Musings on Today's .380 Pistols

[Kleanbore]

I am a believer that in small pistols, the .380 ACP is a much better choice than the 9X19, primarily due to its lower recoil.

Some years ago, I handled a Ruger LCP pistol in a store. I found the trigger atrocious, and I was not impressed by the capacity. For me, the LCP was only interesting because the Governor of Texas carried one.

Then the LCP Max came out. It has a much better trigger, and higher capacity. I bought one just under three years ago for backup, and for having a gun on the left side should I need it after the sudden entry of an unwanted passenger into my car. I recently started carrying is consistently for backup.

When the S&W Bodyguard .380 came out, I was unimpressed. Now there is a 2.0 version, with a better trigger and more capacity, and with the same footprint as the Ruger. Reviews are very positive indeed. I would certainly consider getting one, if I did not already have the Ruger.

It is amazing what these and the small Glock .380 offer in comparison to the first Colt .380 pistol, the 9MM Kurtz pistols once used by the police in Europe, and other offerings from such manufacturers as Llama. Before GCA '68 was enacted, Browning offered a version of the FN 1910 that I thought I liked, and a friend bought a Walther PPK that I enjoyed shooting. I was disappointed whan these were taken off the market. But no more. The new pistols stand head and shoulders above the old in so many ways.

 

[CDW4ME]

I have a LCP 380 and prefer the Kahr PM9 in every way when it comes to shooting; the LCP 380's only advantage is size/weight.

 

[Kleanbore]

I have a LCP 380 and prefer the Kahr PM9 in every way when it comes to shooting; the LCP 380's only advantage is size/weight.

Most of us would prefer Glock 19 "when it comes to shooting", but the topic here--small pistols--is about size and weight.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

Only have commentary on the PPK; actually a good pistol. I felt that the P230 would've been better and maybe its more attractive, but the PPK feels just as good and shoots pretty well.
I believe I shot the Glock .380, feels like a Glock.

 

[trackskippy]

When it comes to shooting, which has always been the more important aspect of carrying any gun for me, especially if its the only gun you choose to carry, outweighs the size/weight differences. The 380's that fit that bill the best for me have been the SIG P230 and the Glock 42. The German PPK's worked and shot well too, but they were quickly replaced once I got my first P230. The SIG P238 was a decent shooter too, but like a lot of the 1911 copies, it wasn't reliable, or at least mine wasn't. Shot well though.

Ive had a couple of LCP's and never liked them. Even without sights, my Seecamp 32s were always the better choice there if I wanted "small".

What killed the 32's and 380's for me for anything serious or at least for use as a secondary BUG, was when I figured out I could just as easily carry one of my Glock 26's in the same places I was carrying the "smaller" guns (they really arent all that much "smaller") and the advantages to the 26 are blatant.

 

[Kleanbore]

When it comes to shooting, which has always been the more important aspect of carrying any gun for me, especially if its the only gun you choose to carry, outweighs the size/weight differences.

Yep.

I see small .380 pistols as back-up guns.

 

[tubeshooter]

It just wouldn't be a .380 thread if somebody didn't say he wasn't his 9mm big brother...

 

[cfullgraf]

The SIG P238 was a decent shooter too, but like a lot of the 1911 copies, it wasn't reliable, or at least mine wasn't. Shot well though.

I have an early production P238. Reliability was miserable until SIG replaced the round wire recoil spring with a flat wire recoil. There just was not enough room in the recoil spring cavity for the round wire recoil spring.

Mine is reliable now but it spends most of the time in the safe.

I prefer my Colt Mustang and Kimber Micro over the P238.

 

[cfullgraf]

With the different actions, pistol sizes, and pistol weights of 380 ACP pistols, personal preference comes into play.

I like a Walther PPK but it is a bit heavy and the blow back action makes the recoil a bit snappy.

My Kimber Micro is more comfortable to shoot than the PPK even though it as a lighter pistol. The locked breech makes a difference.

I really do not care to shoot my Kel-Tec P3-AT. The pistol is too light. The P-32 is more comfortable to shoot but is 32ACP.

I also like the Beretta M84 even though it is a blow back design. But it is a big pistol for 380 ACP. An M85 would be a bit trimmer as it is a single stack magazine. I have not shot an M85.

I cannot comment on any other 380 ACP pistols as I have not shot any of them.

 

[Walkalong]

I'm a big fan of the Beretta Pico. My wife's S&W EZ .380 is great, but much larger, in that size I
would just as soon have my P-365 in 9MM. But for ease of concealment, hard to beat the Pico.

would

 

[TTv2]

The LCP got better over time to when the LCP2 came out it was night and day difference. The LCP Max, haven't handled one, but it is larger and that's a turn off. Perhaps there is something to a polymer slim doublestack .380, but I'll wait for more options than just Smith and Ruger.

The .380 on my mind now is the Security .380 as it's a doublestack locked breech, recoil on that is going to be minimal.

I too am a believer in small pistols, which is why I'm still upset Ruger has not made a .32 LCP.

 

[Resist Evil]

I have owned a Sig P230, NAA Guardian .380, and now the LCP Max at present. The little Ruger is light, has a great size, and it has good magazine capacity.

I admit to having been influenced by numerous gun rags and gun fora over the years regarding the fitness of certain pistol calibers for self-defense, thus generally eschewing the .32 and .380 in favor of the .45acp. Of late, my last two handgun purchases have been 9mms, one of which is intended to be my new EDC. It has a good chance at that role when someday (over the rainbow), my Wilson Experior will arrive.

 

[C0untZer0]

Great use of the word "eschewing" !

Bravo bravo !

My hat off to you sir !

 

[buttrap]

Here all my .380 guns sit in the gun safe as they kick worse than the small 9mm guns. The browning locked breach deal cuts the recoil way down where a 9mm kicks less than most all blow back 380s.

 

[Anchorite]

I always thought the Remington RM380 was slick. Wish they’d bring that back. I’d snatch one up in a heartbeat.

 

[CDW4ME]

I am a believer that in small pistols, the .380 ACP is a much better choice than the 9X19, primarily due to its lower recoil.

I have a LCP 380 and prefer the Kahr PM9 in every way when it comes to shooting; the LCP 380's only advantage is size/weight.

Most of us would prefer Glock 19 "when it comes to shooting", but the topic here--small pistols--is about size and weight.

The Op started off talking about lower recoil and my LCP 380 has greater felt recoil than the PM9. - Both are "small" pistols.

 

[Kleanbore]

my LCP 380 has greater felt recoil than the PM9.

The PM9 weighs 60% more.

 

[420Stainless]

I don’t have a modern .380, but am interested in the new Bodyguard. I often pocket carry the good shooting and very heavy ppk/s. I would’ve bought an LCP Max a long time ago, but am in a minority that prefers a manual safety on a carry gun. There apparently will be a Bodyguard 2.0 with safety offered and so I think that’s where I’ll go in the near future.

 

[amd6547]

I’ll stick with my Beretta 84F.

 

[halfmoonclip]

I'm a big fan of the Beretta Pico.

A buddy was a PICO fan. We found, to our wonderment, that we could hit small things with the little perisher, but the trigger and the ergos were challenging.
The trigger return spring in his finally failed, and it was challenging to find a replacement...and the replacement failed as well. Beretta no longer supports the pistol. Any tips on sources for parts?
Moon

 

[Eutycus]

When Ruger brought out the LCP Max every had to have one. Where are all of the original LCPs?

 

[tmd16556]

When Ruger brought out the LCP Max every had to have one. Where are all of the original LCPs?

In people’s sock drawers, but trickling into the used market. I found one for under $150 for the first time in a while. I had picked up over 100 pieces of 380 brass accidentally at the range from picking up 9mm brass.
These factors combined and now I have a Ruger LCP.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I’m actually rather fond of my S&W Bodyguard. It’s the original, not 2.0. I got it for under $200 when Smith was dumping them prior to the release of the 2.0
Other than drifting the rear sights and filing it down to center poi/poa I simply dry fired and shot it. It’s totally reliable even with light cast bullet loads, and flat nose at that. It doesn’t lend itself to hot rodding as loads approaching max cause noticed flexing of the frame. It gives better performance with lighter jacketed bullets.
One night I was driving home after dark and drove up on an injured deer in the middle of the road. He was still alive with his head up, and started thrashing when I pulled near him.
When I stopped, he staggered and flopped to the side of the road. When another car drove up from the opposite direction, he tried to get up and run in front of it. After the car passed, I got my .380 out and angled my lights so he was illuminated on the side of the road. It was rural county so there were no houses immediately close. I walked to about 40ft and he started to try to get up again. I hit him in the left eye socket and the 85gr Win SilverTip exited the center rear of the skull blowing tissue and several pieces of skull flying in the light! I was amazed! I’ve seen deer put down with 9mm’s w/head shots that would get up and run. I was startled by the performance.
Changed my opinion of the “little.380” right there and then! I’ve since added a Beretta 85BB Italian prison trade in to my collection. With the Lee 95gr TL-RFN over 3.0gr of Bullseye it’s a joy to shoot. Hits to POA, and is SO SMOOTH. It’s just an 8-shot, butwho cares? I’ve got 3-mags. It’s a range toy that lives in my sock drawer. Both it and the S&W are loaded with briskly loaded 90gr XTP’s in Starline new brass. I always carry concealed so the S&W gets the nod as it rides in a DeSantis mini-scabbard holster.
IMO there’s nothing wrong with the.380.
Just that my .30Super Sheild-EZ is jus’ Mo’Better…

 

[Kleanbore]

Good note, Goose.

I have seen the .380 compared to the .36 Navy in terms of terminal ballistics.

I, too, would prefer the .30 Super over the .380 for primary carry.

 

[bannockburn]

My .380s have run the gamut from the rudimentary KelTec P3AT to the voluptuous Beretta Model 84, along with a few others in between. This includes the Walther PPK/s, Mauser HSc, Colt Government .380, Colt Mustang, Sig P238, Beretta Model 85, and the Ruger LCP MAX. Favorite to shoot would be the Colt Mustang with a great trigger and fundamentally sound ergonomics, while the Ruger LCP MAX takes the overall CC honors with it's higher mag capacity and decent sights.