380 PLEASE-Which One?
- Thread starter sw282
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
BigRich315
Member
Not familar with any of them, but I'd have to go Sig if I could find one.
Double-O-Dave
US Veteran
I had a stainless Walther PPKs when they were still being imported by Inter Arms, so I'll speak to that:
1) overall, I always thought it was too much gun (size and weight) for the payload. As a direct comparison, I look at the Air Weight J frame in .38 Special. Even shooting the 148gr. wadcutters you will be delivering a bigger, heavier, faster moving bullet than the .380ACP. (The same argument could also be made for the Model 432 in .32H&R Magnum.)
2) I have "normal" sized hands (size 7.5 surgical glove, Medium sized work gloves) and I always got "bitten" by the slide. I never experienced slide bite from a 1911, or a Hi-Power, or even an Astra Constable (Spanish made PPKs clone). I'm not such a wuss that slide bite would scare me, but I always worried about it causing a malfunction to the weapon.
3) Finally, reliability was an issue, or perhaps, I should actually should say confidence, rather than reliability in that I never recall a failure to fire, failure to feed, or failure to extract, but the Walther did go full auto on me one time at the range. I bought the Walther new, and it had never received any gunsmithing outside of the factory, and the factory repaired it without any charge to me, but still, I was always a little leery of it afterwards.
I eventually traded it in for one of the West German Police H&K P7 PSPs that had been on my grail list for many, many years.
Best of luck,
Dave
1) overall, I always thought it was too much gun (size and weight) for the payload. As a direct comparison, I look at the Air Weight J frame in .38 Special. Even shooting the 148gr. wadcutters you will be delivering a bigger, heavier, faster moving bullet than the .380ACP. (The same argument could also be made for the Model 432 in .32H&R Magnum.)
2) I have "normal" sized hands (size 7.5 surgical glove, Medium sized work gloves) and I always got "bitten" by the slide. I never experienced slide bite from a 1911, or a Hi-Power, or even an Astra Constable (Spanish made PPKs clone). I'm not such a wuss that slide bite would scare me, but I always worried about it causing a malfunction to the weapon.
3) Finally, reliability was an issue, or perhaps, I should actually should say confidence, rather than reliability in that I never recall a failure to fire, failure to feed, or failure to extract, but the Walther did go full auto on me one time at the range. I bought the Walther new, and it had never received any gunsmithing outside of the factory, and the factory repaired it without any charge to me, but still, I was always a little leery of it afterwards.
I eventually traded it in for one of the West German Police H&K P7 PSPs that had been on my grail list for many, many years.
Best of luck,
Dave
still own 1968 ppk in 380. has been around the world and looks it,but shoots every time. if you can find one of the older ppk guns, i think they are a lot better than the current crop. they also made them in 22lr and they are fantastic.
Gutpile Charlie
US Veteran
Wheeeeeeewwwww! Im glad you didn't say LCP!
.380
I have a PPKS made in W.Germany it's a safe queen.Don't know how anyone could hit anything with the first shot (hard double action trigger pull) It had 1 box through it and dry fired that didn't help it . the workman ship is great, no ftf or fte . I had rather carry my Mod. 37. Besides i think the 38spl is a better round.
I have a PPKS made in W.Germany it's a safe queen.Don't know how anyone could hit anything with the first shot (hard double action trigger pull) It had 1 box through it and dry fired that didn't help it . the workman ship is great, no ftf or fte . I had rather carry my Mod. 37. Besides i think the 38spl is a better round.
GatorFarmer
Member
I've had a Sig P232 (the replacement for the 230 in the line), an Interarms PPK and a Beretta 84F (not an 85). I think the 85 is basically the same as the 84 in terms of size, but is a single stack instead of a double stack.
My PPK ran fine with FMJs, with other than FMJs... eh, not so fine. I only use FMJs in a .380 anyway for the most part, so that was okay.
My Sig and Beretta ate everything.
The Sig has a heel clip release. That's good or bad depending on if you like those. If you're used to a conventional reload, it's bad.
The 84 and by the looks of it the 85 are big guns for .380s. The 84 was largely recoil free because of this, but the size put it into a category that begged the question "why".
I no longer have any of these guns. I use either J frames or baby Glocks for the same niche.
If you're dead set on getting a .380, decide how small you want to go and what you're going to do with it. The 230/232 are better for BUGs/pocket guns. Walthers, unless they're German made, I wouldn't mess with. The Beretta would likely be fine, just not necessarily the best size balance for what it does unless you have some physical infirmity that precludes a more powerful chambering.
My PPK ran fine with FMJs, with other than FMJs... eh, not so fine. I only use FMJs in a .380 anyway for the most part, so that was okay.
My Sig and Beretta ate everything.
The Sig has a heel clip release. That's good or bad depending on if you like those. If you're used to a conventional reload, it's bad.
The 84 and by the looks of it the 85 are big guns for .380s. The 84 was largely recoil free because of this, but the size put it into a category that begged the question "why".
I no longer have any of these guns. I use either J frames or baby Glocks for the same niche.
If you're dead set on getting a .380, decide how small you want to go and what you're going to do with it. The 230/232 are better for BUGs/pocket guns. Walthers, unless they're German made, I wouldn't mess with. The Beretta would likely be fine, just not necessarily the best size balance for what it does unless you have some physical infirmity that precludes a more powerful chambering.
Capt Steve
US Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2008
- Messages
- 1,678
- Reaction score
- 3,014
Not to sound like a broken record but at least try a Bersa Thunder in one of its several incarnations. They offer it a variety of configurations to meet your personal tastes. Most find the trigger superior to the PPK and it is significantly less expensive. I like the SA/DA option with the external safety. It points and shoots well and my .380 CC model went out the door for $293 just a little over a year ago.
Consider the CZ-83. A new one will cost less than a used Sig, Beretta or PPK. It's better built and finished than a Bersa. I've put nearly 400 rounds through mine without a single hitch. Very accurate for what it is.
Jim Shugart
Member
I bought a new Kel-Tec P3AT. The link is to a good review. I got it because it is so small and light.
I'm paranoid about doing yard work unarmed. If the bad guys know that you live alone, it's a good time for a break-in. So far, this is the only time I've carried it. I do yard work in only a pair of shorts and the Kel-Tec doesn't get in the way as much as the 642.
I've got three carry weapons that all function exactly the same way. In decreasing order of preference, they are:
GLOCK 30 (with tritium night sights) Reliable, incredibly accurate, and 10+1 rounds of .45acp. It's just too big for hot weather.
S&W 642 (with Crimson Trace laser grips) No need to describe that here.
What I carry most of the time.
Kel-Tec P3AT This could be sucessfully concealed in a pair of swimming trunks.
Is .380 ammo available again? When I bought mine, nobody had any.
- Jim
I'm paranoid about doing yard work unarmed. If the bad guys know that you live alone, it's a good time for a break-in. So far, this is the only time I've carried it. I do yard work in only a pair of shorts and the Kel-Tec doesn't get in the way as much as the 642.
I've got three carry weapons that all function exactly the same way. In decreasing order of preference, they are:
GLOCK 30 (with tritium night sights) Reliable, incredibly accurate, and 10+1 rounds of .45acp. It's just too big for hot weather.
S&W 642 (with Crimson Trace laser grips) No need to describe that here.
What I carry most of the time.Kel-Tec P3AT This could be sucessfully concealed in a pair of swimming trunks.
Is .380 ammo available again? When I bought mine, nobody had any.
- Jim
Last edited:
onebadscrambler
US Veteran
I have the 232. Fine pistol. Nice to have if you just want a .380. Consider ammunition supply. .380 can be a PITA to find lately.
Gutpile Charlie
US Veteran
___________________________________________________Consider the CZ-83. A new one will cost less than a used Sig, Beretta or PPK. It's better built and finished than a Bersa. I've put nearly 400 rounds through mine without a single hitch. Very accurate for what it is.
I have the CZ-82 which is identical to the above pictured firearm. It is in 9x18mm Makarov. Same gun, just different caliber...and it is really not that different.
They are available at many shops for less than $300.00. If I remember right the magazine is twelve rounds. It's a good bang for the buck.
Charlie
jag312
Member
You can't go wrong with a Walther PP/PPK/PPKS or a Beretta 84/Browning BDA380. The Beretta/Browning has a 13 round magazine, but has a slightly fat grip. If you don't have small hands, that shouldn't be a problem. The Walther has a single stack magazine, so it has a thinner grip.
I carry a Browning BDA380 and so do two of my friends, and another guy I used to work with until he retired carried a Beretta 84. I have never fired the SIG, so I can't say anything about it.
There are other .380 Autos on the market. I just don't choose to use any of them as one of my carry guns.
Good luck finding some ammo.
I carry a Browning BDA380 and so do two of my friends, and another guy I used to work with until he retired carried a Beretta 84. I have never fired the SIG, so I can't say anything about it.
There are other .380 Autos on the market. I just don't choose to use any of them as one of my carry guns.
Good luck finding some ammo.
I've got the KelTec and a Makarov (high cap) in 380. Both are well made and do what I bought them for. The only problem with any/all 380's is finding ANY ammunition to fed them. I haven't seen 380 in any flavor in several months.
Class III
Class III
flop-shank
US Veteran
If you are getting anything bigger, or heavier than a P3AT, .380 is out IMO. Slightly bigger/heavier are the micro Kahr 9mms, J frames and the Rohrbaugh R9S (pricey though). My opinion is that if you're getting a .380, it's the P3AT or forget it.
westkybanded
Member
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2009
- Messages
- 246
- Reaction score
- 1
Get the Bersa or CZ. Then, in a year when you realize that you don't want a 380 and are ready to step up to a 9mm, you won't be out as much cash.
I have an Astra Constable which is basically a clone of a PPK. It's a helluva lot of gun for the round.
I have an Astra Constable which is basically a clone of a PPK. It's a helluva lot of gun for the round.
Jim Shugart
Member
I agree. Size/weight/conceal-ability are the only things .380 has going for it. That's the advantage to the P3AT: It's really tiny. The .380 is a piss-ant round.
Similar threads
- Locked
