Since the early 1970's I have primarily carried a 32 in some incarnation for CCW. Today I upgraded to a 380 as my main CCW caliber, mainly because I found a good deal on one I was looking for.

Well, it's a step in the right direction.

Congrats on the new addition.

Well, it's my primary, not my only. Depending on where I'm going, what I'm wearing and what I feel like taking along my CCW firearm might be a 32 ACP, 32 Long, 9x18, 9x19, 38 S&W, 38 Special or 45 ACP. But for several years now my primary CCW pistol has been a KelTec p32. This weekend I ran across a 380 version at a real good price and decided to go with the slightly larger caliber. I'd been looking at the KelTec, Ruger and Taurus because I needed to stay in the <$300 price range.

I believe you will save slightly on ammo costs, but not much. After the Obama scare and tightness of .380 ammo; plentiful right now. If you reload, all the better.

I carry the KelTec .380 myself. I am not particularly fond of shooting it regularly, but it is my primary carry weapon with a pocket holster.

They are rather uncomfortable little guns, but we don't shoot them to feel better. We shoot them to keep from feeling worse.

Mine has some really nasty edges on the trigger. I need to get after it with some sandpaper or an emery board, but just haven't taken the time.

I am not really sure it is much of a step up from a .32 - but it is certainly lighter than my old Seecamp. I have looked at one of the Kahr .380s. They seem to be the queen of the crop, but they are a bit dear.

In my opinion there is not enough practical difference between 32 ACP and 380 to be worth making the change simply because of caliber. However in my case a friends wife REALLY REALLY liked firing my 32 and he struck out finding one locally. Seems local dealers are mostly stocking 380s these days. So eventually I relented and sold him my P32 and happened upon a very nice used 380 the same day.

This is one caliber I've never reloaded for so it will be interesting once I find some dies. Though I might see if I can get my 9x19 dies to work just out of curiosity.

I agree with your take on the the Kahr .380. I've got one, and think it's great. Very nice trigger, sights, and accuracy. It's also been 100% reliable. Definitely more money, but quality always costs more.

The .380 is not my 'go to' carry caliber, but works as a back-up, or when it's not practical to carry a bigger piece...

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NRA Life Member

That's me, too. I have both a KelTec and a Guardian in .380. In Winter, I can hide the Guardian (it's a bit bulkier and heavier) and in the Summer, it's the KelTec... both as backups.

The Kahr is a nice gun, no doubt, but i do not worry so much about trigger and sights with either my KelTec or Guardian. After all, these little pea-shooters are "belly" guns designed for up-close-and-personal use. I rely on the .45acp as my primary carry and for those, the sights and triggers have a paramount importance, amongst other considerations.

As long as it functions, I say good deal. I've hung on to my KelTec 32. I tried a Ruger 380, but didn't like the extra bang/flash the cartridge produced in that little package. About the only time I carry the 32 is Sunday - when I have to be very discreet. And it is one the few guns my very petite wife can shoot with ease.

Good luck with your 380 version. I'd be interested in your impressions after shooting the little bugger.

Out
West

There is a little more recoil and flash with the 380 compared to the 32 and like I said, since I use ball ammo I would never have changed just to get the 380. This pistol came with two magazines with pinky extensions. On the first magazine in each shooting session the mag would drop at the third shot causing failure to feed. Doing some research on the KelTec forum and paying attention to what was happening made me conclude I was putting pressure on the extension because of the way I was holding it.

On Sunday I e-mailed KelTec and explained what the pistol was doing, pointed out I had bought this pistol used and needed to buy two standard mag bottoms. I received an e-mail back saying they had sent two mag bottoms free and to let hem know if this did not fix the problem. Friday they arrived and that seemed to fix the problem.

The P3AT does not have colored front sight. I liked the white site on the P32 and will probably color the front sight, something. My pistol came with a sleeve grip, which takes the bight out a little. So far the only ammo I've fired has been RWS ball but once I got the dropping mag problem fixed it has been 100% reliable. For some reason the trigger on my P3AT seems to require 2/3rds the finger pressure as my 32 did. I see no signs of work having been done so maybe my 32 was stiffer than I thought.

For a pocket pistol it is ideal for me, if I am wearing a belt holster of any type 80% of the time I'll have a 3" M37 Airweight in it. I'm ambidextrous, so for the last few years I've always carried a Keltec in my left hand front pocket. Kind of like the SAK I carry in my front right pocket. If I want something heavier I'll use a holster of some type and carry a firearm on my right side as well. When I leave the house I tend to do a pat down, Keys and pocket knife right front pocket, pistol left front pocket, cell phone left belt, wallet left rear pocket, handkerchief right rear pocket, OK, Good to Go.

I have had a Kel-Tec .380 for several years and like it pretty well. Nobody's .380 load in a barrel that short is a bomb, but I think you could get someone off of you right quick with it. I carry Federal 95 grain FMJ's, which I have chronographed at right at 800 fps. Not so fast, but they will penetrate and that is worth a lot.

I started reloading .380 last year during the ammo shortage. You will have to have dies specifically for the .380 because the 9mm is bigger in the body and the rim. I get 95 grain cast bullets from Missouri Bullet Company and use 2.8 grains of 231. I started out with higher charge weights, but I was trying to find a load that functioned reasonably well for practice but didn't put the empty cases in low earth orbit. I still don't think I have been to the range when I haven't lost a few cases. I just try to scrounge them up whenever I can to stay ahead.

This gun gets an A++ for ejection. I was with my son-in-law the other day when he was shooting his. We were standing 50'+ behind him and cases were landing next to us after a perceptible lag from the time the gun was fired to the time they landed.

Check out Kel-Tec Owner's Group on the web. They have some pretty good information on there about all the Kel-Tec models. Their "fluff and buff" procedure is worth a look to smooth the rough spots out of some of these little pistols.

Recently picked up a S&W BodyGuard 380. Put a couple hundred rounds through it the past few days. So much fun to shoot, and love the integrated laser sight. Fits well in any of my pockets. I'm gonna enjoy shooting this at the range as much as my 686P! Any suggestions on carry ammo? I have read varying reports of HP ammo not penetrating clothing...some prefer to carry ball ammo....others hollow point..
Any suggestions on factory 380 carry ammo for my new BG 380?

I put a Handall Jr grip on my KelTec .380 and it helps with control and comfort.

If and when I carry .380 it is a Bersa. It has always served me well.My main carry however is a Sig P229 in .40 S&W.

I carry a 380 always as a bu to my 40 cal Glock 23. but only as a bu, woul;d never take on a shooter with the 380 unless the Glock failed, which it will not, just not enough power, to get into a gunfight with, but that is just my opinion...