RM 380 vs other pocket 380s

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SteadyD

SteadyD

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I'm considering an RM 380 and was looking for opinions on them versus other prominent 380 pocket pistols, particularly the LCP II which I already own. I noted that the grip is somewhat thicker. Does it print more in the pocket as a result? How is the reliability on these? Thoughts on the trigger? Any opinions are greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
 
I picked one up cheap about a year back.
I haven’t shot it extensively, but in probably 250 rounds I haven’t had any stoppages, either with FMJ or Hornady XTP.
The only way I’ve carried it is in a coat pocket, so I can’t really speak as to printing. However, it is significantly thicker than my LCP Custom, particularly in the grip. Length and height aren’t different enough to be worth mentioning.
The trigger is looooong. Moreso than virtually any other DAO gun I’ve shot.
When I need a pocket gun, I still reach for my LCP.
 
My RM380 disappears in a normal jean pocket. I've also pocket carried the R9 in business slacks and not had it print noticeably.

I personally like the DOA trigger pull on the RM380 better than the LCP II. The trigger is not bad out of the box but it gets better with use.

I think the gun is easy to shoot and I haven't had any malfunctions with it.
 
I like my RM380. Have a bit over 500rds through it. Yes the trigger pull is long but very smooth. Much smoother than my J-frame. Carry it in the zipper pocket inside the hand warmer pocket of my vest. Never know it's there.
 
Just be sure to check the take down pin for looseness before you buy. Some rm380’s have had problems with the take down pin walking out and binding up the slide while firing.
My sister in law has one that is at Remington right now for that problem.
 
Dragon breath said:
Just be sure to check the take down pin for looseness before you buy. Some rm380’s have had problems with the take down pin walking out and binding up the slide while firing.
My sister in law has one that is at Remington right now for that problem.
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The pin can walk out, not while firing, but while the slide is racked slowly and weakly. I've seen it first hand with my own RM380. I handed it over to an inexperienced auto pistol shooter to try out and they racked the slide with little confidence while holding the gun towards its left side. A little jiggle with the slide in the right spot and an unlubed pin can walk right into the slide hole.

That same shooter caused the only double feed jam my SKS rifle has ever known. Lack of confidence in working the bolt caused that jam due to him performing a manual double short stroke with the bolt.

One thing to do with a RM 380 is to grease the pin and the cam lug of the barrel. The other thing to do is to rack the slide quickly and firmly.

In my hands, the pin has never walked out unless the pin was dry and I was purposely moving the slide without commitment, with the gun leaning to the left side.

In the box of a new RM380, Remington places a single sheet of paper on top of the gun notifying the new owner of exactly this situation.
 
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SteadyD said:
I'm considering an RM 380 and was looking for opinions on them versus other prominent 380 pocket pistols, particularly the LCP II which I already own. I noted that the grip is somewhat thicker. Does it print more in the pocket as a result? How is the reliability on these? Thoughts on the trigger? Any opinions are greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

I've had my RM380 for about 1.5 years. I just fired another 50+ rounds through it last week at the range since I was there to try out the trigger job on my Ruger GP100. The RM380 still has never bobbled and I fired it one handed, weak hand and strong hand, like always.

The RM380 is a little thicker than a Ruger LCP. The trigger on the RM380 is a true DAO that cocks the hammer a full stroke with each trigger pull. Due to that, the trigger is like a snub nose revolver and not exactly like a semi-cocked hammer in a gun like an LCP. If you can work with revolver DA trigger pulls and don't mind the double strike capability that the RM380 provides, then it should work well for you.

The RM380 seems to have less felt recoil than an LCP to me. That is likely due to the wider grip and extra slide mass of the RM380. The RM380 has much more vertical slide area than most pocket guns and that slide is very easy to grab and cycle. Think of a 1911 slide versus a CZ75 slide.

Regarding printing, the RM380 doesn't go well into my tighter blue jeans, but it fits fine (with little printing) in looser jeans and khaki type pants. I have a Recluse TS Front pocket holster for mine. It covers up the gun completely on the print side.
 
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They still don't have them in stock at PSA or I would go ahead and order one. Tempted to grab one on gunbroker. It will still be pretty cheap with the rebate.

I don't really need one, but at that price it's hard to pass up. They do feel good in the hand but the trigger pull is loooong. I do like shooting revolvers DA but it feels a lot longer than that even. I wish the rebate lasted longer to give me time to wait for PSA to restock as well as more time to ponder. I'm racked with indecision on this one.
 
I just got mine from Palmetto on friday. I went and shot it saturday along with my lcp custom. I could shoot tighter groups with the lcp but I'm use to the lcp trigger. The rm380 trigger pull is longer but very smooth. One thing that is very noticeable between the two guns is the felt recoil. The lcp recoil is harsh where after a box of ammo I'm done. Now the rm380 has recoil that is pleasant where I could shoot a couple of boxes of ammo no problem. The rm380 slide is also very easy to rack. After shipping, transfer and rebate I will only have $137 in the rm380 so I'm quite happy.
 
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Alright I went ahead and bought one on Gunbroker. Should be in my hands in a week or so. Thanks for the advice gents.
 
One thing that is nice about the trigger is that it's pretty smooth and easy to stage. Mine is a like a well-worn and smoothed out J-frame trigger. It's one of the softest shooting pocket 380's I've fired and despite being a tad bigger than the LCP/P3AT 380s, it's a great range shooter and you can easily go through a couple hundred rounds and not have any hand fatigue...except your trigger finger may be a little worn out:D

Remington's been hit or miss on some firearms recently, but the RM380 was definitely a hit...

ROCK6
 
Does anyone know where to buy flush fit base plates? I don't see them at Remington's website and I'll definitely be wanting to have both mags as small as possible.
 
SteadyD said:
Does anyone know where to buy flush fit base plates? I don't see them at Remington's website and I'll definitely be wanting to have both mags as small as possible.
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I don't know where to get just the plates, but I bought two extra mags for mine and they each come with the flat plate and the extended one with finger rest.
 
Mine should arrive tomorrow. Depending on when I can get it picked up, I may have time to go shoot a few hundred rounds through it tomorrow as well.
 
To compliment the discussion here allow me to recommend Alabama holsters. Got one for my .380 and it melts in your pocket. Wait time for your holster to arrive is an issue but it is well worth it. As soon as this freezing snap is over I am out shooting!
 
The biggest problem I have with pocket carry is the butt of the gun creating a worn spot on my pocket.

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I found this happened both with my Rohrbaugh R9 and the Remington RM380 (although the R9 produced more wear more quickly). For a while I would just go buy another pair of jeans but I recently purchased a Recluse holster that covers the butt of the pistol.
 
I shot 170 rounds yesterday. The trigger pull is a lot longer than on my revolvers, which I enjoy shooting, and shoot well enough. It feels like it's never going to break and it took me 60 or 70 rounds to get decent accuracy with it. It ran perfectly and the recoil was comfortable. It looks good and feels good in the hand. I'm just not sure I can cozy up to that trigger pull.

I really want to like this gun as I'd like to have a double action trigger pull that feels like a revolver, but the pull is just sooo much longer than my snubs. I'll give it a few more range trips and think on it.
 
SteadyD said:
I really want to like this gun as I'd like to have a double action trigger pull that feels like a revolver, but the pull is just sooo much longer than my snubs.
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Is the RM380's trigger pull really that much longer than the trigger pull of a snubbie? Or is it that the RM380's trigger breaks closer to the palm of your hand because it is a pistol rather than a revolver?

Measuring trigger travel might be enlightening.
 
Good question. Could well be the latter. Either way, it feels like It should break sooner, to me at any rate. Obviously lots of folks don't find it troublesome to them.
 
I compared my older RM380 to my new one and compared then both to my Ruger LCR.

The trigger pull is longer on the RM380 than the LCR. The trigger pull on my older RM380 is noticeably smoother than the new pistol - so you have that to look forward to.
 
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