Looking at .380 handguns....

[CarloSpcyWeiner]

Even though I'm barely going to be able to afford a 9mm pretty soon, just for the heck of it, I was messing with some .380's. I got to play with a friend of mine's Walther PK380 and fell in love with it, but just out of curiosity, what are some of the better .380 handguns that aren't too expensive?

 

[Thisguywalks**]

The Bersa Thunder .380 is reasonably priced, about $250 give or take. I've shot one once and it was rather smooth, nice trigger pull, and the recoil is minimum. Plus it was accurate from about 17 yards out.

 

[neosatus]

This is actually something I've researched quite a bit because I was looking for the smallest pocketgun I could find, that was still a decent caliber. I narrowed it down to the Ruger LCP and the Kel Tec P38t.
I think I'll go with the Ruger in the end, but they're almost exactly the same, really.

If you're not looking for a pocketgun, I haven't a clue. But those two run about $300ish.

 

[Handy Cortez]

I thought the only thing you homos packed was fudge? I kid, I kid, but seriously, my friend had a p232 380 from SigSauer or something. It handled easily, was fairly accurate, and was an all around good gun. Light, concelable( if that's what you're looking for), and reliable. Not quite so cheap though.

I heard Glock made a .380, but I'm not sure if it's available in America or not. If I were you, I'd go with just a basic model like a Cobra CA830 semi automatic pistol. Fairly cheap, small, but not sure about anything else on it. You'll have to look it up.

 

[Handy Cortez]

I just remembered my first time shooting a pistol after my last reply, so bear with me. They gave me a .357 and tried to have me hit a target the size of a pea. Needless to say I failed pretty epicly as I could hardly hit the broad side of a barn with it at first.

Oh yeah, Fedor is definatly above Brock Coleman, maybe not #1, but at least 3.

Edit: I din't even know their was a weapons and tactics sub-forum. This is awesome. Sherdog has become my de facto internet site. Now we just need hot MMA women porn and we're set.

 

[devilock]

Is very nice. But as stated before in not exactly cheap. I paid $350 for my used stainless p232, and it is my wife's carry gun.

I'm not very fond of the .380 round. p232 is a hard firing little gun, which seems counterintuitive since it's a short round, but still, it works on direct blowback with a fixed (not floating) barrel and a very stiff spring. It's not easy to rack the slide at all.

Not sure what the pros say but my 9mm HK usp compact and my Glock 17 both are easier to handle imo.

I think my wife prefers it based on size and that womanly idea that it is small, pretty and seems less intimidating to fire than other pistols, but it will almost hurt your hand.

That said the accuracy is amazing and she has a bad habit of outshooting me at targets.

 

[CarloSpcyWeiner]

Okay, make fun of me all you want, but I talked to my boyfriend and ionstead of me having to buy a 9mm, he's going to get me a .380 of my choice for christmas, as long as it's under $400! :icon_chee

Problem is, being from California I can't legally get the LCP or Taurus TCP :icon_sad:

I'm thinking of either the Walther or Bersa special package with two mags, solid case, and cleaning supplies. Thoughts on these two, and any other suggestions?

 

[CarloSpcyWeiner]

Is very nice. But as stated before in not exactly cheap. I paid $350 for my used stainless p232, and it is my wife's carry gun.

I'm not very fond of the .380 round. p232 is a hard firing little gun, which seems counterintuitive since it's a short round, but still, it works on direct blowback with a fixed (not floating) barrel and a very stiff spring. It's not easy to rack the slide at all.

Not sure what the pros say but my 9mm HK usp compact and my Glock 17 both are easier to handle imo.

I think my wife prefers it based on size and that womanly idea that it is small, pretty and seems less intimidating to fire than other pistols, but it will almost hurt your hand.

That said the accuracy is amazing and she has a bad habit of outshooting me at targets.

I was really just curious about the .380's, but it might be better for me to have being I like smaller handguns that I can conceal easier, and we're living in an apartment.

 

[CarloSpcyWeiner]

I just remembered my first time shooting a pistol after my last reply, so bear with me. They gave me a .357 and tried to have me hit a target the size of a pea. Needless to say I failed pretty epicly as I could hardly hit the broad side of a barn with it at first.

Oh yeah, Fedor is definatly above Brock Coleman, maybe not #1, but at least 3.

Edit: I din't even know their was a weapons and tactics sub-forum. This is awesome. Sherdog has become my de facto internet site. Now we just need hot MMA women porn and we're set.

My first time shooting was my dad's .44.... Not to fun either. thing practically broke my wrist, being I was only 11... I think.

Either way, if you want mma women porn, I heard that Cyborg posed with her husband nude in SI or something. Enjoy it if you find it :wink:

 

[oFUNGUSo]

i was actually considering getting a pocket .380 for concealed carry.........


until i actually put my hands on them. my hands are way to big for them. all the ones i tired felt horrible in my hand. wather, smith and wesson, bersa, kel tec. just wont work for me.
the smallest gun ive found that still feels good in my hand its the kahr CW9. i want one
much cheaper than most of the other kahrs

 

[CarloSpcyWeiner]

i was actually considering getting a pocket .380 for concealed carry.........


until i actually put my hands on them. my hands are way to big for them. all the ones i tired felt horrible in my hand. wather, smith and wesson, bersa, kel tec. just wont work for me.
the smallest gun ive found that still feels good in my hand its the kahr CW9. i want one
much cheaper than most of the other kahrs

I was considering that too, but It's still more expensive that a Walther PK380 with only a 7 round magazine, and buying spares is expensive! Plus I don't like the idea of a break in period for any handgun.... I want it to be able to function properly without having to shoot 200 or so rounds immediately through it.

For $400 I might as well buy a Smith & Wesson SD9 or SD40.

 

[oFUNGUSo]

I was considering that too, but It's still more expensive that a Walther PK380 with only a 7 round magazine, and buying spares is expensive! Plus I don't like the idea of a break in period for any handgun.... I want it to be able to function properly without having to shoot 200 or so rounds immediately through it.

For $400 I might as well buy a Smith & Wesson SD9 or SD40.

yeah thats one thing i liked about my xdm, ZERO break in period. i mean, the trigger got a little softer and smoother, but other than that it functioned the same right out the box as it does now.

wasnt aware of the break in on the kahrs.

honestly, if it was even slightly comfortable in my hand i would probably buy the SW body gaurd. sweet little pistol but i just feels all kinds of WRONG in my hand

 

[CarloSpcyWeiner]

yeah thats one thing i liked about my xdm, ZERO break in period. i mean, the trigger got a little softer and smoother, but other than that it functioned the same right out the box as it does now.

wasnt aware of the break in on the kahrs.

honestly, if it was even slightly comfortable in my hand i would probably buy the SW body gaurd. sweet little pistol but i just feels all kinds of WRONG in my hand

All Kahr's have a 200 round break in period. But as far as micro pistols like the Kel tec, LCP, TCP, and Bodyguard, they aren't legal in California. I really wanted a laser equipped LCP with finger rest, but they're on California's banned list.

 

[Perplexy]

Since no one likes to bring up my favorite gun company I will beat the dead horse keep your eyes open for a Beretta Cheetah, its is a bit bigger of gun than the pocket pistols but is a great design and a beautiful gun.

Also if your heart is not necessarily set on the .380 keep in mind Berettas line of pocket pistols the Bobcat and Tomcat they come in smaller calibers but I'm sure you still wouldn't want to get shot with one anyways. Many of these guns feature a flip up barrel that is useful for women that don't like to rack the slide on the gun to chamber the first round.

These are just ideas to give I'm really not sure what is on the California list

 

[CarloSpcyWeiner]

Since no one likes to bring up my favorite gun company I will beat the dead horse keep your eyes open for a Beretta Cheetah, its is a bit bigger of gun than the pocket pistols but is a great design and a beautiful gun.

Also if your heart is not necessarily set on the .380 keep in mind Berettas line of pocket pistols the Bobcat and Tomcat they come in smaller calibers but I'm sure you still wouldn't want to get shot with one anyways. Many of these guns feature a flip up barrel that is useful for women that don't like to rack the slide on the gun to chamber the first round.

These are just ideas to give I'm really not sure what is on the California list

All pocket pistols are banned unfortunately, but that pocket pistol is BEAUTIFUL. I'd love to get one.

As for the Beretta, I'll be the first to say I love Beretta pistols, but they are just way too damn expensive! Almost $700 for a .380 is ridiculous, although if I had the choice out of all .380's, I would probably pick the Cheetah. But if I'm going to spend that much, it'll be on something like a Remington 1911.

 

[Ralff]

i was actually considering getting a pocket .380 for concealed carry.........


until i actually put my hands on them. my hands are way to big for them. all the ones i tired felt horrible in my hand. wather, smith and wesson, bersa, kel tec. just wont work for me.
the smallest gun ive found that still feels good in my hand its the kahr CW9. i want one
much cheaper than most of the other kahrs

Haha, yeah I shot a friend's Keltec 380 once. My index finger was on the trigger, middle and ring finger on the grip, and my pinky was off the end sorta in limbo. It's pretty snappy too on the recoil but honestly, it was fun as hell to shoot. Not sure I would want one for self defense/concealed carry though.

 

[CarloSpcyWeiner]

Haha, yeah I shot a friend's Keltec 380 once. My index finger was on the trigger, middle and ring finger on the grip, and my pinky was off the end sorta in limbo. It's pretty snappy too on the recoil but honestly, it was fun as hell to shoot. Not sure I would want one for self defense/concealed carry though.

I wouldn't get the Kel Tec even if it was legal over here.

 

[Jaxxxa]

I like the Sig 232 for .380

Something to think about; in the long run its much easier to limit the variety of calibers you own. I've done a lot of IPSC, IDPA & Tactical rifle shooting and having to buy enough ammo for many different calibers is expensive. Obviously there are specialty guns you may have a need for (Africa calibers, etc.) But sticking with the basic widely available (military) ammo is best & cheapest in the long run by far.

Auto: 9mm & .45

Revolver: .38 & .357

Rifle: .223 & .308

If that makes sense to you and you want a subcompact, check out the Kahr P9 and Glock G26 both 9mm.

 

[CarloSpcyWeiner]

I like the Sig 232 for .380

Something to think about; in the long run its much easier to limit the variety of calibers you own. I've done a lot of IPSC, IDPA & Tactical rifle shooting and having to buy enough ammo for many different calibers is expensive. Obviously there are specialty guns you may have a need for (Africa calibers, etc.) But sticking with the basic widely available (military) ammo is best & cheapest in the long run by far.

Auto: 9mm & .45

Revolver: .38 & .357

Rifle: .223 & .308

If that makes sense to you and you want a subcompact, check out the Kahr P9 and Glock G26 both 9mm.

I was looking into 9mm for a while, but I'd barely be able to afford one plus ammo on my own at this point and when my boyfriend saw I was looking at .380's, which he views as safer, he told me he'd get me one for Christmas. He just doesn't like the idea of having a handgun in our apartment in the first place in case of an accidental misfire through the wall possibly hitting a neighbor or something. That's probably the main reason he likes the idea of a .380. Either way, I won't complain being that I can't afford a 9mm or .45 myself and if I'm getting basically a free gun, why the hell not?

 

[Jaxxxa]

As far as cost goes 9mm is cheaper than 380.

As far as safety, proper firearm handling is key. An AD from any caliber can be deadly.