Fun to shoot AND pocket carry

[Gary A]

I really like the plain-jane looking Nitron model. No bling, just flat black. Problem is I really don't like the standard fluted grips. They are "OK" but I ended up swapping them out for Sig black G10 grips which, as I remember, added about $50 to the cost of the pistol.

 

[KodeFore]

I have owned the sw380 sigma the Bersa thunder ppk clone and currently own the lcp and the Glock 42. I stopped carrying the glock 42 when I bought the 43 but for 380 far and away the glock 42 with rubber talon grips is the best 380 I have ever shot. I prefer winchester PDX for SD. The little 42 has devoured any fodder I fed it. I think the nested recoil spring has a lot to do with keeping recoil in the small package on the comfortable side.

 

[ratt_finkel]

So I went to the range back on the 13th. Sadly, I have not been able to find a range yet with the Pico or RM380. So I went with what was available.

And booooy do I remember why I chose the P238 over the other 380 options. None of them were pleasant to shoot LOL

These are all "high mileage" rentals. So I always take this into account whenever I shoot some of their stuff.

S&W Body Guard first. As you probably know, the fit and finish on these are not great. But the ergo's are great. Nice to have all the full-size features in a small gun. I have small hands. And this gun just felt great in all the right areas.

The sights were great for precision shooting. And the accuracy was good. After 2 shots, I was very hopeful. Then it immediately started having extraction and feeding issues. Then I was getting light primer strikes on every round. I think I could have enjoyed a few mags of this gun. But I couldn't get through even one full mag without incident. (funny enough, the gun was out for repair when I went back a week later)

Diamondback 380
I really wanted to like this gun. I love a good underdog. And this one looked to be it. I was impressed with the overall fit and finish. It's missing features of larger guns. But it is small and sleek. I found it to be more accurate than the smith.

But wow was it rough. I shot one mag. And that was too much. Absolutely a pain in the hands. The Ergos were fine. Slide was STIFF! But the recoil was just so sharp, you absolutely winced with each shot. The gun has low pro sights. But they are good for longer range accuracy. My pinky hung off the bottom. Just like it would on a P238 with no extension.

Kahr CW380
I've shot Kahr's in all metal before and was hopeful. This one being poly of course. Comfortable gun. Nice low pro sights. Snappy recoil. More muzzle flip than the others. This was the only one that didn't seem to rub my fingers raw from the recoil and sharp edges.

It's been awhile since I've shot anything of this class. But it just further reinforces how much nicer the P238 is than anything else.

Hoping to try a more reliable bodyguard. And get my hands on some of the newer stuff.

I would guess all of these pistols would be torso accurate to 25 yards FYI.

 

[Delford]

Hickok45 just released a video on the Ruger LCP Custom. To him it's a completely different gun. He likes to shoot it. Worth a look.

 

[Everready73]

I have a lcp custom. It's not bad to shoot stock, but can be made better with a few cheap additions. I added Peirce extensions, hogue grip, and a 13# recoil spring. This reduced recoil significantly imo and isn't bad to shoot at all. And the gun is pretty accurate for what it is

 

[d'zaster]

Kahr P380 fits my pocket(s) perfectly. Great trigger and sights. Smaller and more accurate than my G42.

However, the Kahr is known for being picky with ammo especially when new. G42 eats everything reliably every time.

 

[d'zaster]

Kahr P380 fits my pocket(s) perfectly. Great trigger and sights. Smaller and more accurate than my G42.

However, the Kahr is known for being picky with ammo especially when new. G42 eats everything reliably every time.

 

[Mayvik]

How about a Colt 1903? Little long depending on your particular pockets...

 

[sorebutton]

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.

I'm quite happy with my pico as well, also original model. I had a few feed issues early on but it has been fine for quite a while now. I don't mind the slide stiffness too much, and the trigger is fine. I do love the thin profile, it is just great for pocket carry. Between that and the sights, I am happy with it. Maybe I got lucky though. FWIW, I wear XL gloves and I don't mind the grip size, but it IS small. I think it is about the same as the rest of the guns in the class.
My lady doesn't like shooting it, but she doesn't like anything centerfire really.

A p238 or p938 would be my choice for fun and small, however, assuming you are ok with the carry mode. I just like the Pico for the size.