schmeky
Member
Never had a .380. Contemplating a CZ-83, FEG-63, Makarov, or the new Ruger LCP, maybe even a Walther. What's your advice?
Thinking About a .380
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Thernlund
Member
Sig P232. Spendy though, especially if you're like me and just GOTTA have the NILL grips. 
(Not mine, but mine looks identical.)
-T.
(Not mine, but mine looks identical.)
-T.
guntotinguy
Member
Not stray from your list above,and only from my own experience..Id say try a Bersa Thunder .380 mine is reliable and works well,and couldnt beat the price at the time pf purchase.One of my shooting pals has a CZ 83,and we compared the accuracy and comfort zone of both...he went and bought a Bersa also after that comparison.
schmeky
Member
Thernlund,
Forgot about the Sig. Those 232's are works of art, just stunning to look at, thanx.
Forgot about the Sig. Those 232's are works of art, just stunning to look at, thanx.
Cougfan2
Member
Damn you Thernlund! Torturing me with those Nill grips! It'll be your fault when I have to pony up the money for a pair for my 232.
It'll be your fault when I have to pony up the money for a pair for my 232.
usp9
Member
In my opinion you left off your list the best .380 available, the Beretta 84 or 85. Having said that, the Sig is also a great pistol. The alloy model is very light and concealable. The Sphinx AT380 is another nice choice for a CCW. Here's a pic of most of my current .380 family.
The_Sheriff
member
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- 161
bersa's are good, if you've got the cash the walther is great.
I have a Walther PPK/S - it would make a great carry gun, but I usually don't carry. I usually have it in the car, though.
I REALLY like the way it handles, and the feel of it, but when I go shoot, I'd rather shoot my Blackhawks than it, just because they are more fun to me.... I shoot it just enough to stay proficient with it. I can usually hit the falling plates at 25 yards with it, but all in all it's a 15 yard max effective gun. Hard for me to be as accurate with it as I am with my bigger guns.
I REALLY like the way it handles, and the feel of it, but when I go shoot, I'd rather shoot my Blackhawks than it, just because they are more fun to me.... I shoot it just enough to stay proficient with it. I can usually hit the falling plates at 25 yards with it, but all in all it's a 15 yard max effective gun. Hard for me to be as accurate with it as I am with my bigger guns.
MRIman
Member
I was looking at a Ruger LCP last week. Went home and looked at the
"online" prices,and WOW!!! My dealer had it for $249,got thinking it's
a good price. Went back the next day,just in time to watch the new
owner of the LCP fill out the paper work!!
All turned out good in the end. I just picked up a pair of consecutive
serial numbered Russian Makarovs. PW Arms "sneeks" if you will.
I'm broke for a little while now.
"online" prices,and WOW!!! My dealer had it for $249,got thinking it's
a good price. Went back the next day,just in time to watch the new
owner of the LCP fill out the paper work!!
All turned out good in the end. I just picked up a pair of consecutive
serial numbered Russian Makarovs. PW Arms "sneeks" if you will.
I'm broke for a little while now.
ice monkey
Member
Big fan and owner of the Sig too. I have close to 1000 rounds through it ... not one problem, not one. Had two Bersa /380's before the Sig - they both broke. :banghead: Truly, you get what you pay for!
I have close to 1000 rounds through it ... not one problem, not one. Had two Bersa /380's before the Sig - they both broke. :banghead: Truly, you get what you pay for!macadore
Member
You can get a military surplus CZ 82 or an FEG in 9x18 for somewhat less money. The FEG recoil is brutal, but the CZ 82 is great on all counts.
MICHAEL T
Member
Bersa great pistol for the money
http://bersatalk.com
http://bersatalk.com
The Lone Haranguer
Member
Beretta models 84, 85 and 86 "Cheetah," if you don't mind the size (about the same as a typical compact 9mm). These are very high quality guns that are fun to shoot. I have an 86 (the one with a tip-up barrel and selective double action) myself.
Companion Cube
Member
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- 17
+1 Lcp
I love my LCP! It's such a neat little pocket gun.
Ruger may have stolen the design from Kel Tec, but at least they significantly improved fit and finish.
I love my LCP! It's such a neat little pocket gun.
Ruger may have stolen the design from Kel Tec, but at least they significantly improved fit and finish.
schmeky
Member
Thanx for the suggestions, a few I didn't include. Don't want to pay $600.00 for .380, but I know they are worth it.
I would probably shoot it a couple times a month, 100-200 rounds max per month.
I would probably shoot it a couple times a month, 100-200 rounds max per month.
I myself am a little partial to spanish guns. I have owned and now regret selling both a Star .380 mini 1911, and a Llama that looked almost exactly like it. I bought both guns for about 150-160 each, and with their high demand sold them for about 220 to 240 each. Very nice guns.
wnycollector
Member
I owned a russian Mak. It was super reliable and very accurate, but pretty heavy for only 8+1. I never felt undergunned while carrying the mak.
I have a buddy how has a fairly large collection of .380's. I have shot the following pistols numerous times:
1) beretta 84...VERY SWEET gun! I liked the double stack mag (13+1).
2) I hate his PPK/s, its a beautiful gun, well engineered...but my big hands get hamer bite!
3) Two thumbs up on the bersa thunder, light and very accurate.
4)Also two thumbs up on the CZ 83 (and I'm assuming CZ82) nice ergo's and 12 round doublestack!
My father-in-law carries an old llama .38 (looks like a mini 1911). I dont particulalry like it, but he can shoot the hell out a target with it! He carries corbon powerballs in it since it is picky about JHP's
I hope that helps!!!
I have a buddy how has a fairly large collection of .380's. I have shot the following pistols numerous times:
1) beretta 84...VERY SWEET gun! I liked the double stack mag (13+1).
2) I hate his PPK/s, its a beautiful gun, well engineered...but my big hands get hamer bite!
3) Two thumbs up on the bersa thunder, light and very accurate.
4)Also two thumbs up on the CZ 83 (and I'm assuming CZ82) nice ergo's and 12 round doublestack!
My father-in-law carries an old llama .38 (looks like a mini 1911). I dont particulalry like it, but he can shoot the hell out a target with it! He carries corbon powerballs in it since it is picky about JHP's
I hope that helps!!!
I can tell you from first hand experience that you are indeed correct.
The P232sl was my very first carry gun. A gift from my father. It's not left the safe since I got a Ruger Sp101, and an LCP.
When the weather is cool enough that I could carry the 232, I can have the .357mag power of the SP101 in a package just as easy to conceal, and when the weather is hot, I keep the LCP in my pocket.
mgregg85
Member
Big +1 on the Sig P232SL, I had a Bersa too and quickly sold it because I dislike having manual safeties on my SA/DA or DAO carry weapons, just strikes me as unnecessary. It was a fun gun to shoot though.
It all really depends on what you are looking for in a carry gun, and where you live.
If it is hot and you will be wearing t-shirts/shorts and the like for the majority of the year, I would go with the tiny gun option. Your most obvious choices would be the new LCP or the P3AT.
If you live in a colder climate, the larger guns can be a better option, this opens you up to the P232, the Walther PPK(its slightly smaller though much heavier), the bersa and others. If this is the group your looking at I would highly reccomend the P232 as the ideal carry gun because it isn't too heavy or too light, it has good sights(get the night sights) and it doesn't have an annoying manual safety or slide release leaver to add to the width of the pistol.
Now if you live in Michigan(and other hot/cold midwest states) and get a mixture of annoyingly hot and painfully cold, your just better off with two or more carry guns for different parts of the year. I prefer to carry the P232 during the summer months and in the winter months I carry my XD45 compact.
To sum it up, if you've got the cash, get the Sig. If you want a similar and cheaper option get the bersa. If you wanna go tiny get the LCP/P3AT. All are great guns and you really can't go wrong.
It all really depends on what you are looking for in a carry gun, and where you live.
If it is hot and you will be wearing t-shirts/shorts and the like for the majority of the year, I would go with the tiny gun option. Your most obvious choices would be the new LCP or the P3AT.
If you live in a colder climate, the larger guns can be a better option, this opens you up to the P232, the Walther PPK(its slightly smaller though much heavier), the bersa and others. If this is the group your looking at I would highly reccomend the P232 as the ideal carry gun because it isn't too heavy or too light, it has good sights(get the night sights) and it doesn't have an annoying manual safety or slide release leaver to add to the width of the pistol.
Now if you live in Michigan(and other hot/cold midwest states) and get a mixture of annoyingly hot and painfully cold, your just better off with two or more carry guns for different parts of the year. I prefer to carry the P232 during the summer months and in the winter months I carry my XD45 compact.
To sum it up, if you've got the cash, get the Sig. If you want a similar and cheaper option get the bersa. If you wanna go tiny get the LCP/P3AT. All are great guns and you really can't go wrong.
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