[aryfrosty]

Sig is great.

I don't intend to kick anybody's doggies here but I really like the Sig P238. I like the solid feel and the ergonomics are pretty doggoned good. I don't like many of the smaller DAOs because they haven't figured out the geometry of the double action trigger arc yet. The Sig actually feels to me like a little 1911. Except for the scalloped slide it is a good copy of my Mustang Pocketlite. Another good reccomendation for the Sig is that, having seen the sales of the 238, Colt is bringing back the Mustang.
As I said, there is room for everybody to have a favorite and I don't get upset when folks don't like what I like. There's something good to say about every pistol mentioned in this thread. My son just got a PPK/s for his fiancee and they like it a lot. The extra weight of the PPK/s can be a plus with a new shooter in getting accustomed to the recoil. For weight considerations, ( apologies for slipping off post a tad), the worst one to carry is my AMT DAO .45acp. It's a brick but a couple of high crime seasons a year I won't carry anything else.

 

[Magoo]

I ended up with a kel-tec. I'd shot a friends and hated it, but I didn't have my head fully around the concept of "this isn't a range gun". I picked mine up used for $200 OTD. It's been flawless through 300 (un-fun) rounds. I could give a rats behind if it gets scratched or spray painted pink. It works, was cheap, and fits into "any" mode of dress I'm in. I had a PM40 that I initially thought was pocketable. That idea didn't work out so well for me.

While I'm happy to have something I can always have with me, today proved to me I don't have utter confidence in the .380 round. I had to go inspect a couple of abandoned houses for demo and I'll be darned if the 1911 .45 just demand to tag along. Sometimes weight can be comforting.

 

[agent89]

I want to like kel-tec, but have you compaired the look of them to other, almost any other brand? They are crude, not finished off that well, and why? I would gladly spend a little more for an lcp that the maker took some pride in. The db380 is nice too, a little scared off because of the new gun development deal.

 

[06]

I like the more conventional style of the 232 Sig. I pocket carry it easily also. Often I carry my old Makarov (9X18=@380). I call it the "AKs" of the pistol world because they are just tough.

 

[orionengnr]

Having owned two P3ATs that didn't work, buying an LCP that actually works was a breath of fresh air.

I'd really like a Kahr P380, but honestly I don't carry a .380 frequently enough to spend the money.

 

[wally]

Shot the TCP today, don't have time to do photos, will have to wait till next week.

Wouldn't chamber Wolf at all. Worked 100% with Privi FMJ that AIM had on sale recently (that my SIG P238 doesn't set off about 10% of the time, but they all go after a thumb cock and second strike) and A box of the old Spanish Santa Barbara surplus. This is about the hottest .380ACP I've found and it has a bit of "sting" when fired in the TCP that I didn't notice in the others. The Privi was easy shooting.

The TCP trigger is by far the best of the P3AT, LCP, and Bodyguard380, falling behind only the SIG P238.

The TCP sights are every bit as bad as the P3AT and LCP. The P238 and Bodyguard are way ahead in first and second place in this regard. Maybe the sights wouldn't be so bad if I'd got a black slide, but I liked the black and matte silver look and should have paid attention that the front and rear sights were the same matte silver color as the slide

However, once I figured out the sight picture, I was nailing the steel plates at 10 yards almost as good a I do with the SIG or the Bodyguard (good sights help, but 60 year old eyeballs kind of reduces them all to a lowest common denominator when you get down to it). The very good trigger helped keep the hard to see sights on target.

Other than Wolf not letting the slide close enough to even drop the hammer I had no failures of any kind. The Bodyguard and LCP handle the Wolf copper washed steel cases fine which I consider to mean the the guns have solid operating margins. The P3AT and P238 just can't eject them reliably which to me means to me they are operating on the edge.

Ejection was vigorous throwing the empties straight overhead 15-25 feet back which put them squarely in the weeds when shooting the plates on the right third of the rack so I only recovered about 60% of the brass -- none were chewed up. The SIG wins again here with a nice 3-4 ft over the right shoulder ejection pattern but it chews up the casing on the last shot in the mag about one third of the time. The TCP ejection could be a problem with a loose grip, as if they don't get up over your head they will be right in the kisser.

Take down is the same as the P3AT, but made much easier by the slide lock and its a nice plus that the ejector doesn't fall out when you turn the frame upside down.

All and all a very favorable first outing for the little Taurus.

I'd really like a Kahr P380, but honestly I don't carry a .380 frequently enough to spend the money.

I hear you, as much as a I like mouse guns, the Kahr is just too much, but if I find a deal on one like I did with the SIG P238 I'd bite.

 

[Maple_City_Woodsman]

The CZ83 is a nice pistol but in that size/weight range you have a whole lot of choices in 9mm and 40S&W pistols and a few .45ACP options.

It's good that works for you. I like to carry various different guns as well. Having options is great.

But IMO there is just no real difference in performance for 99% of shooting scenarios. The bullets used in modern defensive 380 ammo achieve 12" of average penetration and expand to just shy of 1/2", which is almost exactly where most standard pressure 9mm is at. The old standby 9mm, like Hydrashocks, and Rangers only achieve a small fraction of an inch deeper and a small fraction of an inch wider wounds. 40 averages a little better as well, but nothing like a significant amount.

At civilian self defense distances you don't even need the amount of penetration something like a P3AT or LCP can produces, unless your taking extreme angle quartering shots through an aggressors limb at distance - a scenario which doesn't sound much like personal defense to me.

A CZ 83 for example is still a bit smaller than a Glock 19, has high cap mags, and shoots a heck of a lot easier than something like a Glock 26.

No reason the 380 HAS to be for everyone, but the 'large' models are a perfectly viable option for someone who is looking for a light belt of IWB carry piece, and the tiny versions are excellent for pocket carry.

 

[heeler]

Since I have just about convinced my younger brother to jettison that stinking Jimenez he foolishly bought I was thinking of steering him towards the TCP or P3AT out of kindness to his wallet.
The TCP in it's second year of production will hopefully be a good value considering the extra magazine AND Bulldog holster that it comes with.
I keep hearing how bad the recoil is of the LCP and P3AT is but since I have not fired either I just dont know.
I will say I can shoot two full boxes of 50 round ammo out of my Diamondback .380 without any issues.
What makes the LCP and P3AT so brutal??

 

[The Sarge]

I needed a "pocket pistol" for the cut off shorts scene
Tried them all. Bought and absolutely love the Smith and Wesson .380 Bodyguard. Flawless. I have Colt Government/Kel Tec/Bersa all in .380 for some reason in my collection. But this S&W .380 is the winner hands down.

 

[MICHAEL T]

KelTec the pocket pistol of choice in my house. Have 5 of them now My Mustangs are almost retired as is my PPK/S from pocket carry. KelTec is what the family carries. 3 in 32 1 in 380 and a 9mm joined last month (IWB on the 9mm )

 

[ESQJJH]

I guess in this brave new world of hi-tech polymers, old favorites like the Walther PPK/PPKS have been written off...

Granted the new ones made by Smith have had some issues, but with a little stoning/fitting... still a fine pistol...

Fellow Texan Bob:

SAVE YOUR LIFE. I RECENTLY BOUGHT 2 NEW WALTHERS.

THE FIRST WAS THE .320. AFTER SENDING IT BACK TO SMITH & WESSON, SINCE IT WOULD NOT SHOOT WITHOUT JAMMING, THEY WROTE ME A CHECK AND KEPT THE GUN.

NEXT I BOUGHT THE TRIED AND TRUE .380, IT JAMS ON EVERY SHOT. HOW DOES SMITH & WESSON RUIN A GUN IN PRODUCTION FOR DECADES. JAY

 

[ESQJJH]

sure they are fine cop bob.
But at twice the empty weight of the lcp,p3at,diamondback,etc.
The cry in the land is for small,thin,and super lightweight.
Which is why they melt in your pocket and not in your hand or some such.

not the last two defective walthers made by s&w i bought. Either one would have gotten me killed. Jay

 

[VP]

I have an LCP which I love. 100% reliable with all types of ammo so far.

I painted the front sight post with some Testors model car paint to help me pick it up better which helped a lot. I bought the LCP because I wanted a 380 for my pocket, and I was going to buy whichever one (Kahr, TCP, LCP, or P3AT) I came across used at a good price. I take this gun with me everywhere, even when I have another one on me.

 

[IndyHD]

I have the kel-tec and have had some issues with it. Actually wanting to sell or trade it. Know someone who just bought the sig and he's happy with it.

I've sent my kel-tec in for repair once and it's probably going back again, if I don't sell it.

 

[heeler]

What's wrong with it Indy?
I have never owned a Kel-Tec but I have heard their customer service is really good.
If KT's customer service is as good as Diamondback's was with me you got nothing to worry about.

 

[IndyHD]

I've had the thing for probably six years. Bought when I was working late in a bar district and didn't fire but maybe fifty rounds through it in the first two years I carried it. In the last three years I began to shoot more.
It wants to kick the assembly pin out the side when firing through a clip. Usually happens after the first 2 or 3 shots and then the gun is usless until I push the pin back in. Also, my thumb rest right on the clip release and while I'm taking aim the clip will pop out. I sent it in and they were really good about fixing it and sending it back but I just shot it again recently and it did the same thing. I know the clip release is my fault but the pin is not.

I need to call them. Sent an email and actually didn't get a response. I'm hoping that maybe I could talk them into letting me give this gun and a hundred bucks for a sub-2000.

Truth is though, I can't bring myself to trust it anymore so I don't carry it. I'm wanting to by a revolver.

 

[searcher451]

The Walther PPK, made in Germany/France (Manurhin), or in the USA (Interarms/Ranger). All are quality pistols.

 

[Buck Kramer]

I was in the market for the same thing. I hated the fit of the Ruger LCP, and I will never buy a Kel-tec again. I looked at the BG 380 and loved the fit, it had real sights, plus a laser. I decided to buy and I am very pleased with it. Many will complain about the trigger but it just takes some getting used to. Its a nice trigger once you learn to feel for the second stage. I am somewhat biased, I did not shoot the Kahr and the Sig was out of my price range...

 

[Super Sneaky Steve]

I hated the trigger on the LCP I shot. You have to pull the trigger wayyyy back and the grip is so small that if you have large hands it's really hard.

My vote is for the PPK/S in 380.