Single Most Reliable/Durable Small .380?
- Thread starter BADUNAME4
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PX15
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usp9:
The Beretta is of higher quality than the Seecamp?
Um.... The Tomcat I had wasn't, by any stretch of the imagination. Could there be several tiers of differing quality manufactured pistols by Beretta ?
I've had a Tomcat, Guardian, and KelTec and while all of them were fine pistols, (well, actually the Tomcat was a pos, but it was a very early pistol. I hear that later production Tomcats were "beefed up" to resolve the problems) but in terms of quality construction and quality materials the Seecamp (IMO) is heads and heels above the competition..
I do agree with the folks who mentioned the Sig P232.. IMO it IS a fine, fine pistol... Trouble is it's NOT a fine, fine small pistol... It's a fine, fine BIG 380cal. pistol And if a person could carry a cc firearm the size of the Sig P232 then he/she could carry a 9MM pistol which I think all agree is a much better self defense round.
Just my opinion, no offense.
Jesse
The Beretta is of higher quality than the Seecamp?
Um.... The Tomcat I had wasn't, by any stretch of the imagination. Could there be several tiers of differing quality manufactured pistols by Beretta ?
I've had a Tomcat, Guardian, and KelTec and while all of them were fine pistols, (well, actually the Tomcat was a pos, but it was a very early pistol. I hear that later production Tomcats were "beefed up" to resolve the problems) but in terms of quality construction and quality materials the Seecamp (IMO) is heads and heels above the competition..
I do agree with the folks who mentioned the Sig P232.. IMO it IS a fine, fine pistol... Trouble is it's NOT a fine, fine small pistol... It's a fine, fine BIG 380cal. pistol And if a person could carry a cc firearm the size of the Sig P232 then he/she could carry a 9MM pistol which I think all agree is a much better self defense round.
Just my opinion, no offense.
Jesse
sidheshooter
Member
If there is, the Tomcat is in the very bottom tier!
No 92fs, that one...
And comparing the Tomcat side by side with the 34 that I mention above (which I have unfortunately done) is like comparing a Lorcin .380 to a Sig P232, IMNSHO.
rellascout
member
If you are okay with a slightly larger 380 the browning BDA has to be on the list. Its a classic.
Marlin 45 carbine
Member
ditto #30, the BDA is maybe the best .380acp ever made.
nitetrane98
Member
I'll have to +1 on the Browning BDA .380. If you have to have a .380 that fits in the watch pocket of your jeans you won't want it. If you want a gun you can physically stand to shoot enough to become proficient with, you can't beat a BDA.
I really don't know how Browning does it but their Hi Power is the best feeling gun in my hands and the BDA feels almost as good. The 13+1 grip gives you something to hang on to. Shooting wise I like it better than my old Colt Mustang.
I really don't know how Browning does it but their Hi Power is the best feeling gun in my hands and the BDA feels almost as good. The 13+1 grip gives you something to hang on to. Shooting wise I like it better than my old Colt Mustang.
PattonTime
Member
Best 380
I either own or have shot most of whats mentioned. My new cc is Kahr 380
it is great to shoot or carry. I however have a tough time warming up to
Polymer guns. My buddy that I bought the Kahr off, sold it to me because he got the new Sig 238 now that is a sweet gun , appears to be a copy of the Colt 380 that is discontinued . Another gun that is great to shoot and carries well that you don't see often is the mauser hsc
Heres mine
I either own or have shot most of whats mentioned. My new cc is Kahr 380
it is great to shoot or carry. I however have a tough time warming up to
Polymer guns. My buddy that I bought the Kahr off, sold it to me because he got the new Sig 238 now that is a sweet gun , appears to be a copy of the Colt 380 that is discontinued . Another gun that is great to shoot and carries well that you don't see often is the mauser hsc
Heres mine
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texas bulldog
Member
my LCP has digested everything i've thrown at it without a single hiccup. hard to say on longevity since it's only been around a few years, but i would imagine the steel guns would outlast it. i'm plenty satisfied on reliability though...
OregonJohnny
Member
In my opinion, yes. From what I've read from first-hand accounts, the Tomcat seems to be the only Beretta with reliability/quality issues. All the Berettas that I've had first-hand experience with (92s, 96s, 70s, 84s) have had exceptional reliability.
My issue with the Sig 232 is simply that it is very big for a .380. If I wanted to carry a gun that size there would be no reason not to be carrying a 9mm.
That said the sig 232 is one sexy pistol.
I haven't shot them all but my favorite .380 is the Mustang. It carries well, is easy to shoot, soft recoiling, and mine has been very reliable.
That said the sig 232 is one sexy pistol.
I haven't shot them all but my favorite .380 is the Mustang. It carries well, is easy to shoot, soft recoiling, and mine has been very reliable.
sidheshooter
Member
In addition to the tomcat, add the 21. Some are great, some are, uh... not really all that great. I'm glad to be rid of mine.
The full-size open slides seem to be an entirely different breed of cat. Hard to fault the 92FS.
The full-size open slides seem to be an entirely different breed of cat. Hard to fault the 92FS.
KegCommando
Member
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2008
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- 179
Maybe not the smallest .380's, but both the Browning BDA and its sister the Beretta Cheetah 84/85 are extremely reliable and fun to shoot.
Some of the smaller ones were designed as Spanish Inquisition torture devices.
Some of the smaller ones were designed as Spanish Inquisition torture devices.
mcdonl
Member
Why no love for the P3AT? It is easy to conceal, consistant (If not rough...) da trigger, reliable and under $300 (As a pocket gun should be....) oh yeah and it fits nicely in the pockets of jeans.
Leroy
Leroy
KevininPa
Member
Sig 232..
..+8?
..+8?
Ballistic Mule
Member
Walther ppk . Cost to much? get a Markrov. all steel ,works well.
I would prefer the Beretta 84/85 cheetah based off the reliable 92 design. Its really just a compact, not a micro. You should see the ballistics the .380 puts out of the 4" barrel with some good BuffaloBore P+ ammo compared to the little 2" barrels.
380 Auto +P Ammo - 90 gr. Jacketed Hollow Point (1200fps M.E. 288 ft. lbs. -
1. BDA-3.75 inch barrel----1218 fps
2. Walther PPK-3.5 inch barrel-----1200 fps
3. Colt Mustang Pocket Lite-2.75 inch barrel---1123 fps
4. Keltec---1100 fps
For Micros i would choose the Micro DE followed up by a NAA or SeeCamp.
Ultimately the Glock 25 is probably the most reliable and durable but they don't import them and there the size of a 19 Comapct.
380 Auto +P Ammo - 90 gr. Jacketed Hollow Point (1200fps M.E. 288 ft. lbs. -
1. BDA-3.75 inch barrel----1218 fps
2. Walther PPK-3.5 inch barrel-----1200 fps
3. Colt Mustang Pocket Lite-2.75 inch barrel---1123 fps
4. Keltec---1100 fps
For Micros i would choose the Micro DE followed up by a NAA or SeeCamp.
Ultimately the Glock 25 is probably the most reliable and durable but they don't import them and there the size of a 19 Comapct.
My Kahr 380 is the best of what I have owned in tehpat. I owned 3 kt's none were good, One lcp andit is now perfecrt but had to go back for the recall. The Kahr is just top qualirty throughout and the smallest of the 380's out there also.
It has dovetailed sites that actualy work. this gun is a real shooter, compared to my lcp and kt's..
It has dovetailed sites that actualy work. this gun is a real shooter, compared to my lcp and kt's..
fmfdocglock
Member
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2009
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- 32
Desert Micro Eagle
I tried out the LCP, Kel-Tec, NAA Guardian and Desert Micro Eagle.
I settled on the Desert Micro Eagle. It is now my summer carry.
I little more cash than the LCP or Kel-Tec, but it is all metal and clearly built to last.
I have about 300 rounds through it so I consider it "broken in", which is probably more rounds than most put through a pocket rocket.
Shoots well, feels very good in my hand.
Kick is very managable, maybe due to the few extra ounces?
I had a problem with it feeding Blazer, but everything else has worked well. Blazer has been the only brand I have had problems with in my G-30 and XD-45, all due to out of spec rounds. Don't like it, JMO.
I tried out the LCP, Kel-Tec, NAA Guardian and Desert Micro Eagle.
I settled on the Desert Micro Eagle. It is now my summer carry.
I little more cash than the LCP or Kel-Tec, but it is all metal and clearly built to last.
I have about 300 rounds through it so I consider it "broken in", which is probably more rounds than most put through a pocket rocket.
Shoots well, feels very good in my hand.
Kick is very managable, maybe due to the few extra ounces?
I had a problem with it feeding Blazer, but everything else has worked well. Blazer has been the only brand I have had problems with in my G-30 and XD-45, all due to out of spec rounds. Don't like it, JMO.
Brian Williams
Moderator Emeritus
Try a Remington 51 or a Colt 1903
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