worst 380 pistols
It also fits my hand perfectly and I can shoot it better. I could almost copy and paste Petes review of the LCPII as my experience. So if you like Critical Defense ammo (with the red polymer plug), get the LCP, it works GREAT and EVERY time. While I do find it accurate it is NOT fun to shoot. I agree the Bersa Thunder series is great ! Do you have a .380 or plan on getting one? I got the ruger lcp. trigger!!!!!! I prefer my 357 Mag but I'm seriously considering a 380 due to their size and less recoil. Another great gun is the CPX3 .380 pistol made by SCCY on the east coast of Florida. and let me say Where the hell do you expect to conceal your .40 S&W on a 96 degree August day in Florida.! Everyone in the department takes that risk. Very small, very conceable. Comes with a Hogue rubber grip as well. I looked carefully and tried both, as well as the S&W Bodyguard .380.. 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. for CC, I have a Lg. Thank you for your article. Have both the Sig 238 and 938. Bought my wife a Walther PK380 because with her arthritis , she can still rack the slide. I use old Supervel. 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. For me, the Glock works the best. It sports a long, heavy trigger pull with double-strike capability. Accurate and adequately handles the recoil of best defence ammo available. And not just quality -as my wife pointed out, it has style. Let us know which one you chose and how you like it! I have a Keltec .380. I also have a Micro 9 which is a bit larger than the Micro 380. I am with Jim, I think in the 3 to 4 years i have followed you all in the PEW PEW PEWVERSE, seen maybe 2 Kimbers in your top 5. With a puny caliber like the 380 Auto (9mm kurz), shot group placement is everything Everything! One "embarrassing" point is, my wife Does use a 9mm. Your last paragraph says it all Bullet placement is the key. It was made by browning and I traded it for a 222 rifle. I highly recommend it. Nonetheless, it still suffers from many of the issues that we just talked about in the previous section: the trigger pull is awful, they are difficult to shoot, it can be difficult to get a good grip on the pistol for some shooters, and the slide wont even lock back on the last round fired. over again. Check out our full review of its 9mm brotherthe CW9. Another vote for the Rem. (The Glock and Sig feel bulky and have lousy sights; the Ruger's "sights" are a joke; the Smith's aren't much better.) I found the triggers on the LCP and the Bodyguard 380 both unpleasantly stiff by comparison. Both are easy to carry and both shoot well. Worth a shot! You say the LCP2 has a long stiff trigger not true the first gen LCP did the LCP2 are one of the best triggers available on a 380 hadgun. I find it scary anyone encouraging someone to Cary a gun right or no right. Use Winchester FMJ for practice and Speer Gold Dot HP for carry. Semper Fi, Really surprised the Browning 1911 .380 didn't make the Top 5. You can see the .380 is one of the smallest rounds in popular pistol calibers. I have a plain gray/black one, but whatever melts your butter. For about $230-250 new, you could do worse. I have a S&W M&P9 and a S&W Shield so was leaning toward the Bodyguard, but its trigger is unbelievably heavy, so heavy I could barely get it pulled. G6 Research Radically Invasive Projectile (RIP) Ammo 380ACP. Great performance and a 15+1 magazine. (I suggest PPT check it out as well.). And I have the Sig Sauer p238 (IMO) the KING of the small 380's. It comes as a 5 +1 with a grip and thumb safety. The LCP-II and LCP Max are very lightweight and have decent triggers. It also smooths out the trigger and, more importantly, loosens up the slide so it's easy to rack. Thirteen rounds and easy to shoot. I used to carry a Colt .380 Government Model. The only way you're gonna hit your attacker is if you stick it in their gut and start pulling the trigger. 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. Oh, and the first time he put a full mag in the weapon three rounds came popping out for him just like it did for me!!! No sharp edges to bother me in my pocket. Looking for the FBI specs 12 inch to 18 inch in ballistic gelBut here's what I found after all the Self Defense 380 ammo testing. The barrel was also ported to dampen recoil and to prevent gases from blowing a hole in the shot pattern. In an ideal world, youll be right behind the gun. I prefer the LCP II because it doesn't have the long double-action pull. If buying today, I would buy Sig if money were no object and LCP2 if looking for a good price and good performance. Hell that was a buck and a quarter at least! For the size & weight you could carry a Ruger LC9S in 9mm that does everything better. Your comment is interesting. Highly recommend both, the Bersa Thunder and the ammo, Hornady Critical Defense. Re: Glock 42 and Sig P238 Fits my wife's hands as well as mine. To give you an idea, Im 55 and 108lbs. I picked up five loads for function testing from those showing good terminal ballistics at Lucky Gunner 1st round of Win White Box failed to chamber a couple times off the top of the 1st magazine; I hit the magazine release by accident on the 2nd magazine; no other function problems yet with a variety of useful loads FMJ-RN, JHP-RN, and JHP-truncated cone. Every cartridge has different things holding it back when compared to others. You need to know that your ammo of choice works in your gun of choice. The barrel length is just 2.75 inches and its capacity is also six in the magazine, one in the chamber. My edc is the Kahr. After he graduated high school, he joined the Marines where he qualified with an M16, an M9 pistol, and a 240G machine gun. What this means, is that if you squeeze the trigger and all that happens is a click, pulling it again will allow the cartridges primer to be struck a second time, hopefully firing it this time. The, much lauded, FBI study is not highly relevant to CCW, purely defensive, needs. 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. This gun is amazing and feeds/extracts EVERY ammo I give it. Remember, a .380 started a World War. I like the others the LC-380 has a long smooth trigger pull like the RM-380, both are good I just don't care for that long pull. As far as grip, pocketable size, melted corners and good sights, the LC380 is Goldilocks just right, for me. I decided for retirement to go back to a .380 for concealed carry, as it is easier to conceal in Florida's weather. Learn all the important stuff about handgunswith none of the attitude. Yes there is a difference but not enough to be an issue. I watched my son in law shoot his 40 cal Glock at the range it blew a piece of the slide right out with normal ammo I think Remington, after calling them he sent all the pieces to them and they had the gun repaired all free but kept it 6 mos. HP/JHP ammo is the definitive defensive ammo type, but if you're not allowed to carry it then you need to rely on a larger caliber to do the same job. I traded it 2 weeks after buying it and the guy gave me $100 in trade! Looking for what is possibly the easiest gun to rackever? This is a great gun with excellent sights for both day and night. .380 Pistols: The Best Pocket Rocket Money Can Buy I own a LCP and it's my EDC. Thanks for mentioning that the Underwood works in the LCP 2. I frequently found that the holster had bumped the safety off, This was not an extreme problem as the .380 Government Model had the series 80 firing pin block; but it was something that shouldn't have been happening. The Precision One XTP round did excellent. Takes about 150 rounds through the gun to train your mind for the trigger pull and, in general, to get familiar with it. I would suggest in this instance photos of the various Guns. And the right kind of holster too. I've owned a Bodyguard (without the laser) for years now and I've gotta say, I love that little guy. Nowthe LCP Max brings with it 10+1 rounds of .380 ACP. Best sights in class. 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. 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. Its looks great and feels great in my hands. It has a longer mag for those of us with larger hands, built in Crimson Trace laser grips, will shoot any ammo you put through it, the fact that it is a hammer fired pistol it eliminates the trigger pull issue that some of the others have, it also has a metal frame and slide, and it looks great(not that that's important, just an added bonus). Recently, I also purchased the Bersa Thunder plus 380 (15+1 capacity) and it too hasnt failed to feed, eject or fire with Ball or JHP ammo! With the stupid Defund the Police there are less Police and increased response times! IWB in a Multihoster or a Remora (works for pocket, too), it hides very well. I recently looked at the ammo testing done by Shooting the Bull. I have read conflicting reports about it. To the point of I wish these two models didnt even exist. Theyll buy ammo for target practice and ammo for self-defense. The 938 goes in a hip holster, condition one, with a 7 round spare mag. But it is still comparing the .38 Special, with one hand tied behind it's back, to a .380 ACP which is allowed all the advantages. When it comes to a 380/9mm Kurtz however, without question, my old Stainless Sig P232 was and remains my favorite. It was retired to range baby status because my aging eyes had trouble with the sights in Low Light Drills. Granted, .380 pocket autos are not guns that you take to the range for fun. YouTube has a fascinating video discussing the Best Handgun Calibers. Self defense means close shooting. The author must have been thinking the original LCP, as my II has a great trigger as well. You might check on a Ruger-oriented forum, on Ruger's own website, or call Ruger customer service. I have the Glock 42 and love it! 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. Amazing. Have the Ruger LCP. This is one very inexpensive pistol that works very well. In the worst-case scenario where your shots aren't on point, a .380 will have a harder time taking someone down vs. a 9mm. 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 also carry this 'cannon' into theaters, libraries, to the park, to the zoo, etc. Lastly, the size of the grip itself can also help you handle the recoil better. SAFEST NEWSLETTER - WE WILL NEVER SELL YOUR EMAIL She finds it a dream to rack and feel . I found a Desantis pocket carry for it to ride in. I have lived in Alaska for over 50 years, and would not take it on a bear hunt, but it will do fine on 2 legged rats!!! The grip shape is comfortable and recoil is no worse than any other .380 pocket pistol. Taurus 738: Price $355.66. Went back for service twice. No problems with cheap FMJ ammo, Hornady Critical Defense, or Remington Ultimate Defense. I own 2 of your top 5; the Sig P238 and the S&W 380 EZ, plus, my 85 year old father owns the Ruger LCP and my friend the Bersa Thunder and both love them !! On a bit of a related note. I, too, love the Sigs. There are basically two methods of thought when it comes to self-defense cartridges. A .380 bullet in the size of a Glock 19, lol. IMHO the trigger is much smoother and easier to use with a lighter pull than the original LCP or the S&W Bodyguard .380 I was comparing. Walther CCP 6. It was absolutely horrible! Most likely it wasn't discussed because the the Sig P365-380 is quite a bit larger than these yet offers no additional capacity. Taurus really dumped in their lunch bucket when they discontinued the TCP738 and replaced it with the Spectrum which is, Ive read, as you describe. It's a .380 Spectrum. The Bodyguard .380 is a small, polymer-framed handgun weighing in at 12.8 ounces with integrated Crimson Trace laser. Small, sleek, thin, no snag points on it, mostly all metal. IMHO the LCP II trigger is much, much smoother and easier to use, although I do wish the shape was more rounded where my finger contacts it.. The accuracy is very nice (I am going to paint my sights). My favorite carry firearm is my Kahr P380. Never jams, ran all kinds of ammo threw it. 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. Man you really missed one of the best out there. I had to go with the .380 for health reasons. Great all metal pistol, a bit Lg. I have no issues at all deactivating the safety. I didn't even know that there was a gen two! As for range ammo I have had no issues with Federal, Fiocchi or Winchester. Any bullet however beats a rock. I strongly disagree with your top 5 the Bersa Thunder 380 should have right there at the top. Hey, I understand! I finally found it a few years back, in the Kahr CM9. Consistently turns into a JAM after a few mags either FTE or FTF, usually FTE. I carried a Walther PPK/S as my CC Weapon for 25+ years. So, when it comes time that you have to rely on your 380, think long and hard about what's in your hand, and what ammo you are feeding it. It does not fail. 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. guns & Easy to shoot, very reliable and inexpensive (~$285). I cant win. 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. Ruger LCP Max 380 ACP Pistol 4. the 22 LR is routinely maligned. ,, always sat home,, too big this goes everywhere with me,, can fit in pocket. I don't know if anyone else has mentioned it, but it's almost a sin that you did not put the .380 Seecamp at the very top of this list. Wouldn't trust a striker gun in my pocket, even with a pocket holster. LCP II. My most consistent shooters have been . all of them. I carry an 9mm HK P30SK and my backup gun is a hand-me-down Walther PPK/S (.380). Thanks! 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!. Stephen. These flaws include, but are not limited to: .380 pocket pistols have a well-deserved reputation for having some of the worst trigger pulls of any semi-automatic pistols on the market. If it doesn't, it suggests it is your grip. I've owned a number of 380 carry guns, the Beretta 84FS and the 85FS My favorite was the Beretta 85FS. You forgot or ignored the Bersa Thunder 380. I saw it looked well made with a laser which I feel is only an extra. We have fired hundreds of rounds thru nothin the last several years with only a few issues. It simply is the best gun, dollar-for dollar I own. Well go over whats fact and whats fiction. So Bodygard is "BETTER". - It's cheaper and has much more capacity than the Sig P238, the Kahr CW or the Ruger LCPII It had a single-stack magazine and a large thumb cut-out in the base of the frame, to supposedly make magazine removal easier. Click below for a FREE LESSON! He posted another eval after his wrap-up because he discovered another ammo that out-performed the Precision One ammo. Great review. Solid stainless to reduce felt recoil and improve longevity, but only 19 oz. 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. The Bersa is a Great Value that gets the job done without fail! Youll often hear people say that they buy two different types of ammo, only practicing with one of them. This matters with hands that are not as strong, or that might be arthritic. Decent groups, although early on, I was working out my shooting kinks. They chew any Ammo you can think of, with ease and practically no malfunction! I also added a Magguts conversion to add one more round to the magazine, so now I have 7 + 1 available if I ever need it. No real complaints on this gun. It looks like something that belongs in a pawn shop case. Best 380 Pistols and Handguns for 2023 - Reviewster Because I have carpal tunnel and arthritis in my thumbs, I bought the S&W 380 EZ. I own a .380 and I'm confident it will neutralize an attacker upon the first of 1 or 2 shots. Sorry, with all due respect, I simply cannot agree with your equating the .380 ACP and the .38 Special. Because they are so small, they dont weigh a lot. 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. 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. Taurus and Bodyguard quite snappy but you can adapt. Thankyou. Yup, we're looking at an update this year! Either one will give a bad guy some reasons to reconsider his actions. I had a 380 EZ as a backup.. OUCH! Ive been a lawman for over 40 years and Ive carried many handguns both in uniform and plain clothes. The 911 has a light, crisp SAO trigger, great night sights, and the 7+1 extended magazine has enough grip to make it easy to shoot. Jams other 380 hollowpoint. The LCP II is my usual EDC because it's size and weight make it so comfortable and easy to carry in a kydex IWB holster from Concealment Express. 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. Here's the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nycYxb-zNwc&index=48&t=0s&list=WL Our favorite is always that P238 HD. Most instances of conflict occur within 5 feet. Every one of these pistols are incredibly easy to conceal in your pocket. Which surprises me due to how hard the slide is to pull back. 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. Bersa Thunder fan here. Never felt undergunned and to this day it remains the most accurate gun on my modest collection (<1" groups at 25'). So what are the best 380 ACP pistols and where can you buy yours? Then finally, it jammed all the time. Yes it does have a heavy trigger pull, Not quite 30 lbs., actually more in the neighborhood of 10 lbs., but probably not for most women or anyone without strength in their grip. Best Lightweight - Ruger LCP II .380 ACP. I have qualified with it twice and I have full confidence in shot placement. This is why its so important for people to choose the right gun/caliber combination. It is also one of the most accurate small pistols I've ever shot. All that said, when I go to the range I have to force myself to shoot it. Another point: I have been working on the Center Axis Relock shooting stance. It is also the best shooter out of the very small .380s. I had to pass! I own the newer PPK/S and the quality and craftmanship is second to none. Its never mentioned in articles about .380 pocket pistols. These are two very different guns. I moved her to my S&W M&P Shield 2.0 9mm and she can fire and control it much better. A review of .380s and no mention at all of Springfield's excellent 911? (As a 31-year Army combat vet I appreciate decent sights; yes, even on a pistol that is generally considered a "short range" solution.) The pull was so long that i would miss the reset when trying rapid fire. 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). It's hard to not be a Glock fan..it really is. I like mine too but my wife has a lcp2. I came to this article specifically to learn about the LCPIIs reliability after my experience with one at the range this afternoon. 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.). Hi Chuck-I was thinking the exact same thing in regards to the trigger. It is a little heavier but the recoil is super manageable. But I think the problem is not a disingenuous review, but the facts that an 84F is much, much more bulky gripwise, and heavy to lug around and conceal. While the shotshells were fine for small game, I cannot image them being the least suited for self-defense. We have a Ruger LCP II and we use Hornady Critical Defense 90 gr FTX ammo with it. I bought the glock 42 and have used a lot of different ammo(hollow point and fmj) and it has never failed very nice gun, My bodyguard was $225 shipped. Also picked up the larger 938 - and carry either one depending on how I am dressed I have extended mags for both but the LCP 2 is still a lot snappier then the sig making it harder to get back on target. Hydroshoks work great in this gun, it's all metal, but still stings a bit when you shoot it. Any list discussing pocket-carry guns that does not at least mention the best on the market, the Seecamp, is incomplete. Jimenez 380 - Worst Guns Ever The term Saturday Night Special was specifically derived for guns like the Jimenez 380 ACP. I would like to try the Walther PPK S next. I carry it inside waistband or front pocket. The big thing to consider using these 380's is the ammo. I have one and I like it. The Ruger LCP has a long, heavy trigger pull, but the LCP II does not. 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 original Ruger LCP has been perhaps the most well-known and popular .380 pocket pistol since it was first introduced in 2008.