Hey Glenn, thanks for writing in! Excellent 380 and shouldve been included in this list. I think the Pico would, on the other hand, please me the way my older S&W revolvers do, when I just handle them -they seem to ask for, and certainly get, appreciation as something more than a tool. as those 380s. Winchester #209 Shotshell Primers The Kimber also has many "factory custom" options such as a lowered ejection port and a flat wound recoil spring to aid in the pistol's reliability factor. Best and Worst .380 Autos? | Gunboards Forums .380 guns tend to conceal better than many others out there on the market. Its the most reliable gunI own. I'm hoping one pound will make my actual carry more likely in these crazy days. Just get the Glock 19. Stay away from any of the cheap aluminum pocket guns. It's a joke. She knows a good gun. That last is not the gun's fault, just my age, and it is a problem for me with every gun I shoot, long or short. Either one will give a bad guy some reasons to reconsider his actions. There was a recall on it, but the trigger still sucked, a "3 stage", the first pull, then some weird twilight zone, and then the pull to release. I practice with the .380, but my sweet shooting Shield is still my favorite range gun. Snappy but controllable and also pretty accurate for the size. Hot cases! And, be confident enough to accurately use it.. My pistols are various makes and models from around the world and they have all (some with mild fit and finish work) become reliable for daily carry. Specs vary based on model. Picked up a Sig 238 and never looked back - just drop it into a pocket Ive shot 3 on the list. I recently bought my wife a 380 Thunder and its the only gun Ive found the equals my 383DA. Finally, while the Bodyguards do come with a safety, they are hard to disengage. Those are all brand name and very fine and reliable guns I am sure but I have a Taurus TCP 738 pocket rocket and I love it. It's reliable, accurate enough and easily concealable no matter what you are wearing which is why I own one. It's light. I own a Glock 42, Sig Sauer P238, and the Ruger LCP II. As a gal new to the conceal carry scene, I looked the .380"s over very carefully and settled on the Sig P238. A good example is this SW22 Victory that fires the tiny .22LR round. As a back-up weapon to a larger pistol, the LCP II would also be a great choice as it has a very similar manual of arms to larger pistols such as Glocks while also being small enough to easily conceal carry as we have just seen. Pretty much any brass case standard ammo you can think of has gone through this gun and fired flawlessly. I watched a u tube vidoe and made a slight adjustment to the magazine and it runs like a champ now where as before it would failure to feed almost every other shot but the little tweek I made fixed the problem and I haven't had a failure of any kind since. I use old Supervel. A little larger than the CW380, and much easier to hold for large hands. There is a screw, I tighten it down and it works loose pretty quickly while at the range. The original is one of the biggest selling personal carry pistols of all time. 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. However, in the .380 you are missing the very best of them. I'm a 65-y-o man with arthritis in both hands and carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists, and the easy rack and milder recoil are the primary reasons I chose the EZ in the 380 model. I don't need to make a case for it, it speaks for itself as most will know. However, I definitely recommend anyone in the market for a superior and concealable .380 be sure to check out the 911. Rock Island Armory Baby Rock 7. It comes as a 5 +1 with a grip and thumb safety. From Reader Robert C: Bottom line for me on this pistol, Ill never get rid of it, but I would replace it as a daily Carry. And like many of us, we have/or have had a bunch of weapons..some very nice..and some inexpensive. However, it's role in a bug out isn't for humans but rather for small game. The XTP bullet has a good track record with several calibers but was one of the top performers with the .380. . So maybe that's why it is not added to this concealed carry list. I have a S&W Bodyguard. Today, May 2020, the Walther PPK / S pistol continues to spearhead the pistol offering and remains today, as it has been for nearly a century, a best seller. Or the author has no clue. 5 Hot New Handguns For 2023 | An Official Journal Of The NRA This is one of the reasons why I almost always recommend people learn how to shoot on a bigger handgun, with low to moderate recoil. Go to a gun store and check out the pocket pistols. Really??? 5 Worst Guns for Beginners (And Some Good Ones) It's a good fit for my small hands, target shooting is fun, it conceals beautifully and I have confidence with my ability to hit the target with a tight group of rounds. Thanks very informative article . The S&W gave me an issue with certain brands of hollow point, but, more investigation needs to be done because I think it occurred with one individual magazine. Both tend to come out of my pocket stuck to the weapon. I own a .380 and I'm confident it will neutralize an attacker upon the first of 1 or 2 shots. I have a Kimber RCP (lg) that I picked up a while back. I addressed the black sight visibility issue with a little white nail polish and have no issue picking up the sight picture, so long as I get my tri-focals lined up correctly. The only thing is when I got them, every internal edge was as sharp as a razor! Rating the Ruger LCP II above the Sig P238 made me laugh. One of the best concealed weapons out there is the 380 pistol. I have tried the pocket holster that came with it. And help you choose the best .380 ACP pistol for self-defense and concealed carry. 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. I completely agree with your #1 pick. I have had a Bersa Thunder .380, a Ruger LC380, and now a Glock 42. However, they are among the worst guns for concealed carry. I don't think your experience here is typical for the LCP line and you are probably correct that it was due to being a rental. agree totally with yu chris,, retired police,, had 40 cal. Just bought a Sig P238 to replace a S&W Bodyguard that absolutely sucks. The most important thing in a defensive situation is shot placement. There are pistols that can be relied upon to save your life in a surprise CQB pistol gunfight, and there are other pistols, like 380's, that do little more than make a handgun carrier feel safe. And just like my performance center 9mm shield it will run anything without fail. Great review. By contrast, the .38 Special, when shot out of a revolver with the standard 4" barrel, easily gives kinetic energy figures of 280 foot-pounds, and with +P loadings from Corbon (and others) can deliver over 300 foot-pounds of energy. I got a 380 many years ago because I "print" way too easily, and found I could carry an AMT 380 with no problem. its the same size as the Sig 365 9MM pistol..It is not really a pocket pistol..No micro 9 really can be carried comfortably in a pocketNo micro 9 can. Among my .380s Ive got two TCPs and they are extremely reliable and accurate at their intended ranges. Heavy bullets have more penetration, I would stick to 115gr in 9mm. 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.. This little gun is so easy to hide in my front pants pocket, or jacket. I bought a Springfield Armory 911 380 as an alternative to my 9mm EDC when I need a smaller form factor. Colt Mustang XSP Lite Polymer 8. The combination of these three features gives you lots of recoil, a slow follow upshot, and a very slow reload time. Well said Chris. I'm a 65 yr old novice and it only required 30 seconds to select LCP 2. The lightweight gun comes in at 12.17 ounces, and it can be easily carried in nearly any manner you choose. I carried a Walther PPK/S as my CC Weapon for 25+ years. Without seeing his actual data, I would agree with 95% of what is said. Comfortable for pocket quick to aim and easy to hit your target. A slight correction. Nowthe LCP Max brings with it 10+1 rounds of .380 ACP. Bersa 380 is the best 380 out there. It also smooths out the trigger and, more importantly, loosens up the slide so it's easy to rack. It's not one of your top 5 but works for me. In a real world gun fight capacity rules over caliber. Comes with a Hogue rubber grip as well. Huh? Best .380 Pistols of 2022 - Ultimate Buyer's Guide - Gun Mann Bersa Thunder 5. But, I always preferred the M14 to the M16 and walnut stocks on my bolt action rifles. The PPK/S is heavy in the pocket, making it a poor choice for lightweight pants. I've had a Kahr PM9 for years, thrown everything I could at it, and it has never failed to feed, fire, or lock the slide. Worth a shot! If a person were looking for a 1911 style .380, I would recommend the Browning .380 over the Sig you listed. I simply bought it because of its price (too low to mention??? Add to that that .22 ammo has come a long, long way too??? I have just started working with some SIG Sauer V-Crown but dont have a good data set yet. So, .380 will do the job. It wouldnt cycle and FTE. Ruger has proven that you dont need to have an arduous and gritty trigger pull on a .380 auto and its likely that more manufacturers will now follow their lead. I appreciate the tip! Both are easy to carry and both shoot well. That said, it is expensive as hell. The trigger pull on most .380 autos is. I keep tactical rounds in it for extra stopping power. It works. This only naturally makes it more difficult to fire properly like we just talked about. Still, shoot whatever makes you most comfortable; that S&W is a fine choice. (My LCP had the same problem.). It runs Underwood penetrator, defender, Federal HST, Precision one, critical defense, you name it, The only reason I dont carry it is because it jammed on an HST ONE TIME. Find the LPC a bit small for my hand. I think they make it still, but in a CA-compliant model only. I have both the kahr and the Sig . I have 2 pistols in .380acp. In fact, I currently shoot Lehigh defense ammo. Amazing. You left of far and away the best .380 on the market the Springfield 911, best of the bunch as far as recoil and a beautiful gun optically, sights are top of the line right out of the box. That's about 150% more kinetic energy than the .380 can bring to bear! Patrick O. I always thought I needed to carry a 9 or 45 now I know I don't. The most important thing here is proper ammo selection. Shop 380 Pistols | Palmetto State Armory I like the three dot sights that comes with the pistol the last round hold open. It fit my hand perfectly. Check out his new firearms site. When it comes to a 380/9mm Kurtz however, without question, my old Stainless Sig P232 was and remains my favorite. Try lugging 500 rds of .223/556, 30/30, 7.62X39, .45, .40, 9mm, .38..think about it carefully..when weight is a premium??? Why get a self defense weapon if it's essentially useless in limited visibility conditions? Since I now have 100% reliability I can't attribute it to shooting technique or any pistol defect. Thank you for that PPK History lesson! USA Nice gun but Ive had a couple of stoppages with it at the range. I'm a 71 year old Marine Corps careerist and Vietnam combat vet whose career mainly relied on the 1911 platform. glock but too big to carry,, traded for glock 42,, excellent patterns at 25 and 50 feet,,at range yesterday,, over 200 rounds,, use the precision on ammo plus p,, called them,, they said this best ammo out there ,, 12 inch penetration with 1/2 in hole,, you right,, if you don't hav it you can't use it.,,also bought finger extension on magazine and haugh grips,, excellent helpers and made patterns alot better. It is now my daily carry gun and probably will be from now on. I'd suggest hitting local gun shops and getting a deal on some of the more"creatively designed" (ahem) versions out there. LCP is the CHEAPEST and SMALLEST springs, etc on a 380 ever). And with such a tiny increment in size & weight, the Max capacity gives it the nod over the II. One thing that was not improved over the original LCP, however, is the sights. It is also fully automatic and is suprisingly loud. The Pico is soild stainless steel, with a stainless steel chassis, and a modular design where you can work on many parts yourself, and change grips. The slide will stop short of full closure and must be bumped from the back to complete the closure. I "HAD" 2 kel-tec 380's (both garbage). A little heavier than those in this article but re-aquisition is simple. Yeah, I like Clones, mainly those made in Turkey because they've been well made in NATO spec facilities. I have a slim 9mm Taurus has never failed in any way my main carry. It is easy to rack, accurate, reliable, and very manageable to smaller or older folks. The .380 cartridge is as nasty as any other small one! 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. I owned one of these years ago and it was a dream! My edc is the Kahr. I usually carry pistols in these calibers, .380, 9mm, and .45. In fact the sights that came on my Sig are some of my favorite that I have ever owned. "While the LCP was a popular pistol, the LCP II is a refined and much improved version." up to the present, it cannot be ignored. We'll cover what the round can do, things to consider in choosing a gun, ammo, and our top 5 picks of the best .380 pistols. IMO it's the best .380 concealed carry on the planet! Though it is probably one of the most expensive 380's on the market, I don't think that should matter when it comes to defending yourself and loved ones. Take the incidents this past week as examples.. Its a personal choice whether to carry a firearm of any type. Personally, I don't mind the heavy trigger pull. Its in my opinion size wise as in between my Glock 17 and my Taurus pocket rocket. Different primers some Full Metal Jacket some hollow points. It does not fail. The Beretta Pico is a nice gun, very very thin. It is also the best shooter out of the very small .380s. All that said, when I go to the range I have to force myself to shoot it. TNP Main. The Bersa Thunder is a good gun but it is a PPK, PPK/s clone for a reason. - It's cheaper and has much more capacity than the Bodyguard I have always enjoyed the way this pistol feels and shoots. Fits my wife's hands as well as mine. Particularly the compact model is a really nice-shooting pistol that is light enough and small enough for concealed carry. Carries 7+1, decocked and hammer down, great SA, eats any brand ammo. 7+1 rounds, all-metal, a decocker, and the look and feel of a Walther PPK, but with a better trigger, and it's priced right. anything extra and your Every thing is truly EZ, from loading to racking to field stripping & cleaning. Is a .380 Good Enough for Concealed Carry? - Option Gray 380 and 9mm will make the same size hole and anything larger than 380 without HP will surely over-penetrate. Fits my hand with my natural point so no need to try to find the non existent sights. Final thought? Really surprised the Browning 1911 .380 didn't make the Top 5. You can still find some of the more garishly (rainbow?) Semper Fi, My groups are much, much smaller now. I have the kimber mucro 380 that i replaced with the new micro 9 with the laser grip and the extended mag and in a pocket holster when i wear shorts and it shoots great vwry easy to hit your target and it has a great trigger i have iver 30 hand guns but thats my favorite Pocket Gun next to that is my Glock 19 when I have regular clothes and i am a member and have the insurance and you guys are great very informative. i would put it up against any you recommended plus i have twice the ammo for defense, While I have a number of guns, my carry gun is the Ruger LCP. It's gets shot more than occasionally and rides under the truck seat when not in use. Walther PPK 9. This is why its so important for people to choose the right gun/caliber combination. Granted, .380 pocket autos are not guns that you take to the range for fun. Were you perhaps thinking of the first gen LCP? For it's 2.5 inch barrel, I can easily hit center mass at 25 yards or less and with rapid fire shots. The original LCP had a long hard pull trigger like the S&W .380 bodyguard. My personal opinion, the Walther is vastly superior to the Smith Bodyguard. But if carry options are limited to just a pocket carry for you (i.e. However, Im having trouble finding a pistol for conceal carry. It seems to be ignored often when discussing .380 's. Thirteen rounds and easy to shoot. Sports 12, it comes with two 6-round mags and one 7-round mag with extension so you can get all your fingers on the grip (I can, anyway). All in all, I love it. I have had several .380 pistols, and currently have a Sig P238 that I really like. The Kimber, Metro Arms American Classic, CZ-75B, CANIK 55, CANIK TP9v2, --- all of my .380s. It's certainly uglier and much more expensive. USMC Retired At 10.2 ounces, the trim Taurus 738 is a very light pistol, and with an overall length of just 5.25 inches it's easy to conceal even under light clothing. We are often alone in situations where LE isn't dispatched to clear our scene because of the 911 nature of the call. I thought this would be a good combo for the lady, but she has had difficulty using it on the range. The F.I. Have owned (and traded) a Ruger LCP II, not fun to shoot and has tiny, almost useless, sights for my old eyes. The Pearce grip extensions help with control. And it's accurate or maybe I am ;-) With a tight grip, you can get v. tight groups at 15 - 20 feet. My brother, on the other hand, has sent his Kahr back to the factory for the 4th time! I like the DA/SA design, 8+1 capacity, lifetime warrantee, and $299/$309 price point. DA trigger safer, easier (no external safety), albeit heavier. "When I put two in your chest an one in your forehead, you'll never know the difference.". In line with your sock drawer comment, if there is even the remotest possibility that I will have a malfunction, I don't have any use for that pistol. The few failures I have had maybe are my fault. The ballistics testing of some of the newer Plus P ammo from Buffalo Bore and Underwood put the 380 round pretty close to regular 9mm ammo. Sig Sauer P365 380 Optics Ready 2.
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