Why shouldn't I do this?

[Rock185]

hdwhit, No personal experience with the LCP, but will share an observation. Two officers I worked with carried LCPs as second weapons. We were required to qualify with second weapons, and I saw both having malfunctions during qualification. I don't recall what ammunition they were using at the time.

 

[LiveLife]

Life is short - Just Do It!

BUT ...

Wanting to replace Russian Makarov in 380Auto (Still miss it) and fulfill wife's request for a pocket pistol, I bought a Taurus TCP 738 after considering other models due to smoother DAO trigger and slide lock other pistols lacked (Slide lock is back on LCP II with better trigger). BTW, Cabela's has them for sale for $179 - http://www.cabelas.com/product/Taurus-TCP-Semi-Automatic-Centerfire-Pistol/1335712.uts

and Bud's for $168 with free shipping - https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...stols/1738031FS+TAURUS+Semi-Automatic+380+ACP

BUT ...

Then I thought 8+1 single stack 9mm would be better than 6+1 380Auto ... so when S&W offered $75 rebate on M&P Shield 9, it was a no-brainer as I already reload quite a bit of 9mm for pistols and carbines. BTW, rebate expires on 6/30/17 - https://www.smith-wesson.com/rebates

$225 after rebate is almost price of 380Auto - https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsupers...hield-9mm-centerfire-pistol-with-thumb-safety

 

[Valkman]

Have at it. No reason not too that I see, AND you get a bunch of reloading time too! win-win.

 

[Dinosaur1]

Wife: "Just how many guns do you need."
Me: "Just one more"

 

[Tallball]

"...mine have always gone bang and been more than accurate enough to dump 7 shots into a badguy sized target."

If I can do that easily at 20 feet, that's all I require from a tiny 380acp pocket pistol.

 

[grampajack]

That kitten has claws. Very uncomfortable to shoot. They've also experienced some serious quality control problems. The last one I had the mag catch was all kinds of wonky, and the magazine could not be loaded to capacity. It simply could not take that last round, whereas the previous ones were just fine. If you see an LCP mag that says made in America run away. The ones made in Italy were good.

I would personally give ten LCPs for one G42, but that's just me.

 

[bassjam]

The lcp on sale is a great back up gun or even a primary gun if you take your life willy nilly as i do.

That's funny right there. Makes me think back 10 or so years when the LCP first came out. The forums were full of .380 bashers, essentially saying the LCP was a BUG at best and you will surely die if you depend on one.

Funny how quickly attitudes change. Of course there's still guys out there that consider the .380 worthless, but there's also a lot of people who use a .380 as their primary carry gun now.

 

[huntsman]

Size matters and when it comes to pocket guns small is better, sure there are "better" triggers and easier shooting guns. but they are bigger and heavier than an LCP. so for a gun that is carried religiously one compromises and adapts for the sake of comfort and convenience.

 

[Fiv3r]

That's funny right there. Makes me think back 10 or so years when the LCP first came out. The forums were full of .380 bashers, essentially saying the LCP was a BUG at best and you will surely die if you depend on one.

Funny how quickly attitudes change. Of course there's still guys out there that consider the .380 worthless, but there's also a lot of people who use a .380 as their primary carry gun now.

Very true.

I do see the merit in a more powerful gun. Carting as much gun as you can handle does make good sense. But I'm still a baby about it.

In my day to day I just whistle past graveyards and hope that the roving gangs of ISIS Meth Bears don't attack while I'm only sporting 6+1 of puny .380.

It'll have to do until I can figure out how to boot carry a Mossberg Shockwave.

 

[sean m]

I have enjoyed the one I have, for the past 8 years. Light and easy to carry. Has become my primary carry for working in an office environment. the Desantis ammo Nemsis pocket holster makes it easy to carry the pistol and a spare mag in a dedicated pocket. I haven't invested into the reloading for it since, I do most of my range shooting with a 22.

 

[hdwhit]

Would you happen to be a 40 year old unmarried woman?
View attachment 236772

No.

Just a sixty year old married man with a 13 pound Turkish Van who does get treated like royalty, but who, when some tried to break in, ran to the door and began to engage the intruder.

And believe me, the way she was going after the guy, he'd have been better off facing a hungry Rottweiler wearing a meat suit.

 

[Cannibul]

As a side question, could nine millimeter dies be used for three eighty? In the way three fifty seven magnum and thirty eight special can be. This may save some of your angry money. To put toward bullets or cases. Or anger management classes for the rest of your money. 8)

It doesn't work that way.

 

[hdwhit]

But...but...but, 1MoreFord, you don't understand. Ever since I got my first centerfire rifle, I have reloaded all my ammunition. At first, it was out of necessity since I wasn't 21 and so couldn't buy new ammunition. But now it is simply a matter of pride. The first time I shoot a new gun, I use factory ammunition so any problems can't be blamed on my reloads. After that, if I didn't assemble it, it doesn't get shot.

So, whatever the frustrations that might accompany 380, they can't be any worse than my 30+ year quest to load 5.7mm Johnson.

 

[hdwhit]

Fiv3r and Bassjam,

Remember from some of my previous posts on other threads that I carried an RG25 as my EDC for many years and twice had to use it to defend myself, so by comparison, a 380 is a cannon.

What I am seeing that is giving me pause is the accuracy issue. Out to 15 or 20 feet, that little RG would put a bullet exactly where the front blade of the sight landed. And with little recoil reacquiring a sight picture for a follow-up shot if needed was quick. I was confident of what I could do with that little gun and I suspect it was that confidence (combined with the fact my assailants probably assumed I was unarmed) that let me see off assailants armed with much heavier weapons.

 

[Fiv3r]

Fiv3r and Bassjam,

Remember from some of my previous posts on other threads that I carried an RG25 as my EDC for many years and twice had to use it to defend myself, so by comparison, a 380 is a cannon.

What I am seeing that is giving me pause is the accuracy issue. Out to 15 or 20 feet, that little RG would put a bullet exactly where the front blade of the sight landed. And with little recoil reacquiring a sight picture for a follow-up shot if needed was quick. I was confident of what I could do with that little gun and I suspect it was that confidence (combined with the fact my assailants probably assumed I was unarmed) that let me see off assailants armed with much heavier weapons.

I can understand that.
One thing I will say about the original lcp is that the front sight is so dadgone small that you almost have to instinctively shoot it. Finding a traditional sight picture with that little bump of a blade and shallow little valley is almost laughable.

The bullet will go where you point it, but aimed crack shots without getting into holding your mouth right is difficult.

The custom lcp has much better sights if a bit easier to snag. I think the lcp ii upgraded sights that are much better than the soap bar minimal ones on the original and less likely to get caught up than the custom seem to be best the compromise. Plus the trigger is sweet for a pipsqueak.

I'm not a great shot, but at combat ranges I was dumping 6 or 7 rounds into a tennis ball size.

...however the lcp isn't the one on sale.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

Shoot one first. For me the recoil wasn't an issue (my LC9s IMHO has much more felt recoil), it was the fact that I could barely get two fingers on the gun and combined with the heavy trigger, I just can't hit crap with the gun.

 

[sbwaters]

Some jean pockets are built for an LCP in a sticky pocket holster. Others, for an LC9s, also in a sticky.

 

[maxxhavoc]

Get one but don't reload for it. Reloading a casing the size of .380 is tedious. Buy cheap reload ammo off the internet. LCP's aren't really range toys. I recommend https://www.freedommunitions.com/ for both range fodder and their new stuff with XTP bullets for SD.

I don't notice anything different from loading 9mm except the smaller powder charge. Loading plated bullets is cheap. 10% reduced loads hit about the same at point blank range to 10 yards, and are MUCH more pleasant to shoot. I have no problems with full-length shooting sessions with reloads....not so much with full house SD loads.

 

[1MoreFord]

I don't notice anything different from loading 9mm except the smaller powder charge. Loading plated bullets is cheap. 10% reduced loads hit about the same at point blank range to 10 yards, and are MUCH more pleasant to shoot. I have no problems with full-length shooting sessions with reloads....not so much with full house SD loads.

Your paws must have more dexterity than my ole meat hooks. I don't like loading 9mm's. I'm more comfortable with .38 Super and .45ACP sized brass.