380ACP Experience

380

I recently picked a Walther PK 380 and found it quite comfortable to shoot and surprisingly accurate.

After about 300-400 rounds it has yet to have any function failures.

Suggest you handle as many as possible prior to purchasing.
 
I have a stainless Sig P230. The DA trigger was pretty bad when it was new. I had a smith polish it, which helped a little, and over the years it has gotten better through use (or maybe I've just gotten used to it).

It's a good, reliable pistol, but the recoil is rather snappy. I bought it for my wife, but she hated the way it bites, so I made it my EDC gun.

My friend has a Sig P239 single-stack 9mm that is barely bigger than the P230, holds one more round in the mag, and is more pleasant to shoot.

But the P230 sure is a pretty thing.
 
I have a kelTec 380 on my side at present I also have 2 Bersa Thunders a Interarms PPK/s I pocket carry this PPK and have for years . and 2 Colt Mustangs one 1990 other 1992 .Soft recoil and also pocket carry .

Little KT has most recoil also the smallest and lightest of the group.
 
Been eyeing the S&W Bodyguard Been eyeing the S&W Bodyguard the safety is very hard to work, at least for me.
Walther has a few models in .380 but I haven't handled any.
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Don't limit your search to just two brands, and models. Lots to look at in process from under $300 to near $600.
 
AustinTX said:
Well, what size exactly are you looking for? Bodyguard size? Because Walther doesn't make anything that qualifies as a pocket .380.
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+1. IMHO the guns most directly comparable to the BG380 are the Ruger LCP, Kahr P380, Taurus TCP, and Kel-Tec P3AT. The SIG P238, Colt Mustang Pocketlite, and the earlier but more obscure pistols from which they're derived (the Star DK, I-J X-300 Pony, and FI Model D) are similar in size but are generally more expensive and have a more complex manual of arms.

The Walther PPK and PPK/S are a good deal larger than these, and perhaps more significantly, are MUCH heavier as a result of their all-steel construction. IMHO they are NOT pocket guns unless you have unusually large and well-supported pockets. ;)
AustinTX said:
...the G42 is bigger than a Kahr PM9. That gun [the G42] doesn't really belong in this particular conversation, in my opinion.
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The second point is debatable, but it is important to understand that the Glock is larger than the above-mentioned pistols, particularly in length. The difference is arguably small, but this is a class in which small differences count for a lot.

Lastly- to address several other posts, in no particular order- the Walther PK380, SIG P230/232, Llama, Makarov, and Beretta Series 81 (e.g. 84) belong in what I like to call the "Little Service Pistol" category; yes, they're small compared to a 1911 or a G19, but they're not substantially smaller overall than an M&P9c, G26, XD9 Sub-Compact, or even something like a S&W 3913. While some of these .380s are nifty guns in their own right, and I like several of them, I have a hard time justifying carrying one when 9mm firepower can be had in nearly the same size package.
 
Love the trigger on my new to me 84B. I also like that I can carry it cocked and locked unlike the 84FS I used to have. The trigger is slick it has that old school Beretta feel. I did not buy it for carry but I would not be opposed to it. I would not feel under protected. In the end it is all about what you shoot well not what round is in the chamber IMHO. Assuming we are talking 380 auto, 9mm Mak & up.

 
I have an LCP and Beretta 84f.
The LCP feels like I am shooting the bullits with my hand. Not pleasant to shoot but accurate within reasonable distance and reliable. But at least for me, not fun to shoot much. I would put about 20 rounds just to practice with it and put it away.

Beretta 84f bought last weeks but have not shot yet. Feels great in the hand thought.
 
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I 2nd the ruger lcp 380 great little gun. I own on very nice and dependable for the size.
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I considered one but didn't like the idea of finding out I was out of ammo when it just went click. The little Taurus won me over because it holds open on the last shot and I saved $100.
 
This may as well be a Beretta 84 its made by them, little bigger than some but pure quality and it just feels good in the hand.
Browning BDA in .380

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You can't go wrong with the Ruger LCP. It's affordable, reliable, easy to conceal and carry and Ruger backs their products.
 
I owned the Ruger LCP, sold it and bought a S&W BG380.

The only reason I did so was for the manual safety on the BG. The LCP was a sweet little gun. You will find people are VERY loyal to them.

The BG is nice, seems a little more solid, and is a bit heavier. It weighs empty what the LCP weighs with a full mag. Not a lot, but you feel it. It's also a tiny bit larger, but not enough to notice while carrying.

Since buying the BG I was happy for the last shot hold-open, except sometimes it doesn't work. I had a couple reliability issues with it that I sent it back to Smith for which seem mostly fixed. I still have to run it some more.

I also like the fact that it can handle +Ps, which Ruger says not to in the LCP.

It's also better looking, at least the non-laser model, IMO.

But sometimes I miss that LCP, and the fact that it would eat anything I fed it, and was 100% reliable.

David
 
.380

I have a SIG P230 SS, .380 and it has been my EDC (Summer) pistol for the last 4 years. They are a solid pistol. My only con is the bottom mag release.
 
Love the Glock 42. It's a little bigger but I think it's worth it. If the trigger was a little better I'd also love the Ruger LC380. Again a little big for the pocket. The LC9S has a better trigger.

For a pocket .380 I really like the LCP with the finger extension and a good grip.
 
I really like my Bersa Thunder in .380. It is light, fits my hand better than my LCP and is reliable and accurate. My father in law liked his so much he even went so far as to pick up the Bersa Thunder in .22lr.

Shoot safe and often
 
Browning BDA in .380
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Beautiful firearm. About three decades ago, when I first considered buying a self-defense sidearm, I decided on a Browning BDA380 after considerable deliberation. Unfortunately, the purchase was a low priority, and by the time I decided to make a purchase, three years ago, I was dismayed to learn the BDA380 was no longer made. I heard that every once in a while Browning has Beretta make a run of BDA380s, but there is no way to predict when and if it will happen again. So, I considered the Beretta 84FS, which I think I would have liked its frame-mounted safety better than the Browning's slide-mounted version, but there were no 84FSs to be found and the cost was daunting. I found a local dealer who claimed to have a CZ 83 in stock, which he did from a remote supplier. At $300 less than the Beretta I bit, and have been happy since. I will admit, however, that the Browning and Beretta are both much better looking.
 
The BDA380 was a great piece! Mine was stolen:mad:

A Beretta 70S is another great option if you can find one. Similar to the 84, but a bit smaller.

OOOHHHhhh...for the well-heeled, the Seecamp 380! I have the 25 and 32...I have heard the 380 is not as brutal to shoot as one might think....:confused:
 
Beautiful firearm. About three decades ago, when I first considered buying a self-defense sidearm, I decided on a Browning BDA380 after considerable deliberation. Unfortunately, the purchase was a low priority, and by the time I decided to make a purchase, three years ago, I was dismayed to learn the BDA380 was no longer made. I heard that every once in a while Browning has Beretta make a run of BDA380s, but there is no way to predict when and if it will happen again. So, I considered the Beretta 84FS, which I think I would have liked its frame-mounted safety better than the Browning's slide-mounted version, but there were no 84FSs to be found and the cost was daunting. I found a local dealer who claimed to have a CZ 83 in stock, which he did from a remote supplier. At $300 less than the Beretta I bit, and have been happy since. I will admit, however, that the Browning and Beretta are both much better looking.
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If you want a BDA or a Beretta check out these auctions... CDI sales is excellent. There a quite a few that can get out OTD under $400 if you have a good transfer dealer.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Semi-Auto-Pistols/BI.aspx?IncludeSellers=2621012&mfg=1000038

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http://www.gunbroker.com/Semi-Auto-Pistols/BI.aspx?IncludeSellers=2621012&mfg=1000049&mo=3000315

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