For CALIFORNIA..... 380 or 32?

L

Lavan

New member
So few approved 380s allowed for sale in state.

I ...had... a Tomcat .32 and may get another.

But the barrel length looks like it would take the power to not much more than my present .25

:confused:

I have the Chief Special on the CCW but ...usually.... have the dinky one on me. Dang revolver shows in pocket no matter what.
 
Given the choice between .25 and .32, unless maximum concealment is an absolute, I would choose the .32. Most folks would say that neither is really suitable for defense, but a bullet from either, put in the right place, will do what is needed.

Since the Chiefs Special is better than any of the autos you mention, you might consider a mode of dress that will better conceal the revolver.

Jim
 
When one is so well endowed, it is difficult to find any more room to carry something else in the pants and ...and.... oh hell, you all know I'm lying, doncha?

:D
 
.32 acp Ball ammo @ ~880FPS
SnapShot2_zps4087e2d8.jpg
 
Check out the Hungarian FEG AP-MBP at AIM. 200 bucks. A little easier to shoot than the Tomcat, likes the stronger Sellier and Bellot ammo, and has a bit more barrel to keep the velocity up. Double action is a bit stiff but not gritty. Single action is nice with a good short reset. I like mine a lot!
 
Check out the Barami Hip Grip for the revolver and get a T grip adapter, you would be hard pressed to find a more concealable setup with any gun. I carried a J frame for a couple years with this setup until one day I thought how can I carry the same method but with the grips of my choice. So I started cutting out the back pockets of old pairs of jeans and sewing then in my pants where I would normally carry IWB. I have been carrying with this method for close to 3 years now, very concealable because you don't have the bulk of a holster added to the gun. I sew the pocket at a certain height where I have the desired amount of grip exposed, and with a belt tightened it keeps the pistol in place and doesn't move around. Works great for fixed blade knives too in those times you can't carry a gun.
 
I have several 32's and 380's. The 32's are fun to shoot, but I don't feel comfortable counting on them for self defense - it's not scientific, but shooting them feels like shooting a 22. Still, the various 32 calibers were police calibers all over the world for a long time. The same cannot be said for 25.

My two 32 automatics are, coincidentally, a Beretta Tomcat and a surplus FEG AP9 (a Walther PP lookalike). I got the Beretta used and it malfunctioned occasionally the first time at the range. I took it home and examined it. The tip-up barrel and chamber were dirty. The magaznie well area was filthy. I cleaned it thoroughly and it has not malfunctioned again. The FEG was $149 from AIM. It arrived with its insides coated with filthy grease. It proceeded to function flawlessly anyway. The Beretta is easy to conceal. It's a little heavy for its size, but the thick grip gives you more to hang onto than other pistols its size. It is accurate enough for self defense. The Beretta is a pocket gun and the FEG is more of a "compact" size. It is not as easy to conceal, but is very accurate and much easier to get a firm grip on.

I feel comfortable carrying my 380's for self defense. They have actual recoil like a "real" handgun. My Kel-Tec 3AT is smaller and lighter than my Tomcat. I bought it new and it has never malfunctioned. I have very large hands and it is not fun for me to shoot. I am accurate enough for self defense, but my hands will be sad if I shoot more than a few magazines worth. I bought my Russian Makarov brand new. It is in 380 caliber and is almost exactly the size and shape as the FEG, though heavier due to its steel frame versus the FEG aluminum. It has been I 00% reliable and nicely accurate, like the FEG. On a good day I can shoot it guite well at 25 yards. It has some recoil, but nbd, like shooting a mild 38.

Two other options: If I were going to carry a 32acp, I would carry the Kel-Tec 32. They are so tiny and light that they are a joy to carry. The original Makarov caliber is halfway between 380 and 9mm. Surplus Makarov pistols and new ammo in 9x18 Makarov are easy to find, cheap, and have a bit more oomph than a 380.

LoL, all that being said, I am really a revolver guy. :-)

(PS When I get a handgun, whether new or used, I test it by shooting it first without cleaning it at all. I use an assortment of ammo, preferably handfuls of random stuff that is leftover from different boxes and vintages. If the handgun functions 100%, I will still test it on a couple more occasions before I count on it for self defense, but I never had any later problems with one that passed the test. If they malfunction I will take them home, clean them thoroughly, inspect each part, etc. Even if they are fine after that, it will take them awhile to convince me that they're dependable.)
 
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I have the Tomcat. It is very reliable. The one thing I do not like about the Tomcat is the well known issue of the frame crack. While mine has not experienced this, and I have the new version with the thicker frame, even the new version can have this problem. So I do not trust the Tomcat. I wish I did because it is surprisingly accurate and I love the tip up feature.

My personal choice for a small concealable gun was the Sig P238. The Sig is a little bigger but still small, and I consider .380 quite adequate for self defense and CCW. The Sig is very reliable and built very sturdily, and of course no frame crack issue.
 
You should give the Kahr CW 380 a look! Real sights, double action, locks back on the last round and no lever to flip. One action fires it under stress. Just pull the smoooooooth trigger!:cool:
 
These are the only 380's approved for sale in CALIFORNIA.

As you can see, some are just too large and there is NO size advantage over revolver.

We are very limited. I love Kel-Tecs and a LEO buddy has one.
But unless he sells his to me, I can't buy one. :mad:

CZ USA (Ceska Zbrojovka Fox) 83 (Glossy Blue) 01301 / Steel Pistol 3.81" .380 6/10/2015
Firestorm (Gabilondo) Firestorm 380 / 4140 Steel, Alloy Pistol 3.5" .380 ACP 2/22/2015
Accu-Tek AT-380 II / 17-4 Stainless Steel Pistol 2.8" .380 ACP 8/18/2015
Beretta 84 FS Cheetah / Blue Steel Pistol 3.8" .380 ACP 12/31/2014
Beretta 84 FS Cheetah Nickel / Nickel plated steel Pistol 3.8" .380 ACP 2/1/2015
Beretta 85 FS Cheetah / Blue Steel Pistol 3.8" .380 ACP 12/31/2014
Beretta 85 FS Cheetah Nickel / Nickel plated steel Pistol 3.8" .380 ACP 4/25/2015
Sig Sauer, Inc. (Sauer, J.P. & Sons, Sig P232 (Stainless) / Stainless Steel Pistol 3.7" .380 ACP 12/31/2015
Sig Sauer, Inc. (Sauer, J.P. & Sons, Sig P232 (Stainless) Hogue Grips / Stainless Steel Pistol 3.7" .380 ACP 6/23/2015
Hi Point CF380 / Alloy, Zinc, 4130 Barrel Pistol 3.5" .380 ACP 10/11/2015
Sig Sauer, Inc. (Sauer, J.P. & Sons, Sig P238 (Two-Tone) 238-380-TSS-CA / Stainless Steel; Alloy Pistol 2.835" .380 ACP 7/21/2015
Kahr Arms P380 (KP38233/KP38233N) / Polymer Frame; Stainless Steel Slide Pistol 2.5" .380 ACP 2/18/2015
Sig Sauer, Inc. (Sauer, J.P. & Sons, Sig P238 238-380-HD-CA / Stainless Steel Pistol 2.82" .380 Auto 5/7/2015

I'm heading out today to browse one shop that has a good asst of used guns.
:confused:

If the guns are already IN the state, we can buy em.
I think.
But....maybe.. only from private party.

Stupid laws.
 
I hope you get out and vote every time. I used to live in New Jersey. Damn near impossible to even get a CCW. Keep that in mind if you ever feel like something is more important to do on a Tuesday!
 
Only a judge can issue a CCW in the State of New Jersey! Had one. It was hand written on the back of his card. You even need a permit to purchase a handgun in NJ and a State Firearms ID card to buy ammunition. Lovely state to see in a rear view mirror I say!
 
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