Best .380 for CCW, Medium Hands - Poll

[tydephan]

I would recommend an IWB holster from The Leather Arsenal. I've used mine for quite some time and have been very happy with it. At the time I bought mine they didn't have a web site, but that may have changed. Otherwise, you could request info from The Leather Arsenal, 27549 Middleton Rd., Middleton, ID 83644, (208) 585-6212. My reasons for buying from them included a very sturdy design and lower price than other more well known brands.

Thanks for the info Don.

Looks like they have a web site now: http://www.leatherarsenal.com/

I just received my OWB Desantis Top Cop today that I ordered about a month ago. I'm a lefty, so things take a little longer.

My next purchase is going to be a good IWB holster for the 232. Thanks for the info. I'll put them on the short list.

My apologies to Brashboy for the thread drift.

 

[Wolfgang]

sig 230/232

 

[camper]

Been carrying my blued 232 with Hogue grips lately. Fits nicely in the pocket of my shorts. Also carry a Mustang Pocketlite and occasionally the PPK. For concealability of the three, the Mustang is best. But, sure do like the way the 232 feels and performs!

 

[brashboy]

If you are going to carry a larger 380, why not just go to a 9mm Kahr?

I'm thinking about the Kahr. The CW9 I looked at, their low end gun, was the lightest in weight, price was right, about $425. For a carry piece, I only want reliable, it doesn't have to be the highest level of gunmaker skill.

My apologies to Brashboy for the thread drift.

Not a problem, it's all good information. My next hide probably will be a Tucker Gunleather.

Thanks to Dogtown for the detailed BDA/PB84 comparison. I thought they looked very much alike, and the Browning is widely available used, cheaper. One thing's for sure, I have to start comparing some of these in the hand. I guess what I'm looking for, in order, is:

1) Reliable
2) CC piece: not too heavy, large or bulky, otherwise a 9 has the advantage
3) Not too small for my hands, won't bite me every shot
4) Capacity - 10 or 12 + chamber better than 7
5) Parts availability - discontinued guns with no parts available is risky; homey done played that game

The Bersa obviously deserves a look, especially since it seems to work for guys with bigger hands than mine. Cost not the major concern, but I'm not looking for bragging rights on how much I paid, LOL.

 

[tydephan]

One thing's for sure, I have to start comparing some of these in the hand.

Absolutely. If you've got a range that rents near you, try as many on your list that you can. Too bad you're not more northern! I'd like you try out some of mine.

I've got a sweet Springfield EMP that is an absolute joy to shoot and tiny to boot.

 

[Alan Fud]

If you can get your hands on a NIB Browning BDA380, don't even think twice about it.

 

[brashboy]

Thanks to everyone who posted.

I started a new thread to answer the question posed in this one by at least one poster: why not just a small 9mm instead? That had occurred to me, and it's a good question.

 

[kd7nqb]

Astra A-60? You can get them at reasonable prices. I like them but their certainly not a "mainstream" gun.

 

[rde]

My Bersa Thunder 380 has been great...and they have another model out there (albeit..hard to find) that is a double stack 15 round magazine version which might be interesting.

My Browning BDA is simply a work of very functional art. They are still available new if you look around as I did.

 

[MrAcheson]

The P232 is a fine piece, I just wasn't aware of it when posting the thread. Clearly, I should have added it to the poll, seems like the clear winner if I had.

Actually if you have medium or large hands, I would not recommend the Sig. When I rented one at my range, the slide rubbed the web of my hand raw. My brother, who has larger hands than I do, was bitten outright. The PPK has similar issues.

Honestly, if I was going to go with a .380 it would be a P3AT or a Bersa. The P3AT is tiny and concealable. Maybe too tiny if you have big hands. The bersa has that classic 380 blowback look and feel, but it costs less and has technical improvements. Most of the larger service pistols could be easily replaced by 9mms of similar size, weight, and cost. Even the bersa could be replaced with a 9mm of similar size and weight, but not for the $220 to $250 they usually run for.

 

[Kacerdias]

Brashboy -

The Tucker Gunleather holsters are wonderful - I own "The Answer" IWB for my Walther P99c and an "Urban Legend" for my CZ 75B. Both are hybrid kydex holsters and are very easy to wear. However, getting a new Tucker holster made these days is nearly impossible. He's hopelessly backlogged with orders so there is no telling when (or if) you'll get a Tucker. I ordered a simple gunbelt and it has been 18+ weeks now and still no shipping date. The Urban Legend took 12 weeks before that. As much as I love the product I have to recommend going elsewhere. Mitch Rosen holsters are very good as are the Crossbreeds.

As for your choice in carry pistols, the Kahr should serve you well. They usually don't need any modification but smooth out well after a light fluff and buff. I've owned a Bersa .380 and they're a great value. You may also look into a Makarov if the weight of an all steel pistol doesn't bother you.

 

[brashboy]

Kacerdias, thanks for the steer on Tucker. I love the look of his stuff, but at the end of the day a lot of guys make good gunleather.

I'm headed to the gun range on Sunday afternoon, will try to rent some of the .380s and 9s to test out.

 

[nathan]

CZ 82s are cheap right now and more power than a .380.