The Pocket .380: DAO vs. SA

[spikes]

I have similar experience with safety on the Gov't 380. And I am the original owner. The detent is too easy to overcome. Otherwise a nice pistol.

 

[SwampWolf]

I find it ironic that there are people who regard carrying a sa pistol in a "cocked and locked" status unsafe because they worry about the safety being inadvertently moved from safe to unsafe but will carry a "cocked and unlocked" striker-fired pistol having no manual safety; not even a passive grip safety (Springfield and maybe others excepted).

 

[Pistolay]

I prefer my .380s in DAO:

 

[TomVA]

My Ruger LCP II is the only SAO gun that I own. I like the light trigger should I ever have to shoot beyond a few feet, however, given that it has no manual safety many people feel it is unsafe to pocket carry. This included me, until I found this BORAII holster. It snaps on securely and covers the trigger guard while leaving the magazine release button and the slide exposed and functional. The hook in the lower left allows you to snag your pocket when drawing, which readily snaps the holster off. Naturally if you want to leave the holster on you just draw more carefully. I feel very safe pocket carrying the LCP II loaded and chambered with this holster, and as a result I carry it more often.

 

[dogtown tom]

First pistol I ever bought was a Remington Model 51, one of the first 1600 made. I still have it, and have five more including one with the original box from 1920.
I stopped shooting that first 51 about fifteen years ago when I acquired a "shooter grade" at a gun show for $250.
But since 1972 I've loved .380's.
Currently own:
Remington 51
Star Model S, SS and SM
Colt Mustang and Government Models
Beretta/FN/Browning BDA
FN 1910 & 1922
Sig 230 and 232
Ruger LCP
Mauser HSc
Mauser HSc Super

Have owned in the past:
Beretta 84
Kahr P380
Husqvarna 1907
FN 1900
Walther PPK/S
Glock 42
Llama IIIA

Want:
Seecamp
Colt 1908
Savage 19115 & 1917

To me the decision to "pocket carry" doesn't lie in whether the gun is DA or SA.......but does it have an exposed hammer. John Browning recognized a hundred and twenty odd years ago that exposed hammer spurs weren't a good thing for a pocket pistol. He's still correct.

 

[WheelGunMan]

I carry my Firestorm.380 with a round chambered and decocked with the safety off. I liken it carrying a revolver.

 

[3Crows]

I often, especially in summer attire, carry a S&W Body Guard DAO .380 pistol. I use the Techna clip. I chose this gun because it has a heavy trigger stroke and a good safety that is very secure. I treat it and think of it as a tool rather than a piece of jewelry. I just installed the Santiago trigger in mine. It reduces the pull a little bit and makes it much smoother while still be plenty long of a stroke to provide protection from an accidental discharge. I also like the witness window to see a round in the chamber, or not.



Pretty guns are nice but if all goes well in my life nobody but me will ever see it. It is my last option, not my first. My other two carry guns (that I often carry) are a Ruger .357 LCR and a Glock 19. All are protection tools.

 

[DTL]

TomVA said "My Ruger LCP II is the only SAO gun that I own." While not a DA, it is not a true SA in that the action partially cocks the hammer and the lighter trigger pull completes the process & releases the hammer to strike. Sort of a hybrid arrangement. Great little gun, I just bought one and my sister sold her S&W Bodyguard to get one. Check at about 6:50 min. Ruger LCP II Pistol Review : Deep Concealment - YouTube

 

[TomVA]

TomVA said "My Ruger LCP II is the only SAO gun that I own." While not a DA, it is not a true SA in that the action partially cocks the hammer and the lighter trigger pull completes the process & releases the hammer to strike. Sort of a hybrid arrangement. Great little gun

True, but the remaining hammer cocking is at most 1/10th of an inch, almost negligible. Ruger calls it a single action, but hybrid would also apply given that the trigger pull does move the hammer a little bit. With a six pound pull and a crisp break it sure feels like a single action.

 

[golden]

Commygun,

I recommend against "cocked & locked", unless you are very familiar with it. If you are a competitive shooter who uses a 1911 every weekend, great, otherwise stick with something that is safer.
It is far too easy to forget and stick your hand in your pocket and move the gun around. On a GLOCK, it does not matter, if the gun is "cocked & locked", it could cause you a problem when you draw the gun out either to use it or when you are home and putting it away.

Off duty, I usually carry a GLOCK 42. It is reliable, light, accurate, easy to control and will not rust (an important consideration when pocket carrying).
I used to carry a WALTHER PPK and sometimes, a BERETTA 3032 Tomcat. Both are good guns for pocket carry, but the GLOCK is lighter than the PPK and is a .380ACP instead of a .32ACP.
I tried a SIG 232 (a wonderful gun to shoot) and found it too big for pocket carry.

I have also owned a COLT .380 Government model and it was a very easy and accurate gun to shoot, but the "cocked & locked" method is unsafe, in my opinion and I sold the gun.
I pocket carry with a GALCO or De SANTIS pocket holster and have never had any problems with either the GLOCK, WALTHER or BERETTA. I did the same when I carried a .38 Special revolver and my Than RYBKA holster worked fine.
I do not want a gun that may fire if the safety slips off. I only carry "safe action" or double action pistols and prefer 'double action only' when I can (I was issued double action only semi auto pistols for 23 years and I am very happy with them).

If you decide to go "cocked & locked", I would practice with it a lot before carrying it

Good luck,
.
Jim

 

[cal44mag]

My pocket 380 is a Sig P238 HD.

The HD model is all stainless steel. A little heavier than the Aluminum model. Great trigger SAO, with a safety.