Tell me about the SW380

[winchester1]

Hi All,
Please forgive the question, but I'm a revolver guy and need some help on a SW380 I found in a shop today. What can you guys tell me about these, seems like a good little pistol and it does say S&W on it so it can't be all bad! They are asking 200.00 for it and it seems to be decent except the finish on the slide (looks like black paint?) is wearing off on all the high spots.
Any thoughts would be appreciated,
Thanks,

 

[jsbethel]

The SW380 is a carry often-shoot little pistol. I had one for years and it was always perfectly reliable. The slide finish is rather poor - I had a friend Duracoat mine. If I found another for $200, I would buy it.

 

[ab4ka]

I've not seen one in person but if I found one (and I shot .380) I'd grab it.

 

[Fastbolt]

Ask the shop to demonstrate how to field strip it for cleaning.

 

[handgunner356]

I'd save my $200

 

[Pisgah]

When they foisted these guns of on the market, I was dumb enough to get two. I've seen Jennings pistols that put these examples to shame. Both were junk, both went back twice to S&W, and neither was ever reliable through more than a single magazine.

If others had better luck, they were blessed. S&W even marketed them with the info that they should be rebuilt every 2500 rounds or so, IIRC. They were being overly optimistic.

 

[John F.]

Despite my best efforts to get my Dad to buy a high-quality defense gun, he bought one of these (invective deleted)'s when they came out. It was terrible. He lost money (of course) when he traded it back to the dealer. Ever one to try and save a buck (raised in the Great Depression), he then bought another el-cheapo, and it didn't work either. By the time he was done "saving" money, he'd wasted about $100 extra before getting the good gun he should have bought in the first place.

If the one we tried was any indication, whoever designed/marketed that pistol should have been flogged. You'll notice it didn't last long on the market... Caveat emptor!

John

 

[carbuncle]

I'd say a Kel-Tec P3AT or a or a Ruger LCP would be a better bet for less than 100 bucks more. I know this is the S&W forum and all, but the truth is the truth...

 

[greengael]

Rented one some years ago at S&W in Springfield,unpleasant to shoot, hard to put on target. Not as much bite as Walther ppk but did not pursue a purchase. I agree a Kel-tec product is probably superior.

 

[pred]

I have seen one lately at my local shop.
It was locked up tighter than a mouses #*#%
Also was loaded, On it's way to the gun smith.
Pass on it.
Peter

 

[vnmous1]

Save your $200, save another $300 and buy a .380 semi when they come out in May (provided that you really want a .380).

Smith has no plans to develop the new semi-auto in other calibers (say, ummm 9mm) and they have been in talks with ammo manufacturers that say they will step up production as sales of their new little piece demands.

I hope that's true, because .380 prices are absolutely out of control and particularly so when you consider the gross absence of effective load options.

bj

 

[Fastbolt]

The SW380 (and SW9M) are probably something that S&W regrets from that time period.

When I attended a Sigma armorer class many years ago they included the SW380/9M in the class, but they had their own armorer manual, with the Sigma being covered in the Sigma Series Armorer's Manual. The instructor told us that the 380 & 9M models had been intended for folks on very limited budgets who would probably shoot the guns very little, and that the expected service life of the guns was maybe 2,500 - 3,000 rounds before they became unserviceable. The joke was made about them being the disposable butane cigarette lighters of the handgun world.

The SW380 is field-stripped by using a disassembly tool (plastic handled pin punch from S&W) to drive out the Take Down Rail Pin from the frame so the Take Down Rail can be removed out the back and then the slide retracted, lifted and then moved forward off the frame.

The extractors are pinned in the slides, unlike the Sigma Series.

The plastic handled pin punch (Take Down Tool) was handy and contoured to allow it to be inserted in the muzzle end of the barrel so the recoil spring and slide could be installed over the frame.

The idea of making a very affordable .380 was laudable, but the execution left much to be desired.

I normally prefer to refrain from making disparaging comments about firearms that someone may own, but I wouldn't own one (or the SW9M 9mm version, either).

I don't mean to insult anyone who may still own one. They did serve a perceived need envisioned by S&W. It just wasn't a need I felt I needed filled.

Just my thoughts.

 

[BigRich315]

The joke was made about them being the disposable butane cigarette lighters of the handgun world.

Now I believe that role is filled by Hi Point.

The concensus I've heard is that this is definitely the one S&W would like to take back.

 

[winchester1]

wow!
Thanks for the info guys, I guess it's better off staying where its at, it is a shame it didn't work out so well for S&W. The popularity of the Kel Tec and the LCP are no doubt the reason for the new 380 Bodyguard. I guess I'll wait and see how it turns out, at least its got a revolver name
Thanks again guys,