Best Pocket 380

hotrod150 said:
I disagree. When you conside r that the P3AT came out first, then look at the LCP, it's obvious that Ruger was jumping on the bandwagon. And I'm glad they did- I wanted a pocket 380 but the P3AT looked like it was cobbled up in someone's garage shop- the LCP is much more nicely made. I bought one as soon as I could after they came out. But the proof's in the pudding- while my LCP works flawlessly, I've also heard of a lot of P3AT's that do also.
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I'm aware that the Kel Tec came out first, but the .380 didn't start being purchased (in large numbers) untill the LCP hit the market. ;)
 
forrestinmathews said:
Forgive me for being old school here, but the PPK/S is my choice, blues finish of course. The other pistols are all ugly as sin and the fixed barrel blow back design is incredibly accurate. My gun is a west German import and shoots everything I feed it and will reliably knock down half liter water bottles at fifty yards. The furthest I ever fired it for groups was 70 yards in a shoot off with a gentleman who mistakenly thought his shotgun could pattern tighter than my PPK/S, which it did not. This gun works for me, points well and disassembles without tools. I like the little bit of nostalgia.

If I had to buy a plastic pistol, I'd go with the Glock 42. I have fired the Keltec and the Colt Mustang and found them both to be ugly and undesirable.

The PPK started the .380 trend except we had the class to call it the 9mm kurz. :D As for the LCP starting anything, I've saw a helluva lot more Keltecs out there before the shockingly similar Ruger came along. At best it caused a resurgence in the plastic popgun movement.
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Hard to say anything bad about a Walther PPK, except that, due to its weight it doesn't lend itself to all forms of carry.
 
I've owned several small .380s, including a LCP, BG380, and a P238. I've looked at a number of others in shops, but didn't buy them.

I'd have to say that, overall, my favorite was the SIG P238...mainly because it's a mini-1911. LOL However, it wouldn't be my choice for daily pocket carry. The BG380 fit my hand and felt the best to me for carry, but I didn't like the laser. Now that the M&P Bodyguard is available without the laser, I might get one of those for carry.

Of all of the options, I'd definitely go with either the Ruger LCP or the S&W M&P Bodyguard...not only are they good guns (in their class) but the company support is excellent.
 
forrestinmathews said:
Forgive me for being old school here, but the PPK/S is my choice, blues finish of course.
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A very similar, but very good pistol is the Bersa Thunder. It's not what I'd call a pocket pistol, but I wouldn't mind carrying one IWB. I actually owned one for a short while, but at the time it was virtually impossible to find mags for it, so I sold it. (This was several years ago.) I didn't have any problems with it, just got tired of not being able to buy mags for it.
 
The most reliable .380 I have seen of modern design is the Colt Pocket Lite (all metal version) that came out two years ago. I've yet to see one jam and I have three friends that own and shoot them regularly. The ONLY issue is that you need to cock back the hammer before firing because it's a single action auto - but is perfectly safe with a round in the chamber because of the firing pin safety built in. Again....... NOT talking about the version that was around many years ago, but the one releases about 2 years back.
 
Pricey and somewhat ammo specific but a good investment and easy to carry..Seecamp LWS .380.
Or you could do a Rohrbaugh 9, but that a different story.


 
I have never owned a pair of pants that would not conceal a J-Frame extremely well in a good pocket holster. Then again, I don't wear disco "hip huggers". .380's are cute. So are puppies. However, when it comes to my well being I draw the line at .38 Special/9mm. If the significant other can't handle the recoil then it is a training issue and not a gun issue. It's far easier to train the wife you have then having to look for a new one and as well I never knew anyone who after a gunfight said "damn, I'm glad I had a powerhouse .380 with me!".

As Clint Smith said, guns are meant to be comforting and not comfortable. You carry a handgun to save life & limb, not because it's a fashion accessory. A .380 is a backup gun, not a primary. Just my 2 cents.
 
Boge said:
I have never owned a pair of pants that would not conceal a J-Frame extremely well in a good pocket holster. Then again, I don't wear disco "hip huggers". .380's are cute. So are puppies. However, when it comes to my well being I draw the line at .38 Special/9mm. If the significant other can't handle the recoil then it is a training issue and not a gun issue. It's far easier to train the wife you have then having to look for a new one and as well I never knew anyone who after a gunfight said "damn, I'm glad I had a powerhouse .380 with me!".

As Clint Smith said, guns are meant to be comforting and not comfortable. You carry a handgun to save life & limb, not because it's a fashion accessory. A .380 is a backup gun, not a primary. Just my 2 cents.
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You know something? I carry a J frame or a Glock 29 usually, but even I had the good sense to stay on topic. You just had to go there. Nobody cares about your well being or my well being either. They might be remotely interested in our opinions about which .380 would make a good pocket pistol. I resisted the urge to scream don't get one, why couldn't you??
 
The .380 calibre was developed by John Browning and introduced by Colt in 1908 as a variant of the .32 ACP Vest Pocket Hammerless Model of 1903.

Walther did some wonderful things in 1929 with the invention of the PPK ( Polizeipistole Kurz or Short Police Pistol). Originally chambered in .32 (yes, Bond's PPK was a .32), it was offered in several calibers, including the .380.

Colt did it first. And they "only" sold a half million Model 1908's.

:cool: So There!!!:D

(Yeah, I'm a little biased ;))

IMG_1234_zpsecd91374.jpg
 
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Tangentially related...

Magazines for these .380's can sometimes be hard to find and when you can find one, it sometimes costs dearly.

One member here pointed out a web site Grab A Gun that not only had a factory mag for my Mustang Plus II, it was only $25 shipping included!

Handgun Magazines - Magazines Online Gun Store
 
blujax01 said:
The .380 calibre was developed by John Browning and introduced by Colt in 1908 as a variant of the .32 ACP Vest Pocket Hammerless Model of 1903.

Walther did some wonderful things in 1929 with the invention of the PPK ( Polizeipistole Kurz or Short Police Pistol). Originally chambered in .32 (yes, Bond's PPK was a .32), it was offered in several calibers, including the .380.

Colt did it first. And they "only" sold a half million Model 1908's.

:cool: So There!!!:D

(Yeah, I'm a little biased ;))

IMG_1234_zpsecd91374.jpg
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Yeah yeah, let's take a walk and hang a target...you'll still be able to say Colt did it first afterward...that'll be about it.

What does plus eleven mean?? Number of shots it takes to hit the target at any respectable distance?? :D
 
forrestinmathews said:
You know something? I carry a J frame or a Glock 29 usually, but even I had the good sense to stay on topic. You just had to go there. Nobody cares about your well being or my well being either. They might be remotely interested in our opinions about which .380 would make a good pocket pistol. I resisted the urge to scream don't get one, why couldn't you??
Click to expand...

Because the OP has but a mere six posts and in my experiences the vast majority of people who want to carry a .380 as a primary CCW know little of handguns and as a result some good advice might save their life one day. Can you think of a better reason that that? I sure can't.
 
Getting a bit testy in here, isn't it. Since I'm a .38 Special throwback anyway and don't much enjoy testy, I think I'll leave this one.

Have fun.
 
Try the Kahr CW380

yippeekiyay20 said:
I'm in the market for a pocket 380 that I can virtually take with me wherever I go, no matter what attire I'm wearing (work, casual, formal, athletic, etc.).

Any suggestions?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

After trying several different 380 pocket pistols I settled on the Kahr CW380. It is a great little gun that handles well. However the scarcity and cost of 380 ammo drove me away from that caliber. I traded the Kahr in on a Sig P290RS and havn't looked back.

BTW my reason for getting the Kahr was for hot weather carry. I wanted something I could carry when lightly dressed. The Sig is a bit larger and heavier but still fits the bill. If 380 Is your choice the Kahr will please you. If 9mm is in the running look at the Sig.

When not lightly dressed I carry a Ruger SR9c in 9mm while my wife uses the Shield in 9mm.
 
I typically carry a Shield 9mm, but there are times when it just isn't practical to carry it.

I've been leaning towards the CW 380, but may settle for the LCP for its affordability. I can get a brand new LCP at my LGS for under $300.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
forrestinmathews said:
Yeah yeah, let's take a walk and hang a target...you'll still be able to say Colt did it first afterward...that'll be about it.

What does plus eleven mean?? Number of shots it takes to hit the target at any respectable distance?? :D
Click to expand...

You are a funny, funny man and I do love a challenge. If you ever can't avoid traveling through Ohio, stop by and we'll make a range trip - my treat!:cool:

And I know you're already aware that the Plus Two is a Government 380 frame married to the Mustang slide, but it does give me another opportunity to talk about mine.

And I will also have a PPK/S sometime down the road. They were a fine machine until about 2002... ;)
 
Boge said:
Because the OP has but a mere six posts and in my experiences the vast majority of people who want to carry a .380 as a primary CCW know little of handguns and as a result some good advice might save their life one day. Can you think of a better reason that that? I sure can't.
Click to expand...

He never said, "Oooh I want a .380 for my first primary carry gun." He asked for a .380 pocket pistol recommendation. I'm right there with you in condemning the .380 as the first and primary carry gun, but there are times when the .380 does it best. My PPK slips into a pants pocket and does a great job at those well dressed events where I absolutely can not print or be seen carrying a gun. It's just slimmer and I can carry a whole lot of ammo flat and discrete. We can go several different ways from here arguing everything from shot placement to stopping power to having vs. leaving behind. Why not for once just stick to answering the OP's questions? It was a simple question with simple constraints written by a person who knew what they wanted. He seems pretty competent now...doesn't he?? I've got a few grizzlies out back harassing my Cape buffalo. I'm off to sort the whole thing out...with my PPK. :D
 
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