.380 recommendation

Stebalo

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PM sent, i.e. Sig P232 SL w/night sights I'm selling..


Ls

Beginner .380

The lightweight .380s can kick pretty stout due to the straight blowback design. Most kick about the same as a midweight 9mm. But they are much easier to hide.
I personally like the Sig. 230/232 in blue. Not a small gun but very light and very thin. Quality holsters are made for it. I also like the CZ but with the all steel and double stack mag they get a little weighty.
A Kahr CW9 compares in size and weight and also recoil to the .380s and is a 9mm.

Bersa Thunder or Bersa CC both 380 and nice pistols for less than 300

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I have both the Sig P232 and a Kahr CW9. As you can see, there really isn't huge dimensional difference between the two. I do find the 232 to be more comfortable to carry than the Kahr.

sig great gun, but IMO if I was going to carry one that big and heavy, I would opt out for the kahr pm9, smaller and much liter and 9mm...

At 23 ounces unloaded, I wouldn't describe a Bersa as being heavy. As far as recoil, I'd describe it as comfortable and very manageable. While it is a bit large for pocket carry (at least to me), it is also very concealable. Nothing against the others mentioned, they are also very good. Most are a heck of a lot more expensive, though.

My summer carry is a Beretta M85FS .380. Right up there with the Sig in quality, accuracy, relaibility.

If she isn't going to carry it,forget about all of the above and get a compact 9mm.Not only will it be cheaper to shoot,it will most likely be easier to shoot as well.I'm a large guy who isn't recoil sensative and find that when shooting my Seecamps due to their tiny size and lack of sights,not to mention the relative expense of ammo,I wouldn't say they are the most enjoyable guns to shoot.
The pocket pistols are very small and quite snappy,far moreso than something like a SIG P239 or Glock 19 that will also serve you quite well as a CCW piece.I own and often carry an alloy 230 but the 239 is scarcely any larger and is less snappy,something you're going to find with most small blowback pistols.There are many threads on here pointing out that the thinking of little gun with little cartridge doesn't = easier and more pleasant to shoot.

Something she might want to consider would be a J frame S&W.She could go with light cowboy loads for very soft recoiling practice and you could go with hot 158gr loads for CCW,essentially 2 guns in one.

I used to have a French PPK/S. Recoil was noticeable, but not brutal.

I can't imagine why I'd want a .380 given the size of current 9x19mms, but if for some reason I did, I'd get another PPK/S.

I've owned Walther, CZ and Browning (BDA have it now, really slick but large for .380). the Walther bit me bad as I have large hands but accuracy and function was fine. the CZ was good sorta wish I had kept it. awhile back a cop was at the range trying his new off-duty Bersa .380 and let me try it - I was impressed. I have a Makarov I carry now. The BDA is just too 'classy' for carry, it's now my 'BBQ gun' or 'dress - up gun'.

I had a Sig P232 and it's a great gun but a bit large for a .380 platform - especially with the Hogue grips that are a necessity.

I just picked up a PPK/S and a Bersa .380 and they are both very nice shooters. The PPK/S is smaller but they both are very accurate - and the Bersa is very economical. BTW, wife is getting the Bersa and I'm keeping the PPK/S...

deanimator: Love those french "war" guns. Most I have found are like new "dropped once"???????

I have both the Bersa 380CC and the LCP. The LCP hides better the Bersa is easier on the hand

Due to the width of the grip, a Sig 232 is hardly any more concealable than a common high-cap 9mm compact such as a M&P9c, XD9c, PT111, G26, etc. It has a much more snappy recoil than my midsize poly 9mm and IMHO (unpopular of course) is very unpleasant to shoot. Felt like I was being beat on my thumb knuckle with a tack hammer with each shot.

Another vote for the BERSA Thunder 380 either standard or CC model. The only difference between the two is that the CC model has curved edges, but the standard one has never caught up on my clothing when drawing from an IWB holster. The CC model has a mag that extends a bit below the grip, so it has one more round of ammo capacity, I think.

My PPK/S went on a tear at the range this past weekend. 5 people shooting it, all knocking everything off the table like nothing. 4 out of 5 shooters all said they liked the PPK/S better than the Keltec, Ruger, Glock, and Kahr.

This was the best range test it had after I initially had problems with it. It is functioning flawlessly other than the Federal HST I ran through it at the end of the session. I had two nose jams with that stuff.

romma, the only 380's in that 4 guns that you mentioned are the kt and ruger. kahrs 380 is not even out yet and glock 380 are not availalbe in the U.S. How can them make such a comparison if you are talking solely about 380's in all 4 makes???? I would think the glock and the kahr at the smallest caliber would have to be 9mm and then we are again at "apples and oranges". ?????

I might be wrong but I thought this was a 380 recommendation thread...

sig great gun, but IMO if I was going to carry one that big and heavy, I would opt out for the kahr pm9, smaller and much liter and 9mm...

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Me too, but I'm thinking his wife may feel differently.

very easily conceal but also something the 98 lb. wife could comfortably shoot at the range.

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Have her shoot 1) what's available 2) at a range, and make up her own mind. For recoil, a standard frame 9mm or .38 would be an easier starter pistol.

It's her gun that way, she's the one using it, telling her friends about it, being an ambassador for gun freedom to a vast untapped market generally not too happy to even consider it. Nurture the idea and let her go her way.

Please don't buy a new toy for yourself at her expense - "oh, honey, look, I got you a new laser guided miter saw with all the accessories for your birthday!"

Definitely not.

romma, the only 380's in that 4 guns that you mentioned are the kt and ruger. kahrs 380 is not even out yet and glock 380 are not availalbe in the U.S. How can them make such a comparison if you are talking solely about 380's in all 4 makes

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All I was trying to point out jocko was that the PPK/S in all its .380 caliber glory was accurate and out performed other pistols in general on this day.

In other words, the PPK/S is a great little pistol.

I went with the NAA Guardian .380.

It's not the smallest but pretty close. It is not the lightest either but that helps with recoil. A blowback operated gun definitely has more kick than a recoil operated gun.

The trigger was definitely stiff out of the box but has either gotten less stiff or my fingers have gotten stronger. My <100 pound wife can pull the trigger so that shouldn't be a problem.

Also, it was half the price of a Seecamp.

cerberus65 said;

I went with the NAA Guardian .380.

It's not the smallest but pretty close. It is not the lightest either but that helps with recoil. A blowback operated gun definitely has more kick than a recoil operated gun.

The trigger was definitely stiff out of the box but has either gotten less stiff or my fingers have gotten stronger. My <100 pound wife can pull the trigger so that shouldn't be a problem.

Also, it was half the price of a Seecamp.

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Both the Kel-Tec P3-AT and the Ruger LCP are not blowback, they are locked-breach. This makes them a bit softer shooting than the blowback NAA or Seecamp. The NAA also has a heavier trigger than either the Kel-Tec or Ruger, don't know about the Seecamp trigger.

Bobo

Ceberus,

Get some snap caps for the Guardian and work the trigger, the trigger will lighten up after a few hundred rounds and some dedicated dry firing. I have over 500 rounds through mine with no failures.

Here's my Bersa .380 next to my FEG PA-63 in 9x18makarov. You wanna talk about small guns with harsh recoil? Try a PA-63 with Russian Silver Bear ammo! That alloy frame doesn't soak up much.