Recommend a .380

[geeollie]

I have owned 5 .380 pistols, all were purchased new.
FYI: I am life long LEO, Certified handgun instructor, Ex-competive shooter, old enough to know how to hold a gun real tite, I ain't got no limp wrist.....ever!! I put this in because the factory at Kahr said I was just limp wristed and I was the problem not the gun.

The guns were:
2 Colt Pony Pocket Lite, a Kahr P380, Glock 42...1st generation. All of these had issues such as FTF, FTE, stovepipe.

I still own a S&W Sigma .380 (the one made of melted zinc and plastic) It has NEVER jammed, stove-piped, or FTF, FTE.

What Current model .380 has a good track record that you would recommend?

Does .380 EZ have any issues on model Without Thumb Safety?
Does .380 Bodyguard have issues that are persistent?

 

[Buick]

I like the Bersa Thunder .380. Especially the 8+1 Concealed Carry model. Im getting ready to purchase a second one. Great reliability, accuracy, and price.

 

[growr]

Most reliable .380 I ever saw was my CZ 83, I know it is on the big side but has NEVER had a hiccup of any kind with ANY ammo....I've fired over 3000 rounds with mine.

Randy

 

[bigwheelzip]

The SIG P238 that came OEM with a Hogue grip sleeve and SIG laser, was my first semi-auto. I bought it 6 years ago because I could rack it easily. It has about two thousand rounds through it, by myself and every new shooter I take to the range.
It's a good shooter for it's size and not had a single failure of any kind. It gets carried regularly.

It came with a flush mag also. Shown with extended mag.

My husband occasionally back-pocket carries it in this wallet holster.

 

[SAFireman]

Colt 1908 Pocket
Sig p238
Colt Pocketlite

I hear the Sig 365 isn't much bigger and is working very well for some folks.

I still own and carry the Colt Hammerless and Sig p238. The Pocketlites went up in value and I sold it.

 

[Echo40]

Prepare to receive a lot of recommendations like this one, but allow me to be the first to recommend the Ruger LCP.

Being a lover of the all-steel Walther PPK, I had my share of reservations about polymer/aluminum framed .380 Pocket Pistols, but eventually I accepted that I needed a small, lightweight pistol, and upon doing thorough research on the subject, I ultimately chose the Ruger LCP.
It has its share of detractors who insist that there are far better options, that it isn't durable, that it isn't reliable, and share all manner of anecdotes to support their assertions, but the fact of the matter is that it has been on the market for over a decade now, years after it was supposedly upgraded by the LCP II says otherwise.

Maybe at one point they had issues, but my 10th Anniversary Edition LCP from 2018 has been nothing but reliable.

 

[BB57]

I own and shoot a number of .380 ACP pistols.

I have three Walther PPK/S pistols and they are a mixed bag. I have a Ranger made (Interarms marked) PPK/S that feeds 90 gr XTPs perfectly, and two of the three feed 102 gr Golden Sabers extremely well.

I have a Kimber Micro that has had a single failure to feed out of about 1000 rounds of 90 gr XTP handloads and it's been flawless with FMJ. It's my favorite for pocket carry.

I have an RIA Baby Rock that also relentlessly reliable with 90 gr XTP. It's my favorite for carry as a backup in an IWB holster.

I have a few FEG AP9S and APK9S pistols. Like the Walthers they are patterned after they are somewhat of a mixed bag, but they have more generous chamber dimensions and on average feed better than the Walther pistols.

I also have a FEG SMC (imported by KBI), it's an aluminum framed PPK derivative, but reliability is not great. However, it's still an order of magnitude better than the S&W Bodyguard.

I had a S&W Bodyguard .380 ACP for a whole weekend. Horrible pistol, and poor value even at the $230 price I paid for it new. I bought it on Friday, shot it on Saturday and traded it in on Monday, only because the shop was closed on Sunday. Total. Piece. Of. Trash.

 

[double-dipper]

I will second what BB57 said about the Kimber Micro 380. I own one and it has become my favorite "pocket carry" gun. On a cooler days it goes on the inside pocket of a jacket on warm days I will drop it into a cargo pocket on shorts. I carry it in a "sticky" holster. No more getting poked in the side, back or tummy when I set down.

 

[Marshal Tom]

Not a big fan of .380 due to the fact that now you can have a .9mm in almost the same size with much more power. The S&W EZ's in both calibers have been very popular although there have been some feeding issues with the .380. They are both a little large but that is not a bad thing. I have seen the Sig 238 and the Kimber Micro, both with the grip like the one above at the range, have an issue regarding the safety. That fat grip does not allow proper access to the safety. You can flick it off just fine but it is very difficult to get under it to put if back on. I had two or three ladies who just could not operate it properly. They do run real well. In my view, the 938 would be a better choice.

 

[ContinentalOp]

Don't have a .380 yet, so take my comments for what they're worth.

I'll echo Dirty Harry Callahan and suggest the LCP. It's been around a long time and is usually at the top of the list of recommended pocket .380s. It's definitely one I've been giving some serious consideration because of that history. Galloway Precision has some add-ons that can make it more shootable for some people.

However, I prefer hammer-fired DA/DAO guns, and right now the Beretta Pico is probably at the top of my personal "want" list for pocket .380s. In fact, It'll probably be my next gun purchase, hopefully later this year. *fingers crossed* Very slim, claimed to be the thinnest such pistol on the market. Review videos I've seen show a pretty good pistol, easy take-down (no tools required) and a modular chassis system so you can change out the grip frame. The mag release works by pushing down instead of in, which some people have reported can be an issue when pocket carrying, partially releasing the mag in pocket. Optional night sights are a nice add-on, but not something I'd consider a must-have. One caveat seems to be that one should get the most recent models as the earliest ones had issues. I can't say you should buy it as I don't have one (yet!) but it might be worthy of consideration.

 

[Scott in NCal]

I have a KelTec P 3AT. Although it is no fun to shoot, at all, it always works. yh

 

[rockquarry]

I'm not real fond of the .380 cartridge and no longer have any guns so chambered, but have had several, including three Walther PPK/Ss. The Walthers functioned well and were reasonably accurate to at least twenty-five yards. I used mostly cast bullets; I'm pretty sure the Walther was not designed for these. I haven't had experience with most of the other guns described in this thread, but suspect most would be lesser guns than a PPK/S.

A PPK/S may be comparatively heavy, but that would likely be an advantage in that a heavier gun is generally easier to shoot well than a light one.

 

[ContinentalOp]

A PPK/S may be comparatively heavy, but that would likely be an advantage in that a heavier gun is generally easier to shoot well than a light one.

I don't know. The worst gun I ever shot, as far as recoil, was a PPK .380. Absolutely hated it. I'd rather shoot Buffalo Bore +P ammo through my 642. I believe someone on this forum (apologies for not remembering your name) said that locked-breech pocket pistols are more pleasant shooters than the PPK, even though they're smaller and lighter. Haven't had a chance to test that theory yet.

 

[loknload]

I'll give another thumbs up to the Ruger LCP. Have one and have been carrying for several years now with no problems whatsoever!
Only have two other .380s and one I won't carry because I don't like it and that's a Walther PPK/S and the other is an old Star which I consider more of a collectors piece than a shooter.
The LCP though is one of my favorites and most carried I might add!

 

[reccpd101]

Continential OP, I did not say that about locked breech before but can verify that it is a true statement. None of the very small blow backs are very pleasant to fire. Since they are not fun to shoot, most of my students don't practice with them. If u don't practice, the success ratio when the fecal matter hits the rotating metal device is not high.

 

[Echo40]

I don't know. The worst gun I ever shot, as far as recoil, was a PPK .380. Absolutely hated it. I'd rather shoot Buffalo Bore +P ammo through my 642. I believe someone on this forum (apologies for not remembering your name) said that locked-breech pocket pistols are more pleasant shooters than the PPK, even though they're smaller and lighter. Haven't had a chance to test that theory yet.

Yeah, the straight blowback action of the Walther PP Series can be brutal when it comes to .380 ACP. The only thing I dislike about my S&W PPK/S is the recoil.
That being said, the LCP isn't much better in terms of recoil. It's still unpleasant to shoot, and it still will be downright painful after about 50 rounds, but the smaller size and lesser grip make it slap the web of the hand in a different way.

I dunno about older models, but the Smith & Wesson PPK/S sith its extended beavertail really smacks the web of the hand with authority and despite their best intentions, it will still draw blood after around 50 rounds by sheer force of impact causing the skin to split where the thumb meets the knuckle.
The LCP on the other hand has a much thinner grip, so it hits a different spot, yet stings a bit more with each shot because the recoil is more focused and less evenly distributed. So it does less damage but hurts more.

 

[rockquarry]

Looks like opinions vary widely. Of the six all steel .380s I've had (including Walthers) in about fifty years, I don't recall any that were hard kickers or uncomfortable to shoot.

 

[geeollie]

I've shot the PPK (not the S) enough to learn about the slide.
Got sliced only after shooting it a number of times out.
The mid 1970's model was not real reliable and the stocks cracked fairly easy.
Never shot the PPK/S or any of the Ruger offerings. Might have to rent one.

 

[LVSteve]

In my experience:

Ruger LCP
Sig 290RS
Sig P250C
Sig P250SC

 

[Imissedagain]

1. Sig P238HD
2. LCP
3. PPKs
4. G42
#1 and #3 have SA triggers that allow for hitting the target.
#3 has a safety/decocker, like the M59, and is what I carry with the grandkids around.

Recoil only happens with snubs in 357/44Mag and all X frames.

We load 380s with 115-120gr bullets and N320 or BE.

Crawling around boats, marine electronics, I have had the mag come loose with the LCP a few times over the years.