The S&W BG, but maybe the Pico?
Well my long time candidate for a pocket pistol has been the
M&P Bodyguard. The grooved grip and "real" substantial feel of the gun made it more fun to shoot than the LCP. However, "fun" isn't what I would call it. 70 rounds and I would pretty much be done, but it's softer shooting than the LCP. Still, great little pistol.
Then about a week and a half ago, I went to the range. I pulled out the BG, loaded up some SIG 100gr fmj, BANG *click* shift my hand, mag falls free. Maybe I hit the mag release. I try it again, same results. I try my other mag. Same results. I fire it with one finger, mag drops like a rocket:banghead:
So it's back @ S&W. I'm sure they'll fix 'er up
However, I have less than 400 rounds through it, so I don't think it was a wear item
Also, it shot the SIG stuff fine the last time I took it to the range. Weird.
Well, I have been looking at the
Beretta Pico for over a year. I'm a Beretta fan, and a tank of a .380 that was pocket friendly appeals to me a great deal as I simply cannot carry anything larger than a mouse gun with my job. I read about a $50 rebate on the Nano/Pico that was expiring on the 30th....on the 29th
So I folded and purchased the little Pico from Academy Sports.
It felt good in my hands, stiff to work the slide (TIGHT fit. Sounds like a pair of scissors) and the trigger was heavy but smooth. The slide release was overly tiny and the magazine release was a little different to figure out. I knew that Beretta had revamped them the later part of last year, so I figured it must have been HORRIFIC before they upgraded them.
...then I got home and read that the upgraded guns would have a sticker on the box. Mine did not
Sure enough, I'm eligible for "free" upgrade that will cost me shipping one way. ugggh! "Why can't Academy rotate their stock!?" Dejected, I pouted that my new gun was probably a choking dog that would have to go back and get fixed on my dime. Bummer.
It was going to be about a week before I could shoot the Pico, so I loaded the mags, left the slide locked back when I went to work, cycled it 300 or 400 times when I had a few minutes. I picked up 3 brands of cheaper .380 ammo that I knew it would choke on, and I set out for the range in a very tepid mood.
I set my target at 25 yards as it is a DNR range, and that is the minimum distance they offer. I was mostly checking for function anyway. I was going to clearing jams most of the morning, I was sure.
I inserted the stubby non-extended magazine and was ready to fight with that overly flush slide release. THWACK...it slammed shut with little effort. Hmmmm, OK. I line up my sights at the target and squeeze the trigger. BANG a hole kissing the left edge of the red center appears. First pull, not from a rest, and at 25 yards
The rest of the magazine produces similar results. Same thing with the extended mag, except oddly enough I didn't prefer it to the flush magazine.
Whoa. I could keep this little gremlin on a pie plate at 25 yards. That is good enough for me (not a great marksman) when it comes to a gun I would probably use at 7 yards.
I put the gun down with the slide locked back and go to shake out my hand. Except, I don't really need to. It's not sore, nor rubbed, nor beat to a pulp. Honestly, it feels about as good as if I had just fired my 92fs. In other words, totally fine. No problem with felt recoil on the Pico. That claim by Beretta about the barrel only rising a few degrees to cut down on recoil must have some truth to it.
I proceed to fire 178 more rounds (all I had on hand) through the Pico including the 100gr SIG that my BG was eating when it developed diarrhea of the magazine. For the most part, a simply flawless range time.
The only issues I had were when I fired cheap steel ammo. It was accurate enough, but the first shot with it (about round 30 through the gun) stove piped. After that, I would find a hard primer here or there that would not ignite (maybe 3 out of 50). However, the second strike of the hammer set them off 100% of the time. Short of the one stove pipe, I experienced ZERO feed/ejection issues. That same ammo the BG would have similar issues with the hard primers and my first gen LCP wouldn't eat it at all. The steel stuff was bought to MAKE the gun hiccup. I never carry it in any pistol. Actually, I don't really like shooting it in my guns anyway. I just wanted to know that it COULD function if it HAD to.
I didn't have any premium self defense ammo on hand other than the steel stuff's crude jhp bullet. But i seriously doubt the Pico would have any issues digesting it if it had no issues with the weak fmj I was feeding it. Unlike the Nano which tends to like the 124 gr 9mm, the Pico, stout as the recoil spring is, had no problem with 94, 95, and 100 gr bullets operating at standard pressures. When it did ignite the steel cased stuff, it fired 100%.
I took the little monster back to my office to clean it after lunch. MAN, that steel case ammo is dirty. However INOX cleans up like a dream
Long story short:
- I really like the Pico.
- It was significantly less problematic than the internet led me to believe (serial number in the 6000s but not factory upgraded)
- It was less picky about ammo than my Nano
- It pocket carries better than my BG (but I do like the clip draw on my BG and wish that were an option on the Pico)
- It is a soft shooting gun for a micro .380. I mean, common, I just shot it 2 hours ago and I hammered out this book
- I probably WON'T be sending this gun back in to upgrade it unless something breaks on it. I don't mind the force needed to work the slide and the trigger pull is fine for my needs and wants (prefer a long smooth revolver type trigger for something that rides between my femoral artery and bits and pieces. Plus, the spring will wear in with use. Why beat up the gun with recoil if I have no problems operating it?)
- I really like the Pico (did I mention that?)
It is, by far, the softest shooting, most accurate pocket pistol in my collection, and the BG 380 is no slouch in either regard. I would most certainly put it in the ever elusive fun to shoot AND pocket carry category. I plan on running 3 more boxes of ammo through her the next rain day I get.