wendelb
Member
I asked owners on the forum for opinions on 4 or 5 pocket 380s, which ones they preferred, reliability, comfort, recoil, pricing, etc. I was in the market for two, and wanted some feedback, beyond range reports.
I would have really liked to own a Sig P-238, which I believe was crowned the king, but for the price, it can be beat.
The P3AT/LCP seemed to be the winner of reliability, low weight, cheap, but bad recoil.
As I explained in the other thread, Kahr has scarred me for life, so even if it's the only manufacturer to make a laser gun, I won't buy them.
The BG380 was another high scorer, fairly priced, low weight, decent recoil. It was one of the two I purchased.
The one that got almost all bad reviews, for reliability, accuracy, and recoil, was the diamondback. However, I clung to Heeler's advice, and bought one anyways, the newest line, with all of the changes made.
Range day:
As was explained, I've shot a keltec, and own a Micro Deagle. Keltec was a little snappy, not enjoyable, but doable, and the MDE is a monster of poor design. It's one of the heaviest pocket 380s, and is the worst at recoil.
To start, both the BG380 and DB380 are remarkably accurate in my opinion. And for both, the recoil was VERY mild- to the point I thought my first round was a squib from lack of recoil. I wasn't expecting pain, but I thought that my hand would start to feel it after 50 rds. Both guns run beautifully. Two people that I went shooting with, who own keltecs, decided to buy DB380s because of it.
Between the two, the diamondback won, which I was surprised with. Reliability, comfort, and recoil were all ties for the most part. However, the DB has white dot sights, the BG just has black. I fixed that with a kit, but haven't shot it since. Also, the DB has a very glock-like trigger pull. It's a virtually a mini glock, inside and out. Minor differences. The BG, my biggest complaint is that it has a very stiff and long pull. I've shot enough revolvers that I could run it through just fine, but my wife couldn't get a handle on it. She pulled 90% of her shots on it, and she carries a Glock-30, so she's not a timid woman. I'm considering taking a few coils off the BG's mainspring to ease the trigger up some. I haven't taken a look at what it's insides are like, but it could do with a pound or two less.
I will give credit where credit is due. I have not shot a stock DB380. Below is a picture of how I brought mine to the range, never before firing it. I bought it new, with a crimson trace laser installed, I used half of a hogue jr slip, to add girth to the palm swell, and give ring finger support on the frame. And lastly, I found some LCP finger rest/grip extensions that fit the mags. Needed a mm shaved off the top so the mag would seat, but functioned fine. However, that allows all four fingers something to hold onto, which could make a world of difference in felt recoil, not having your pinky tucked under, as well as another 2-3 oz of laser under the barrel. Regardless, put 100 rds in each, BVAC reloads, and not a hiccup yet.
So I would suggest both guns, but would give sway to the diamondback more. Definitely take Heelers advice, and go with the new line. Serial starting in ZD. I got a ZC, the only difference between the two being the extractor, which diamondback (awesome customer support) mailed me for free, and I changed out myself- identical to a glock slide disassembly. Like I said, I had never shot a DB380 before, or one stock. And maybe the ZA/ZB line had some flaws, but if so, diamondback got their act together, because that is one hell of a gun.
I would have really liked to own a Sig P-238, which I believe was crowned the king, but for the price, it can be beat.
The P3AT/LCP seemed to be the winner of reliability, low weight, cheap, but bad recoil.
As I explained in the other thread, Kahr has scarred me for life, so even if it's the only manufacturer to make a laser gun, I won't buy them.
The BG380 was another high scorer, fairly priced, low weight, decent recoil. It was one of the two I purchased.
The one that got almost all bad reviews, for reliability, accuracy, and recoil, was the diamondback. However, I clung to Heeler's advice, and bought one anyways, the newest line, with all of the changes made.
Range day:
As was explained, I've shot a keltec, and own a Micro Deagle. Keltec was a little snappy, not enjoyable, but doable, and the MDE is a monster of poor design. It's one of the heaviest pocket 380s, and is the worst at recoil.
To start, both the BG380 and DB380 are remarkably accurate in my opinion. And for both, the recoil was VERY mild- to the point I thought my first round was a squib from lack of recoil. I wasn't expecting pain, but I thought that my hand would start to feel it after 50 rds. Both guns run beautifully. Two people that I went shooting with, who own keltecs, decided to buy DB380s because of it.
Between the two, the diamondback won, which I was surprised with. Reliability, comfort, and recoil were all ties for the most part. However, the DB has white dot sights, the BG just has black. I fixed that with a kit, but haven't shot it since. Also, the DB has a very glock-like trigger pull. It's a virtually a mini glock, inside and out. Minor differences. The BG, my biggest complaint is that it has a very stiff and long pull. I've shot enough revolvers that I could run it through just fine, but my wife couldn't get a handle on it. She pulled 90% of her shots on it, and she carries a Glock-30, so she's not a timid woman. I'm considering taking a few coils off the BG's mainspring to ease the trigger up some. I haven't taken a look at what it's insides are like, but it could do with a pound or two less.
I will give credit where credit is due. I have not shot a stock DB380. Below is a picture of how I brought mine to the range, never before firing it. I bought it new, with a crimson trace laser installed, I used half of a hogue jr slip, to add girth to the palm swell, and give ring finger support on the frame. And lastly, I found some LCP finger rest/grip extensions that fit the mags. Needed a mm shaved off the top so the mag would seat, but functioned fine. However, that allows all four fingers something to hold onto, which could make a world of difference in felt recoil, not having your pinky tucked under, as well as another 2-3 oz of laser under the barrel. Regardless, put 100 rds in each, BVAC reloads, and not a hiccup yet.
So I would suggest both guns, but would give sway to the diamondback more. Definitely take Heelers advice, and go with the new line. Serial starting in ZD. I got a ZC, the only difference between the two being the extractor, which diamondback (awesome customer support) mailed me for free, and I changed out myself- identical to a glock slide disassembly. Like I said, I had never shot a DB380 before, or one stock. And maybe the ZA/ZB line had some flaws, but if so, diamondback got their act together, because that is one hell of a gun.
