Okay... here goes.
It's been a looooong journey. I've been carrying for years. Started with the full-sized .45's, then slowly but surely my carry guns got smaller and smaller. I got tired of lugging around 45 oz. of pistol + 2 extra magazines. Bought a Glock 33, which was perfect... until the weather got warm, and I started to realize how thick and blocky it was. Depending on what I'm wearing that day, the Glock can be a tad wide (read: it prints - badly in some cases)... and honestly - it's a little heavier than I thought it would be. So I started looking into J-frame revolvers for pocket carry, etc.
Came home w/a Ruger SP 101 - which I can conceal almost anywhere in any type of clothing... But at 28 oz's unloaded, I'm not really cutting down on weight. It's still a chore to lug around "deep cover" for 10-12 hours per day, and impossible to pocket carry - at least in any pants I own. However - the main reason I'm thinking about replacing the SP101 as my main carry gun...
...I can't shoot the damned thing!
At 10 yards I can all keep my shots on target, but that's about it. It seems that no matter how carefully I line up the sights, no matter how hard I concentrate on trigger control, I CAN NOT predictably hit the 10-ring of ANY target with that SP-101. I've taken it to the range every single trip... I practice with .38's and .357's, and while I'm a tad better with .38's, I'm still not confident in my ability to "put the shots where they need to go" in any kind of hurry with this gun. We're talking shotgun patterns... I can say with confidence that if for whatever reason, I needed to make a headshot with the SP 101, I'd miss.
Despite the 1,000 or so rounds I've put thru this gun, I've noticed VERY slight improvement in how I shoot it - if any at all. I'm thinking it could take years to master shooting this gun - and while I'm willing to put the time in to master the art of shooting a snub, I think in the meantime I'd like something that I'm a little more proficient with for CC purposes.
I was goofing off at Gander Mountain last week, and decided I wanted to hold one of these Bersa .380's - I was extremely impressed by the weight, and it felt really good in my hands. The trigger was alright (I'm the first to admit, I've been spoiled in the trigger dept.), nothing to write home about - and I wasn't crazy about the safety/decocker, although it's not a problem...
But man is that thing LIGHT! What's it weigh, about 12 oz? And w/9 rounds of .380 on tap, I can't honestly say I'd feel outgunned. I've been doing some soul-searching recently... and while I'll always love my .45's, 9mms and .357's, the .380 isn't the super-wimpy cartridge some people make it out to be. At 1000 fps from a 2.75" barrel, I have faith it'll penetrate to vitals. I know with my shooting ability, I could put the rounds where I want them to go. Sure, I could buy a super-compact .40 caliber [insert make/model here], but is there any reason NOT to buy this Bersa?
At $235 NIB, OTD - I'm finding it difficult to talk myself out of this one.
What say y'all?
It's been a looooong journey. I've been carrying for years. Started with the full-sized .45's, then slowly but surely my carry guns got smaller and smaller. I got tired of lugging around 45 oz. of pistol + 2 extra magazines. Bought a Glock 33, which was perfect... until the weather got warm, and I started to realize how thick and blocky it was. Depending on what I'm wearing that day, the Glock can be a tad wide (read: it prints - badly in some cases)... and honestly - it's a little heavier than I thought it would be. So I started looking into J-frame revolvers for pocket carry, etc.
Came home w/a Ruger SP 101 - which I can conceal almost anywhere in any type of clothing... But at 28 oz's unloaded, I'm not really cutting down on weight. It's still a chore to lug around "deep cover" for 10-12 hours per day, and impossible to pocket carry - at least in any pants I own. However - the main reason I'm thinking about replacing the SP101 as my main carry gun...
...I can't shoot the damned thing!
At 10 yards I can all keep my shots on target, but that's about it. It seems that no matter how carefully I line up the sights, no matter how hard I concentrate on trigger control, I CAN NOT predictably hit the 10-ring of ANY target with that SP-101. I've taken it to the range every single trip... I practice with .38's and .357's, and while I'm a tad better with .38's, I'm still not confident in my ability to "put the shots where they need to go" in any kind of hurry with this gun. We're talking shotgun patterns... I can say with confidence that if for whatever reason, I needed to make a headshot with the SP 101, I'd miss.
Despite the 1,000 or so rounds I've put thru this gun, I've noticed VERY slight improvement in how I shoot it - if any at all. I'm thinking it could take years to master shooting this gun - and while I'm willing to put the time in to master the art of shooting a snub, I think in the meantime I'd like something that I'm a little more proficient with for CC purposes.
I was goofing off at Gander Mountain last week, and decided I wanted to hold one of these Bersa .380's - I was extremely impressed by the weight, and it felt really good in my hands. The trigger was alright (I'm the first to admit, I've been spoiled in the trigger dept.), nothing to write home about - and I wasn't crazy about the safety/decocker, although it's not a problem...
But man is that thing LIGHT! What's it weigh, about 12 oz? And w/9 rounds of .380 on tap, I can't honestly say I'd feel outgunned. I've been doing some soul-searching recently... and while I'll always love my .45's, 9mms and .357's, the .380 isn't the super-wimpy cartridge some people make it out to be. At 1000 fps from a 2.75" barrel, I have faith it'll penetrate to vitals. I know with my shooting ability, I could put the rounds where I want them to go. Sure, I could buy a super-compact .40 caliber [insert make/model here], but is there any reason NOT to buy this Bersa?
At $235 NIB, OTD - I'm finding it difficult to talk myself out of this one.
What say y'all?