Review of the Remington RM380

[Ibmikey]

Count Zero, Just for clarification and to suggest I am not stupid (at least on this issue) the pistol was fired in that manner to convince myself the internet hype was just that, i normally attempt to have the sights on top where they are a bit more useful.

 

[C0untZer0]

"Just for clarification and to suggest I am not stupid (at least on this issue) the pistol was fired in that manner to convince myself the internet hype was just that"

Sorry that came across the wrong way, I didn't mean to insinuate that you were stupid, but rather that the Internet hype was.

After chambering a round, ejecting a round and dropping the slide with the lever I was 100% convinced the pin wasn't going to slip out.

If there are people out there who are genuinely interested in the pistol but are still concerned, they can read about your test firing.

 

[Gun Master]

What's the latest on buying and wanting to use a RM380?
Doesn't look like most people think it's worth owning or using, since the prices are bottom outing, indicating "no confidence".

 

[C0untZer0]

Mine continues to work great.

Some people may not like it since it has fixed iron sights. I wish I had waited for the latest rebates, I could have purchased one for $160.00 after rebate - and this is a better gun than the Taurus TCP, IMO.

I have tremendous confidence in my pistol, I haven't had any failures with it. I accidentally depressed the mag release my first time out with it, but I haven't had any mechanical failures and the trigger keeps getting better the more I fire it.

 

[franco45]

I've had one since they first came out. It is a great little pocket gun. I like mine so much I bought another RM380 with the current rebate. There are some crazy low prices out there currently. I picked up a 45 acp Shield for $225 after the rebate.

 

[lincen]

What's the latest on buying and wanting to use a RM380?
Doesn't look like most people think it's worth owning or using, since the prices are bottom outing, indicating "no confidence".

Not sure how the reduced price indicates "no confidence". The prices on J frame S&W's was dropped recently and their Shields that were selling like crazy were reduced as well and a rebate was offered too. It maybe that a segment of the gun industry is looking for cash flow since the panic buying has slowed down. I don't know the reason(s) but am always thankful for lower prices. Ammo has dropped in price too from several online sellers.

The RM380 was a pleasant surprise for me, not one failure in over 400 rounds of various types of 380 ammo. At these reduced prices and with a rebate I may just buy another.

 

[chicharrones]

What's the latest on buying and wanting to use a RM380?
Doesn't look like most people think it's worth owning or using, since the prices are bottom outing, indicating "no confidence".

Many guns by many makers have been discounted heavily in the months of May through June. Rebates included, too.

My RM380 just works. No bobbles of any kind. I haven't run across much, if anything, on the internet saying the RM380 isn't reliable.

 

[lincen]

I did order another RM380. Got it for $250 out the door and with the rebate it will be an even $200. They certainly are not for everyone but for a DAO pocket gun, it just fits my wants .

 

[SeanSw]

Thanks for the review. I very nearly considered buying one instead of my Beretta Pico, and I probably would have if Remington made them with the heel release. I accidentally tripped the magazine on my Taurus TCP more than once but have yet to do so with the Pico.

 

[zaitcev]

Thanks for the review. I very nearly considered buying one instead of my Beretta Pico, and I probably would have if Remington made them with the heel release. I accidentally tripped the magazine on my Taurus TCP more than once but have yet to do so with the Pico.

Accidental magazine drop is a function of the design of the release itself, not of its location. For instance, I drop mags unintentially on a bunch of guns, such as Shield 45 and Kahr CW45, but never on the XD family. So, you cannot know if you would drop magazines on RM380 just because you do on the TCP.

 

[SeanSw]

Accidental magazine drop is a function of the design of the release itself, not of its location. For instance, I drop mags unintentially on a bunch of guns, such as Shield 45 and Kahr CW45, but never on the XD family. So, you cannot know if you would drop magazines on RM380 just because you do on the TCP.

That's true, I just wanted to rule it out entirely when I replaced my TCP. The button is small but very soft. Only once has the magazine on my xds been partially ejected by accident. The barely ejected magazine was not noticed until the next morning and many weeks have been spent trying to figure out when and where it occurred, as it was a very average day in my life, but it remains a mystery.

 

[Armybrat]

Just ordered an RM380 from Bud's for $218 before the $50 rebate. $168 (plus transfer) for a decent pocket gun ain't too bad..... if it works.

 

[C0untZer0]

I love the heel release on the R9. I'm more concerned about having a mag release button inadvertently bumped than I am about possibly needing to reload after having to deploy my firearm.

The slide stop is fairly unobtrusive on the RM380, but I would have been fine if they had just reproduced the R380 the way it was.

They changed the angle of the trigger guard but they didn't re-position the trigger and as a consequence the end tip of the trigger kind of sticks my trigger finger when I first grab it, I think the trigger needs to be re-angled. But its not a huge deal...

 

[Gun Master]

I love the heel release on the R9. I'm more concerned about having a mag release button inadvertently bumped than I am about possibly needing to reload after having to deploy my firearm.

The slide stop is fairly unobtrusive on the RM380, but I would have been fine if they had just reproduced the R380 the way it was.

They changed the angle of the trigger guard but they didn't re-position the trigger and as a consequence the end tip of the trigger kind of sticks my trigger finger when I first grab it, I think the trigger needs to be re-angled. But its not a huge deal...

Well, how do you like it now ?
Is it a good'en or a bad'en ?

 

[sgt127]

Bought one about a year ago. It's one of the best .380's I own. Maybe 200 rounds through it, never a failure.

I think an ambi mag release was stupid for a gun like this. I wish they had stayed with the heel release.

I may grind down my mag release or, put in a heavier spring. It did pop out on me once in my pocket.

 

[C0untZer0]

I like the RM380. Its easy to shoot and I think practicing with it does help me shoot my R9 better. The trigger is almost the same and the sights are the same.

At one time they were on sale for $160.00 - I think that was the best value for a 380 pistol bar none.

I think its a great little backup gun.

Its not perfect... if I had my druthers I'd like night sights on my R9 and my RM380 but both guns are very pocketable.

 

[Armybrat]

It's going to be interesting to see if Remington will introduce a 9mm on this same platform like Rohrbaugh did. I'd buy one for pocket carry.

 

[Gun Master]

Hmmmmm ! A .380 in the left, a 9 mm in the right, and a .45 under the shirt !
Go for it !

 

[C0untZer0]

I carry the Rohrbaugh R9 in my front pocket in a DeSantis Nemesis, and I carry the RM380 in my left back pocket in a wallet holster. Its not a lot of firepower but I am dressed business casual, meeting with clients most of the day - wearing a pair of Dockers and a dress shirt and these 2 little pistols conceal nicely.

In my car I have a polymer CZ clone with a 19 round magazine mounted under the dash just to the right of my right knee.

 

[Gun Master]

I think it is safe to say, "you're dressed to kill".

 

[C0untZer0]

Update:

Getting the slide stop lever to stay in place while putting the grips back on is a real PITA.

 

[Gun Master]

Also as an update, prices have sky-rocketed since this summer.
At about $300, this indicates more consumer confidence in the RM380.

 

[Armybrat]

Or the inventories have shrunk a lot.

 

[C0untZer0]

I was going to get a Hi-Point for the bathroom. I go out of my way to make sure the humidity from the shower doesn't go into my bedroom where I have some firearms, and I don't take a firearm with me into the bathroom because I don't want to expose it to all of that humidity. But I really hate it when I'm in the shower and I hear a noise. Every so often I'll be in the shower and I'll hear a noise and I'm not sure if it is the thump of a truck outside putting down its lift gate (or something similar) or someone kicking down my door - I mean I'm in the shower and I have no clue what the noise is. I figured of the stuff on a Hi-Point that can rust most of it is interior and can have oil or light grease on it all of time, so I don't think the guts will be much susceptible to rust I don't think the ZAMAK rusts from simple humidity and contact with the air. I wanted to get a "bathroom only" Hi-Point, since I don't think there is much on a Hi-Point that rusts, and if a part were to get rusty I'd just scrub the rust and for $175.00 I don't care if it gets a little rust on it.

Illinois has had a melting point law on the books for a while but I would see them in gun shops anyway. I don't know what happened - maybe there wasn't enforcement in the past or whatever but now there is and no one is selling Hi-Points in Illinois.

And, a lot of people responded that if I just kept a normal steel gun lubricated, it wouldn't rust - even if it was in a bathroom that got steamed up from showering.

Then the Remington RM380 went on sale for $99.00

So I purchased another RM380 for my "Bathroom Gun"

I took it apart, waxed the slide and put grease on the internal parts and now it sits on the tank of my toilet, right next to the shower. We'll see how well it stands up to the humidity of the bathroom.

 

[chicharrones]

I took it apart, waxed the slide and put grease on the internal parts and now it sits on the tank of my toilet, right next to the shower. We'll see how well it stands up to the humidity of the bathroom.

The grip screws will rust. The one grip screw on my RM380 that is exposed out of my pocket holster against my inner pocket tends to rust from sweat. I brush the rust off and put a drop of oil on that one screw once in a while.

The exposed part of the slide of my RM380 shrugs off sweat with no problem. But I do oil exterior of the slide like a parkerized gun every couple of weeks.

The best trick I have to combat humidity from reaching a gun while I'm in the shower is to cover it with my clothing on the bathroom sink counter.