worst 380 pistols
A little heavier than those in this article but re-aquisition is simple. It's a .380 Spectrum. In contrast to this, the original LCP did not lock back on the final round. It may be slightly larger than the pocket models, but I prefer my 7+1 Bersa Thunder 380 for concealment, great hand fit, trigger, & DA/SA with decocker. I also have a Micro 9 which is a bit larger than the Micro 380. Even though its a much smaller cartridge, the .380 is about as strong as a .38 Special. Best Lightweight - Ruger LCP II .380 ACP. Its also got a polymer frame, which keeps it lightweight. It just fits perfectly in my hand. All are used for pocket carry, as often my clothing choice here in FL makes it impractical to carry one of my 9's as I prefer, which is OWB under a loose-fitting shirt. Amazing. Erraicates unwanted subjects from your residence without using a 45, The first one says that if your bullet size of choice doesnt start with a 4 its insufficient for self-defense. I have carried and shot many many rounds through both my LCP 2 and my sig P238. The size and design of the gun must also be taken into account. The G42 is one of their latest additions (not to mention smallest) and performs how weve all come to expect them to at the range. The SW380, chambered in .380 ACP, held six rounds and was fitted with very rudimentary "guttersnipe" sights. The trigger pull on the LCP II most closely resembles the trigger on larger striker fired polymer pistols such as the Glock. 1. The sig comes with superior sights out of the box and the trigger even though plastic has a very nice pull and reset compared with my LCP2. There are some things that can help you greatly when it comes time to stop an attacker. Don't get me wrong, Glock makes great pistols but as far as the pocket models in 380 and 9, they are a Johnny-come-lately-me-too and it shows. S&W Bodyguard "BETTER". At the time I didn't really think to try different ammo. They run like sewing machines. (, We noticed that you have previously logged in with your, Check what do you get by creating an account, Bookmark and compare your favorite firearms, Best .380 Pistols [Hands-On]: Pocket Rockets. I'll be reviewing one soon, so keep an eye out! My original idea was to buy the S&W Bodyguard but after looking at both decided to go with the Ruger. Not an inconvenience of power loss or what have you but, societal break down. Get proficient on YOUR time. The pinky extension on the magazine, though, is critical for control. It's a joke. It's also a useless piece of crap. Loved it . Nope! Amen! When it comes to a 380/9mm Kurtz however, without question, my old Stainless Sig P232 was and remains my favorite. A friend of mine carried a gun for months with ammo that didnt cycle. Jams other 380 hollowpoint. Most accurate?? No Beretta 84????? I bought a Ruger LCP II after Christmas and it has become my everyday pocket carry gun. Hand-Picked Daily GUN DEALS, and Exclusive Coupons Codes >>>, Guide to Holsters for Any Method You Carry. The G42 has a barrel of 3.25 inches, one of the longer ones on this shortlist, and weighs in at 13.76 ounces. This is the round to go to in the 380. Another way of looking at it isthe gun youve got on your hip is better than the one youve got in your sock drawer. In this caliber your discussing I wouldn't carry anything on this list simply because they're all too big with too many bells and whistles for me especially living in my "environment" (South FLA.). Be safe. The grip shape is comfortable and recoil is no worse than any other .380 pocket pistol. It shoots fine now and have over 200 rounds thru it since the magazine tweek. I'm carrying a Kel-tec p3at in a Velcro ankle holster at work. Rent and shoot them all. Carrying capacity is 8+1, so you can carry a little more in that regard. Great little pistol that I think is worth a mention, thanks. I think a good one for the list would be the Remington rm380. The cartridge holds a bullet the same diameter as the 9mm (.355") but in a smaller case with diminished capacity (roughly speaking, 15% less than the 9mm in grains of H2O). Felt and shot like a Swiss watch, as it should. However, it's role in a bug out isn't for humans but rather for small game. Your comment is interesting. 90 grain XTP did very well also. So I went on an ammo quest with all 3 of my 380 firearms to find the best Self defense round watched every video on youtube from Paul Harrell, Shooting The Bull (who did ammo quest and voted Precision One the BEST 380 SD round) , TN Outdoors, Hickock45 and everyone else.you name it.and now hundreds of rounds personally downrange. Practice, practice practice. There are basically two methods of thought when it comes to self-defense cartridges. (My LCP had the same problem.). As well as shooting mechanics. While it certainly isnt difficult to take down and reassemble, there are easier ones out there. BATTLE OF THE RUGER .380S: LCP VS. LCP II. I still have a bunch of old stock and they feed and shoot well. Have you tried magazine extender that permits 3 finger grip, or does that magazine you mentioned offer that? Take the incidents this past week as examples.. Its a personal choice whether to carry a firearm of any type. Semper Fi, Pocket carry brings up a very specific need and a very specific gun, in my opinion. Also the Decocker and the fact that I can lock the frame as a pistol with the key when my grandchildren are around are a plus. Shoots great with a CrimsonTrace laser. The 380 EZ solves this problem, by putting the .380 round in the same size of pistol as the standard M&P Shield, one of the best and most popular carry guns on the market. A very fine pistol. Both are easy to carry and both shoot well. But, I always preferred the M14 to the M16 and walnut stocks on my bolt action rifles. I know it's not going to accidentally go off unless I intend it to. One of the best concealed weapons out there is the 380 pistol. The Beretta Pico is top dog. Even though the P238 is much more expensive I find it the better pistol if you can afford it. Because I have carpal tunnel and arthritis in my thumbs, I bought the S&W 380 EZ. We live in a free society and people should have the right to make choices even if you dont agree with them. Also, the P238 slide is easier to rack/manipulate than many other mouse-guns. My everyday carry is my Sig P238 as I can carry it all day on ankle or IWB without discomfort. While size really isn't that much of a issue for me, as I carry my Glock 20 10mm quite often, the P238 is easy to pop into a pocket when I'm in a hurry. Don't need that. I really like mine, small and compact. Many of the others, such as the S&W Bodyguard and Ruger LCP were too diminutive and had awful sights. .380 guns tend to conceal better than many others out there on the market. I have lasers on the Kahr and Beretta. Every order can be limited to less that 25 pounds in Black Powder and not more than 66 pounds from Smokeless Powder, Primers, or Fuses. I find I'm gaining endurance and may even be able to advance to a lightweight 9mm in a few months. Is it just me? The range officer called for a cold range and inspected her Glock in disbelief. Yes but sig at least bought the rights to it from colt , Springfield just stole it. I get it you are thinking "carry the 9mm", but I like the lighter weight and low recoil of 380. so I need all 6 of 380 on target to make a stop, no problem, we practice constantly and hopefully I can do that, as shot placement is king. I was carrying a Kruger 357 mag short barrel ed I am a big guy I have owned several in different calibers and have carried them on-duty and have the utmost confidence in them. All in all Sig for me is the better choice. No, no, none of the handguns you recommend are a good 380 ACP choice, get yourself a Glock 25, that is like a Glock 19 but chambered in 380 ACP, that gun has almost no recoil and it is concealable but wait a minute, now I remember, you are in the USA so a Glock 25 is a no, no for you. Another BIG vote for the Rem 380. I have a Bersa thunder cc chambered in 380 ACP. All that said, when I go to the range I have to force myself to shoot it. I have just started working with some SIG Sauer V-Crown but dont have a good data set yet. This is one very inexpensive pistol that works very well. I have no issues at all deactivating the safety. The Glock doesn't fall into my "favorite" handgun catagory of the pistols I own or have owned but I have never had a failure to feed or failure to eject nor have I seen a FTF or FTE at the qualifications rangeno, that's not trueone time during qualifications, a new officer was having FTE's with her issued Glock. I traded it 2 weeks after buying it and the guy gave me $100 in trade! It really likes to digest Remington 88 gr HTP and Remington 102 gr Golden Saber. The higher-grade 911 (the original model) has superb (night) sights. I'm a novice and feel quite comfortable with ALL aspects of the LCP 2. Solid, all metal gun. The, much lauded, FBI study is not highly relevant to CCW, purely defensive, needs. Most likely it wasn't discussed because the the Sig P365-380 is quite a bit larger than these yet offers no additional capacity. Barrel length is 3.675 inches, so you get accuracy and better performance from ammunition. Like the Sig, the 911 is all metal and the fit and finish are excellent. purchase helps support my work in bringing you more awesome gun and gear articles. With the after rebate price, it was just too good to pass up. Just get the Glock 19. I dress then chose a pistol from my collection that fits concealed with the most stopping power. Ruger listened to the criticism, which resulted in the birth of the LCP II. Yea yea, .380 is underpowered, etc, but if you need something you can handle and/or throw in your pocket, .380 beats a .22 or .32 and anything else is to large to pocket. besides, if you hit the target, the .380 WILL do the trick. However, as much as I love Springfield and wish I could give them the nod I just can't credit the sights as being better than those on my Sig. I have big hands and the pocket .380's don't work for me. The current third generation of Rugers great LCP seriesthe LCP Max is what our editor Eric carries while in athletic gear. Well over a thousand rounds through it without a hitch. My wife carries the Sig P238 which is a great gun with very few issues. I've got thousands of rounds through it. The advantage of the Browning is the added grip-safety. Sometimes multiple things come together in one gun, and LCP II has it. It is also used by Underwood ammo who produces it in a +P and +P+ plus loads. The Remora works great! Page Back Page Next. Seems like The Duke is forgetting that old and factual adage- when seconds count, LE is minutes away. I carry the 42/43 since both are he same platform and only caliber difference so with either on I don't need to "think" which gun do I have today, Great review! As I carry 9x19, I was trying to find out, what round has the smallest chance of overpen. The color variety? Best Premium Choice - Walther PPK/S .380 ACP. I like how the CTC laser activates just from gripping the gun and not having to worry about finding a button to activate laser. We carry a variety of popular models from leading manufacturers including Smith and Wesson, SIG Sauer, and Glock. Their main appeal is their often sub-$100 price tags. Will say that I really liked the Sig because of the night sights,cause goblins come out at night, My p3at , is great. And want more of our favorite guns & gear? This innovation in 1929, was revolutionary in the world of weapons, and led to its adoption as a regulation and special services weapon, in almost all of Europe, and the rest of the world, countries such as Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, France, Brazil , Bolivia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Austria and even the secret services of England. Snappy but controllable and also pretty accurate for the size. I know there is bad talk about Remington pistols, but this one I have rocks. Check out our Best Places to Buy Ammo Online or jump straight to .380 ACP self-defense rounds. There are nines Id rather carry for self defense but as 380s go Bersa is top of the line. The BB ammo gives you specs that are very close to a 9mm round in such a small package. I am sure the S&W EZ .380 is a good gun (I have the 9mm version.). So went out and bought a Bersa "Fire Storm"fell in love with the 380 cal. She wiped it off loaded it with critical defense and kinda politely sneered at my Remington. My brother, on the other hand, has sent his Kahr back to the factory for the 4th time! Its good enough to get the job done with several shots, but obviously not the best choice out there. It will digest about anything I throw in it, cheap ball ammo to top notch hollow points, its not finicky and the accuracy for me was great. After 100 rounds of CCI FMJ at the rangenot one misfire! It goes on for miles and catches me off guard every time I go for more than a short time without firing it. Even ships with a stainless steel recoil guide. Ruger sells the LCP II with a neoprene pocket holster (which has the Ruger logo on it), and it actually works quite well. Mine has misfired multiple times since I bought it. They gave me an Smith and Wesson 380 EZ instead, functioned flawlessly and I shot it well. The CZ is not a pocket gun, holds 13+1, runs DAO or cocked & locked 1911 style. Well done and VERY informative! Also picked up the larger 938 - and carry either one depending on how I am dressed Select what level shooter you are! I can put double taps into three inches at 6 yards. Greg. For it's 2.5 inch barrel, I can easily hit center mass at 25 yards or less and with rapid fire shots. The Bodyguard .380 is a small, polymer-framed handgun weighing in at 12.8 ounces with integrated Crimson Trace laser. It should come as no surprise to me since I own other ruger's and they have all been Flawless operators. I have a KAHR CW 380. My edc is the Kahr. And far closer in performance to the 22/25's than 38+P. So don't underestimate the power of calibers starting with 3. And stay in touch with newsletters of our best articles on techniques, guns, & gear. It was a Bersa Thunder 380 CC. Its a small pocket gun with similar specifications to most every gun you did list. Plus search YouTube for "Texas Rancher Wild Hog .380" and watch his video. The trigger just takes a lot of practice to get right. Don't do plastic guns .. put to many rounds thru to many of them and about the ONLY one worth a flip is a p99 . . anyhoo, the sig can be had for $450-500 if you shop it and it's worth it and more . . By far, It's the best quality gun of the bunch, takes all ammo and won't fail after a ton of rounds if you really want to make a habit of .380 practice with a pocket gun. So maybe that's why it is not added to this concealed carry list. I am not sure why Kimber was excluded from the list of .380's. No matter what you choose, the gun on your hip is better than the one youve left at home or in the car even if it does only hold seven rounds like most .380 pistols. Huh? Since I only have 3 magazines for it, it really doesn't bother me. all. Get Great Guns and Ammo Deals! My right hand and wrist are sore when I leave the practice range, but they don't ache for days as they have with 9mm. I simply bought it because of its price (too low to mention??? Theres not a pistol I shot more accurately then this Bersa. Theyre made about 15 miles from where I sit right now. The 380 caliber pistol has the power to defend you while still being small enough to be concealed and easy to handle. 3, when I tried to release the slide there was a failure to feed, this with only three rounds in the magazine, 4 I manage to drop the mag, clear the jam and fire three rounds and reload. Buyer beware! There are a lot of disparaging comments about the TCP on the internet, but I love mine. CC) tend to expand inconsistently on "real" targets, that is solid targets covered in cloth, etc.. Jams HST. I have put a thousand rounds of all kinds into these beauts and only 2 FTFs. You're currently reading page 1; Page 2; - It's shorter, lighter, cheaper and has much more capacity than the M&P Shield EZ. .380 pocket pistols have a well-deserved reputation for having some of the worst trigger pulls of any semi-automatic pistols on the market. This time he is either getting his $ back, or a replacement. For example the Sig is not accurate for me. This is especially true if 147-grain 9 mm loads are compared to the higher-performance loadings in the .38 Special; it is uncanny how similar these are, especially given the differences in how barrel lengths are measured in pistols versus revolvers. It makes a HUGE difference! Ammunition will differ slightly in energy, and that affects ejection. In fact, I currently shoot Lehigh defense ammo. Some survivors who survived being shot from .380 remembered going into paralysis before blackout . As the article notes: Practice, Practice, Practice! I have had this firearm for approx. Even after 500+ rounds or so it took just about every manufacturer and bullet type to find one with 100% reliability to fully feed, fire and lock the slide 100% of the time (my winner is the Winchester 95 grain in FMJ and JHP). Had a Keltec P3AT And will say I had no problems with it, that being said I have heard others not so lucky sold mine to a friend that had to have it when I bought my P238, once I polished the feed ramp on the Sig it worked flawlessly was pissed that I had to polish the feed ramp on a $575 dollar pistol when a $199.00 pistol ran like a champ. Still, shoot whatever makes you most comfortable; that S&W is a fine choice. That is saying something about the bullet design. Also the famous and consecrated King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, wore a Walther PPK / S engraved, with an initial "take care of your business" What I didn't like about it is the double-action trigger; by the time you get it pulled, you've probably pulled way off target in a crisis situation. I load them both with Hornady Critical Defense FTX and feel those will do the job, when I do my job with placing the rounds where they will have the best effect. I have an 84fs. Safety lever broke off, still could move it up-and-down with what was left, but still a hassle, And the extractor broke on me. Great tool. All of these features together, the improved trigger, the enhanced serrations, the stippling on the grip, and the slightly wider grip size all combine to make the LCP II a better handgun to shoot than the original LCP. Thanks for getting the Bersa Thunder 380 on the list. I, and my brother both have a Kahr CW380. For the size & weight you could carry a Ruger LC9S in 9mm that does everything better. In an ideal world, youll be right behind the gun. Comfortable for pocket quick to aim and easy to hit your target. This seems to be a hit and miss gun as far as quality is concerned. If you take aim at an attacker with your .380 pistol but miss four out of five shots, you may just end up angering the person coming at you. Never skipped a beat. I take it everywhere. of this gun and not all were winners. Just my 2 cents. (I suggest PPT check it out as well.). Happy with both options!!! The little heavier metal gun helps recoil (won't beat you up if you're a rook/woman) and it won't come apart when you bang/drop it and a heavy/quality holster won't mess it up with heavy use. I LOVED it for its size and wanted it to come in #1! Last but not least, and while this is entirely personal preference, many regard .380 autos as having poor ergonomics due to the fact that their extraordinarily small size means you cant get a full grip on them. These discussions are frequently exchanged between strictly internet gun forum aficionados (armchair commandos at best); so, perhaps, a little background information is in order: I once became very suddenly and very unexpectedly involved in a cleverly set up, triangulated, 3 shooter ambush; and there I was, right, at the center of the deadly triangle!. This adds to the visual/narrative of the text. In a real world gun fight capacity rules over caliber. I haven't had a chance to get the firestorm yet but am looking forward to getting one soon. I do not feel under gunned when carrying either gun. Great hiker's gun. After he graduated high school, he joined the Marines where he qualified with an M16, an M9 pistol, and a 240G machine gun. Ive used many .380s but the best is the bersa thunder 380 cc . I own a LCP and it's my EDC. Re: Glock 42 and Sig P238 I prefer my 357 Mag but I'm seriously considering a 380 due to their size and less recoil. Bersa Thunder fan here. Great all metal pistol, a bit Lg. EXACTLY. Happy with my choice. Which gun to purchase which is light weight firm grip, small pocket size, but great accuracy? It is easy to rack, accurate, reliable, and very manageable to smaller or older folks. Somewhere under a 9mm, and about equal to a .38 Special (depending upon the gun, barrel, ammo type, etc.). In your evaluation of the Ruger LCP II you stated it has a long and heavy trigger pull. had the 40 cal. Glock 42 5. No problems with cheap FMJ ammo, Hornady Critical Defense, or Remington Ultimate Defense. Traded for the RM380 and never looked back. The Judge). Try it, youll like it. Check out our full review of the Bodyguard .380 ACP. A Bryco Arms .380 such as this has resulted in more than 1 accidental death due to their defective design (Photo: Guns.com) These cheap pot metal guns are small, and available in a variety of calibers. Its a polymer-framed gun with a capacity of six in the mag, one in the chamber. I could see if this list were entitled "Top 5 guns most likely to get you killed", Like everything about the Ruger LC380 except the trigger, and would buy another one if Ruger gave it the same, striker-fire setup as the improved LC9S Pro. Boy, did I sure miss out on that one. I highly recommend the LCP as an everyday carry. I finally found it a few years back, in the Kahr CM9. Worldwide, and throughout the Cold War, and to this day, it is on the list of backup pistols endorsed and authorized to be used by some US Police Departments. I think you hit on a lot of good points. It's a good balance of weight and reliability. concealed carry is about .concealment..It will vary dependent on many factors..like the weather and where you plan to carry..You don't carry a cannon in to a movie theater or other crowded event because every missed shot has the potential to kill innocent bystanders.. That thing is a piece of garbage. And they are ultra reliable. The barrel length is just 2.75 inches and its capacity is also six in the magazine, one in the chamber. I would not trust my life with the Bodyguard . The Kahr is an excellent 380 too. Ruger LCP Max 380 ACP Pistol 4. The weapon I carry must be conceable, in an ankle holster. Great in pocket holster or ankle holster. Never felt undergunned and to this day it remains the most accurate gun on my modest collection (<1" groups at 25'). People have a right to not be a VICTIM and carry a gun for protection and to neutralize a criminal gun. The object of concealed carry has only ONE OBJECTIVE.to stop the threat. IF you think of BUG, think of a true BUG out situation? If you plan to use it, train with it often. I, too, love the Sigs. You missed It in your review but it is mechanically similar, but smaller than the non CC (conceal carry) model. @ most; whereas, my Bodyguard definitely is a heavier (approx. Solid stainless to reduce felt recoil and improve longevity, but only 19 oz. I had the same thoughts when I bought the Ruger LC380 but I found the long trigger pull made me less accurate so I went to the Glock 42. Model D serial numbers started with the characters "CPA". Heavy bullets have more penetration, I would stick to 115gr in 9mm.