SW380 - any good

[capttom]

I've heard disparaging remarks about the SW380. I know they can be found for $200+. Is there a specific version that had problems and were improvements made, or is that model to be avoided?

 

[capttom]

I've heard disparaging remarks about the SW380. I know they can be found for $200+. Is there a specific version that had problems and were improvements made, or is that model to be avoided?

 

[JN01]

I have no personal experience with them, but most comments I have read have been bad. They apparently had a very short service life, perhaps the reason they were only produced a very short time.

 

[dmd45]

Nope--stay away!! dmd

 

[OKFC05]

I have one.
It is a light-duty point and shoot .380 backup pistol.
Start using it for routine practice and it probably won't last long.

I have a SIG 230 .380 which I have shot a lot and is still as good as ever.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I have owned two of the .380's and one of the slightly larger 9mm versions. Not total crap, all of mine worked fine. You need a punch to take them apart, the tiny sights are useless, spare mags were expensive. Still, they were reliable enough to pass on to relatives and a good friend. Not a model to shoot daily, they were suposed to have a limited service life but few people shoot thousands of rounds a year anyway.

I would not give $200.00 for one though, I bought a S&W #908 for that kind of money.

 

[razdog76]

I have had two of them and swapped them out for different backup/off duty guns.

Both of them were 100% reliable and very simple. I also liked the magazines because they would not accidentally pop out.

They had a lot of recoil... my hand would ache after shooting a box of ammo, and the lack of distinct sights wasn't very good for aimed shots.

For a couple more c-notes you could have for instance a glock 26 chambered in a more powerful cartridge, with less perceived recoil, and more of them in the magazine.

 

[handgunner356]

Had both the 9 and the 380 models, they were decent for the price. I think I paid less then $200 for the 380 when it was new. That then and I wouldn't do the same now. I believe they gave a round count of 2500 to replace the slide, that's fine when you could get a replacement for $50, but I doubt they even make parts for them anymore. I would probably lean more towards a Kel-Tec or the Ruger LCP(when they figure it out) for a little more money.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

I think for that amount of money, you could do so much better. I'd probably get a Makarov or clone before I bought a SW380 if you want to stay with a semi-auto, or save your money up for a J frame snubbie.

Best of luck,

Dave

 

[LH2]

My .380 was 100% through a few hundred rounds, not a bad little pistol, but I'd recommend the LCP or Kel-Tec P3AT instead. I think either one of those will hold up better long term if you insist on a .380.

Otherwise, look at Kahr's MK9 / PM9 or the Kel-Tec PF-9 for a more powerful cartridge in very small packages.

 

[capttom]

Thanks for the info. Sometimes I let my desire for the oddball gun to get the better of me. I once bought a Smith Mdl 61 for which I had absolutely no use. bought it for no other reason than it was there and money was in my pocket. One of the few guns I was glad to get rid of.
For carry, I certainly have better options in the safe.