Anyone own a Kahr P380 and a Ruger LCP?

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Thiokol

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My wife and I have CCLs from three states as we travel quite a bit. She's looking for a small .380 to carry in her purse. She hates my LCP as the recoil is too much for her so I was thinking of getting her a Kahr P380. If any of you own or have owned both, can you tell me how the recoil of the Kahr is compared to the Ruger?

Thanks for your help.
 
I have owned and shot both. I had heard many say the felt recoil was less with the Kahr. I did not find the recoil substantially different in the Kahr as compared to the Ruger. Maybe a little, but not enough to be defitive.

I also found the Ruger to be more reliable out of the box. The Kahr sights are nice, though. My girlfriend also did not like the LCP's recoil but loves my Beretta 3032 Tomcat.
 
^^ What he said!! The Sig P238 IMO is the best pocket .380 ever made. When I started out getting my CHL I purchased just about every one out there. The Sig by far was the best. Not as small and quite expensive, but worth every penny.
 
I own a Kahr P380. The gun has performed flawlessly through ~800 rounds. I carry the P380 or my PM9 constantly. I have never fired a LCP so I can offer no comparison on recoil. However, I find the recoil from the P380 very manageable. If you go with the Kahr make sure to fire the required number of rounds (200) to break the gun in before carrying.
 
I own all of them, Kel-Tec P3AT, Ruger LCP, SIG P238 & Kahr P380. What I know of them, (1) Kel-Tec, Reliable, Allows limited use of +P ammo, very poor sights, No slide lock, Recoils the most of them all, as it is the lightest/smallest of the 4. (2) Ruger LCP, Reliable, Doesn't recommend +P ammo, Poor sights, Recoil not much better than KT, as it's nearly the same size, again no slide lock. (3) SIG P238, Has some issues with reliability, can be hit & miss weather you get a good one or not. +P ammo will reduce the recoil spring life considerably, Sights are the best of the 4, Has a slide lock, Least recoil of the 4, also the largest. Some may not like the idea of carrying a pistol "cocked & Locked" Could be a problem for some in a emergancy to remember to turn the safty off. (4) Kahr P380, is my favorite, Has a slide lock, Good sights, Reliable, but some need a breakin period of 200 rds., Best trigger of the DAO only pistols, Soft recoil, better then LCP & KT, and almost as good as the SIG, +P ammo is OK. Hope this helps, LM.
 
I don't have any experience with the Kahr P380 but I do use a Kahr PM40 almost daily as a pocket gun. I also frequently carry a Kahr K40 as an IWB carry piece. I love these option but I also just picket up a Sig P238 that I also love.
 
Ruger LCP, Reliable, Doesn't recommend +P ammo, Poor sights, Recoil not much better than KT, as it's nearly the same size, again no slidelock
Click to expand...
My LCP has a slide lock.........
 
My LCP has a slide lock....
Click to expand...

I believe he referring to slide lock open after last round fired. Yours won't do that. You must lock slide
I wish people remember their is no official SAAMI 380+P They set standards for +P If manufacturer has +P on box That is his hype not official SAAMI .

Corbon is a hot 380 but still in SAAMI specs and isn't claiming +P like some Personally makes me wonder about buying ammo from a company .That claims what doesn't exist in the industry.

SAAMI | Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute
An association of the nation's leading manufacturers of sporting firearms, ammunition, and components. Currently publishes more than 700 voluntary standards ...
 
Last month we shot a bunch of the small .380s for the latest round of the BBTI tests (data just posted to the site today), and I found the Kahr much easier to handle with my larger hands. The Sig is a very nice gun, as well. Recoil on both was notably better than with the LCP.
 
I've never shot a Kahr. But the LCP...yeah, it's snappy. It hurts my hands after a mag or two. Given, it's not a heavily-fired gun. But, I can fire it accurately and reliably. I'll worry about stinging fingers later.
 
Slide lock on my LCP is manual and does not lock the slide on an empty magazine and that's fine with me. If someone is in that big of a hurry, one can rack the slide just as fast as trying to fiddle with the small release anyway. (IMO)

I've probably put 200 rds through and this little 380 will put the shots in the black at 12 yards even with the virtually non existent sights. So I have confidence that the LCP will perform as it's intended purpose.

I've found the Hornady Critical Defense 90gr FTX's being some of the best.
 
It's interesting how recoil is subjective. I personally find the LCP recoil quite pleasant. Certainly not painful. The blowback .380s (Walther PPK, SIG P230) I've shot are uncomfortable. The little LCP is a joy to shoot. I can't see there being significant difference in the recoil of the Kahr .380, as dimensions/weight/mechanism are pretty much the same as the LCP.

The little J-frame airweight .38s on the other hand... I'm okay with wadcutters but anything potent and I'd really have to want to shoot someone to pull the trigger in anger. They hurt me. Others can shoot them all day long with hot ammo and smile the whole time. :)
 
I've got the Kahr P380 and it's the softest shooting 380 this side of my Colt Pony. Previously had the Desert eagle Micro it was Brutal. The Kahr cost more but for me it is worth it.
 
My mistake the Ruger LCP has a slide lock, but it is a manual one, as someone already pointed out; the LCP doesn't lock open after firing the last shot. LM
I would like to add that I was comparing these 4 pistols to one another, as to recoil I have no problem shooting any of them, but if you try shoot in a more rapid fire, you will find its easier to maintain the SIG & Khar on target over the other two.
 
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I have the Kahr now but use to have the LCP. While both worked fine I just liked the Kahr better. Recoil is a little less, better sights and real slide lock. Never had any problems with either.
 
Thanks for all of the input. I borrowed a Kahr P380 from a friend of mine and took the wife shooting. I had her shoot my LCP and then the Kahr. She liked the Kahr much better so we ordered one for her.
 
I have been reading about these pistols for awhile here and other places. This afternoon, my wife and I looked at one in our local gun shop. My wife (whose carry piece is a vintage BHP) has decided that LCP stands for Little Cute Pistol.
 
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I have shot both. I also own a Kahr p380 and had a Keltec p3at that is similar to the Ruger LCP. I sold the Keltec.

The Kahr absolutely blows the Keltec and Ruger away in performance. It's trigger is lighter and shorter allowing you to pull the trigger smoothly even if you stick your whole finger in the trigger like you may in an emergency with such a hard to grasp little gun. The trigger feels closest to a good j-frame, but much shorter in pull.

The grip is a little fatter making it much nicer to shoot than the LCP. It's sights are quite functional and I can head shot at 10 yard easy. Can't do that with the Ruger, or especially the lame Keltec, when under stress.

Recoil isn't bad. Actually kinda weak. Because a combat grip puts my support thumb in front of the short barrel, I use a teacup grip. Basicly a one handed grip with my support hand under the strong hand. I could just fold my support hands thumb down. But a proper combat grip is so burned into my head I'll accidentally stretch my thumb forward and char it. So I try to remember "one hand grip only" when shooting these little guys. Due to the ammo shortage in .380, I don't get tired at all shooting this gun. I put 100 rounds down range in one trip, and felt nothing. (Well, nothing compared to the workout my G23 and 5" 1911's give)

It likes stronger ammo the best. WWB feels weak, and may not feed well due to it's weakness when the Kahr is new. Zippier Corbon Powerball works 100% in mine. If you can find +p for carry, get it, the hotter ammo offer far greater reliability in the Kahr, but i wouldn't shoot that all the time. Kahrs aren't built like tanks.

This is the only .380 I'm confident shooting. I haven't tried the Sig. My keltec p380 was junk, sold it, too much recoil, too many FTF.

I made a IWB and OWB holster for it. The OWB works even under a t-shirt. It's a mini RCS copy I made. Not done with the IWBone yet, needs a forward wing and I'm waiting on 2 Crossbreed clips. (ordered with a supertuck for my Glock23)
DSC01341.jpg

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I originally wanted a S&W J-frame M&P 340. But Its trigger was too long requiring proper finger placement that i can't promise under stress. And the J is larger, and way slower to reload.
 
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Congratulations on the P380. You might want to check out the Kahrtalk on the standard breakin to help you along. Mine is wonderful, carrying it right now. You had me scared with the Sig P238 suggestions, most work fine, if not it is a pain to deal with their CS.

Let us know how she likes it...

Here is the link to the lesser outside world...

http://kahrtalk.com/kahr-tech/1521-proper-prep-new-kahr.html
 
I've owned two P3ATs (both crap reliability-wise) and two LCPs (both perfectly functional but not particularly fun to shoot).
I look forward to getting my mitts on a Kahr P380, although, owning a PM9, I'm not sure I why I think need a P380... :)
 
orionengnr, Quote; I've owned two P3ATs (both crap reliability-wise) and two LCPs (both perfectly functional but not particularly fun to shoot).
I look forward to getting my mitts on a Kahr P380, although, owning a PM9, I'm not sure I why I think need a P380.

I thought the same myself, I too have the PM9. (it's big brother) I'm still glad I got the P380 though, as there are those times when the PM9 is a little more difficult to conceal. It's easy to just drop the P380 in a pocket holster and I'm good to go. LM
 
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