Do I really need a $500 .380?

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On occasions when I can't carry my EDC, I usually take my LCP. This month's American Rifleman has a full back cover ad for the Kimber Micro .380. It sure is pretty. For that matter, so is the Sig P238 and the Colt Mustang (the REAL one, not the plastic one). They are all comparably priced, more or less. The Sig owners seem to really love their guns. Haven't really heard much about the Micro (no general Kimber hate please). I've been scheming to get my brother's Gov't .380 for years without success. Your advice is appreciated.

What about poor Elsie Pea? She ain't as purty, but she's been faithful and reliable. She may have aged a bit, but it's good honest wear. Should I feel guilty about leaving her at home while I go traipsing about with some fancy new .380?
 
No you have a gun that runs... The early P238 had lots of issues. They have seemed to have worked themselves out after Sig used the buying public as beta testers for 2 plus years.

Kimber has not done well with new designs, see the Solo.

The Pony is a good gun if it runs but they have a history of being so so when it comes to reliability. Have not heard a lot about the new ones. They brought it back out after selling patient usage rights to Sig for the P238 which has sold very well.

In the end I would keep caring the one that works. Shoot it until the wheel falls off.
 
What about poor Elsie Pea? She ain't as purty, but she's been faithful and reliable. She may have aged a bit, but it's good honest wear. Should I feel guilty about leaving her at home while I go traipsing about with some fancy new .380?
Click to expand...

The LCP I regard as a specialized piece. It's the equivalent of the old vest pocket .25 -- something to be carried when nothing larger can be. I do not find it fun to shoot.

Perhaps the P238 and the other Star DK homages are more fun to shoot? I do not know. Maybe I should start a kickstarter project to fund some research into it.
 
You need the gun(s) you like, all of them. If money is what matters, well, you and/or anybody on this Earth can make some more any time.
We must keep something in mind all the time, that our next breath/heart beet is NOT guaranteed. You can't take it with you neither, so enjoy everything you can while 6 feet above.:)
 
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What is this "need" word people keep using?

What is this "need" word people keep using?

We are all adults (for the most part :p),,,
If you want a thing - get that thing,,,
Unless your kids are going hungry.

Bear in mind though that you already own a very fine pistol,,,
Elsie is reliable, accurate enough, and easily carried.

And no matter what the caliber snobs say,,,
She packs quite a wallop.

I own quite a few varied handguns,,,
I only "need" a few of them.

Get what you want my friend,,,
We live (for a while) in a free country,,,
Exercise that freedom and make yourself smile.

Aarond the Enabler

.
 
Why would you need to replace a gun that works and is easy to carry for a heavier version with unproven reliability?

I am not sure, but need has nothing to do with it.
 
I just bought an Elsie Pea and with about 200 rounds through it so far I haven't had a single failure of any kind. So far I'm quite pleased.
 
I own a Ruger LCP, a Sig P238, and a Colt Mustang. The one I carry the most is the LCP because I carry a .380 when I can't or don't want to carry a larger caliber gun. I shoot the Sig and Colt better but the Ruger is designed for short range encounters, not 25 yard paper punching.
 
The only thing I'd consider to replace an LCP is the newer model with better sites if you have the old style one. It prints like an i-phone--the ultimate in conceal-ability and reasonable close-contact firepower IMHO.
 
Just my nickles worth
A Concealed single action in that size, which would seem to mean deeply concealed, not a chance. Just my opinion.

Pretty don't mean squat in a fight, look at a Glock after all.

Ruger LCP beats it in size and price, but not in looks which mean nothing. ( at least to me)

My primary is a 40 cal S+W shield, secondary is my P-64.
 
A person needs what ever gun they want. Will a 380 like the LCP do as good a job as a "status symbol" gun for half the price? Absolutely!
 
Nope, needs and wants are two different things. Nothing wrong with wants as long as needs don't suffer for them.

For the OP, do not divest yourself of what you have for what you want as long as what you have serves you well. You may very well find out that what you wanted and now have is not as suitable as what you had.
 
All I can add is go buy a Beretta Cheetah in either Model 84 or 85 and then tell me it is not worth five hundred. Just my opinion.
 
I swear by my Sig P238 for my CCW gun. Reliable, accurate, and simple to strip and clean.

Shown here with my S&W Shield, my other carry gun:

 
Same idea as most I guess Rogervzv. Small medium and large CCW guns. mine is the P-64 on the small, Shield 40 on the medium and XD sub compact 40 on the large. All three of them perfectly serviceable very sound guns, and in my case all 3 for under $1000.

The only one that has a problem with my choices is a Glockaphile. ( Dude sounds like a chicken, glock-glock glock- GLOCK- glock-glock glooock- GLOCK- glooock-glock- gloock- GLOCK!!)
 
Isn't the new Kimber Micro 380 pretty much a clone of the Colt Mustang?

Kimber Micro 380:
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Sig P238:
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Colt Mustang:
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The LCP is great for what it is. I have one that stays hidden in my car 95% of time except for when I'm needing to throw something into a suit pocket or ankle holster that is light and smooth. I also run with mine sometimes. Serves it's purpose perfectly.

With that said, I love my Sig P238's. The SS model is smooth as silk and extremely accurate and fun to shoot. I take mine to range a lot just when I want to have fun shooting without getting beaten up, much like .22lr's. I practice my one-hand and off-hand shots with it a lot. The P238 is simple to carry in microclip crossbreed iwb. I liked my SS so much, I wound up buying desert alum model to shave a few ounces off carry weight.

Between the two, I probably have put 3k rounds through with no malfunctions that I ever remember, and I purchased ss model right after released.

One cautionary note, the p238 is a "gateway" gun to making you wanna buy the p938 down the road...I carry that majority of time these days, when I need something smaller than my glock 27.

When it comes to guns, I'm a big polygamous. Elsie has to learn to share you to make your relationship work.. You'll still take her out sometimes after, but it will most likely not be nearly as much.
 
I carried my SIG p232 up until a month, or so, ago. Satisfied with .380, but the gun wasn't as accurate as some of my target guns. Of course not. The owner of my LGS suggested I look at the Kimber Solo. He and a local LEO, both of whom are excellent shots, took a new Solo out of the box and fired it. Both shot 10s at 10 yards. So, I wound up buying the Solo. I've run almost 50 rounds of Hornady 147 gr XTP through it without a problem. And, never had a round fall outside the 5 inch circle at 10 yards. Also, the recoil seems softer to me than the p232.

However, the Solo is designed for premium hollow-point ammo, ONLY. Mine will not shoot round nose rounds reliably. One guy shoots round nose bullets without a problem. I need to find some inexpensive ammo to practice with.

I'm carrying the Solo; it's easier to conceal.
 
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