Looking for opinions on a .380 pocket pistol. I currently have a Ruger LC9 for concealed carry but I’m looking for something smaller for every day carry. My three possibilities are Ruger LCP, Ruger LCP2 and S&W Bodyguard. Anyone have a favorite or another option that might fit my situation? I’m stuck between the LCP2 and Bodyguard. I’m also considering a Taurus Spectrum but haven’t handled one in person yet.
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.380 Opinions?
- Thread starter cc1965
- Start date
lee n. field
New member
Have an LCP, don't care for it.
The changes from the LCP to the LCP II don't address the reasons I don't care much for the LCP.
So, right now, not sure what I'd go for if I wanted to look for a smallest size pocket .380.
The changes from the LCP to the LCP II don't address the reasons I don't care much for the LCP.
So, right now, not sure what I'd go for if I wanted to look for a smallest size pocket .380.
HighValleyRanch
New member
The Seecamp is possibly the smallest size .380. But then it's even a handfull to shoot with hot .32. Not sure what it would be like with .380. The NAA Guardian is a little larger.
Looking for opinions on a .380 pocket pistol. I currently have a Ruger LC9 for concealed carry but I’m looking for something smaller for every day carry. My three possibilities are Ruger LCP, Ruger LCP2 and S&W Bodyguard. Anyone have a favorite or another option that might fit my situation? I’m stuck between the LCP2 and Bodyguard. I’m also considering a Taurus Spectrum but haven’t handled one in person yet.
I like the Sig P238 because of the size and handling but you have to carry in Condition 1, Cocked and Locked.
Hard to beat a Sig Sauer P365 in 9 mm with the capacity. It’s still a pocket carry gun.
In the end you need to be comfortable with how it handles, how you carry it, shot placement, and willingness to actually conceal it.
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2wheelwander
New member
Beretta 85 might be a bit big but worth a look for you
MoArk Willy
New member
In my opinion the Bodyguard is better made than the LCP. I haven't tried or handled the Spectrum. However you didn't mention the Sig P238. For me it was the best .380 out there at a price that was "out there" as well. I myself carry the Bodyguard.
If I wanted to spend twice the amount it would be for the Sig.
If I wanted to spend twice the amount it would be for the Sig.
When you are talking LCP, of which I have, it is a deep carry pistol. It’s not a target pistol, it’s not a combat pistol, but its
the pistol you slip in a coat pocket, cargo pocket and you don’t know it’s there.Does it it’s have faults? Of course.
But it does what is designed to do, provide you with a true lightweight, concealed carry that is there when you need it. The other weapons mentioned are fine pistols, but for my purposes, I’ll keep my LCP
the pistol you slip in a coat pocket, cargo pocket and you don’t know it’s there.Does it it’s have faults? Of course.
But it does what is designed to do, provide you with a true lightweight, concealed carry that is there when you need it. The other weapons mentioned are fine pistols, but for my purposes, I’ll keep my LCP
lapetrarca53
New member
I just picked up the Smith & Wesson M&P 380 EZ. I got the version without the thumb safety.
Haven't had a chance to shoot it yet but, it feels solidly built and well made. It's also "EZ" to take down and reassemble.
I also have an LCP II. Great pocket carry piece but, pretty snappy for target shooting or plinking, which it's not designed for. You won't be putting a lot of rounds down range before it gets uncomfortable.
Haven't had a chance to shoot it yet but, it feels solidly built and well made. It's also "EZ" to take down and reassemble.
I also have an LCP II. Great pocket carry piece but, pretty snappy for target shooting or plinking, which it's not designed for. You won't be putting a lot of rounds down range before it gets uncomfortable.
I have owned a number of pocket .380s but the only ones I have kept are my two LCPs, one a modified first generation and the other an LCP Custom.
I kept these two mainly because they were reliable and the others I owned (including various Kel-tecs, two SIG P 238s, an abysmal Kahr P380, an early Smith Bodyguard and an early Glock 42) were not.
The two problems with my first generation LCP were the complete lack of sights and the heavy trigger. Fixed both of these at some expense, but it looks to me like the second generation of the basic LCP has fixed both these issues, and I would get that over the LCP II, which by all accounts has a very light trigger requiring much care in handling and holstering.
The LCPs have fairly sharp recoil because they are so small and light. You can ameliorate this issue significantly by getting one of the Hogue wraparound grips that attach using a longer pin replacing the rear frame pin of the pistol. Helps a lot, and really, you should be able to deal with the recoil pretty well with that modification, and using the extended mag baseplates on your mags.
My Smith Bodyguard, like I said was an early version, and it was crap. Smith’s vaunted fast service couldn’t fix it. Maybe this gun is better now, in terms of reliability, but I would make sure of this before getting one. It’s other major issue has been a Very heavy trigger, which you can fix at additional expense by getting an Apex trigger kit put in. I wanted to like the Bodyguard, it’s comfortable to shoot compared to the LCP, and has good sights, but mine just wasn’t reliable.
I sold my unreliable Glock 42 to a buddy (with disclosure) who is a Glock armorer. He had problems too, but sent it back to Glock and they put in new parts which fixed his issues, so that gun may be OK now. It shoots much better than the LCP, but requires a full holster because of its trigger setup. A holster is really a requirement for pocket carry anyway.
People keep mentioning those SIG P238s, but as mentioned above, it’s a single action gun you should carry cocked and locked. You want to do that, OK. I don’t. Mine were also too finicky to be trusted for defensive carry. They shot nice.
I kept these two mainly because they were reliable and the others I owned (including various Kel-tecs, two SIG P 238s, an abysmal Kahr P380, an early Smith Bodyguard and an early Glock 42) were not.
The two problems with my first generation LCP were the complete lack of sights and the heavy trigger. Fixed both of these at some expense, but it looks to me like the second generation of the basic LCP has fixed both these issues, and I would get that over the LCP II, which by all accounts has a very light trigger requiring much care in handling and holstering.
The LCPs have fairly sharp recoil because they are so small and light. You can ameliorate this issue significantly by getting one of the Hogue wraparound grips that attach using a longer pin replacing the rear frame pin of the pistol. Helps a lot, and really, you should be able to deal with the recoil pretty well with that modification, and using the extended mag baseplates on your mags.
My Smith Bodyguard, like I said was an early version, and it was crap. Smith’s vaunted fast service couldn’t fix it. Maybe this gun is better now, in terms of reliability, but I would make sure of this before getting one. It’s other major issue has been a Very heavy trigger, which you can fix at additional expense by getting an Apex trigger kit put in. I wanted to like the Bodyguard, it’s comfortable to shoot compared to the LCP, and has good sights, but mine just wasn’t reliable.
I sold my unreliable Glock 42 to a buddy (with disclosure) who is a Glock armorer. He had problems too, but sent it back to Glock and they put in new parts which fixed his issues, so that gun may be OK now. It shoots much better than the LCP, but requires a full holster because of its trigger setup. A holster is really a requirement for pocket carry anyway.
People keep mentioning those SIG P238s, but as mentioned above, it’s a single action gun you should carry cocked and locked. You want to do that, OK. I don’t. Mine were also too finicky to be trusted for defensive carry. They shot nice.
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Bill DeShivs
New member
Single action guns can also be carried hammer down (condition 2,) as long as you train to use it that way.
EDC a Glock 42..Big fan of 'modern' .380 ammo. Some carry ammo(like Lehigh Xtreme Defender) tests on par with some 9mm JHP, particularly thru barriers/cloth, etc.Looking for opinions on a .380 pocket pistol. I currently have a Ruger LC9 for concealed carry but I’m looking for something smaller for every day carry. My three possibilities are Ruger LCP, Ruger LCP2 and S&W Bodyguard. Anyone have a favorite or another option that might fit my situation? I’m stuck between the LCP2 and Bodyguard. I’m also considering a Taurus Spectrum but haven’t handled one in person yet.
Owned a LCP..it worked for what it was but not much fun to shoot. I'm a fan of if I own a gun, want to shoot it often.
but I’m looking for something smaller for every day carry
Glock 42, mine is 100% reliable, but it isn't smaller..2017 manufacture, I asked Glock...
RM380 might suit you but again, a lot of the smaller .380 are a PITA to shoot..for me.
My pocket pistol is a Sig P238. My wife has one too, in her purse. Both have been completely reliable, and they shoot remarkably well for a pistol of that size.
I find the LCP trigger to be somewhat long and heavy, but certainly manageable. Some folks complain a lot about it, but I consider it appropriate for its application. The recoil on the LCP to me was not uncomfortable, but there was something about the grip shape that let it move in my hand. I am probably in a minority, however, because they are very popular.
I also have a Beretta 85. Definitely not a pocket gun.
I find the LCP trigger to be somewhat long and heavy, but certainly manageable. Some folks complain a lot about it, but I consider it appropriate for its application. The recoil on the LCP to me was not uncomfortable, but there was something about the grip shape that let it move in my hand. I am probably in a minority, however, because they are very popular.
I also have a Beretta 85. Definitely not a pocket gun.
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