I suppose the .380 has its purpose. Got a NAA Guardian in .380 for my wife, will probably sell it and get her a 642. It seems everyone is trying to hit the market with new pistols chambered in .380. Whats with this resurrgence in popularity of the .380?

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otis

I think the low cost, small, thin and easy to carry Keltec started it and then the Ruger LCP added fuel to the fire. I was at a gun show today and saw a guy buying the little Ruger at one of the front tables for $449. I wanted to tell him there was another table farther back that had a bunch of them for $349 but he was already filling out the paper work.

Within the past five or ten years there was a surge in many states to issue CCW or CHL permits. Many new licensees ran out and bought a 1911 or other full sized or duty pistol. After carrying it for a while many people realize a stainless 5" 1911 is a little more hassle than they expected and the pendulum swings the other way and suddenly everyone wants a mouse gun; S&W snub or small .380 semi. Just my own theory based on what I've seen.

It's one of those things that seems like a good idea at the time. The hot thing used to be small .32 autos. First the Seecamp, then the Beretta Tomcat, the Autauga (now almost forgotten), KelTec P32, NAA offerings, and probably some that I forgot. Then engineers came up designs to make their product stand apart by making a similar size gun in .380. Thus the next generation of small autos.

In the "it's seem like a good idea" category, it goes alongside the very light alloy frame .357 magnum revolvers in terms of utility. Some people learn to use their mouse guns well, others find them a bit snappy, that reliability might be an issue (Keltecs seem to be iffy), and that the short sight radius and limited sights make hitting anything a challenge.

In hot weather, which SE Texas seems to have 13 months of the year, carrying a medium or large sidearm is difficult at best. Something small, light and flat with minimal maintenance fits the bill better and as such, Kel-Tecs and Rugers.

My Ruger LCP's sights are all but non-existant...most pocket guns have this quality, but to me, I ain't going to get in a long range shootout with it. I figure that if SHTF, cardtable range or closer will be factor.

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The Last Standing Knight

Kahr has a new .380, so does magnum research. The caliber is still viable in some peoples minds. Myself included. I don't like the "partial cocked" striker in most of the pocket pistols. I've got a Beretta ss 21a in .22, and a Seecamp .32. At 62 my hands shake petty bad. I have to concentrate to hit anything 15 feet away. So close in is fine with me. I've got a Browning BDA that I carry as a sidearm occasionally.

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SOS USA

I've noticed in my department lately that I'm qualifying alot of the younger officers with the LCP's for off-duty carry. They appear to be all the rage. They are required to complete our regular qualification course, which includes ranges of 5, 10, 15 and 25 yards. They have all managed so far. I shot one of the LCP's belonging to one of the kids. Functioned great and I was able to hit center mass at 25 yards. With CorBon Pow'rBall or Hornady Critical Defense loads, these might make a viable secondary (I'd be hard-pressed to carry less than a 9mm as a primary, and that is usually a .45).

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Dave Frost

The development of better ammo has brought the .380 up to a viable defense cartridge. The big advantage is it is small, and you will actually carry it. A 17 round 9mm is great, but will you actually always carry it in all kinds of weather and clothing requirements? The new Hornady Critical Defense load is very effective.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Up close, the .380 should get the job done. A sawed-off 9mm, the .380 is certainly a better alternative than a .32 or .25 or .22 I bought a used Kel-Tec and I like the ease of carry when the weather is hot. Try lugging a Model 639 at the beach. I can't wait to see S&Ws version of the Kel-Tec/Ruger LCP/Kahr/etc.

Honeybun really likes her Sig 232. Carries it everywhere.

If anyone is considering a .380 don't overlook the Bersa line. They make several models to fit your individual preferences. The only down side to my CC model is the lack of available ammo. Bang for the buck this a lot of gun. The CC model went out the door for just under $300 about a year ago. It shoots well and is perfect for concealed carry.

Anyone here who DOES NOT mind being shot with a .380, please raise your middle finger.

One of the guns that I an authorized to carry is my Browning BDA380. I consider it to be a purely self defense gun. Anyone who desires to make me his next victim will have second thoughts looking at the business end of a .380 barrel. I also believe that several shots at close range into someone's chest will take care of any problem in a violent confrontation.

I want to add pne more thing. I was fixing the brakes on my motorcycle yesterday. I went into the basement to find an aerosol can of brake cleaner. Stashed away with the car and motorcycle stuff were four boxes of .380 Auto cartridges that I had forgotten about.

I'll second the recommendation on the Bersa hanguns. We've got a few of them we use for our CCW classes and they've been good little guns. I actually prefer shooting them to the PPK/S.

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NRA Pistol,PPITH,PPOTH&TASER

My BUG is a Walther PPK/S and I carry it a good bit when off duty. I've been impressed with the performance of Federal Hydra-shok JHP's and the PPK is very accurate and mine has proved to be very reliable. I think I prefer it's 7 + 1 capacity over the 5 rounds of .38 in a J-Frame.

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- Change it back -

PPK/S - hard to beat it. Very accurate and totally dependable. Double action on the first shot, and single action for the others. Feeds very well - jams are very rare with the right ammo. I use S&W 380 JHP - works all the time. Just wish it had adjustable rear sight.

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Martin Co,FLA(finally made it)

I've always been a 380 ACP fan. I had a Sphinx 380 from 1994-2000. Currently have a Taurus PT58HC. Plan to get a Ruger LCP or Kahr.

The Star “StarFire” locked breech, alloy frame .380 is actually the grandfather to many of the current 1911 style locked breech .380s. GCA 68 knocked it out off of the importation list, just as Colt was readying to release it to the US market as the Colt Pony. There are something like 20 of the Colt marked guns out there which were sold to Colt employees when the deal with Star fell apart. FI of Washington DC bought parts for it from Colt and Star and produced the FI Model D, the same gun but with a steel frame. Iver Johnson later acquired FIs machinery and gun parts and produced several versions of the pistol, initially using the Pony name. Its early guns serial numbers started with CPA, which many speculate as standing for Colt Pony Auto. All of them are well made, strong little guns. I knew a farmer who carried one of the Stars daily, for years. With it he harvested fox squirrel, gray squirrel, nutria, possum, raccoon, red fox, beaver, at least one coyote and “a few” blacktail deer. He commented that all shots were within 25 yards, two handed and using a rest where possible. He added that he’d used it on game because it was what he had with him, and it wasn’t in the way while be was farming.
All the best - Dave

I also drank the Koolaid, bought a 380.
Don’t recall if I ever even shot one before!
Bought a Ruger LCP Max.
I’m thinking pocket pistola.
I have shot it about 150 rounds with Zero Problems.
So far It more reliable than many of the Guns and People that I have encountered.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I first posted this ELEVEN years ago. I’ve gone from an NAA Guardian to a BG380, to an LCP Max. The .380 is still going strong and capacity has increased greatly. Three elections, several riots, and a pandemic later: .380 ammo is still nearly impossible to find. Albeit for different reasons!!!!

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otis

We have an S&W 380EZ. Mrs. robrossk loves it. Had a Bersa for awhile but had nothing but problems. Had a S&W Bodyguard 380 for awhile. Too small and trigger was horrible.

My daily companion for 7 1/2 years.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

My "BUG" is a Glock Model 42. 100% reliable. Only use FMJ ammo.

I think the biggest reason for the popularity of the .380 is the design of the cartridge. The .380 cartridge doesn't not require a locked breech handgun like the 9x19mm cartridge. A simpler blowback designed handgun will work for the .380 cartridge. This makes the cost to manufacture a .380 handgun cheaper than an 9x19mm handgun. Many people are drive my cost so the .380 cartridge and many are concerned about the recoil, so the smaller recoil of the .380 cartridge is desirable. These features are making the .380 popular.

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Bill

So you want a Blow Back unlocked Breech 9mm?
I got Good News and I got Bad News!
They are here- like the Detonics Pocket 9.
Stainless, well made, nicely finished.
What’s not to like?
How bout a short ugly spring set that would have Arnold mumbling Nasty German words!

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Ball ammo is all I have used in my .380's for now on 21 years. No feed issues and they will punch a hole.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Honestly, when S&W came out with the M&P 380EZ is when I saw the popularity of .380 ACP skyrocket. It's not like .380 is new - it has been around forever - but I believe the 380EZ is the gun that made it popular again. With the sheer number of 380EZs that S&W sold it's not surprising that .380 ACP went through the roof.

It's smaller and easier to shoot than even 9mm and more reliable and harder-hitting than .22LR, which all seem to be important to new shooters and those who might have issues with something larger. In the right pistol it is easy to shoot and easy to shoot well which both builds confidence and can make shooting fun even for the novice or less-able shooter.

Just my two cents!

Next time I'm in Cincinnati, I'll give ya a a few rounds of Ranger T's, Hornady Critical Defense, Remington Golden Saber, or Federal Personal Defense ammo for your LCP.

I keep mine loaded with Ranger T.

Thanks but I'm afraid if I started them on such a rich diet they would get gun gout.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

I have a LLama "Especial" which is a direct copy of a 1911, but in .380. Steel frame, locked breech and tilting barrel unlock. The sights suck, and I'm not overly fond of the vented rib down the length of the slide, but it is minute of bad guy accurate, and feeds everything (even an empty case!) so it has been my EDC for 17 years now. I don't plan for a gunfight (I'd carry a US-M1918A2 if i did), so .380 is OK for my needs. I have bigger guns and even another .380 (Colt 1908) but it is more picky in its diet, so the LLama wins.

I bought the first Ruger LCP I ever saw for sale. Carry it daily. Has never failed to fire, never jammed. Use Hornady Critical Defense. I have many other 380's but will never part with this one.

Bought a Glock 42 a couple of years ago, and my wife can kinda shoot it - with less discomfort than a full sized 9mm Glock. Ergonomically, the bigger pistols are much better, but she is small and has a bad back, so there are compromises. I bought some crazy amount of ammo for it - mostly ball, a bunch of Black Hils Honey Badger, and some Fiocchi 95 grain JHP (which comes pretty close to passing the FBI testing protocols). Replaced the sights with XS Big Dots, because precision is not as important as seeing the sights because of my eyes.

It was SLOW to break in. I think I wrote about it here at the time. It took a couple hundred rounds of the ball ammo to start working right; a bunch more of the JHP to feed them reliably. The Honey Badger has a very light recoil impulse and my recollection is that I was several hundred (600+) of the heavier ammo before the HB would work.

Generally it is a house gun, accessible to my wife. For the last couple weeks it has been my daily carry. Due to my recent abdominal surgery, regular trousers are pretty much a non-issue and I am wearing track pants or sweats. The g42 in a Mika pocket holster is as functional as it gets with those. Not optimal; better than nothing.

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NHI, 10-8.

My first small caliber semi auto was a Nazi marked PPK in .32 like James Bond. I was told by all of my friends that .32 ain't much good in a dispute, although I told them it will penetrate 6" of pine boards...."Doesn't have any knockdown!" was the answer. In discussion with L.E. types that witnessed what a .380 will do I was willing to try one out and went through a few loosers like the jamomatic Colt Mustang. I settled on another Walther PPK in .380, a stainless model it was heavy but that thing was accurate. Hit a rabbit in the head accurate at 25yds, good bug-out pistol. The new ammunition is probably why smaller caliber pistols are in favor, price of ammo, etc. I now carry a little .25 auto made on a Schmeisser patent, again the new ammunition makes even .25 viable in a situation where you have to ventilate someone.

I love them. Especially the larger ones with double stack magazines (like the Berettas or their copies). Great for introducing new shooters to centerfire. Inexpensive to reload if you find lead RN work in your gun. Very accurate. The locked breech ones have very light recoil.

I like them all. The little tiny ones aren't exactly fun to shoot but sure are easy to carry and shoot pretty well.

Weighing back in...when I bought my LCP almost 8 years ago I showed it to Ruthie and she said: "awww, how cute...I want to shoot it".

After the range trip I was ordered to buy her one. This is what hers looks like.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

The only thing bigger than my love of 380s is the group size with the LCP.
Mas Grande Supersized.
Vertical Stringing Perfecto.

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Have Fun/Stay Safe

A while back I bought a Taurus Spectrum at the range it has not caused me any problems. While just last Friday my Sig P320 had the extractor fall out.

Great minds think alike. Best part of using a .380 with ball is you can always pull the trigger again if need be

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Forum consigliere

If there is a more perfect pocket pistol that you will actually carry than a Ruger LCP, I have yet to find it.

If you shoot it often, it’s accuracy will surprise you.

I agree. I have been an LCP fans since KelTec made the original

Just kidding but I did start with a Keltec, upgraded to the Ruger LCP a few years later, and just last week another upgrade to the LCP Max. Whats not to love.

M&P bodyguard 380
If it didn't exist, I'd have the Ruger LCP max
When the M&P bodyguard 380 max comes out, I shall have one

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Forum consigliere

A safety confuses my simple mind. I’m all about point and click.

Some several years ago I came into a SIG in 380. My local shop had a Walter and I went home to think about it. Came back a couple days later and of course it was gone but the SIG had come in a few minutes before I walked in the door. I took it and figured it would make a good canoe gun. Well it did First trip out while docking, I got dumped in the lake. Me, gun and all-- being stainless, I shook it off until I got home. A quick cleaning and she was good as new. About then I realized I had, one box of ammo, no brass or bullets. Took care of that post haste and have mpre than I will ever need. I reload for it with no problem and was able to pick up a few extra magazines as well. Of recent I sold a bunch of stuff, but hung on to the SIG. She carries well, nice and flat, and I dont think you would like it used on you . I dare say, those who poo poo the .380 have never been shot with anything, .22 or otherwise. In addition, I saw the same gun listed for sale and they were asking 3 times what I paid for mine. When I go out, it will go to my oldest son.

My first small carry gun was a Beretta 70s .380..... cocked and locked was not my thing (and still isn't) so I got a .380 Walther PPK/s which morphed into a PPK..... so the .380 served me well for a decade until I got my first S&W 3913.

My old stainless Interarms .380 PPK is still in the safe along with another anib blue .380 PPK and a PPK/s in .32apc.

Being tomorrow is Oct 8th and the 25th Bond film will finally be hitting the American market.... my .380 PPK will make an appearance ...... well maybe not an "appearance".... but "will be unseen in the best places".

Watched "Spectre" this morning..... Bond was issued a PPK in "9mm short" by Q..... in one of the recent films

I tried a variety of models before landing on the LCP several years ago. It’s never malfunctioned, is accurate at combat distances and is a great summer carry.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Had several PPKs, but once I settled on the P230 and P232, I never looked back. Carried a P232 as my BUG for many years. Although well made and reliable, I would have carried one of the current micro 9mms if available, probably a Sig 365.

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213th FBINA

I always wanted a 380 after I read Maj. Geo C Nonte writing about reloading for and shooting them. That was 40 years ago. Then I got one, a Colt, and it was unreliable. I got rid of it but I still got dies and molds (and holsters) for the 380. I'd like to try a Kel-tec when they come back available.

Often overlooked and now out of production, if I carry a .380 it is a Remington RM380. My bride always carries one. Metal frame, locked breach DAO hammer fired. Her arthritic hands can rack the slide and it eats everything it's fed but is partial to Gold Dots. I keep one for formal occasions or the rare times I want a BUG. Had a Bersa Thunder CC that worked well. In my view, the mini .380s replaced .25 autos and the Shield, Hellcat, et al replaced the PPK sized .380s.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

I bought a Ruger LCP .380ACP. It is small, easily concealable and good self-defense caliber pistol. BUT, it will "bite" when fired. Since it is small, the "recoil" (no matter how small), will cause the gun to jump because there is so little mass to the pistol.

Nothing wrong with .380. I really like the little pistols that are chambered in it. There is some magic in a steel compact .380 pistol. Dunno if it is me, but they feel pretty good.