What .380acp Pistol ?

jimmyj

jimmyj

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Hi:
I am considering purchasing a .380acp Pistol (PLEASE don't tell Penny/Wife).
My experience in the past has been:
1. Remington Model 51
2. Beretta Model 1934
3. Browning BDA
4. Walther PPK

I really liked all three, but the Browning somewhat better.
With the Walther PPK I had "Hammer Bite" in the area between the thumb and index finger (similar to a Colt M1911 "Bite")
I like a mid size pistol and not a mini.

I am thinking another Browning BDA or perhaps a Beretta Model 85.
Opinions ??
Thanks,
Jimmy
 
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i really like my Sig P238, it's all metal and a fine gun. It likes all ammo except that steel Tulamo. But, i think it's smaller than what your looking for..
 
I'm not a fan of blowback 380s. Even one the size of a BDA/Beretta 85 has as much muzzle flip as my usual 9mm but uses a weaker cartridge. There are a few locked breech 380s out there, the Colt, the Star it was derived from and the Hungarian B9R are the three that spring to mind in medium size. The Kel-Tec 3AT is also a locked breech design and does not kick much.
 
I just got the Ruger LCP and I love it. Its not bad to shoot at all and pretty darn accurate. I got it for when I don't feel like carrying my shield so I can just throw it in my pocket and go. Great little gun. But I really looked hard at the P238 but just didn't have the funds to get it at this time. Really liked that gun as well.
 
Had the Browning BDA .380, quality gun with high-capacity, but sold it for two reasons. One was the size (big for a .380), and second the recoil. Just found that it was too snappy for my liking. Now have the Kahr P380. Holster it all the time pocket-carry, and actually enjoy shooting it. Very accurate, in fact surprising so...and added a Crimson Trace for a terrific EDC. I don't find it to be as snappy as other .380's, which makes no sense given the small size. Go figure.....Kahr makes a quality gun.
 
I think the Browning and the Berretta are very similar. Beretta has the tip up bbl ? I like that feature.

I own and like my Walther PPK by Interarms. No failures with 3 brands of ammo, and small but accurate.
 
jimmyj said:
Hi:
I am considering purchasing a .380acp Pistol (PLEASE don't tell Penny/Wife).
My experience in the past has been:
1. Remington Model 51
2. Beretta Model 1934
3. Browning BDA

I really liked all three, but the Browning somewhat better.
I like a mid size pistol and not a mini.

I am thinking another Browning BDA or perhaps a Beretta Model 85.
Opinions ??
Thanks,
Jimmy
Click to expand...

My wife prefers the sig 238, I like the S&W Bodyguard .380. Long trigger pull on the bodyguard and the crimson trace laser isn't necessary but it shoots very well. Good luck!
 
I just dove into the .380 "club". I've never been a real fan of the caliber; I prefer the Super .38 for self-defense. But in the past two weeks I've purchased two in .380.
  • The first is a Colt Government PocketLite .380. It's virtually a scaled down 1911, using a blow back system, but recoils very mildly. It's built on an alloy frame. I've put about 200 rounds through it, and it's performed flawlessly. I've been carrying it in a waist holster, and in my vest pocket.
  • The second is a Sig P232. It's an all stainless steel model, and comes in much heavier than the Colt by about 10 ounces. It's also a straight blow back model, but the felt recoil seems more than the lighter Colt. As of today, it's had 200 rounds of all different makes of ammo through it, and it's also worked flawlessly. It's hardly a true "pocket" gun though. I will carry it, but primarily in a holster.
I've fired several different .380's over the past two years, including the Ruger LCP, Walther PPK/S, Colt Mustang, a Browning BDA and a CZ 82. From a quality perspective, the Sig has it all over the Walther, and I like the trigger on both the Colt and the Sig. Neither has what you could call a "target" trigger, but they're both self-defense guns.
 
I have a Russian Makarov in .380, with adjustable sights. It has digested every load I've tried. Not one malfunction since I've owned it, and not one for my friend who traded it to me in the years that he owned it.

Offhand at 10 yards, with most ammo, it will group the size of a quarter.

I'm aware that there's been just a little bit of discussion here concerning the effectiveness of the .380, but I have no feelings of inadequacy when I've got it with me. Which I will have to say is rarely anymore, it's basically a back-up to my 2 main carry pistols, but still, it's one of the best autos I've ever owned.
 
Engieman said:
Had the Browning BDA .380, quality gun with high-capacity, but sold it for two reasons. One was the size (big for a .380), and second the recoil. Just found that it was too snappy for my liking. Now have the Kahr P380. Holster it all the time pocket-carry, and actually enjoy shooting it. Very accurate, in fact surprising so...and added a Crimson Trace for a terrific EDC. I don't find it to be as snappy as other .380's, which makes no sense given the small size. Go figure.....Kahr makes a quality gun.
Click to expand...

Your BDA was straight blowback and the Kahr is a locked breech design. It makes a big difference.
 
I just handled a Glock 42 for the first time - it seems to fit your stated criteria but I can see how minimally larger the 9 mm model is...food for thought.
 
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There is only one .380........for your Tux gun.....J.... Mr. J... "the CIA swear by them"........even in .32 "they hit like a brick through a plate glass window!"


for a daily carry....might I recommend what that gentleman from MI-6 should carry; a S&W 3913NL!!!
 
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I like the 13 or 15 shot Beretta. Is that the model 85? Beretta made the BDA for Browning and made the ejection port opening smaller than on the Beretta. I have a Browning (made in FN Belgium) model 1910. I tracked its date of birth at about 1965. It is small, all steel and supremely well made and has never jammed . Its single stack mag holds 6 rounds and are easy to find in the Shotgun News or gunshows.
 
DWalt said:
If you already have a .380 Remington Model 51 (the original), why do you need any other .380? You can't do any better.
Click to expand...

Hi, DWalt:
I do not own a .380 at present. My Remington Model 51 I loaned to a new hire Officer. He didn't finish FTO, and moved out of State with my .380.
My Browning BDA .380 at present resides with one of my five LEO Sons.
 
For a mid size .380 I have a Beretta 84F (not the cheetah model). I like it, 13+1 and it carries well.
 
I've had three Colt Mustangs, one a stainless pocketlite. Wish I'd never got rid of them; reliable with anything and accurate.
 
Walther PK380 is an incredible handgun.

Look one up and SHOOT one if you can, before you buy something else.
 
You don't really say what use you have in mind for a .380. I'm
somewhat biased when it comes to .380s and it looks like you already
had the best one in my opinion, the 1934 Beretta. I have several
1934s and one Browning 1910/55. I had a Remington 51 in the past
but wasn't all that fond of it. The 1934 Beretta was sold in the US
until 1967 and there are some floating around for sale that are in far
better condition than the war era examples.
 
I have a kahr p380 and a stainless ruger lcp. I like them both but now find myself carrying the ruger more .There is just something about the lcp that I really like.
 
I've been leaning toward getting a .380 myself if for no other reason than just to have one. So, I've been doing a ton of online research as well as reading and watching video reviews (more this vs that than I can count), looking for reliability, accuracy, comfort, price and overall fun factor.

Of all the ones I looked at, the Bersa Thunder .380 seems to rise above the pack. Something to do with the fixed barrel and over barrel recoil spring design, much like that of a Makarov. It's accurate, reliable, has a de-cocker safety and sells at a decent price.

I found a nice little kit online for $349 that includes a Bersa Thunder .380, 1 7rnd mag, 1 8rnd mag, a leather conceal carry holster and a cleaning kit which are all packed in a zippered padded case.
EDIT: It also comes with a finger groove wrap around grip and a standard walnut grip.

The only reason I haven't bought one yet, is that .380 ammo is still extremely hard to come by in my area. The few times I've actually spotted some on the shelves, it's usually significantly higher than 9mm. Where a 50ct box of Federal Champion 9mm FMJ will cost around $15.00, the same thing in .380 will be closer to $20.00.
 
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