380 pocket carry choice

[skippy1729]

I'm in the market for one. Lots of good reviews on the new Ruger LCP MAX. I like 1911 style pistols. Sig P238 or Kimber Micro 380 are attractive. A few questions:

1. Does Colt still make the Mustang Lite or the Mustang XSP?

2. Anyone have input on reliability of any of these?

Thanks for any info.

 

[Nasty Canasta]

Mrs has the P238 & I have a Colt Mustang Pocketlite, reliability has never been an issue with either of them. The Sig was better out of the box & I did a lot of work on the Colt & I feel it’s the better of the two now. No idea about current production/availability.

 

[bannockburn]

skippy1729

To be honest I don't know if Colt Industries, after being acquired by CZ USA, is even making any guns nowadays or if they're still going to have the Mustang Lite or the Mustang XSP. I found a few 1911s on a couple of distributor's websites but mostly it's OOS for the time being for Colt pistols.

I was going to suggest a SIG P238 if you couldn't find a Colt and Kimber also has a very similar gun with their Micro .380. You can find lots of them on Gunbroker.

For myself I have a vintage Colt Mustang and a slightly newer SIG P238. Both are well made and great shooters too, as well as being very easy to carry concealed.



Recently though I have added to my small pocket pistol collection with the purchase of a Ruger LCP MAX. Haven't had a chance yet to try it out but I'm looking forward to having another .380 in the family!

 

[skfullen]

I have the LCP. If you are going for pocket carry, it's the ticket. Light, no snags, and dependable.

 

[sgt127]

No idea if Remington still makes them but, I’ve been very pleased with my RM380.

 

[Autodidactic]

I'm in the market for one. Lots of good reviews on the new Ruger LCP MAX. I like 1911 style pistols. Sig P238 or Kimber Micro 380 are attractive. A few questions:

1. Does Colt still make the Mustang Lite or the Mustang XSP?

2. Anyone have input on reliability of any of these?

Thanks for any info.

All good guns. It depends on how much you want to spend. Mustangs are no longer made and cost $6-800. Same with the Kimbers and Sig p238.

I’d go with the LCP Max if just for function and affordability. If money no object, id say the Sig.

Mrs has the P238 & I have a Colt Mustang Pocketlite, reliability has never been an issue with either of them. The Sig was better out of the box & I did a lot of work on the Colt & I feel it’s the better of the two now. No idea about current production/availability.
View attachment 1088527

skippy1729

To be honest I don't know if Colt Industries, after being acquired by CZ USA, is even making any guns nowadays or if they're still going to have the Mustang Lite or the Mustang XSP. I found a few 1911s on a couple of distributor's websites but mostly it's OOS for the time being for Colt pistols.

I was going to suggest a SIG P238 if you couldn't find a Colt and Kimber also has a very similar gun with their Micro .380. You can find lots of them on Gunbroker.

For myself I have a vintage Colt Mustang and a slightly newer SIG P238. Both are well made and great shooters too, as well as being very easy to carry concealed.
View attachment 1088566
View attachment 1088567

Recently though I have added to my small pocket pistol collection with the purchase of a Ruger LCP MAX. Haven't had a chance yet to try it out but I'm looking forward to having another .380 in the family!
View attachment 1088568

I have the LCP. If you are going for pocket carry, it's the ticket. Light, no snags, and dependable.

Maybe the old LCP originals, not new issue from the new plant. Mine was the latter, and junk. I always caution those giving such advice that the new LCP 1’s may not be the same quality.

However, i think the II’s and Max are better for new issue.

 

[cfullgraf]

I'm in the market for one. Lots of good reviews on the new Ruger LCP MAX. I like 1911 style pistols. Sig P238 or Kimber Micro 380 are attractive. A few questions:

1. Does Colt still make the Mustang Lite or the Mustang XSP?

2. Anyone have input on reliability of any of these?

Thanks for any info.

I have a mid-1980 Mustang that I have carried regularity since then.It has served purposely well.

I bought an early Sig 238 to replace the Mustang. Until Sig provided flat recoil springs, the gun was junk.

The Kimber Micro should be a suitable substitute for the Colt Mustang.

 

[defjon]

Had issues with lcp1 and lcp Max. Sig 238 has proven dependable over the last 8 years.

LEO friend carries a Kimber 380 in his vest and said it was worthless for a few hundred rounds but now runs well.

 

[Tallball]

The LCP type pistols are tiny.

They easier to conceal than almost any other handgun.

I've owned three and had problems with none of them: Kel-Tek P3AT, regular LCP, LCPII (and also a Beretta Pico).

The LCP and its variants have sold by the truckload. It's a good bet that most of them work. My favorite is the LCPII, though I haven't tried the Max yet.

The 1911 type 380's are fine. I have a nice one. I don't carry SAO handguns, but it would certainly be adequate.

 

[Cary Turpin]

I have read quite a lot of complaints from people having their magazines come out of their pocket pistols while the gun is in their pocket. I purchased a Beretta Pico like Tallball mentioned above. It has a different mag release than most of these pocket pistols in that you pull down on the two buttons with your index finger and thumb of your off hand. This design eliminates the unwanted mag release problem. Once I got accustomed to the design I like it. Tallball how do you like that feature?

 

[Hal]

I like my LCP.

All business and easy shooting.

My other two .380s were anything but that.
A PPK/s and a Targa GT380 - very snappy recoil, all out of proportion to the size of the cartridge.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Sig 230 or Glock 42

 

[Kleanbore]

I carry an LCP Max in a Vedder pocket holster for backup and LH hand access while strapped into a car. A grip sleeve solved the mag release problem.

I like the size, weight, sights, trigger, and grip. Others may or may not like it.

 

[SDGlock23]

I have to say I'm very impressed with the LCP MAX, it's small but it's got very usable features which is something the orginal LCP lacked. I've had the Glock 42 as well and it's a VERY good shooter but it's pretty light as far as capacity goes, it's only a 6+1, you can literally get twice that in the smaller LCP MAX. If you can find a Sig P238 that might be up your alley if you like 1911 style controls.

 

[KahrDriving]

Kahr CW380- had mine for about 3 yrs- no problems- Kahr says 200 round break in, mine was reliable from day 1. One of the lightest pocket pistols out there, but feels good in the hand and quality seems better than the Rugers and Kel-Tec- only problem I’ve had was having nite sights installed and now shoots low

 

[Autodidactic]

By the way, my S&W Bodyguard (M&P) is pretty solid, and they are affordable. About $350. I'd choose one of those over an LCP I and maybe even LCP II, but not a Max. Same capacity as all the 6 rounders. You can get them used for great deals. I got mine used for something like $225.

 

[Pistolay]

I have 2 MAXs, and other than the fact that they're snappy, they're solid pistols. Initially, I had a problem with trigger bite, but moving from the pad to the first crease solved that problem.

 

[toivo]

For 1911-style, it's hard to beat the SIG P238.

If you want plastic-fantastic, try Beretta Pico. The mag release takes little getting used to, but they shoot and carry very well.

 

[Tallball]

I briefly owned a P3AT, an LCP, LCPII, and a Pico all at the same time. I took them all to the range together.

The P3AT and LCP went bang. They had tiny sights and poor triggers.

The Pico had the best sights and I like the mag release. The trigger was the worst of the lot.

I prefer the LCPII. It has the best trigger by far and the sights are very good. I shot it better than any of the others.

The P3AT went to a relative, the LCP became part of a trade. The LGS will offer hardly anything for the Pico. I carry the LCPII often.

 

[defjon]

Glock should think about a Glock 42 max! I think a little creative magazine design could at least get ten rounds flush fit in there.

 

[Armored farmer]

For my $.02, the original LCP with a +1 extended magazine is hard to beat. It is reliable and pretty darned accurate despite its small size. It is lightweight and contoured with rounded corners that blend into your pocket.

It's not a BBQ gun or a hunting gun, but it is a gun that can go with you discreetly and serve you well should you need it.

 

[Bolson]

I have the lcp, lcp2, and springfield 911. The lcp is great for its intended purpose. The 2 is better in every way, but for some reason I prefer the original for pocket carry.

The 911 is a great little 1911 style pistol...now. I had to send it back to springfield to get it to work. Out of the box it had at least 50% failure rate. Sent it back, about 2 weeks later I had a great little pistol and no regrets. If budget is a concern it's a little more affordable than the others I looked at.

 

[golden]

I will put in for the GLOCK 42 as a pocket carry .380ACP.
I carried one for over 3 years in a pocket holster and never had a problem with it. No rust, no jams. The pistol is just big enough for my average size hands to get a good grip on. I coould shoot it accurately out to 15 yards and had night sights on mine as well.
Also, it was so light when fully loaded, I could forget it was there and it never printed when using good quality pocket holster.

Jim

 

[Autodidactic]

I will put in for the GLOCK 42 as a pocket carry .380ACP.
I carried one for over 3 years in a pocket holster and never had a problem with it. No rust, no jams. The pistol is just big enough for my average size hands to get a good grip on. I coould shoot it accurately out to 15 yards and had night sights on mine as well.
Also, it was so light when fully loaded, I could forget it was there and it never printed when using good quality pocket holster.

Jim

I like the Glock 42. However, it’s just big enough it won’t fit well in all pockets. And, low capacity. I don’t know why Glock can’t make an upgraded version with better capacity

 

[psp7304]

I just acquired a Glock 42 for pocket carry. I had a LCP Custom but my future son-in-law had to have it and talked me into selling it to him. I replaced it with a LCP Max and had problems with mag baseplates coming off of the mag when dropped during a reload. I also had several several mag baseplates crack when dropped during a reload.