I have seen Taurus' e-catalog and they are showing a .380, 5 shot revolver. Seems to me this would be a great BUG, or hideout gun. I've been all over the website and can't find the spec sheet they usually put up with barrel length, sights, etc. Now, with an ACP cartridge they will almost certainly use moon clips, right? Has anyone bought one, or even held one in your hand? Spare me the Taurus Hate I'm asking about this one particular pistol.
.380 revolver
- Thread starter The Kidd
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I think the only real benefit is it would be 1/2" or so shorter than a .38 SPC revolver, although it would make the bulkiest part (the cylinder) shorter. Interesting idea, but if I'm going that small, I'd rather have the smaller frame, higher capacity, and longer barrel of a semi-auto.
Budsgunshop has them for sale. Maybe this will help you.
The gun caught my curiosity a while back, I thought the .380 was a typo.
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/76796//Taurus%202380129UL%20M380%20380%201.75%20IB%20Stainless/
The gun caught my curiosity a while back, I thought the .380 was a typo.
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/76796//Taurus%202380129UL%20M380%20380%201.75%20IB%20Stainless/
gordy
Member
I see the advantage in this firearm. If you can not rack a slide of a auto, the revolver would be much easier to load and unload.
As for any other I think the choice would be simple. get a airweight S&W.
Same amount of ammo, same weight and size. And price is close also.
I have reloaded 380 to right at 1,000 fps with a 90gr. xtp bullet out of my kel-tec, it might be a bit faster out of the revolver,
But you can get a bit better with a +p out of a 38sp.
But if you do not reload you are stuck with factory ammo and then you have a better choice in 38sp.
It would make a great gun if you already have a 380 and wanted a revolver to go with it and didn't want to have another caliber to deal with.
As for any other I think the choice would be simple. get a airweight S&W.
Same amount of ammo, same weight and size. And price is close also.
I have reloaded 380 to right at 1,000 fps with a 90gr. xtp bullet out of my kel-tec, it might be a bit faster out of the revolver,
But you can get a bit better with a +p out of a 38sp.
But if you do not reload you are stuck with factory ammo and then you have a better choice in 38sp.
It would make a great gun if you already have a 380 and wanted a revolver to go with it and didn't want to have another caliber to deal with.
cleardiddion
Member
I just saw one of these when I picked up my 856.
It feels surprisingly light and I suppose it does have the ammo compatibility with autoloaders. It was slightly smaller than the .38 guns and I suppose reloading would be a little quicker with the moonclips than handloading one by one.
But, I passed up on it because I couldn't really see any real advantage of it over the more classic revolvers, at least for me. Beyond the caliber and some of dimensions, there's nothing that really differentiates it from the rest of the pack. But, this is personal opinion.
It feels surprisingly light and I suppose it does have the ammo compatibility with autoloaders. It was slightly smaller than the .38 guns and I suppose reloading would be a little quicker with the moonclips than handloading one by one.
But, I passed up on it because I couldn't really see any real advantage of it over the more classic revolvers, at least for me. Beyond the caliber and some of dimensions, there's nothing that really differentiates it from the rest of the pack. But, this is personal opinion.
weregunner
Member
Here's something that may prove useful on the .380 revolver. Just happened to find this.......er, uh.... with some research. 
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/taurus-revolvers/58729-m380-revolver-itch.html
Right from an actual owner!
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/taurus-revolvers/58729-m380-revolver-itch.html
Right from an actual owner!
FIVETWOSEVEN
Member
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- Aug 28, 2009
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- 5,146
Why not a 9mm revolver? It would be more powerful and fire cheaper ammo.
JFrame
Member
Good point -- the size (especially width) would not appreciably change between the two cartridges. The .380 could be structurally built somewhat lighter, due to the lower power of the cartridge, but possibly not to the point of justifying the difference in power.
The Taurus .380 is 15.5 ounces (all stainless steel). My .38-only 640 is 20 ounces. My 638 J-frame is 15 ounces (aluminum) and my 360PD (scandium) is 11 ounces. I guess the Taurus .380 could be built with exotic metals to shave off weight -- but I'm not sure at a price point that would bring enough buyers to justify its manufacture...
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The advantage of the .380 over the .38 Special has a lot to do with how you carry, as any reduction in weight or length is useful in both pocket and ankle holsters.
Also the short .380 cartridge/case is easier to fully extract from the cylinder when you have a short ejector rod, and short cartridges are easier to load when using moon clips or speed loaders.
Also the short .380 cartridge/case is easier to fully extract from the cylinder when you have a short ejector rod, and short cartridges are easier to load when using moon clips or speed loaders.
Loyalist Dave
Member
My late grandfather had to opt for an old Smith & Wesson hand ejector in .32 S&W long as his arthritis was so bad a small .38 was too painful to shoot, and he had problems with working the action on the available .380's at the time. This would've been a better option (imho) than the .32. My mother's arthritis is so bad that she is limited to a .22LR revolver or semi-auto..., and I think this will also be a better option, even if it requires action work to lower the trigger pull for her.
I think folks sometimes forget that those that need a SD handgun are not necessarily physically 100%. I'd love to see this become popular with senior citizens, and as revolvers tend to be "simpler" than a semi-auto this might also help there as well. Senior citizens vote as a group in higher percentages than any other, and having them pro-gun because a manufacturer finally catered to their needs and they buy the new .380 revolver wouldn't be a bad thing would it?
LD
I think folks sometimes forget that those that need a SD handgun are not necessarily physically 100%. I'd love to see this become popular with senior citizens, and as revolvers tend to be "simpler" than a semi-auto this might also help there as well. Senior citizens vote as a group in higher percentages than any other, and having them pro-gun because a manufacturer finally catered to their needs and they buy the new .380 revolver wouldn't be a bad thing would it?
LD
JFrame
Member
I am a revolver guy, and would LOVE to see more and more revolvers of every make, model, and cartridge in existence.
However, despite your stated advantages, I just don't see the .380 providing enough of a niche difference to establish a new tier of handgun. As FIVETWOSEVEN noted, the 9mm would seem to make more sense -- it would have pretty much all of the advantages you noted for the .380, be more powerful, and the ammo would cost far less in the bargain.
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They have those too. I've heard that they recoill worse than a .38. Does anyone have first hand experience?
MCgunner
Member
I'll keep my .38 M85 SSUL, thanks. If I wanted a .380, I'd get something like an LCP. Actually, I have an old Grendel P12, about the same size as an LCP only thicker and 2 ounces heavier. It holds 12, though.
Okie 45 posted a link to Bud's Gun Shop and that included a review from someone who'd bought one of these .380 revolvers. He rated it very highly and he says it comes with 5 clips. I think I'm going to go ahead and get one. I'll post about how I like it. It will be a couple weeks before I get funds together. Thanks for your replies.
FIVETWOSEVEN
Member
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- Aug 28, 2009
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- 5,146
I don't have any experience with these but 9mm is more powerful than most .38 Special factory loadings.
Carl N. Brown
Member
Taurus does make guns that are sold in foreign jurisdictions. After all, Taurus is a South American manufacturer. There are countries where .380 is a civilian legal caliber, but .38 Spl is considered military or police and barred from civilian sales.
weregunner
Member
The reasons for the .380 ACP revolver.
Some of you have already stated some good ones. Most of them in fact.
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/taurus-revolvers/54213-mini-revolver-380-a.html
Some of you have already stated some good ones. Most of them in fact.
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/taurus-revolvers/54213-mini-revolver-380-a.html
Loyalist Dave
Member
No, you missed the point. Actually, it would not have all the advantages. It would miss the main advantage. My S&W 940 9mm revolver has a very sharp recoil, and the point of my post was to get a revolver with as much impact as possible while not going past the recoil point where the pain of arthritis makes it not possible to use the handgun.
.380 semi-autos for the people that I mentioned, either are so small they are very painful for arthritic hands to control, or they are so large that working the slide and a double action trigger, or cocking a hammer, is difficult. Coupled with that the weakness of some folks wrists when afflicted, thus possibly causing malfunctions....
So again, if the trigger pull on the revolver were light enough, this might fill a need. Perhaps not a "niche", but possibly a need. More punch than .32 ACP or .32 S&W Long, low chance of jam, manageable recoil, less painful recoil than the same platform using 9mm or .38 Special, or .32 H&R Magnum for that matter.
LD
Moon clip revolvers are easier to load/unload than rimmed cartridges with speedloaders.
I'd like to see it in 9x18 Makarov, for more energy/larger bullet, without going to .38 special length cylinders.
At least it's not chambered in that useless 5.7x28, useless glorified .22 magnum.
I'd like to see it in 9x18 Makarov, for more energy/larger bullet, without going to .38 special length cylinders.
At least it's not chambered in that useless 5.7x28, useless glorified .22 magnum.
MCgunner
Member
Well, I'll be lookin' for the report. I really don't think I want one, but I won't rule it out. But, the new 405 in .40 S&W is more interesting to me.
Not sure if anyone mentioned one advantage i thought of, but you could probably stack 4 loaded moon clips in a .357 speedloader case.
Might be a little chore to dig one out off the bottom, though.- Status
