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.
.380 Love Affair
- Thread starter otis24
- Start date
My daily companion for 7 1/2 years.
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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THE PILGRIM
Member
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!
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!
Attachments
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.
Jon651
Member
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.
JDBoardman
US Veteran
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.
minuteman
US Veteran
My daily companion for 7 1/2 years.
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.
Doug M.
Member
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
After the range trip I was ordered to buy her one. This is what hers looks like.
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.
CAJUNLAWYER
Member
Great minds think alike. Best part of using a .380 with ball is you can always pull the trigger again if need be
gregintenn
Member
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.
If you shoot it often, it’s accuracy will surprise you.
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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.
