Berreta Pico 380 ACP?

[Rule3]

Read about this last shot show. It is in the current American Rifleman Mag.

Anyone have one yet? Any comments or reviews?

Seems eventually it can be converted to a 32 ACP also.

Seems well made and has a slide lock which the Nano did not.

About the size of the Ruger LCP??

 

[Capybara]

Saw that review today in the new issue. Amazingly accurate, especially for a subcompact. But .380 or .32 ACP for SD? Not for me, I feel as if 9mm is underpowered almost. My CZ 50 in .32 ACP seems scarcely more powerful than .22. My other two CCW guns are 9x18 Mak, which is just a hair more powerful than .380 ACP and I feel the 9x18 is really just for a BU gun, I don't primary carry it.

 

[bighosscat]

I received one for Christmas. I have about 150 rounds thru it and it runs fine. My hands are large so it is a bit hard to get a good grip on. Accurate enough for what its designed for and a seems to be very well made. I emailed Beretta about the 32 barrel and they responded the next day. The barrel will be available later this year after the new TN plant opens.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

I have one and cannot say enough good things about it with one caveat that bears repeating: This gun cannot be for everyone - it is arguably the smallest/thinnest .380 pistol out there and has become my New York Reload pistol and goes in my front pocket all the time. But the sheer tiny dimensions of this pistol will make problems for some shooters.

That said here's my full report:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=767874

I have since put about 1000 rounds thru mine as have several members of our local CCL support group. Mine has never missed a lick and handles the hot hand loads I developed for our G42 with ease. Super gun - not for everyone.

VooDoo

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

I emailed Beretta about the 32 barrel and they responded the next day. The barrel will be available later this year after the new TN plant opens.

I have had conversations with credible folks who have told me the .32 barrel will not be forth coming....that it was a bad idea and was not gonna happen. I'm like others in that I'd love to see a .32 option for this gun but if it doesn't happen I'll have a reason to get one of the upgraded, heavier framed Tomcats that should be available soon.

Fingers crossed....I'd rather spend $150 for a .32 drop in barrel for my Pico but there seems to be some diversion of opinion on that even amongst credible Beretta Aficionados.

VooDoo

 

[C0untZer0]

Do you have a link with info on a more robust-framed Tomcat?

 

[Rule3]

Do you have a link with info on a more robust-framed Tomcat?

I used to "collect" Mouse guns. The Tomcat is actually a fairly large pistol compared to the LCP, Pico and those types. The Seecamp is still the smallest overall I believe. In 380 it is a real finger smasher I have one in 32 and that is plenty!

 

[Rule3]

I have one and cannot say enough good things about it with one caveat that bears repeating: This gun cannot be for everyone - it is arguably the smallest/thinnest .380 pistol out there and has become my New York Reload pistol and goes in my front pocket all the time. But the sheer tiny dimensions of this pistol will make problems for some shooters.

That said here's my full report:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=767874

I have since put about 1000 rounds thru mine as have several members of our local CCL support group. Mine has never missed a lick and handles the hot hand loads I developed for our G42 with ease. Super gun - not for everyone.

VooDoo

Thanks for the link and review. I usually carry a small 9mm but never leave home without my Ruger LCP un a pocket. I am going to compare the Pico tomorrow as my LGS finally got one in!

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

I am going to compare the Pico tomorrow as my LGS finally got one in!

"Compare" as in holding or actually shooting a Pico? 'Cause IMO the Pico does not give a very good account of itself and what it does simply by holding it but that certainly is a good start.

I tossed the extended mag in a drawer and use flush mags. The Pico is much softer shooting than the LCP which I considered to be fairly uncomfortable bordering on brutal.

VooDoo

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

Do you have a link with info on a more robust-framed Tomcat?

So far, no.....it's a rumor passed on to me by another forumite who has connections. That the Tomcat has been redesigned to make the frame more resistant to the cracking issue and that the Pico will not be offered in .32 as this is the Tomcats niche. We'll see how that plays out but I don't have any official information from Beretta on that rumor.

VooDoo

 

[HexHead]

I received one for Christmas. I have about 150 rounds thru it and it runs fine. My hands are large so it is a bit hard to get a good grip on. Accurate enough for what its designed for and a seems to be very well made. I emailed Beretta about the 32 barrel and they responded the next day. The barrel will be available later this year after the new TN plant opens.

That's interesting. I ran into the Beretta rep at a LGS about a week or so ago, he said Beretta killed the .32 option for the Pico. They have a new beefier frame .32 Tomcat coming, he's seen the frames and they're just waiting on barrels. It will only be offered in Inox.

 

[C0untZer0]

And INOX is a just French abbreviation for stainless steel right? Short for "doesn't oxidize" or something right?

 

[Rule3]

"Compare" as in holding or actually shooting a Pico? 'Cause IMO the Pico does not give a very good account of itself and what it does simply by holding it but that certainly is a good start.

I tossed the extended mag in a drawer and use flush mags. The Pico is much softer shooting than the LCP which I considered to be fairly uncomfortable bordering on brutal.

VooDoo

Just match them up. No shooting. No worries I used to have a boatload of 380's until I lost them in a great boating accident. Shame the are all on the bottom of the Gulf. Brutal is the Seecamp 380! I dislike extended pinky bases also. defeats the size of a small gun, The one on the Pico looks ugly also.

For Count0, Yes Inox is stainless.

 

[Rule3]

Well I got to check one out today. It is almost the exact size of my older Ruger LCP.

Appears to be very well made and nice looking. The recoil spring is extremely heavy.

The "no go" for me is the slide serrations or lack of them. They are so shallow they provide no grip at all. If you hands are sweaty or any oil on the slide it is difficult to pull the slide back. Perhaps they will improve that in later models?

Other than that I like it, but see no reason to buy one.

I bought a NANO when it came out and liked it but the lack of a slide lock/release was a pain, so I sold it.

 

[Johnny_B_Goode]

I love the way the pico shoots and feels but I would never buy one. My thumbs rests right under or on the catch for the slide. I haven't shot the Pico extensively but I have shot it enough to know if I shot the Pico in a thumb over thumb grip I could easily unintentionally lock the slide back.

 

[MAKster]

Building a beefier frame for the Tomcat shouldn't be necessary. The frame is already too wide by 32acp standards. The problem is that one sliver of frame that cracks. If that weak spot still exists the problem doesn't go away. Hopefully a redesign will eliminate that part of the frame all together not just make everything larger.

 

[eddd7]

I agree about the LCP. It is not a pleasant shooter in stock form. But, the addition of the Hogue grip...... the one that is specific to the LCP, is transformational. I can shoot it for hours (if someone else is paying for the ammo), with the Hogue grip.

By guess.....the Hogue grip spreads the recoil over a much larger area of one's hand, making the stock LCP's recoil go from a hard slap to a moderate shove. The first time my daughter tried the LCP after I added the grip............she just smiled. And, asked if the grip comes comes in pink (it does).