Great Scot
Member
Another vote for Shield EZ. I’ve got one and it’s a great range shooter, and easy to conceal if necessary. Might also consider the RIA Baby Rock. Got very good reviews on Gun Tests.
Suggest a 380 as a shooter
- Thread starter Mosin Bubba
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CapnMac
Member
They are all inside other spent brass [
]
They are all inside other spent brass [
Yeah the 380 brass will even find other brass to hide in on a clean range.
zaitcev
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Unfortunately, we don't have a range shooter gun in .380/9 Browning Short in this country.
Beretta comes close, but its blowback operation and a short, chunky grip, lack of modern sights all make it less desirable than it should be. At least its safety works in a sensible way. Modern models (such as 84FS) supposedly corrected the awful peening problem of the earlier versions.
My personal favourite as a shooter is my custom Glock 42 with a Fraurem grip, which I glued on permanently. But you really have to be dedicated to modify the gun that way. I know I will never be able to sell mine. Even with the pleasantly shaped grip, Glock 42 retains its small trigger guard that rubs, as well its typical Glock trigger.
I ended voting for Browning 1911-380 in the end. It is a soft shooting gun. Unfortunately, the capacity is very limited (8 rounds), and the trigger takes forever to break in. But it's not like we have any choice.
Sadly, I do not have S&W 380EZ in my collection.
BTW, I wish someone around here came through and ordered Grand Power ROXOR in .380, just to be different. Unfortunately, it also is blowback operated, but at least the grip is long.
https://www.grandpowerusa.net/pistols/roxor/
Beretta comes close, but its blowback operation and a short, chunky grip, lack of modern sights all make it less desirable than it should be. At least its safety works in a sensible way. Modern models (such as 84FS) supposedly corrected the awful peening problem of the earlier versions.
My personal favourite as a shooter is my custom Glock 42 with a Fraurem grip, which I glued on permanently. But you really have to be dedicated to modify the gun that way. I know I will never be able to sell mine. Even with the pleasantly shaped grip, Glock 42 retains its small trigger guard that rubs, as well its typical Glock trigger.
I ended voting for Browning 1911-380 in the end. It is a soft shooting gun. Unfortunately, the capacity is very limited (8 rounds), and the trigger takes forever to break in. But it's not like we have any choice.
Sadly, I do not have S&W 380EZ in my collection.
BTW, I wish someone around here came through and ordered Grand Power ROXOR in .380, just to be different. Unfortunately, it also is blowback operated, but at least the grip is long.
https://www.grandpowerusa.net/pistols/roxor/
MrChicken
Member
Got both the 1911-380 and the EZ. Both great shooters. If you have big hands the EZ is probably the better choice.
There's a performance center version of the EZ that has better sights and looks.
There's a performance center version of the EZ that has better sights and looks.
amd6547
Member
Beretta 84FS is my choice...
Sneakshot92
Member
I'd actually look at a Bersa Thunder Plus.. With the double stack magazines it makes for a fun shooter and certainly a viable edc for one wanting to do so. Just be aware that with the alloy frames these guns are known for not standing up to a very high round count. But as an occasional range shooter that sees up to 1000 rounds a year I don't see why it wouldn't last for several years.
FFGColorado
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Yup, it is, the 'hysteria', it's in all the papers. Also called 'new normal', we'll see...
My G42 shoots steel cases stuff no problem.
bob40caliber
Member
My favorite 380.....the Sig P230.
Older West German pistol most were made in the '80s.
Quality you would expect from a West German Sig, accurate and nothing feels better in my hands.
Older West German pistol most were made in the '80s.
Quality you would expect from a West German Sig, accurate and nothing feels better in my hands.
I have a very long hand and the Browning 1911 380 is one of my favorite guns! It is also very popular with everyone I take out shooting with me. It has all the virtues of a 1911 without any recoil to speak of and 1911's are my favorite range guns.
If the Beretta 85 is really a better range gun than a 1911 380 I really need to get one as it must be one phenomal weapon!
If the Beretta 85 is really a better range gun than a 1911 380 I really need to get one as it must be one phenomal weapon!
Just to throw some size comparisons in here. These pictures include a Springfield M1911, a Browning 1911-380 Compact, a Colt 380 Government Model, and a Kimber Micro 380.
I felt that the cutting board made it easy to see the differences.
I felt that the cutting board made it easy to see the differences.
Ignition Override
Member
Until you stated "new", I would have suggested the commercial Makarov in .380 Auto.
You might already know that Makarovs are considered to be some of the most rugged and reliable DA/SA guns in the world, but might not fit your overall criteria.
They are certainly more concealable than my Sig P6 etc.
This is just for a general contrast in size.
As for the weight of carrying an >> all-metal gun << in .380, .380s are not usually thought of as heavy guns, are they?
You might already know that Makarovs are considered to be some of the most rugged and reliable DA/SA guns in the world, but might not fit your overall criteria.
They are certainly more concealable than my Sig P6 etc.
This is just for a general contrast in size.
As for the weight of carrying an >> all-metal gun << in .380, .380s are not usually thought of as heavy guns, are they?
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I've wanted one of the Berettas for decades. Beautiful little gun. I don't think I have ever seen one in person, though. I've not really sought one out, though, because I simply have no use for .380.
They don't make one in .22lr, do they???
They don't make one in .22lr, do they???
Electricmo
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Ask and you shall receive. Model 87I've wanted one of the Berettas for decades. Beautiful little gun. I don't think I have ever seen one in person, though. I've not really sought one out, though, because I simply have no use for .380.
They don't make one in .22lr, do they???
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I can't lie, even with the Llama IIIA being small (same as 1911-380) it is fun to shoot. I don't own but have shot the Sig P238 and Kimber Micro 380 and they are fun too. The Makarov and Walther pistols in 380 were snappier in recoil. I'm sure that something bigger like the Beretta or similar would be very soft shooting.
Not as soft shooting as you would expect. The differences in snappyness is largely due to the locking system, and lack thereof. Blowback firearms generally exhibit a lot of snap. I suspect that it could be reduced by perfectly balanced springs, but that isn't a realistic solution.
That said, other than a small number of exceptions, if you look at 380 pistols introduced in this century, most will have a locking breach, most using the system introduced in the Browning Hi-Power. The old blowback Berettas are a good choice for a plinker, however, I would point a person toward the S&W M&P 380ez. First, I like grip safties. It is a locking 380, which generally results in lower recoil, and it isn't absurdly expensive, for what it is, like the Browning 1911-380. If you are sold on old-style blowbacks, if you like the Beretta, but don't like the open slide, the Browning Double Action is the 380 Beretta with a closed slide.
Added:
That got me to thinking. Are there any 380 pistols, introduced in this century, that are not just slavish copies of pre-existing designs, that are blowback?
For a moment I thought Hi-Point, but it looks like it dates to the 90s'. I'm not thinking of any. That seems unlikely, but are there any?
I know the Bersa Thunder series, but it is a copy of the Walther, in addition, the "new" models are little more than different colours of a pre-existing model.
I found one! The Bersa BP380cc! So there is one! This conversation on a Bersa forum discusses it.
So, other than the Bersa, are there any 380 pistols, introduced in this century, that are blowback?
. . . but yes, for a plinker, I would give the old Beretta a hard look. It is a good looking pistol.
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Mosin Bubba
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I've shot a Makarov before and they're about the right size, I think they'd be a good choice. Can you get them in 380 though?
The mention of 380 barrels earlier in this thread sent me looking, and it seemed like the business making them got closed down a few years ago after a run-in with the ATF. If there's any left, I'm not looking for them in the right places.
kBob
Member
I have to say I like ALL the Modern made by other folks Star Modelo S pistols. Was just shooting an actual Model S recently. It is a wide base magazine model so finding magazines that don't break the bank is a pain. I recently cut the lip off a narrow base magazine and when driven in flush it locks with the magazine latch and functions in the pistol but does not activate the slide stop after the last round. in an attempt to bend the trip bit on the magazine up to maybe get the slide stop to work I learned that the followers are harder than woodpecker lips and break before they bend. The modified magazine does not drop free either. I plan to ty attaching something like a wide base to the bottom of a narrow base magazine I have another narrow base somewhere ( I bought a pair before I knew there were two different models) and hopefully magazine removal will be easier with the fake wide bases attached. Oh look there is a tube of Super Glue laying on my desk next to a popsicle stick! A sign I tell you!
Neat mid sized .380 with locked breech "baby 1911a1" , what's not to like?
-kBob
Neat mid sized .380 with locked breech "baby 1911a1" , what's not to like?
-kBob
kBob
Member
And on the subject of Spanish pistols I have enjoyed a friend's Astra Constable a good bit ... think cheaper knock off Walther PP.
I will say some FI Ponys ( another Model S clone) have seemed to be made of soft metal and a diet of the old Super Vel did one in back in the 1970's.
-kBob
I will say some FI Ponys ( another Model S clone) have seemed to be made of soft metal and a diet of the old Super Vel did one in back in the 1970's.
-kBob
kBob
Member
12Bravo20
"Reloading the 380 does help with the cost/availability of 380. The hardest part is finding the spent cases at the range."
I find them mostly in my range pick up 9x19mm bucket... and initially curse before adding them to the coffee can of .380 joy.
I say worse things about MAK brass.....
-kBob
"Reloading the 380 does help with the cost/availability of 380. The hardest part is finding the spent cases at the range."
I find them mostly in my range pick up 9x19mm bucket... and initially curse before adding them to the coffee can of .380 joy.
I say worse things about MAK brass.....
-kBob
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