New Backup Gun. RM380 Executive

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SRSTAdam21

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Corryton, Tennessee
On a daily basis I carry a Colt Lightweight Commander 45 in a crossbreed supertuck or a belly band if I’m wearing gym type clothes. I’ve been wanting to add a backup pocket carry. I had several requirements.

1. Small for pocket carry in a leather holster.
2. No manual safety.
3. Long but smooth trigger pull.
4. Second strike capable.
5. Nice fit and finish.
6. Reliable with common defensive ammo.

I found the RM380 after extensive research. After seeing the Executive model I had to have it.

Going to do some initial cleaning in the morning and take it to the range with a variety of ammo. Will update thread with my findings after.

For those with the RM380, what defensive ammo have you found to be most reliable?

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I use to have a RM 380. It ran perfect and was very soft shooting for a pocket gun. The only reason I sold it was because of the really long trigger pull. The trigger pull was very smooth and not too heavy. Good gun overall.
 
I haven't found anything that did not feed, fire and eject reliably in either of my RM 380s but generally use Geco FMJ.
 
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On a daily basis I carry a Colt Lightweight Commander 45 in a crossbreed supertuck or a belly band if I’m wearing gym type clothes. I’ve been wanting to add a backup pocket carry. I had several requirements.

1. Small for pocket carry in a leather holster.
2. No manual safety.
3. Long but smooth trigger pull.
4. Second strike capable.
5. Nice fit and finish.
6. Reliable with common defensive ammo.

I found the RM380 after extensive research. After seeing the Executive model I had to have it.

Going to do some initial cleaning in the morning and take it to the range with a variety of ammo. Will update thread with my findings after.

For those with the RM380, what defensive ammo have you found to be most reliable?

View attachment 890304
I must have too...
 
I've never had a problem with any kind of ammo, but I keep my RM380 loaded with Precision One's loading of Hornady's XTP:



Works fine with guns like the RM380 or LCP.
Get a gun that's sprung for Euro Ammo like the G42 and they won't always cycle the slide. You either have to get their +P version or the Hornady or Underwood Standard Pressure version.

PS the PO +P is rated at 25-50 fps slower than the Hornady or Underwood so I am suspicious it may not actually be over 21,500 psi.
 
I have been carrying this ruger lcp updated .380(not the lcp11) for some time now and it eats any thing, my reloads with fmj 100 gr run a little over 800 fps and the Hornady defence HP,s run a little over 900 fps. as the cost was less than 150.00 I would recommend it for a deep ccw pistol. it has no double strike, but not to much of a negative for me.
 

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I have been carrying this ruger lcp updated .380(not the lcp11) for some time now and it eats any thing, my reloads with fmj 100 gr run a little over 800 fps and the Hornady defence HP,s run a little over 900 fps. as the cost was less than 150.00 I would recommend it for a deep ccw pistol. it has no double strike, but not to much of a negative for me.

Way more accurate than people give it credit for too.

7 rounds - 7 yards - Offhand - Hornady XTP
IMG_20200204_161916845_resize_50.jpg
 
I like the RM380, too, especially for its true DAO trigger. I already have a TCP, though, so buying one isn't something I'm considering now. Maybe if a good trade opportunity comes along.
 
I almost bought an RM380 when they were blowing them out cheap a few years ago. I believe my favorite small .380 to shoot is the Kahr CW380. I have neither. I live in fear of a problem child. Guess I'll just have to struggle along for a few more years with the cheap, snappy LCP (Hope they are right that it should out last the P3AT 6,000 round life)
 
Over all I found them to be superb. HOWEVER, our shop had a selection of 5 or so that were among the first available. Nothing whatsoever retained the takedown pin when it was aligned with the hole in the slide.

I was able to take each and every one, turn them 90 degrees, and ease the slide back, and the takedown pin would fall out onto the counter on its own.

This may not seem like an issue to some, but I don't want the literal lynchpin holding the whole thing together jostling and drifting unimpeded. It seems like the very thing to work its way into a jammed up position if you had to fire it at odd angles to gravity in a struggle.

One hopes that Remington would have addressed this by now, but I would be sure they did before trusting one with my personal security.
 
Over all I found them to be superb. HOWEVER, our shop had a selection of 5 or so that were among the first available. Nothing whatsoever retained the takedown pin when it was aligned with the hole in the slide.

I was able to take each and every one, turn them 90 degrees, and ease the slide back, and the takedown pin would fall out onto the counter on its own.

This may not seem like an issue to some, but I don't want the literal lynchpin holding the whole thing together jostling and drifting unimpeded. It seems like the very thing to work its way into a jammed up position if you had to fire it at odd angles to gravity in a struggle.

One hopes that Remington would have addressed this by now, but I would be sure they did before trusting one with my personal security.
It's that way by design. Remington purchased the rights to manufacture the Rohrbaugh R9, so this design has been out for a while. The R9 was in existence since 2000-2014. The RM380 has been around since 2015, so about 5 years. I've owned mine since it was first released..

It's a non issue that doesn't need fixing. I've carried my RM380 for years, and the pin does not work itself out or just fall out unless you're taking the steps to break down the pistol. You're doing yourself a disservice by dismissing the gun over a fabricated what/if issue that doesn't exist, and that there's no evidence of ever existing in the two decades that this design has been around.
 
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Over all I found them to be superb. HOWEVER, our shop had a selection of 5 or so that were among the first available. Nothing whatsoever retained the takedown pin when it was aligned with the hole in the slide.

I was able to take each and every one, turn them 90 degrees, and ease the slide back, and the takedown pin would fall out onto the counter on its own.

This may not seem like an issue to some, but I don't want the literal lynchpin holding the whole thing together jostling and drifting unimpeded. It seems like the very thing to work its way into a jammed up position if you had to fire it at odd angles to gravity in a struggle.

One hopes that Remington would have addressed this by now, but I would be sure they did before trusting one with my personal security.
I love and rely on that feature. It is the easiest gun to field strip I've come across; even easier than a Mauser HSc. I imagine I've shot several hundred rounds through them testing to try to get it to jam without any success.
 
It's that way by design. Remington purchased the rights to manufacture the Rohrbaugh R9, so this design has been out for a while. The R9 was in existence since 2000-2014. The RM380 has been around since 2015, so about 5 years. I've owned mine since it was first released..

It's a non issue that doesn't need fixing. I've carried my RM380 for years, and the pin does not work itself out or just fall out unless you're taking the steps to break down the pistol. You're doing yourself a disservice by dismissing the gun over a fabricated what/if issue that doesn't exist, and that there's no evidence of ever existing in the two decades that this design has been around.

I was somewhat aware of the history of the design. I still don't like it. At very least, I would have to see a review of one fired at the correct angle for the pin to fall out, for 2-3 magazines full, without issue.

If such a review already exists, I will retract my statements in full and give the RM380 a sparkling endorsement. I do really like the fit, finish, feel and price. A surprising combination from late a model Remington.
 
I was somewhat aware of the history of the design. I still don't like it. At very least, I would have to see a review of one fired at the correct angle for the pin to fall out, for 2-3 magazines full, without issue.

If such a review already exists, I will retract my statements in full and give the RM380 a sparkling endorsement. I do really like the fit, finish, feel and price. A surprising combination from late a model Remington.
No review but I have tried that and the pin did not fall out. Seriously, I have to move the slide really slowly and be very careful to line the holes up to get the pin to fall out. And were I worried, a small glop of grease would be more than sufficient to hold the pin in place.
 
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