The Pocket .380: DAO vs. SA

[commygun]

For almost 30 years I’ve been pocket-carrying small DAO .32 and .380 pistols. While difficult to shoot well, I’ve always considered the long trigger pulls an essential part of safely carrying in this mode with a loaded chamber.
Recently I happened upon a FI Industries Model D .380. While I couldn’t really think of what firearm role it would fill I thought it was cool (reason enough, eh?) and bought it. It performed well at the range. Reliable, not at all snappy (that long beavertail doesn’t just protect your hand), and six shots on paper very quickly.
Comparing it to the RM380 I habitually pocket carry, I realized there was very little difference in size and any difference in weight was imperceptible to me. The Model D is thinner.
So it got me to thinking. I know there’s folks out there that pocket carry the mini 1911-style .380s. Why did you choose SA pistols for this kind of carry and how do you carry? Chamber empty or cocked-and-locked? If the latter, do you consider the thumb safety enough to ensure safety or have you found particular holsters that you feel enhance safe carry?

 

[Snowdog]

I've carried my TCP and Spectrum in a Desantis Nemesis holster but I wouldn't want to do that with my Colt Gov't 380, which I have a IWB leather holster for.

I like the Colt quite a bit more. I do indeed shoot it better but the main reason is surely nostalgia.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Ive carried Colt Mustangs and Govt. Model .380s for years, cocked and locked. The thumb safety on these is very positive and easy swept off on the draw. After that, they are hardly a hair-trigger, having a rather heavy, but crisp break. You are unlikely to get an unintentional discharge with a Mustang-type weapon, IMO. They are also locked-breech, making for soft shooting and reliable operation with a wide range of ammo.

That said, the Beretta Pico DAO is my second choice. I train with both and havent had any issues switching between them.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I've carried my TCP and Spectrum in a Desantis Nemesis holster but I wouldn't want to do that with my Colt Gov't 380, which I have a IWB leather holster for.

I like the Colt quite a bit more. I do indeed shoot it better but the main reason is surely nostalgia.

I think the more substantial grip frame on the Govt. 380 is a huge advantage over smaller pistols, with only a tiny increase in weight and bulk.

 

[Erief0g]

Once my office situation switched to being constantly in a room with multiple people, I've been carrying a bodyguard 380. Has a safety but I've never engaged it as that trigger is heavy and long.

It's a front pocket carry inside a galco leather pocket holster. Can't say i have much love for it. Functions, I shoot it well, and fits my pocket. Found lots of options to upgrade or change up but this tool works and covers me for work only. My iwb cz sp01 tactical or springfield xds 9mm's are always in the truck safe for once out of work.

 

[Charlie98]

he thumb safety on these is very positive and easy swept off on the draw.

I think the more substantial grip frame on the Govt. 380 is a huge advantage over smaller pistols, with only a tiny increase in weight and bulk.

I carried a Colt Gov't .380 stainless for a few years... my particular pistol had a very weak thumb safety detent spring, and very often, when I would get home from work, I would find the safety knocked off. Certainly I could have 'smithed it a little to provide a more positive detent engagement, but that was always one of those 'I'll do it tomorrow' things... and I never got to it. Because the Colt .380 does not have a grip safety, like most 1911's do, but was a Series 80 pistol, I started to carry it hammer down on a loaded chamber... draw, cock, fire. Doing drills with this method, however, revealed it was a very, very poor choice... and I soon retired my Colt to target range duty. I love the pistol... it's a fun pistol to shoot, and is a far more refined pistol than the de rigueur PPK/s, or any other blowback .380.

Looking at the FI pistol in the OP's photo, it looks like the thumb safety has a bigger surface on the safety... very nice. I even kind of dig the lanyard loop on the frame!

 

[jar]

The Star model "D". A fantastic gun that IIRC Colt imported the pieces parts from Star and assembled here to sell as the Pony. I haven't seen one in the wild in ages and must admit being somewhat envious. My Star UltraStar is probably still my favorite 9mm.

 

[ejfalvo]

I carried a Sig P238 cocked and locked in my pocket for years. Safety is easy to sweep off with practice. Recently switch to a P365 and IWB. The P238 is my gym shorts - run to the store firearm now.

 

[bersaguy]

I carried the Springfield 911 in 380 for a while. I never had an issue with the safety coming off (carried cocked and locked) but eventually went back to carrying my beat to hell Taurus TCP. The Springfield was definitely a better pistol, no doubt about it. Better sights, better materials, better grip, wayyyy better trigger, and less recoil. But two things, its just a smidge heavier than the plastic jobs, and I didn't put enough training into sweeping the safety off when drawing. I like the platform, and had I started off with one I'd probably stick with it. But I've been carrying that TCP for so long, its a hard habit to break

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I carried a Colt Gov't .380 stainless for a few years... my particular pistol had a very weak thumb safety detent spring, and very often, when I would get home from work, I would find the safety knocked off. Certainly I could have 'smithed it a little to provide a more positive detent engagement, but that was always one of those 'I'll do it tomorrow' things... and I never got to it. Because the Colt .380 does not have a grip safety, like most 1911's do, but was a Series 80 pistol, I started to carry it hammer down on a loaded chamber... draw, cock, fire. Doing drills with this method, however, revealed it was a very, very poor choice... and I soon retired my Colt to target range duty. I love the pistol... it's a fun pistol to shoot, and is a far more refined pistol than the de rigueur PPK/s, or any other blowback .380.

Looking at the FI pistol in the OP's photo, it looks like the thumb safety has a bigger surface on the safety... very nice. I even kind of dig the lanyard loop on the frame!

Interesting....I wonder if a previous owner had monkeyed with the safety detent?

Every Mustang/Govt/238/938/911/Kimber Ive ever handled had the normal click/click safety action. Indeed, when those are brand new they can be too stiff and require a few dozen on/off cycles to break in properly. I kinda wish someone would modify a full-size 1911 to use the Mustang-style safety.

 

[Charlie98]

I was/am the original owner. It was an '80's era Colt... sooooo... the pistol fit and finish isn't quite there. The slide is loose on the frame, the SN is crooked... typical '80's Colt fare. I considered for a long time sending it off to Cylinder & Slide, but they wanted something like $800 to upgrade the pistol, and I had already decided to retire it.

 

[amd6547]

When I was young, Iver Johnson sold the OP's pistol as the Pony, and I bought one. They made a big deal in an article I read about Iver testing every one.
When I tried to shoot mine the first time, it couldn't chamber a loaded round, lol...tight chamber.
Sent it back under warranty, and when it came back, it worked great.
Never considered it for pocket carry...it was IWB for me.
I was riding a bicycle in the country, when some yahoos in a beater car started messing with me.
Luckily, I had brought my 380 to shoot a couple mags through.
I dodged their car, went down a dirt road, and set up in the ditch.
They stopped about 50yds away...sat there...yelled some insult, and took off.
I never displayed the pistol, but they must have got the message.
One of the only time I was ready to shoot.

 

[Charlie98]

I had to do very much the same thing one Friday night when I was out on the motorcycle... a Camaro full of punks were hassling me... but displaying that shiny Jennings .22 in their headlights made them make a hurried right turn next stop.

 

[Stubert]

I carry a Colt Defender .45 cocked and locked. When I can't hide that, I carry a Colt Mustang .380 cocked and locked. Been doing it for years. Both are in Cross breed IWB holsters. I don't give it a second thought.

 

[SDGlock23]

The G42 is the best 380 I've ever shot, it's small but shoots like a much larger pistol.

 

[bannockburn]

I really like my Colt Mustang and SIG P238 for their great SA triggers, sights (slight edge to the SIG with it's night sights), and locked breech design. Both guns have excellent ergos and are real pleasure to shoot with little if any felt recoil. Carry them either with a DeSantis SOF-TUCK IWB holster or else a DeSantis SUPER FLY pocket holster.

 

[SwampWolf]

... but displaying that shiny Jennings .22 in their headlights made them make a hurried right turn next stop.

Glad it worked out for you but for me, nobody is going to see my gun until I shoot it. Nobody too means a companion, should I have one.

 

[SwampWolf]

The thumb safety on these is very positive and easy swept off on the draw. After that, they are hardly a hair-trigger, having a rather heavy, but crisp break. You are unlikely to get an unintentional discharge with a Mustang-type weapon, IMO.

Though the platform is likely too small to incorporate one, if possible, I'd really like to see a grip safety as a part of some of these compact sa pistols.

 

[Charlie98]

Glad it worked out for you but for me, nobody is going to see my gun until I shoot it. Nobody too means a companion, should I have one.

Although I don't disagree... it was the thing to do at the time. Taking on 4 punks in a car when it's just me on a motorcycle with 6 rounds of .22 is not a winning combination, and I was not in a place where the speed and agility of my motorcycle could have been used to create some space. My guess that they were just jacking with me and they would peel off when they realized I wasn't fooling around was correct.

 

[Hasaf]

Though the platform is likely too small to incorporate one, if possible, I'd really like to see a grip safety as a part of some of these compact sa pistols.

The lack of a grip safety is why I eventually stopped carrying my 380 Govt model. Like the poster above, I also found the safety off on a regular basis. Mine was purchased new, so I know that no one tinkered with it.

With a grip safety, the little 380 Government model and its derivatives, would be a near-ideal carry pistol for me. At the present, I have been carrying a Browning 1911-380. It also has a locking breech mechanism and a grip safety, but it is significantly larger than the 380 Government/Mustang, and derivatives.

 

[C0untZer0]

I had a Colt Mustang that I purchased for my wife. She had a purse with an inner pocket that fit the Mustang perfectly. So I thought "Wow - that's great, she can just keep it in this pocket."

She was going on a business trip, She watched me load the Mustang, and put it cocked and locked in the purse pocket.

When she came back, I opened the pocket and took the Mustang out, the safety was down. It was still cocked. My wife hadn't touched the pistol, hadn't even gone into that purse pocket at all. When I saw the safety off, a chill went down my spine.

I have no idea how long she was carrying the pistol around cocked with the safety off.

 

[Patocazador]

For almost 30 years I’ve been pocket-carrying small DAO .32 and .380 pistols. While difficult to shoot well, I’ve always considered the long trigger pulls an essential part of safely carrying in this mode with a loaded chamber

Not if you have had the fundamentals of gun safety drilled into your head. I have carried both and prefer a DA/SA pistol. 1st shot = panic shot in a life or death situation, then easier to aim, fire, etc. with SA shots ... the best of both worlds.

If I had to choose between SAO and DAO, SAO would definitely be my choice. Cocked and locked IS safe if you are.

 

[Tallball]

I prefer some sort of DAO handgun for carry.

Draw, aim, bang... nothing else needed. Less to go wrong.

 

[SRSTAdam21]

I like both my SA and my DAO 380s, but I will not pocket carry the Colt. I personally do not feel comfortable with it. This RM380 gets carried daily and I love it. I can shoot it well, too.

 

[Stubert]

I have never had the safety come off on any of my S/A pistols, That's what a good holster is for. When I first bought my Colt Mustang, I carried it in a Desantis nemisis pocket holster with an empty chamber for 2 weeks just to be sure, Never had the safety come off ever.