usp9
Member
The Bersa and Beretta are amazingly close in size, as is the CZ83 to the Beretta. IMHO the Beretta 84 or 85 is the best .380 on the market.
CCW .380 autos?
- Thread starter .380awsome
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The Bersa and Beretta are amazingly close in size, as is the CZ83 to the Beretta. IMHO the Beretta 84 or 85 is the best .380 on the market.
JR47
Member
Colt Government Model .380, Taurus PT58, Ruger LCP, Kel-Tec P3AT, Seecamp .380, Mauser Hsc.
The Colts have the advantage of firing nwith a locked breech, making felt recoil smoother.
The Colts have the advantage of firing nwith a locked breech, making felt recoil smoother.
Oh, I so want one of those. I have a Sig P230 though, and like it a lot. The Colt's a bit smaller (plus locked breech instead of blowback), so it'd be a little easier to conceal, and both are very comfortable, at least in my hands. Hogue grips do wonders for the Sig compared to those plastic grips the blued models come with.
I often carry a Beretta M85FS "Cheetah" in .380. Its the single stack version of the M84. Its a bit slimmer and lighter. I also have a Makarov in .380 and several in 9MM Mak that I carry. The Bulgarian Maks are still the best value although prices have been climbing.
iafirebuff
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After comparing a Ruger LCP and a Bersa Thunder 380, I bought the Bersa. I have big hands and the Bersa fit my hands so much better. It is abbout an inch taller, an inch wider and a little thicker than the LCP, but I can handle the Beersa better, it has 1 more round capactiy and was $50 cheaper. THe price was not a concern for me. As for concealing, I have zero issues with the Bersa. Now I am not dogging the LCP - it was a hard choice to make 
krs
Member
I finally found a Colt .380 Government model at a local show and bought it. What a fine piece of work it is. Blued and in excellent condition, accurate as a match 1911 after I tightened up the bushing by peening. I got four mags with it and fired 30 rounds right after I got home without any kind of glitch. I really love it but it's not a SD pistol.
I handled a Beretta 85, or whichever model holds 13 rounds. I was amazed to find it a quite large pistol - larger than my CZ-82, MUCH larger than the new to me Colt, and certainly huge when compared to my Colt 1908 .380 and my Llama .380. Too large, IMO, for such a woos caliber.
I handled a Beretta 85, or whichever model holds 13 rounds. I was amazed to find it a quite large pistol - larger than my CZ-82, MUCH larger than the new to me Colt, and certainly huge when compared to my Colt 1908 .380 and my Llama .380. Too large, IMO, for such a woos caliber.
Phil DeGraves
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I've had the Astra Constable. Wanted to like it a lot, but it just wasn't reliable. Had a Beretta M34. Liked it a lot and it was reliable, but had an atrocius trigger pull, a difficult European mag release and the safety was less than ergonomic. Had a SIG 230. Nice gun but a bit barky with the alloy frame. Shot a Makarov, was very impressed with it. Colt Pony or Govt Model would be my other choice as they are locked breech firearms and are pleasant to shoot. The Spanish Star and Llama also came in a mini 1911 style, but they are often not very reliable.
JR47
Member
Beretta Model 84, 12 round magazine, still in production.
Beretta Model 85, 8 round magazines, still in production.
Beretta Model 86, 8 round magazines, tip-up barrel. Discontinued.
Browning BDA, 12 round magazine, in production. The Beretta Model 84 with a slide mounted safety.
While what we think about the efficacy of the .380 as a self-defense weapon varies, it's still just our opinion.
We have a ColtGard finish Mk. IV Government Model .380 that's very easy to shoot. Cylinder & Slide also works on these, and can add ambi-safeties, Match Barrels, and night sights.
Beretta Model 85, 8 round magazines, still in production.
Beretta Model 86, 8 round magazines, tip-up barrel. Discontinued.
Browning BDA, 12 round magazine, in production. The Beretta Model 84 with a slide mounted safety.
While what we think about the efficacy of the .380 as a self-defense weapon varies, it's still just our opinion.
We have a ColtGard finish Mk. IV Government Model .380 that's very easy to shoot. Cylinder & Slide also works on these, and can add ambi-safeties, Match Barrels, and night sights.
Here is a good option to replace the walther at a good price.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=112610667
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=112610667
.380awsome
Member
by the way someone said "heres a good gun to replace your ppk" im not replacing it just getting another good .380 for ccw ill carry both of them
usp9
Member
JR47 said
A small correction please, The Beretta and BDA magazine hold 13 rounds. The BDA is out of production
A small correction please, The Beretta and BDA magazine hold 13 rounds. The BDA is out of production
MachIVshooter
Member
An excellent suggestion. I love mine. Quite possibly the best .380 ever built. However, it's unlikely that you'll get into one for what I did ($150). I was really lucky.
JR47
Member
I've seen both magazines out here, and own both 12 and 13 round magazines. My experience has shown that the 13 round mags aren't reliable at 13 rounds after a lengthy period of storage loaded. However, at 12 rounds, they work. Sort of like the old Browning HP mags.
I also thought that the Browning BDA was out of production, but a Google turned up several new pieces for sale.
Add to the high cap crowd, the Taurus PT58, 12 rounds, out of production. I've owned one of these since the early 1990's. late 1980's. Reliable, likes the 90 and up grain bullets, and accurate.
When presented with magazines that have a choice of capacity available, I tend to use the lower of the two capacities listed. That way, nobody tries to get that last round in because they "heard it on the Internet".
Phil DeGraves
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Be that as it may, Browning does not list it as available. It is out of production. Someone must have some NIB from awhile ago.
Quoted by 380awsome above:
"usp9,ya i did,i just cant make a decision ,lol,theres just so many guns,but i can only have one at a time,you know what i mean?"
Sorry .380awsome, based upon what you wrote above I thought you had to get rid of one to own another due to cost.
Actually if you want a reliable shooter for CCW I use to also own a SIGp230 back in 1998. These are great carry guns, and at the time they were real reliable with all the ammo I fired out of it. The P232 has since replaced the P230, but Gunbroker always has them listed for sale so the P230 should be easy to find there.
"usp9,ya i did,i just cant make a decision ,lol,theres just so many guns,but i can only have one at a time,you know what i mean?"
Sorry .380awsome, based upon what you wrote above I thought you had to get rid of one to own another due to cost.
Actually if you want a reliable shooter for CCW I use to also own a SIGp230 back in 1998. These are great carry guns, and at the time they were real reliable with all the ammo I fired out of it. The P232 has since replaced the P230, but Gunbroker always has them listed for sale so the P230 should be easy to find there.
I have a Mak 9x18. Have had it for about 20 years with only a few problems [ammo related]. I also have a P3AT [380]. Talk about a KICK! Only after about 10 rounds my hand starts to hurt. It's to small and or my hand is too big but it's a convieniant pocket gun. Good luck in your search.
.380awsome
Member
thanks guys,and polizei ,its cool,
guntotinguy
Member
I use a Bersa Thunder 380 as a 1st BUG...always been reliable enough,inexpensive too.
Beretta Cheetah
Model 85FS, single stack 8+1, 21.9oz. Great balance. Great ergonomics. SA/DA trigger. Thumb safety. Light enough to encourage you to carry it all the time. Big enough to get all three fingers on the grip (and I've got big hands). Gun naturally points at the X and recoil minimal. Action shoot it all day in the 10 and head, bench shoot it all day long in the X. No malfunctions. Beautiful enough to frame on the wall - but don't. Tuck it into iwb holster and you're good to go.
Model 85FS, single stack 8+1, 21.9oz. Great balance. Great ergonomics. SA/DA trigger. Thumb safety. Light enough to encourage you to carry it all the time. Big enough to get all three fingers on the grip (and I've got big hands). Gun naturally points at the X and recoil minimal. Action shoot it all day in the 10 and head, bench shoot it all day long in the X. No malfunctions. Beautiful enough to frame on the wall - but don't. Tuck it into iwb holster and you're good to go.
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Monkeybear
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CZ 83
Can be had for cheap at Academy Sports. Under $400 I believe.
12+1 rounds.
Frame mounted Safety.
CZ quality, ergos and reliability.
That said, I carried a Sig P232 for about a year and I thought it was fantastic. Its a little big for a 7 rounder but its easy to shoot and reliable. Also: DA/SA with a decocker.
Can be had for cheap at Academy Sports. Under $400 I believe.
12+1 rounds.
Frame mounted Safety.
CZ quality, ergos and reliability.
That said, I carried a Sig P232 for about a year and I thought it was fantastic. Its a little big for a 7 rounder but its easy to shoot and reliable. Also: DA/SA with a decocker.
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