worst 380 pistols

Other places have it, online, for near that price, maybe at that price if you look harder than I just did, but I've not seen one for less. 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. YMMV, of course. Small, tucks out of the wayand Sig makes great firearms. In not new to guns, shot IPSC for a while. - It's shorter, lighter, cheaper and has much more capacity than the Bersa Thunder Wowno North American Arms Guardian .380? Another point: I have been working on the Center Axis Relock shooting stance. Police are NOT everywhere and most times arrive after an incident is already over. - its capacity of 10+1 in the tube puts every gun in this article to shame The 938 is very close in size and does have a more punch. It does what it's supposed to do, with a really good factory trigger, pretty decent little sights, it's withstood the test of time, and it's a pretty sexy little gun (mine is the matte black with brushed nickel highlights).#1 380, hands down Bersa Thunder 380's, oh ya, and at a very affordable price. The drawback is the size, not bad , but nowhere near as easy to carry as the others I own. I owned one of these years ago and it was a dream! I've got thousands of rounds through it. Sure. COMPATIBLE WITH MOST 380 AUTO PISTOLS - Compatible with Glock 42, Ruger LCP, S&W Bodyguard, Sig Sauer P238, Taurus 738, and Many More. 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. The pinky extension on the magazine, though, is critical for control. Finally, while the Bodyguards do come with a safety, they are hard to disengage. The Spectrum, LCP Custom some. All thats important is that youve got quality ammo that has been tested in your firearm. Patrick O. But, all it took was a disassembly and careful stoning job. Yup, we're looking at an update this year! (PS-I had a local 'smith do some smoothing of the edges and it's amazingly easy to get in and out!) Erraicates unwanted subjects from your residence without using a 45, So given all this my LCP is in the category called "GOOD". There is nothing magical about the the .410 slug, either. It just seems like they got this one right-check it out! I highly recommend it. Bought one. I personally enjoy my Bersa Thunder 380. 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. Carries 7+1, decocked and hammer down, great SA, eats any brand ammo. S&W Bodyguard "BETTER". 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. Haven't tried the new Ruger. They chew any Ammo you can think of, with ease and practically no malfunction! The Ruger LCP has a long, heavy trigger pull, but the LCP II does not. Model D, based on a Star design that goes back to the 1920's. Then there are the teeny tiny sights. While size does have a direct correlation to the amount of felt recoil, its not all that should be considered. You have to get it from Palmetto State Armory. I own a .380 and I'm confident it will neutralize an attacker upon the first of 1 or 2 shots. The .small 380s are plagued with failures with many off the shelf ammo choices. The trigger pull on most .380 autos is. Most accurate?? I even carry it sometime in my pocket as back up to my Glock 17 which I should say it way sweeet (the 17). We'll send you the latest guides and training tips geared 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). The data from the Luck Gunner ammo tests helped me arrive at the same conclusionCritical Defense for the 380. I like my RM380. And help you choose the best .380 ACP pistol for self-defense and concealed carry. It has never been a problem. I go to the range often and am a big fan of the Walther PPQ and Creed models. Why? Because, over the years, Ive watched a very great number of pistol shooters OUTGUN THEMSELVES by trying to shoot a 40 caliber pistol consistently and well. The trigger pull is hard, very similar to a revolver, but on a pocket gun that is a good thing that won't affect me if I have to use it plus I practice with it all the time. I can say that they are similar, and this is the only gun on this list that is of all-metal construction. 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. It has never misfired..not once! I'm not saying that there is any problem with a 380, but people shouldn't be swayed to a smaller firearm if a larger one suits their needs. Sig Sauer P238 Nitron 12. I did get a .380 3 or so years ago. Its good enough to get the job done with several shots, but obviously not the best choice out there. Get new friends. Every cartridge has different things holding it back when compared to others. I laugh at all those that say a .380 is enough gun to get you killed.Really, Having No gun will get you killed ! Once broken in, all four of these guns have been happy with a variety of ammo. I think you may have been thinking of the original LCP.. Teaching CCW to point and shoot in this situation rather than retreat is like advising suicide. But you get the idea. He then raised his voice and advised her that you don't shoot 9mm in a 40 S&W and sent her off the line to go change out her ammo. I think I've seen it test at 5-5.5 lbs. Again, many thanks!!! I love this gun for my pocket pistol. I am a 76yr. It looks like something that belongs in a pawn shop case. The downside is it's only five rounds and bites a lot harder, especially in +P. I have an 84fs. 8 lb.) you can see it on Ammoquest .380 youtube if you want to see how it performs..awesome round for the 380. Typically carry colt ofcr .45, but sometimes just can't. Both cartridges are most similar when the .38 Special ballistics are compared when coming from a snubnosed revolver with a 2" (or slightly shorter) barrel. But, I always preferred the M14 to the M16 and walnut stocks on my bolt action rifles. I plan to clean it again soon. I just purchased a S&W Bodyguard ($50 manufacturer's rebate through June). I dress then chose a pistol from my collection that fits concealed with the most stopping power. Its never mentioned in articles about .380 pocket pistols. I took a chance and bought a Remington RM380 and I'm not disappointed. The Bodyguard seems to work best with Fiocchi fmj, Hydrasocks, and WWB. I appreciate your thorough discussion, BUT the Ruger you are comparing is the LCP while the #1 gun in the article is the LCP II. They gave me an Smith and Wesson 380 EZ instead, functioned flawlessly and I shot it well. I bought a ruger LCP I love it the long trigger pull makes it a excellent pocket pistol. Its design has not been changed and it is manufactured the same as almost a century ago, because it is exceptionally good and very well made. Even then, with properly chosen ammunition, the .38 has an edge in terms of kinetic energy and penetration. We are often alone in situations where LE isn't dispatched to clear our scene because of the 911 nature of the call. [Moving from "safe" to "fire" with a shooting grip is no problem, so I consider this more gripe than fail.]. Mine is the Tribal edition. Three years later and about 1100 rounds, I have mixed feelings. On a side note, thanks for a great article and website. And far closer in performance to the 22/25's than 38+P. After performing an in-depth review on one, I found that certain types of ammo didnt cycle properly, to include steel cased, some hollow points, and really high-end self-defense ammo (Lehigh Defense). I have put over 1000 rds through it without one failure. empty., double action, made in USA, HIGHLY rated by every police and LE blog or review I've read (very popular for ankle, backup, etc for our cops).. And I have had Issues with the kahr after about 10 rounds , Not with the Sig so you know what is in my belt always . Winchester #209 Shotshell Primers Thanks very informative article . Not fun! Can a .380 pistol save your life? In order for you to be effective at self-defense, you need to choose a gun that enables you to rapid-fire your shots, and actually hit your intended target. Made in America!! Also no safety to snag and good double action pull such that it could never accidentally discharge. I evaluated all of these and bought the Springfield 911. Like you said the safety is difficult to disengage but with the double action trigger and long trigger pull I feel comfortable carrying with the safety off. It also smooths out the trigger and, more importantly, loosens up the slide so it's easy to rack. The barrel length is just 2.75 inches and its capacity is also six in the magazine, one in the chamber. I prefer the long trigger pull on the original. )its features and..how it looked. We have a few of the guns in this article, and I have shot them all quite a bit. You must be joking. The only aspect that has been overcome, is in the weight, and this is a debatable aspect, as you very well point out, as commented on the benefits of the Sig Sauer 238, for being all metal. Another even more serious mistake is that you, mentioning the benefits of the good Bersa pistol, about the Walther PPK, you textually say: "It improves it a bit with some modern features, such as an open sliding cover and a decocker / security." I prefer the 7 round extended magazine, plus 1 in the chamber. I am missing 3 tendons in each shoulder and need a shoulder replacement in my left. Time is not on your side in a crisis. The gun now sits high on the shelf in my basement bicycle/workshop. I recently bought my wife a 380 Thunder and its the only gun Ive found the equals my 383DA. I have cleaned it once. Does .380 make sense, if one legally cannot carry HP/JHP ammo? I have owned several in different calibers and have carried them on-duty and have the utmost confidence in them. Use of the external safety becomes automatic with practice. Small, sleek, thin, no snag points on it, mostly all metal. But it is accurate and true and the cost is $350. In the order acquired, they are a PPK/S, S&W Bodyguard with CT laser, Ruger LCP-II, and Ruger LCP Max. The picture captioned "Handgun Caliber Smallest to Largest", that you used twice, isn't even close. It's reliable, accurate enough and easily concealable no matter what you are wearing which is why I own one. I live in Colombia, the only ountry in the world where self defense is prohibited I've seen police videos when 4 shots from a .45 acp failed to stop an attacker. My biggest fear with the LCP as an everyday carry is that most micro 380s have the reputation of being a bit finicky. Given its diminished recoil, the .380 ACP is easier to handle shot to shot. No idea what he is talking about when he mentions the safety being hard to engage, but I guess you gotta make one pistol the scapegoat lmao. 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. It's what I carry now. 380 and 9mm will make the same size hole and anything larger than 380 without HP will surely over-penetrate. I have always enjoyed the way this pistol feels and shoots. Ruger still sells them brand new. Bersa Thunder 11. A good example is this SW22 Victory that fires the tiny .22LR round. over again. Why no Kimbers EVER?! To help you guys, we've built out this list of some of the best 380 carry pistols with the help of our readers and our staff writers. Do you have a .380 or plan on getting one? I may earn a small part of the sale from links to any products or services on this site. You forgot to mention the Bersa Thunder 380. Get proficient on YOUR time. In turn, out of guns of equal weight the .380 produces nearly half the recoil energy. My edc is the Kahr. The final answer: Sig P238 with Precision One Hollow Point or Underwood Load Lehigh Defense Extreme Penetrator or Extreme Defender. Small, light, and I only paid $232.99 for it? Excellent review. .380 pocket pistols have a well-deserved reputation for having some of the worst trigger pulls of any semi-automatic pistols on the market. For me, the Glock works the best. Of course, being retired I wear loose fitting cargo pocket pants/shorts. I figured why not have 9mm since it's only slightly bigger yet still as easy to conceal comfortably. If youre looking for an easy to take apart gun, opt for one of the others on this list. The Bodyguard .380 is a small, polymer-framed handgun weighing in at 12.8 ounces with integrated Crimson Trace laser. I practice with it often and agree that it is picky on ammo and that the cheap FMJ ammo cycles the best. In the rotation is the LCP 2 and the G42. The Gen 2 is about 8lbs of pull, Smooth all the way through and deliberate. Colt Mustang XSP Lite Polymer 8. A laser definitely helps with the short barrel. I prefer my 357 Mag but I'm seriously considering a 380 due to their size and less recoil. Para defensa bala semiwatcutter con penetrador. Even though discontinued, the Taurus TCP 738 is the best of the best. This makes me nervous so Ive always sought help to clear the chambered bullet but now I know what to do! 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. The stopping power, recoil management, and availability make it a more popular pistol caliber than the .380 ACP, and rightfully so. I bought a Springfield Armory 911 380 as an alternative to my 9mm EDC when I need a smaller form factor. you a link to reset your password. Google it. Any list discussing pocket-carry guns that does not at least mention the best on the market, the Seecamp, is incomplete. As the article notes: Practice, Practice, Practice! I have the LCP2 and the P238. While it's not pocket size, some features I like are the safeties it has, (so when not in use it can be locked without having to put a trigger lock on it and cannot fire without the mag), it has a fixed barrel, it is a 15+1, and while the initial trigger pull is long all others are short and the recoil is nice for control. All in all Sig for me is the better choice. Its a small pocket gun with similar specifications to most every gun you did list. Hand-Picked Daily GUN DEALS, and Exclusive Coupons Codes >>>, Guide to Holsters for Any Method You Carry. People have a right to not be a VICTIM and carry a gun for protection and to neutralize a criminal gun. LCP is the CHEAPEST and SMALLEST springs, etc on a 380 ever). I purchased a Ruger LCP last month, ftf/fte, 35 out of 50 rds, 95 gr. Box of 1000: 10 Sleeves of 100 Sig offers a larger 7 shot mag that has a pinky grip support on it. Amazing look and design for a small gun. A blowback action is going to kick the most of all, followed by a partially locked (or, as they say nowadays, a modified Browning lock-up) breech; and, the lightest recoiling pistol is invariably one that employs a locked breech. I have a Glock 42, which I love, and a Bersa Thunder which is always in my truck. In 1995 S&W introduced their small concealed-carry style Sigma variant. Hey Jeff, it seems great in concept but haven't had any hands-on experience with it. Seems like The Duke is forgetting that old and factual adage- when seconds count, LE is minutes away. Other things being equal, a 9mm or .380 is easier to shoot than a .40 or .45. The Fiocchi Extrema Not yet, and hopefully never will, but it WILL be the one that rides with me. I also still believe it is the better looking of the two (my girlfriend disgrees but). The first LCP was ok and the LCP II became more refined. I had to push really hard and when I finally got it into the mag well FOUR rounds came out of the slide opening! It's there as last resort if I happen to be down there and unarmed when an intruder comes in. Check Price. The color variety? You might see if the pistol sends cases into the forehead when someone else shoots the gun. And I have the Sig Sauer p238 (IMO) the KING of the small 380's. Have the Ruger LCP. Initially it only liked ball rounds, but after the break-in period (Kahrs have super-tight tolerances), it runs perfectly. I keep tactical rounds in it for extra stopping power. But I learned gunning on a Detonics Mk Zero (2.5" barrel, chopped M1911 4.5" x 6.5"), so have never considered running a [well-designed] small gun to be particularly difficult. Top 5 380 ACP Pistols No. 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. 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. IF you think of BUG, think of a true BUG out situation? "When I put two in your chest an one in your forehead, you'll never know the difference.". For the size & weight you could carry a Ruger LC9S in 9mm that does everything better. Rented an LCP II this weekend. Slide it on your waist band or pocket and you almost forget it's there, so I carry it all the time. The harder hitting calibers you mention often tend to over penetrate the human body endangering anyone nearby. And when you want the BEST .380 possible, carry a Walther PPK/S. 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. White paint applied to the back of the sights with a tooth pick really help. I trust both. One is a KelTec P3AT, very small pocket gun, and I have a CZ83 in .380acp which is the finest .380 I have ever fired. Big mistake! I have some arthritis in my hands and find that the LCP II kind of beats them up. I can say that cheaply made ball ammo seemed to cycle fine in this six in the magazine, one in the chamber pocket pistol and so do a lot of others. The theoretical gain it offers is not worth the proven disadvantages it displays. It MIGHT be OK in a totally CLEANED gun first 6 or 7 shots but that's about it reliability goes out the window after the first mag. Find the LPC a bit small for my hand. Absolutely love this lil gun. Technically, it's against policy for us to carry on the boo boo bus and if I ever have to use it, I will lose my job. Also, you can not use Plus P ammo with the S&W as the polymer frame and light spring will not tolerate the added pressure. I agree with most of what you say in this article, but find that you failed to mention one very real consideration. At the very least you should be able to place all of your rounds at center mass. No sharp edges to bother me in my pocket. It was a Bersa Thunder 380 CC. The Best .380 Pistols For Concealed Carry Glock 42 Ruger LCP II .380 1 Glock 42 While we see that the Glock 42 becomes the largest pistol on our list for concealed carry, we cannot help ourselves not to include it. I don't even own one (yetnext on the list). A P238 with rosewood grips may be prettier, but this one is a no-nonsense carry piece and looks it. I can handle both of these guns, which helps me to be able to keep my family safe. Well, with all due respect, I must point out to you that this is a serious error, indicating at least an ignorance of the history of firearms. Remington 380. After he graduated high school, he joined the Marines where he qualified with an M16, an M9 pistol, and a 240G machine gun. Learn all the important stuff about handgunswith none of the attitude. Quick Summary: Our Top Picks For 5 Best .380 Pistols in 2022 1. When you see a list of the Best .380s and the Beretta Cheetah is not on it there is something disingenuous going on. The Taurus TCP 738 is a highly underrated pistol. It always feeds, fires and ejects regardless of what ammo I feed through it. Got rid of it and got a Sig P238 and a Glock 42. 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.). Easy to shoot, very reliable and inexpensive (~$285). With the proper ammo this weapon can't be beat for carry and at 10 yards put your shoot where you aim it. Feeling safe while carrying a sidearm is NOT the same thing as actually being safe. light, affordable, easy to master.see where I am going in a real BUG situation.one where you aren't looking to tangle but, with that much ammo you could pin down a group 2X larger or more if necessary out to a maaaaybe 125 yards effectively??? If this gun discharges it's because your purposefully, and with several pounds of force, pulled the trigger!!! 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. Utterly smooth in every way. anything extra and your Add Pearce grip extenders and a Pachmayer grip for a perfect .380 great trigger (practice makes perfect) gooot sights and shoots like a dream for me. Jimenez 380 - Worst Guns Ever The term Saturday Night Special was specifically derived for guns like the Jimenez 380 ACP. Both the front and rear sights are black which can make it difficult to see them if you are aiming against a dark background. When firing repeatedly at the range, the recoil, which I find manageable overall, causes the edge to push into my finger, After a couple of dozen rounds that gets uncomfortable. Winchester 209 Primers Shotshell The non-corrosive and all-weather primers provide quick reliable ignition in any shooting conditions. Well, now there are weapons that weigh the friendship, but this is a debatable topic because the weight as you have pointed out when referring to the benefits of the SIg 238, is a variable that plays in favor of reducing the elevation of the weapon in the firing and favors follow-up firing, which is a great help in a marginal caliber weapon. This time he is either getting his $ back, or a replacement. I want to know wTF are you doing that you need to carry a gun? I could almost copy and paste Petes review of the LCPII as my experience. Get Great Guns and Ammo Deals! I am quite accurate out to 10 yards and have gotten used to the recoil. Center mass has never been a problem from the get go. We have a Ruger LCP II and we use Hornady Critical Defense 90 gr FTX ammo with it. It's a .380 Spectrum. As I remind you, that the PP Series Pistols, all have the sliding cover open, then fire the last ammunition, as it was and is the custom in all modern military weapons. Also, I think if it were not for the loooong and resistant trigger of the Bodygaurd, that pistol might have done better. I know snobs won't like it, be I do. At the time I didn't really think to try different ammo. Its easy to see why: .380 pistols are typically small enough to carry in the pocket, they are unquestionably smaller and lighter than competing 9mm single stack autos or .38 snubnose revolvers. The original Ruger LCP has been perhaps the most well-known and popular .380 pocket pistol since it was first introduced in 2008. Fits my wife's hands as well as mine. Framed with polymer and 2.75-inch75 inch barrel, Ruger's LCP 380 pistol is a lightweight fighter coming in at only 9.6 ounces. Mine was complete garbage and would come out of battery requiring disassembly! When I wanted to downsize somewhat for summer carry I went with the P380. Trigger pull was stiff at first but now is just a deliberate pull. S and W bodyguard is great if you can get used to the long , heavy trigger pull. I've had the Kahr CW380's big brother the CT380 for about a year. Weve got a dedicated section for the AR-15 here. 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!. l. I forgot to mention, AMMO for home defense I strongly suggest Jams Precision One. I am a Pocket gun enthusiast that has been shooting these guns almost weekly for 10yrs. Weather day or night my Sig's sights glow nice and bright. Depending upon who you ask, it beats the .38 in terms of velocity but doesnt hit quite as hard as the revolver cartridge does (because a .380 bullet weighs 95 grains and a .38 Special bullet weighs up to 158 grains). Just putting it out there for those looking. The Sig was great w/ the Glock being my runner up. 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 is good because that is where I see a lot of them ending up. I cant win. Shot the S&W .380 EZ and you'll dump your Ruger LCP or S&W Bodyguard! Brand : Winchester It's gets shot more than occasionally and rides under the truck seat when not in use. Now mind you I am only comparing 380s. And it's accurate or maybe I am ;-) Meaning they do not hold up to a lot of ammo down range. - It's cheaper and has much more capacity than the Sig P238, the Kahr CW or the Ruger LCPII decorated guns for a "get it out of my shop" discount. Shoots great with a CrimsonTrace laser. The Kahr CT380 runs perfectly. Others find this to be true as well. When discussing felt recoil, its not just the size of the cartridge. It is a solid piece of metal and helps dampen the recoil. I sold my Ruger LCP (original model) and bought the Glock 42. We live in a free society and people should have the right to make choices even if you dont agree with them.

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