CCW for Wife .380

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SquareBeer

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Hello all,

We have a few guns: .22, .380, .45.......none of which are concealable.
My wife is younger but has an autoimmune disease because of this has some strength problems with the slides but she wants an automatic.

I know the calibers have been debated but I'm looking towards a .380 for her, which we will have JHP loaded. Bigger can be better but not always.

So we are looking for maybe the best .380 and the best budget .380 and anything we need to know or beware of.

We have not shot the body guard .380 but I did like it for her with the laser for high stress needs....as a carry is. Also looking for a ccw 9mm for myself. I fully know if the correct ammo these are not a compromise of caliber, we have a HK45.


Thanks in Advance,
SB
 
if you are looking at strength issues, let her try some. My P3AT is not the lightest slide I've ever had to cycle, as sometimes the small grip area can cause problems.
 
With the 380 pocket pistols you will be able to get smaller size and easier slides than the blow back models. The issue here is don't expect much expansion from small barrel and lack of speed. If you would like something mild recoiling look into adding a Hogue Jr slip over grip. Adding a laser is good to have, but remember to check your batteries frequently, if you train only with the laser you could be in bad business if it doesn't turn on. I would also say to see about renting or shooting others if possible before you buy. If you are looking for a good 9mm for carry and inexpensive I would say try used guns lots of good deals. I have a Kel Tec PF9 9mm carry gun, recoil takes some getting used to, the P3AT is not bad at all to me, just jumpy. There is also a KT P32 in the 32 acp you can get. All have Crimson Trace lasers available for them. Try shooting before buying if at all possible. Again happy hunting, and welcome to THR
 
If the racking of the slide is too much for her there is another alternative but still falls in the semi auto camp.
Thats the Beretta Tom Cat in 32 ACP.
Instead of racking the slide you simply hit the lever and the barell pops up to load the first round in the battery and after firing that round you go right into semi auto mode.
Has a manual lever safety as well if that's important.
As far as your 9mm ccw goes I suggest looking strongly at the Khar PM9,or lower priced CM9,or the Kel-tec PF9 or Ruger lc9.
All very good concealed carry 9 mm's
 
My mother doesnt like my Mak's b/c they are too heavy but she llikes alot of the light polymer .380's.

I was proud of her when she said "well, it's not alot of power but at least I have one with me right?"

:)
 
Having owned a Mustang Pocket Lite that I sold to fund my Khar PM9 I have to mention that the going prices of the Colt is so high you would honestly be better served buying something like the expensive Khar P 380 with night sights and with the difference in price between it and the Colt you could possibly fund for some ammo or a decent carry holster.
I got over five bills for it from a guy walking the aisles just like me at the gun show I bought my PM9 at this past January.
Those Mustangs are not cheap.
 
"My wife is younger but has an autoimmune disease because of this has some strength problems with the slides"

Brother, I understand this situation having been recently diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, and on my "bad days" racking a slide is next to impossible, so in good conscience I would not recommend a semi auto. Not only will her strength issues present problems in the slide, but malfunctions will occur with her lack of wrist/hand control, and clearing a jam with her health issues will be impossible. I'm in the process of selling my Glock 19 for a J-frame for that very reason, and I would strongly recommend the same for her. Have her PM me if she needs anything.:eek:

LD45
 
LD45,

I've suggested to her a revolver would be better but she like the auto.....so auto is it. RA is a bear! We do shoot often....my suggestion was being safe.
 
If she wants a .380 auto, I higly recommend the S&W Bodyguard. In .380s, I've owned the Kel-Tec and Taurus, and fired the Ruger - the Bodyguard is a much more solid gun, and is softer shooting and easier to manage for someone with weaker hands.

If you want to go slightly larger, the Bersa Thunder .380 is also a joy to handle and shoot.
 
"I've suggested to her a revolver would be better but she like the auto.....so auto is it"

If her heart is set on it, then she needs to start practicing speed drills and clearing jams, it might be a reality check for her. You might have her try a Kahr PM-9, fine little 9mm.;)

LD45
 
Mustang the easiest of my 380's to rack and recoil. But like another poster said $$$$
Keltec 380 not bad But my wife says recoil was to much . 32 KelTec just right she has 2 of them now . Bersa larger and pretty easy lot better than my PPK/S .
The 32 Beretta with the tip up barrel is a good idea. Also I really don't beleive the BG will be able to tell difference in a 32 or a 380 when he's been shot. Both will work with good placement of the bullet. .
 
Mustang the easiest of my 380's to rack and recoil. But like another poster said $$$$
Keltec 380 not bad But my wife says recoil was to much . 32 KelTec just right she has 2 of them now . Bersa larger and pretty easy lot better than my PPK/S .
The 32 Beretta with the tip up barrel is a good idea. Also I really don't believe the BG will be able to tell difference in a 32 or a 380 when he's been shot. Both will work with good placement of the bullet. .

For you their lots of small 9mm in todays market . I bought a KelTec PF-9 1st of month It has passed every test and has be come my main carry pistol. My Colt Defender not happy :fire: with this .
 
Another here who votes with the Kel-Tec line. P32 for the lady if she likes the feel of the P3-AT, but not the recoil (the .32 holds an extra round, too), and PF-9 for you. These are what I carry. The PF-9 is my EDC, carried on the belt (between the belt and pants, in a IWB holster.) The P-32 is here to serve in the occasional "deep-conceal" role, but has been being carried in a pocket-holster along with its big brother to get me used to it, as I've only had it about a month or so.
The Bersa Thunder .380, as has been said, is a good all-around defensive gun for those with strength issues, too, but might be a little big for concealment for some people (depending on the method chosen.) It was my EDC before I got the PF-9.
Also, does she really need to be the one to load it? I don't know her limitations, but if a TRB drill in combat isn't something she'd be able to be up to, then perhaps you can simply load the gun up for her before placing it into service each time.
For ammo out of a P32, I use a flat-nosed solid bullet load. I did install the Kel-Tec rimlock-prevention bar in the magazine, and it works well. Rimlock is not a concern with the .380 round, and isn't with the .32 with round-nose ammo (or other .32 ammo with the rimlock bar installed.)
That Tomcat suggestion is a good one, too.
 
Not sure of the various brand name and models, but what about some of those pistols with tip up barrels? The Beretta Model 86 is one such example. There are others and some are available in 32 ACP and not 380 ACP. I'm not sure as I've never held one, but I don't think you have to rack the slide on such pistols.
 
Last edited:
Aahzz said:
If she wants a .380 auto, I higly recommend the S&W Bodyguard. In .380s, I've owned the Kel-Tec and Taurus, and fired the Ruger - the Bodyguard is a much more solid gun, and is softer shooting and easier to manage for someone with weaker hands.

If you want to go slightly larger, the Bersa Thunder .380 is also a joy to handle and shoot.
Click to expand...
I also recommend the S&W Bodyguard 380. Very nice pistol.
 
Find yourself a pistol with a locked breech.

The blowback pistols have way to much recoil for what you are getting.

Sig and Kahr have nice .380's. The Colt Pony Pocketlite is one of the best ever but unfortunately very pricey since they stopped making them.

Get one that you can rack a round into and then safely carry.

The Mustang is a bad choice as you have to either release the safety and or cock. You want something that works like a revolver, just point and shoot.
 
In addition to the Beretta Tomcat .32ACP mentioned already, there is also version of the Beretta Cheetah .380ACP, the Model 36. with the tip-up barrel so the slide rarely needs to be racked at all. They are no longer listed on the Beretta site but you should be able to find one used.

ber_cheetah_380_tip.jpg
 
To each his (or her) own, but for me, the .380 in a little gun like an LCP, has significant (i.e. uncomfortable) recoil that I would be tempted to term disproportionate. I'd rather shoot/carry a .32 like a Keltec or a sub-compact 9 like a Taurus 709 Slim or equivalent.
 
I was thinking maybe tip up barrel too. I have a little Taurus that's only a .22, but I know they are made in a higher caliber, Beretta too I believe. I LOVE my little Taurus, no slide to rack at all. It was my first gun because somehow it just felt like a good place to start. I've got an LC9 now also, but still love that little pop up.
 
I have fired the Taurus versions, ruger, and I own the smith bodyguard .380. The Smith is hands down the best of them, with no loading problems or anything like that. I would bet my life on the Smith. Probably not the other ones, at least not as quickly. Also, my wife has "slide issues" as well, and it's no problem for her, and it doesn't jam if you move slow in the action. The ruger and taurus models I tried wouldn't fully load if you didn't rack it properly, which would make me nervous if my wife was carrying. It was all ball ammo too, so it should have gone into battery without a snag.
 
I believe that if your wife has strength problems in her hands due to an auto-immune problem, those tiny pocket pistols would not be the best idea for her as there is not much grip to hang on too. Take her to your local gun shop and have her try the Bersa Thunder .380. It has plenty of room for her to hang on too and the slide is easy to manipulate.
 
I, too, immediately thought of the Beretta tip-up barrels.

Whatever you and your wife eventually decide on, your wife should be thoroughly involved, taking the lead, if possible.

See Kathy Jackson's The Cornered Cat on the pitfalls of buying for someone else, especially a significant other.
 
heeler said:
If the racking of the slide is too much for her there is another alternative but still falls in the semi auto camp.
Thats the Beretta Tom Cat in 32 ACP.
Instead of racking the slide you simply hit the lever and the barell pops up to load the first round in the battery and after firing that round you go right into semi auto mode.
Has a manual lever safety as well if that's important.
As far as your 9mm ccw goes I suggest looking strongly at the Khar PM9,or lower priced CM9,or the Kel-tec PF9 or Ruger lc9.
All very good concealed carry 9 mm's
Click to expand...
+1 Heeler!
 
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