.380 alternatives to the LCP

Back again. Thanks for keeping this going. I'm swimming in advice now.

Could anyone expound a bit more on their experience putting a softer spring in the LCP? Is there a downside to this switch?

I'm still leaning toward LCP, but I will at least make sure to try and handle a pico and a Glock before I make my choice. My local gun store is pretty well stocked.
 
Consider a Kahr CW380, it's about the same size (SMALL) as the LCP but has nicer features. The sights are more usable than the LCP, it recoils less, has a better trigger and the slide locks back on the last round. Plus after owning 3 LCPs, I feel the CW380 is a better quality gun as well.
 
I bought a LCP stainless two weeks ago(less than $300 OTD with extra mag). After a thorough cleaning on Wednesday I found an hour to get to the range on Thursday.

On crap Blazer FMJ it cycled flawlessly and accurate. I love the trigger in this little belly gun.

This was at 7.5 yards, indoor range, lights off on my lane to simulate shooting in the house under low/no light. All I could see was the red dot in the center mass the rest was dark. This gun can shoot! I'm not going to win a shootout with it but I can stop a threat and that is why I own it. My favorite handgun right now. Ruger you nailed it with the LCP!

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I've found lasers to be very useful as a training aid, the likelihood of them being a help in a actual SD situation.
I have Crimson traces on my LCR but have been thinking of getting the Viridan mini tac light for my LCP the LC9 just has night sights.
I don't get the G42, unless somebody is extremely recoil sensitive.
 
I would rather shoot European ammunition in my .32 ACP.

I STILL like my .32's! Shooting them accurately isn't a problem, and meting our 6 rounds in less than 3 seconds will generally "accomplish the task at hand". the European ammunition has more "bounce to the ounce" and their FMJ loadings work VERY well.


Scott
 
Lasers for training, and impressing those who have been brainwashed by Hollywood, and marketing.
But for me I will never trust my life to circuits and batteries.

On the lighter spring, why? Have you tried a new LCP yet to see how good it is straight from the factory?
 
For those of us with failing eyes, laser sights are much easier to get on target quickly and then get back on target after firing a shot. For you youngsters, that day will arrive for you too. :D
 
Putting a gun in your underwear for a midnight trip to the bathroom? Are you for real? If you're really that paranoid, just carry a gun with you and leave it on the sink, than carry it back to your bedroom.

You're joking, right?
 
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The stainless TCP is better than the LCP IMHO being that the stainless version can be had for less than the LCP's blued slide option and, unlike the LCP or the Kel Tec P3AT, the TCP has last round hold open, the stainless TCP comes with 2 magazines, and it arguably has the better trigger than the LCP...

I chose the TCP over the Ruger for those reasons, and I carry my TCP often. Never gave me any issues.

[edit] I forgot to mention that if a stainless slide is not your cup of tea, the TCP is also offered in Black Stainless. You'll just about never have to worry or think about about rust.
 
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I wish the LCP had the "last round" hold open but remember this is not a shoot out gun, its purely SD. I do have an extra mag for mine but it stays in my range bag. I do not think I will find myself in a situation where I live that I will need more than 7 rounds to stop a threat.

I have the .38 LCR as well but with only 5 rounds(but more potent) its also all I think I need and lets face it, speed loaders are just something else to conceal.

If I'm going into a situation that I feel I need more firepower I will avoid that situation or I will open carry something more significant.
 
For those of us with failing eyes, laser sights are much easier to get on target quickly and then get back on target after firing a shot. For you youngsters, that day will arrive for you too.
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My 68 YO eyes reached that level long ago. In fact I have worn glasses since my teens. Plenty of Ozark Hardwoods squirrels, rabbits, and plenty of junk yard trash will argue that I didn't need a laser then. Lots of targets missing big areas in the center will attest to the fact that not having to waste time pressing buttons, and searching for little dots led to their perforated condition.
When one uses an electronic devise for a crutch, they can waste valuable time when that crutch fails. Failing to perform an additional action. "searching" the target for a dot that can be difficult, if not impossible to see in some lighting. Concentrating on following a jumping, jerking dot on a moving target instead of instinctively shooting when needed. All things that make that electronic gizmo of a crutch much less effective than knowing how to shoot without it.
Just my opinions, and reasons why I don't have lasers on my CCW guns.
I did have one on my Elsie Pea for a while. Until it broke for the second time in three years. It was good for being able to reaffirm my instinct shooting, indoors, without having to actually shoot. After clearing, and double checking my LCP I would put it back in my pocket holster. Then randomly draw, and point at a picture, vase, door, or other object. Then press the button to see how close I was on the target. It didn't take long to tell that the laser wasn't needed at all. The LCP is such a natural appointed to me that sights are not really necessary to keep it on a threat sized target at SD range.
 
Lasers are at best a training tool. At worst, a crutch for people who won't learn to shoot.
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Is that why special forces use them? They don't take the time to learn how to shoot?
 
Is that why Special Forces use them? They don't take the time to learn how to shoot?
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That is the key. They have access to all sorts of specialized equipment, and intensive training on how, and when to use it!
Far more training than a civilian who sees a magazine, or TV add proclaiming that a laser is the be all, end all sight for self defence.
I'm sure tha any member of the U.S. Military that is trained in the use of a laser as an option has a much more advanced ability to adapt from one sighting method to another than any civilian with a 380 mouse gun in his pocket.
If the electronics hanging on the side of your gun makes you feel more confident, use it. If you think seeing a little dot dancing on an assailant's chest will stop him, you've been watching way too much TV.
 
I think the Ruger LCP is a good choice in 380ACP micros but prefer the Kahr CW380 which can be found around the same price. I like the CW380 trigger better and its last round slide holdback is a huge advantage.
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I am a fan of the Kahr. I have owned a PM9 since shortly after they came out, bought a P45 beacuse I liked the PM9 so much.

Later bought a PM45, which I subsequently sold--thought it would be the perfect compromise between two pistols I liked very much, but as with many compromises in life, it was not the best of both worlds, but the worst.

About a year ago, I bought a CW380 to replace my LCP. I am still not carrying it. Why not?
--It is nowhere near as universally dependable as my PM9 (or the LCP).
--It is not significantly smaller than my PM9.
--The last round hold-open is not reliable (this may be my thumb positioning.)

It is getting better with use and with time, but honestly, I am thinking of going back to the LCP. Both of mine were dead reliable from round #1, and remained so through any and all ammo, and any mag. I am less than sanguine about the .380's performance, but for a tiny pistol, the LCP is as good as it gets.
 
Bodyguard .380 In the back pocket in a talon wallet works awesome in jeans or mini Foxx IWB at 4:00 it even works great at 1:00 appendix
 
Herluf-Any folks have opinions as to whether to get the laser or not?
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If you go with the LCP there was the old "LaserMax" and the "Crimson Trace" which I've just been told has a couple variations with the LCP so I guess you have to be aware of WHICH laser system you're talking about.

The LaserMax was the cheapest and fit on the front and IMhO was too easy to turn on by mistake. It had a pin right in front of the trigger guard as an on/off switch. In the middle it was off. Push it in from either side and the laser was on. The advantage to this one was if you wanted to mess around with different grips or grip sleeves you could.

One version of the "Crimson Trace" had the laser high on the right grip. The current (May 2015) has the laser in front of the trigger guard like the LaserMax but the on/off switch is on the front of the grip. I don't have any experience with either of the Crimson Trace options.

I personally don't care much for the laser option at all.
 
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