recommend a .380?

Status
Not open for further replies.

Nomad_NH

Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2009
Messages
56
Location
New Hampshire
I am looking to get a .380 as my first pistol. Reason i am choosing this caliber is because i recently bought my girlfriend a .380 Taurus millenium so i figured we could share ammo and invest in a large amount of ammo instead of buying different types of ammo. Anyways i have been doing some research and i am thinking the bersa thunder looks like my best option. My use for the pistol will be target/range shooting and cc. Because i plan on using it at the range quite a bit i would like to have as large a capacity magazine as possible without making it hard to conceal. Anyone know of any other pistols that maybe be a good option?
 
I cant brag about the lcp enough. It comes with a 6 round mag but it is light, and it fits in any pocket. It is also very accurate. I love mine and would sell all others before it. Within reason that is.
 
If I were in the market for a .380, it would be a CZ 83. That's the only one that has ever temped me.
 
A german-made or French-made Walther PPK/S is tough to beat. The U.S.-made Interarms guns aren't bad, either.
 
i would like to have as large a capacity magazine as possible without making it hard to conceal. Anyone know of any other pistols that maybe be a good option?

This is going to rule out some of the better .380's. If you need or want Hi-Cap maybe look at a Beretta or Browning BDA - same auto, different name. Personally it's hard to find anything better than a Sig 230 or 232 but they aren't Hi-Cap: 7 round mag. 1 in barrel.
 
My first hand gun was a .380 Beretta Cheetah. I loved it and wish I never got rid of it. It is certainly concealable and holds a good amount of rounds (10 or so if I remmeber correctly). It is worth checking out. You could pick up a slightly used one for $500 or so. I believe I purchased mine for about $650 brand new.
 
i did like the looks of the cheetah and if i happen to have some extra money before i decide to make the purchase i will certainly consider it.
 
Ahhhh, the .380acp, you're talking my language. I love the guns in that caliber. They are some of the best in the world. IMHO the best of the best is the Beretta 84. Reliable, accurate 13+1 capacity and very high quality. Next is the wonderful Sig P232, a very nice pistol. One of my favorites is the harder to find AT380, a DAO stainless wonder made by Sphinx, or is it Rolex. ;)

The only .380 I ever sold was a Bersa Thunder. I'm not much of a fan, but they are at least cheap. If you go that route get the Bersa Plus.

He's a pic of some of my .380 family...

My380s.gif
 
usp 9 that stainless cheetah with the wood grips is just downright sexy! i may have to wait a bit and save up for one of those
 
You are asking for a gun that is primarily a range gun, but that you can carry easily.

You came up with the Bersa. That's a fantastic gun, and you really aren't going to do much better than that at all!!

I have a Sig P232. It is sexy, smooth, and accurate as all get-out. A very good range gun for it's size, which is not all that big (although much bigger than an LCP or P3AT). Very easy to conceal under just a t-shirt, but big enough to be fun at the range. An all around winner.
 
usp 9 that stainless cheetah with the wood grips is just downright sexy! i may have to wait a bit and save up for one of those

FWIW: The Beretta 84 comes nickle plated, not stainless, but yes, I agree, beautiful guns.
 
Ok, I'll say what everyone else wants to...

A .380 is a horrible choice for a "first handgun" purchase.

That Bersa weighs more than many 9mm's. Ammo costs more while the power is minimal for defense.

There are but two reasons for getting a .380:

1) Because the gun that chambers it is small, light and concealable.

2) It's the largest caliber you can control. Because many .380's kick more than 9mm's, due to the straight blowback action, (such as the PPK) it would make sense to get a larger .380, such as the Beretta 84.

Me, I'd get a Glock 19, 17 or Springfield XD or Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm. In proper holsters, they conceal just fine.

.
 
I agree with David, my P3at has much more recoil than my Glock 19. Ammo is like $10 more per 100 pack than 9mm. Your talking hundreds of dollars easy a year you would save getting a 9mm. The Glock 19 conceals just as easy as my Bersa Thunder also, which is why the Bersa is for sale.
 
Micro Desert Eagle, and NAA Guardian. The heavyweights that no pays attention to.

Also Browning BDA and Colt Govt 380.
 
I particularly like my Browning BDA in .380, a little on the large size for a .380 but very easy to choot. I also have a Bersa which has been a very reliable gun, and it has excellent sights to boot.
 
+1 on the Sig P232.

It's reliable very accurate, fits (me) like a glove, points more naturally than any other handgun I've encountered. It's small enough to conceal well but large enough for a range gun. Oh, and dead sexy.

Here's a pic of mine.

attachment.php
 
I have a Bersa Thunder and carry it as weather permits. It is a "good" introductory gun; reasonably priced, accurate and reliable. Ammo is (relatively) expensive unless you reload; with that in mind, a .38 SPL revolver is a better range practice gun and less intimidating to the novice shooter, as it lacks the need for a "safety" and shows it's firing condition readily. A revolver of similar quality to the Bersa thunder will cost you more to purchase. Factor this into the cost of practice shooting you expect to do to determine value of your options. HTH
Doug
 
If you want the most bang for the buck, you should look at a Bersa Thunder 380 or 380cc.

It fits your criteria:

Target/Range Shooting
Conceal Carry
 
Another vote for the Beretta Cheetah. I have an M85FS and its been great. The Sig 230/232 is nice also. These may not be the smallest but you'll be able to get better accuracy than a mousegun like an LCP, however, if concealement is a problem that is a different story.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top