Ruger LCP 380 vs Airweight .38 spl. snubby

[Backlighting]

Who shoots both?
So what do you like and dislike about both?
conceal ability..recoil...accuracy...maintenance, etc.

I might want to add the Ruger to my fold.

 

[Erich]

I've owned several Airweight snubbies (now have a Ruger LCR .38 in that role) and have a couple of LCPs.

The LCPs are easier to carry without notice. They're tiny and light. And they hold 7 rounds and reload in a twinkle. I don't think you can make them hit as hard as you can a grown-up .38 Spl (even out of a snub), but they will penetrate all you need with ball ammo. I also find them easier to shoot quickly and accurately than a J-frame - at least a J-frame wearing concealment grips.

The Airweight, you can customize. What kind of stocks do you want? Concealable or controllable? There are some that do a fair job of both, but I find that with my (medium sized adult male) hands, the LOP on an open-backstrap J-frame (the most concealable sort of grip to use) is too short for me to be especially accurate. (If I use bigger grips, they can be great - but they're harder to conceal, and the entire point of an Airweight J is maximum concealment.)

The revolvers are simpler - you can hand it to your less-skilled wife and she can use it fine. The LCPs - well, not everyone likes a semiauto.

Tastes great/less filling - your call. I see a role for both guns . . . but find I carry the LCP more in my present-day life.

Of course, sitting around here at home, I have an Improved I-frame pre-Model 30 6-shot .32 S&W Long with hot (1070 fps/100-gr RNFP) handloads in a Bell Charter Oak IWB holster. So . . . I might not be a representative sampling of popular thought.

 

[TeaDub]

I own both. I carry the LCP when even my 642 is a bit too big to conceal easily. Not often. I am much more familiar with the J-frame and I'm also more confident in a stout 38+P over the 380.

I plan on practicing more with my LCP in the coming months. So far, my new LCP has been shot enough to vet reliability and reasonable accuracy. My J-frames all wear bantam style grips and point naturally in my hands. While a micro 380 will never replace my love affair with my J-frames, I do respect the incredibly small size and usefulness of these new pocket guns. I'm glad that I don't have to choose between them. Carrying BOTH is an easy option if I want to.

 

[Backlighting]

Thanks gentlemen for the thoughtful replys.

 

[4011]

I bought the LCP when it first came out. Shooting it hurt the web of my arthritic hand. I'm back with my J frames and have down loaded to standard 38 spl.

 

[B3500]

Don't carry that size all that often, but have to say I use and shoot the lcp more often than the 638 snubby. The small size of semi auto makes it real easy to have on your person.

The addition of a Hogue grip sleeve and putting in a heavier recoil spring helped tame the little beast's recoil, but the spring does make it a bit harder to rack and the sleeve makes the grip as bit wider.

As far as accuracy of the lcp, am more accurate with the lcp over the snub (likely from the lack of shooting the snub all that much) and will say am more accurate with the cw380 over the lcp. Attribute most of that to the cw's long and smooth trigger pull and it's better sights, but your mileage may vary.

Only use FMJs in 380s and fortunately my lcp and cw380 have been 100% reliable from day one.

 

[fdw]

Don't have an airweight but have a sp101 and LCP that I mix and match. I carry both mostly IWB. I shoot both pretty well and feel confident with both.

If I had to pick one it would be the LCP, smaller, more rounds, easier for me to reload. Better for pocket carry when I do.

 

[petepeterson]

I like them both (mine is a Kel-Tec). The .380 shines for around the house- athletic shorts, pajamas- and for when I run. It gets carried when weight is a factor. I also carry ball in the KT.

If I have my choice, though, I'll take the 5 .38s over the 7 .380s.

As for practice, 2 mags is usually enough for the Kel-Tec. It's a jumpy little sucker. I can hang with a j-frame through a box or so.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Tough choice. I have a M&P380 and a 337. Used to carry the 337 pocket carry until I bought the 380. Now it's the 380. Funny thing though-seems like the 380 prints more than the 337. Anyway the 337 wears regular wood grips and a tyler with a couple of wraps of vet tape for grip security. I also have a short lanyard/or more appropriately a fob on the butt-makes it easier to fish out of the pocket. Now it's the 380 for pants pocket carry but when it's cool and I'm wearing a jacket/hoodie I like the 337 better in the pocket.
I also bought a 638-2 for pocket carry but really don't use it as that extra few oz of weight over the 337 really makes a difference.

 

[L Pete]

I own both. I carry the LCP when even my 642 is a bit too big to conceal easily. Not often. I am much more familiar with the J-frame and I'm also more confident in a stout 38+P over the 380.

I plan on practicing more with my LCP in the coming months. So far, my new LCP has been shot enough to vet reliability and reasonable accuracy. My J-frames all wear bantam style grips and point naturally in my hands. While a micro 380 will never replace my love affair with my J-frames, I do respect the incredibly small size and usefulness of these new pocket guns. I'm glad that I don't have to choose between them. Carrying BOTH is an easy option if I want to.

Same here....LCP when required by the way I dress, but not very often...

 

[Inusuit]

I have a KelTec .380 and a S&W 38 Bodyguard. I carry both, sometimes both at once with the KelTec in a pocket holster and the Bodyguard IWB. KelTec has the edge in concealability. I shoot the Bodyguard with greater accuracy other things being equal. For pocket carry, I prefer my Kahr .380 because of a much better trigger and smoother action than the KelTec, but that's not what the OP asked.

 

[Jessie]

I have and shoot both. The LCP is nothing as far as recoil, to me at least.
The J frame ( 442 ) is a little more telling after a few cylinders full.
The accuracy is similar with both which is surprising out of that little LCP.
Sometimes the LCP is the best for concealment, although with the right holster, that's minimal.
I can envision myself thinking that if I ever really need it I will be wishing for a larger caliber ( no matter which one I have).
The extra rounds are nice with a quick reload bonus.
Bottom line? The LCP is very inexpensive, especially if you don't care what color it is.
Get one!
Oh yeah, maintenance. I've needed none on either one. They've both run perfectly since bought.

 

[Danbgt]

I have an LCP and carry it sometimes but not very often. Try as I may, I just cannot pocket carry. I just don't like a lot of stuff in my pockets. My oldest son carries everything in the world in his pockets. He is almost like a walking tool box and an LCP lives in his right front pocket. I have tried carrying it in every pocket and just can't get used to it. I carry it from time to time IWB but on several occasions somehow managed to push the mag release button while carrying in that way. Have also released the mag while carrying it in a back pocket in a Super Fly holster. But my biggest problem with caring the LCP is that I have had it miss feed a couple of times. Don't know why. Don't really care. It did it it may do it again. I have never had a J frame miss feed! I have a few J frames and a few different holsters. I have, for a long time, carried my 642 IWB with a Clip Grip. It works best for me.

 

[gregintenn]

I own, shoot, and carry a 640, 642, and an LCP. My wife carries a model 37.

I like them all. I feel a bit more comfortable shooting the revolvers, but the LCP just disappears in my jeans front pocket.

They are all simple to use, and surprisingly accurate once you practice with them a bit.

The Ruger LCP gets carried the most by me just because it's more comfortable. I don't think you'd go wrong with any of them.

 

[kilo charlie]

Have carried a 642 for a long time. Before that a Gen 1 LCP. Just bought an LCP Custom. I like the Custom's trigger soooo much better than the original LCP. I'm going to start carrying the LCP custom. Less recoil and I'm more accurate with it. Plus Its lighter, carries 7 rounds, and reloads are faster. ymmv

 

[Collo Rosso]

I've pocket carried a LCP since they came out. So convenient to drop in the pocket and slim enough I forget it's there. It's been 100% reliable and is accurate if you take your time. Wife has a LCR she carries in her purse. I've tried and it's not comfortable for me in the front pocket. Neither are the small 9mm's. If I do put on a holster it's for a glock 26.

 

[Ziggy2525]

Have both. Both totally reliable. More accurate target shooting with the LCP (gen 2). Better up close point shooting with the 642. I prefer to carry the 642.

The one thing I don't care for with the LCP is the slide doesn't lock back on last round.

 

[RichCapeCod]

Put me down with the guys who said;

Both, depending on the circumstances and situation I am in at that moment (work/play/social circumstances/mode of dress required, etc.).

I own a number of S&W J frames (among my favorites are my 642 and 342) and several (it's a long story) LCP pistols. Each type excels for their intended purpose; close-in personal defense.

If you're gonna be after something that's likely to shoot heavy weapons in your direction, you're either in the wrong place or ought to be packing a lot more firepower than a little handgun.

Peace and love to all!

Rich

 

[Backlighting]

Put me down with the guys who said;
If you're gonna be after something that's likely to shoot heavy weapons in your direction, you're either in the wrong place or ought to be packing a lot more firepower than a little handgun.
Rich

Couldn't agree more. And in that case I would prefer any one of the Springfield M1a configurations.

 

[Mule Packer]

You be the judge. When it comes to conceal ability, three of the guys in Speed-o's are packing Ruger LCP's. The other is packing a J-frame .38 Special. Can you tell which?

ANSWER: The guy in the pink is packing the J-frame. You can tell that the other three are packing LCP's by the smiles of confidence on their faces knowing that even with a little .380, they can make a bad guy think twice about messing with old men.