Hope this message finds you well. I recently got rid of a few Walthers and have quite a bit of .380 ammo. Presently, have a Beretta Model of 1934 that just sits; got it in trade years ago.

I am thinking it is time to start using the .380 ammo that I have for plinking/range time. Personally, I've never been a big fan of .380, but just sort of accumulated the stuff over the years. Might as well get some range time in.

Do you have any recommendations?

Thanks in advance-- TH.

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Ruger LCP 2

Have a Ruger LCP Max.
Bought it primarily for pocket carry.
First one I ever owned, not sure if I ever shot one before.
Downside is - 380 Ammo expensive and not that available.
This AM saw 380 Ball down at Cabelas , 60 cents a round.

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Best 380 I ever owned is a Sig P 232. And I still have it.

Ammo is not an issue. Bought a lot a few years back. Honestly, I do not know how much I have, but it is enough.

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Sell the remaining ammo and purchase a small 9mm instead. Many of the guns that were previously .380 only size are now almost the same size in a 9mm which is easier to obtain practice ammo for and as a defense weapon is much more effective. Many of guns have better triggers and better sights as well.

I have a KelTec P3AT. Very reliable and reasonably accurate. I bought a Ruger LCP and tested the two side by side. The Ruger's trigger gave me a sore spot on the bottom of my trigger finger and I found the KelTec to be slightly more accurate.

That's a good point, Tom.

The ammo value far exceeds the gun value of my model of 1934 Beretta and likely anything else. My thought process was to shoot the ammo then sell the gun. Perhaps I simply divest...

I was thinking maybe something interesting had developed over the years; it seems Ruger has options???

If nothing else, I will do a fire sale, so-to-speak, and get rid of the ammo cheap. As stated, it was mostly a by-product of collecting; that is, not the intent.

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The ones that are like a scaled down 1911. They have several different versions. Unless you can find a deal on a Colt 1908 pocket hammerless.

The SIG P238 was my first semi-auto. It's like a high quality mini 1911.
I've been tempted to get out of the .380 caliber completely, and settle on 9mm as my lowest power center fire, but this little SIG is too nice to abandon. Snappy, but the Hogue grip tames that.


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Best .380’s in my opinion: Sig 238, Sig 232, Colt 1908.

I don’t have any .380’s left in my collection due to not wanting to stock additional caliber/ammo.

That being said all three of those were great pistols for the range or carry!


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Glock 42. It just works...

Springfield made a Model 911 in .380. Basically a little 1911. It is discontinued so no idea price wise now. I have one and it is a sweet little thing.

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Super Snooper

Ruger LCP MAX, 12 rds of ugly in a light, reliable, accurate, pocket pistol.


No need to stock thousands of rds of 380, it’s not a target gun.

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Get one of the Beretta Model 85s that are currently on the surplus/used gun market. They are great guns!

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Small 9 mm not a bad recommendation.
I have a Kahr about same size as my Ruger LCP Max.
Flush magazine - Kahr is 6+1 Rounds.
Ruger is 10+1.
Was also reluctant to take on a new caliber.
But it’s one I probably won’t shoot that much!

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Glock 42, I have owned PPK, PPKs, P230, P232, P3AT, Ruger LCP, Kahr, Grendel (that dates me), Beretta 84, AMT, and Bersa.

G42 is the most reliable and accurate of them all. Incredibly easy to shoot well.

I'd like to get a PPK in .380 or maybe a Beretta but they are too big for easy carry in today's world. When I was young and had a waistline, I carried a PP in a Bianchi Pistol Pocket. Now, if I hang too much on my belt, my britches start heading south.

If I could find a should holster that would fit my bulk, that might be an option.

I have owned 3 Taurus TCPs, 2 Ruger LCPs, Kel tek, and a Ruger LCPII. All the guns were reliable and accurate enough but the Ruger LCPII was the most accurate, comfortable, softest shooting, and had the best trigger. It was also the biggest. There is no reason to own a big .380 in my opinion when a 9m/m is the same size and weight and cheaper to shoot. When I got my Sig 365 9m/m I got rid of all my .380s except my second generation LCP which is smaller, thinner, and lighter and I can easily stick it in my pocket. It's with me every day.

BG .380 best bang for the buck or a LCP second generation.
Sig P 238

I have bought pistols just because had accumulated so much brass. Have a 1934 and while it appears indestructible and mechanically accurate, it is difficult for me to shoot accurately. If not needing a carry pistol and just looking to shoot up the 380 ammo on hand, would consider the glock 42 or the sig 365 in 380 acp. Or another recoil operated pistol.

I just picked up a Smith & Wesson EZ 380 and it has been great. It feeds everything so far that I put in it, including some .380 SWC reloads of unknown origin that I had lying around. I'm getting some arthritis in my thumbs so having an easier racking slide is a big help.

I keep all my small autos in .32 auto. .380 's are rough on small pistols

It sounds like you are looking for a range "toy", not a carry gun. The surplus Beretta would be one choice or one of the 1911 style .380 might be fun. The pocket guns are not that fun to shoot for shooting's sake, although I did enjoy practicing with my Remington RM380 with the extended finger rest. As a locked breach DAO metal framed gun the recoil sensation (such as it is) is mitigated some.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

Since you wrote range toy. I agree with the Beretta or the Browning or FN versions of the same basic gun.

I’m well familiar with 1911’s so my choice of a .380 was based on the same/similar platform.
I’ve owned a Sig 238 for the last 12 years.
It’s the only .380 I’ve ever owned or shot so I can’t make any comparative statements But…here’s what I think of it.
Small enough for pocket carry, disappears IWB, well made, VERY nice trigger, accurate, and has run with every brand and style ammo that I’ve fed it.
I keep it clean and oiled and carry it condition one.
I trust it.

Okay. I'll be quite honest with you. I love my LCP. Great little gun for which it was designed. BUT...it's not a gun designed for plinking or for any significant amount of recreational range time. It's designed for up close and personal self-defense. What I call "belly button range." It's not what I would personally pick for recreational plinking. Just too uncomfortable after several rounds.

If your really set on getting a .380, I'd definitely go for one of the bigger ones. Of course, that's just my view from the saddle.

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Pack light and cinch tight.

For range use only, with no plans to carry it, I’d stay away from the little 380 pistols.

They’re great pocket guns but not the sort of gun I’d want to use for the primary purpose of burning up a bunch of ammo.

The little tiny 380’s aren’t fun to shoot. I’d look at guns no smaller than a Colt 1908.

S&W 380EZ. Great shooter and easy to handle.

I had a PPK stainless..380 and I didn't think it was fun to shoot. I sold it.
If I bought another 380 it would be the Browning 1911-380... but they are not available in California.
1911-380 Pistols - Browning

I have a couple PPK/S pistols in .380 as well as FEG AP9S, APK9S, and SMC, a Beretta 81, an RIA Baby Rock and a Kimber Micro.

The FEG AP9S and APK9S pistols are fun to shoot, being just a bit larger and heavier than the Walther PP and PPK/S.

However the Kimber Micro and RIA Baby Rock are my preferred .380 ACP pistols. Both are accurate and reliable. The Baby Rock is a great budget option and is a PP sized blow back operated pistol. The Kimber Micro is alloy framed and half the weight but felt recoil is similar thanks to the delayed blowback locking system.



I also own a Taurus 905, and Taurus roulette wheel QA issues aside, they are nice pistols if you get one that works. Mine is in 9mm but they also come in .380 ACP and if you like revolvers it would be a pleasant way to shoot up that .380 ACP ammo. Get TK Customs moon clips however as the Taurus moon clips are too soft and bend easily.

Can’t imagine why anyone would want to plink with a mouse gun.

Find a Sig as mentioned above or a CZ83. Much better for plinking.

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The S&W EZ380, Sig P238 (if you like small), Sig P250 compact or subcompact (if you can deal with the revolver style DAO) are locked breech .380 pistols that I have shot, and shot well. I shoot the LCP OK, but it's hardly a fun range gun.

You could try finding a Star Model S, a steel locked breech gun with a 4 inch barrel and mini-1911 looks. If you like spending money, then the Colt Mustang and its clones spring to mind.

I had no idea the Springfield 911 had been discontinued. Shows how fickle the market can be.

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Release the Kraken

I love my KAHR lineup
As much as people ***** about it
The KAHR p380 is an awesome EDC and only 11 OZ
fits in my front pocket I would take this gun over an LCP any day
The only other .380 I would carry is a "BAYARD" from the late 20's



Just My Opinion
best of luck and best regards Rick

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Back in the day, the.380 ACP was considered a fine backup and many officers I worked with carried one. I carried a Walther PPK/s inside the vest where I could retrieve it with my weak hand. Along comes technology and for the same weight I carried a Glock model 23 in 40 S&W. The difference was 8 rounds of .380. versus 14 rounds of 40 caliber.

At this point the 380 became a nice secondary sidearm. I have several including the Walther and a Colt Mustang.

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FN (or Browning) 1910. The gun that started WW1.

Ruger LCP MAX. It will fit easily in a pocket holster in your pocket.
( I have 2)

The more I fool around with .380’s, the more I like them.

I carry only 380. I have been through a few but the three best that I have found in order of preference are: Glock 42, Sig 238 and Sig 365/380 ACP.

GOOD luck with your search. Let us know what you end up with. I would be curious to find out which one you choose.

I like .380s and have several of them. Since you mentioned selling off your Walthers, I'm guessing you are not interested in another. Too bad, I'm quite fond of the PP series.
If you want a range toy, I'd suggest staying away from the smaller blowback guns. Recoil on these can be quite uncomfortable and accurate shooting suffers.
My personal pick would be the Colt .380 Govt or Mustang. Excellent guns, very accurate and their locked breech design makes recoil easy to handle. Simply a scaled down 1911.
But if you want a true classic, find yourself a Colt 1908. A fine pistol to bring out your inner Bogart.

If you are actually going to shoot up that ammo, then get the Glock 42 or the S&W 380EZ. Most of the other .380s are fine for pocket or concealed carry, but don't shoot like these two.

The suggestion to sell the ammo and get a new small 9mm might be the best way to go, and that ammo is the cheapest you'll find, aside from RF.

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Tony

As others have said, Glock 42 is an easy to shoot, accurate, 100% reliable pistol. Plink all day with it or carry it. Shines in either role. I have 2.
I have had every major manufacturers .380 on the market. Beretta Cheetah, PPK, Colt Mustang, Sig 238's, Sig 232's, Smith EZ, Beretta pico, Ruger LCP (original and Max) and on and on. Some look better, some were reliable but not accurate, some accurate but not reliable, some hurt to shoot (ppk). The G42 has it all.
Just my opinion based on 1,000's of rounds thru all of them.

I LOVE MY BERSA .380s INEXPENSIVE, ACCURATE, FEED ANYTHING

Yep. My heart says Walther, Colt, ... but my head says just get a Glock 42.

They are readily available, comfortable to shoot, reliable and pretty accurate.

That’s true enough….at least as far as you’ve mentioned.

In addition to the Walther PPK/s pistols, the FEG clones of the PP, PPK/S, and PPK, Beretta 81, and the mini 1911 style RIA and Kimber .380 pistols mentioned in my previous post, I also have a Bersa Thunder.

The fact that I forgot about it in my prior post speaks volumes. It is inexpensive ($250 new in the box less than a year ago). In fact, I bought two, one in. 380 ACP and the other in .22 LR ($225).



They are both accurate for the type and impressively reliable. The Bersa Thunder in .22 LR is very enjoyable to shoot, and the trigger is comparable to that on my Walther PP in .22 LR (a German military marked British L66A1).

However the Bersa in .380 is the most unpleasant .380 ACP pistol I’ve ever shot. Bersa got everything absolutely right if their goal was to maximize .380 ACP recoil. The front sight even objected to the abuse and parted company with the slide after about 100 rounds. (But on a positive note the front sight cost less than $10 to replace, was easy to find on line, and was here in less than a week.)

Despite the KBI imported FEG SMC being both smaller and lighter, it’s more pleasant to shoot than the Bersa. It almost defies physics how obnoxious the Bersa Thunder is in .380 ACP.

Two stars, do not recommend.

To carry, I highly recommend the Remington RM380. I've got two and they've both been 100% reliable. For a range gun, the Beretta 80 Series guns are hard to beat. I've got an 85F and an 86. A little big for 380's, but they fit the hand well and have very little recoil.

I can’t see any use for a .380 pistol these days unless it is Keltec/LCP-size. Of course a gun like that is certainly no target pistol, and barely tolerable to shoot enough just to maintain reasonable proficiency. Unless you’re interested in a gun of that size/weight, I’d agree with the suggestion to try to sell the .380 ammo - and buy a P365 in 9x19.

Thats odd. My wife and I enjoy shooting our Bersa .380 CC models. Thats the lightest and slimmest Bersa .380. Luckily the "sights" are integral with the slide and cant fly off.

You already own the best .380 ever made, the 1934 Beretta. If you must have another one I suggest a Glock 42. Very durable and very reasonably priced for the quality. I have a bunch of .380s including a G42, 1934 Beretta and a Ruger LCP. You would not like plinking with a Ruger LCP.

a friend of mine had the same issue.. sold his ppk and had a couple thousand rounds of mix & match 380 to burn... he got a HiPoint 380 and some extra magazines... about $150... he and his son loaded magazines and shot until they couldn't feel their thumbs a few Saturdays in a row and made it thru the ammo... the HiPoint never skipped a beat and fed everything.... he the sold it for $135... problem solved.

Thanks for all the feedback, everyone, it is sincerely appreciated.

I was sort of cleaning and organizing when I realized that after selling the PPK/s', it left me with just the Model of 1934. Please excuse the lapse in judgement, you all are correct, I definitely do not want to be burning up a bunch of ammo in a LCP. Fine gun all around, but I am looking more for a range toy.

I feel bad that I actually forgot about some of these options; thank you again for the reminder. How could I forget the Colt Mustang, Beretta's, Glock and others?

I'll update the post once I get something. My gut feeling is either the Beretta, Glock or Colt(s) mentioned above.

Best,

TH

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