What is the softest recoiling .380?
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
I'd vote for the SIG P-232.
The one I have is the softest shooting, most accurate .380 I have ever shot.
The nearly two pound loaded CZ-83 should qualify as soft shooting, but I have never shot one.
http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-83/
rc
The one I have is the softest shooting, most accurate .380 I have ever shot.
The nearly two pound loaded CZ-83 should qualify as soft shooting, but I have never shot one.
http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-83/
rc
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Hey!
My P3AT is easier on my hand then the Walther PPK & PPK/S I had!
It is a locked-breech design, and soaks up a lot of recoil instead of slapping your hand like the PPK & PPK/S.
If it weighed twice as much, like the Walther, it wouldn't kick at all.
rc
My P3AT is easier on my hand then the Walther PPK & PPK/S I had!
It is a locked-breech design, and soaks up a lot of recoil instead of slapping your hand like the PPK & PPK/S.
If it weighed twice as much, like the Walther, it wouldn't kick at all.
rc
browningguy
Member
It could well be the Beretta, I have the Browning BDA 380 version and it is a real treat to shoot.
GrandmasterB
Member
A locked breech design is going to have less felt recoil than a blowback gun of similar size and weight.
For a small .380, it is hard to beat a Colt Mustang or Sig P238 for light recoil.
For a small .380, it is hard to beat a Colt Mustang or Sig P238 for light recoil.
allaroundhunter
Member
I have shot the Sig P232, and although it was larger, it had noticeably more snap than the Sig P238. The P238 is the softest shooting, most accurate .380 ACP that I have ever shot.
To be fair, the accuracy of the P232 was top notch, and I have never handled a Beretta 84
To be fair, the accuracy of the P232 was top notch, and I have never handled a Beretta 84
rellascout
member
Beretta 84FS/Browning BDA would be my picks. I have never shot a smoother lighter recoiling 380 auto.
I have 9 380 caliber pistols. The easiest shooting is the Sig P238 (the little mini 1911 style pistol). Following that the Kahr P380 is very shootable. Both these guns can be joyfully used as range toys.
Lots of 380's are "jumpy". Like the Bersa Thunder, CZ-82, etc. Not hard to shoot, they just seem to want to jump out of your hand. Odd feeling at first but you get used to it.
The most accurate 380 i've shot is my lovely Walther PPK. It will give you about 40 rounds before it physically starts too rub 2 bloody spots in the webbing between your thumb and forefinger. In spite of this, it's a great
carry pistol due to it's incredible accuracy.
The Micro Desert Eagle is an interesting pistol. It is really a handfull to shoot, can be painfull with hot loads, heck, it hurts with regular OTC loads.
I like it however as it will place your payload where you want it and mine is
reliable.
I have a Taurus micro 380 (can't grab the model number from back of head) but it's been out a few years. Mine works really well and has had zero problems. It's has a nice trigger and won't rough you up at the range.
I own a Colt Govt model 380. This is a really nice pistol, metal, heavy, reliable. I replaced the recoil spring a few months ago and it's a reliable piece. It has a real safety as does the SIG P238 and is almost as easy to shoot. It's accurate enough for self defense work and really feels like a real piece of gear. I got it for less than I paid for my P238.
One 380 I don't own (but will) is the Sig P232. I have shot one and I like it. Not as comfortable as the Kahr nor P238 - but what a beauty! Like the PPK - it's a joy just to behold. A real piece of firearms art.
Lots of 380's are "jumpy". Like the Bersa Thunder, CZ-82, etc. Not hard to shoot, they just seem to want to jump out of your hand. Odd feeling at first but you get used to it.
The most accurate 380 i've shot is my lovely Walther PPK. It will give you about 40 rounds before it physically starts too rub 2 bloody spots in the webbing between your thumb and forefinger. In spite of this, it's a great
carry pistol due to it's incredible accuracy.
The Micro Desert Eagle is an interesting pistol. It is really a handfull to shoot, can be painfull with hot loads, heck, it hurts with regular OTC loads.
I like it however as it will place your payload where you want it and mine is
reliable.
I have a Taurus micro 380 (can't grab the model number from back of head) but it's been out a few years. Mine works really well and has had zero problems. It's has a nice trigger and won't rough you up at the range.
I own a Colt Govt model 380. This is a really nice pistol, metal, heavy, reliable. I replaced the recoil spring a few months ago and it's a reliable piece. It has a real safety as does the SIG P238 and is almost as easy to shoot. It's accurate enough for self defense work and really feels like a real piece of gear. I got it for less than I paid for my P238.
One 380 I don't own (but will) is the Sig P232. I have shot one and I like it. Not as comfortable as the Kahr nor P238 - but what a beauty! Like the PPK - it's a joy just to behold. A real piece of firearms art.
gunnerh
Member
Soft shooting .380.
The 1911 style in steel ,Colt or Iver Johnson Pony( both by FIE) or the little Llama seem to me the softest recoiling. The Browning 1910 is the smoothest.
The 1911 style in steel ,Colt or Iver Johnson Pony( both by FIE) or the little Llama seem to me the softest recoiling. The Browning 1910 is the smoothest.
The Beretta Model 84 is a blow back design and i agree it is pretty soft shooting.
But, it is a bit larger than most 380 ACP pistols with a big hand filling grip.
i like the Model 84.
I like shooting the original Mustang and the Sig P238 is similar since I got neoprene grips of it. Recoil is not objectionable.
The Kel Tec P3AT is pretty heavy felt recoil in my mind but it is a small platform.
marine 97-03
Member
Walther pk380.....
HisSoldier
Member
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That Llama .380 is the closest .380 to a 1911 ever made, but has a bad reputation. I own several, some as old as 1943, and really like them.
Also, the Star S model, though slightly larger, is also locked breech (Some later Llama's, and some very early ones I believe, were blowback), and the internal design of the Colt SA Pony and the IJ, as well as the Mustangs, Gov't .380, and P238 all owe their internal design to the Star, which I think owes it's design philosophy to the WW1 Ruby as made by the predecessor to Star.
I'm a little foggy on that Ruby part, would need to dig out the books. Most Ruby's were of even simpler design and made by some huge number of small shops, who knows what they have in their guts.
The Llama's and Star's are very nice shooting guns that are, sadly, often forgotten in these discussions.
My 1943 Llama next to a modern RIA 1911 type;
One of my Star S (Or SS) models;
lefteyedom
Member
Not my Kel Tec 380!!
I bought it to carry,
not to shoot more than 1, 6 six round magazine
I bought it to carry,
not to shoot more than 1, 6 six round magazine
MICHAEL T
Member
I vote Colt Mustangs . Even with hot Corbon still soft recoil.
.380 versus .40 recoil
As an aside to this thread. I was at a range with several pistols shooting with a friend (ex champion Bullseye competitor). Among the pistols he brought to the range was a Colt .380 (the 1911 looking small pistol, I believe perhaps a "Pony" model). One of the pistols I brought was a Springfield XD Sub Compact in .40 caliber. We both were pleasantly surprised at how little recoil the sub compact XD had. We agreed the .40 was way less than the .380 Colt. Carrying size was pretty close. Of course the XD weighed more. The XD ran flawless and was quite accurate (at 15 yards about 3" groups of 9 rounds). I've had several compacts and sub compact pistols. The XD in my opinion is the most usable and "carryable" I've found. I do not generally like sub compact pistols. The XD is an exception.
As an aside to this thread. I was at a range with several pistols shooting with a friend (ex champion Bullseye competitor). Among the pistols he brought to the range was a Colt .380 (the 1911 looking small pistol, I believe perhaps a "Pony" model). One of the pistols I brought was a Springfield XD Sub Compact in .40 caliber. We both were pleasantly surprised at how little recoil the sub compact XD had. We agreed the .40 was way less than the .380 Colt. Carrying size was pretty close. Of course the XD weighed more. The XD ran flawless and was quite accurate (at 15 yards about 3" groups of 9 rounds). I've had several compacts and sub compact pistols. The XD in my opinion is the most usable and "carryable" I've found. I do not generally like sub compact pistols. The XD is an exception.
ZeSpectre
Member
I'm in the Browning BDA camp though the .380 high point my friend owns is actually a nice shooter. Ugly as hell but nice to shoot.
The_Armed_Therapist
Member
Don't let size alone be your guide. I have extensively shot a Beretta 84 and it stings the webbing of my hand every time. It does not, however sting my wife, brothers-in-law, or father-in-law. I tried adjusting my grip and it helped a little, but finally decided that I'm not changing my grip. The Kel-Tec P3A-T, Smith BG380, and Kahr P380s are all more comfortable to me in the recoil area.
Moral of the story, there are many factors, including user deficiencies such as mine. LOL... I have always thought that the Walther PK380 seems like it would feel really nice on recoil.
Moral of the story, there are many factors, including user deficiencies such as mine. LOL... I have always thought that the Walther PK380 seems like it would feel really nice on recoil.
Are all of your Llama .380's locked breach? I have a Stoeger imported Llama, IIIa that is similar to yours except it is a blowback, and not locked breach. It was probably made in the 1970's, and I am guessing Llama changed the design from locked breach to blowback to cut costs. It is a good little shooter, and a miniature 1911.
I've always heard good things about these little gems, never anything bad, but obviously you have.
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