Thoughts on 380 pocket pistol?

[Kingston1475]

Personally I have no idea why people carry 380's when you can get a 9mm that's virtually the same size.

I’ve had many “small” pistols including the p365, Glock 42, and Bersa thunder. None of those are what I consider true pocket pistols. Yes, they all fit in a pocket but they were all a bit too big to be comfortable to carry that way. I sometimes carry a jframe which is actually pretty good to carry. My lcp max would disappear in the pocket.
So I guess to be more specific I am looking for a pistol that is light weight and small enough to comfortably fit in an average front jean pocket. The 380 is because there are NO 9mms that fit what I want. Plus I’m already sometimes carrying a p10s but that is definitely not a pocket size gun.

 

[bhp9]

German made PPK/S or FN/Browning 1910/1955. And by the way the .32 auto out penetrates the .380 that is why the German Army adopted the .32 instead of the .380 as the .380 would not penetrate a helmet.

 

[OMCHamlin]

A great Option 4 would be Walther PPK …. A tad heavier but especially if you can afford to snag an older one, from the 80s or before ….. they're great guns

I have to say this, and I speak as a former owner of more than a few PPK/s, PP, PPK and even a PP Sport; they are "classy" and "iconic", they are NOT, in comparison to modern .380 offerings, "great" by ANY stretch of the imagination. You may like them, you may like the HELL out of them, but they are twice as heavy, NOT prone to feeding JHPs (with only rare exceptions), will absolutely beat crap outta your hand because they are a blowback design, all the while while hammer-biting the devil outta the web of your hand, AND slicing the meat of your thumb and forefinger with the precision honed German razor steel slide edges. All this while being half again as large and with half the magazine capacity.
But, yes, OTHER than those few trifilings, they ARE pretty cool...

 

[blume357]

Someone has mentioned the Sig P365. If I was going to buy another gun, I'm doing my best not too, I think it would be that little pistol. Seems it has been well received. I realized in reading the above post that even though I don't have a p365, somewhere in my 'stuff' I do have a P365 replica CO2 pistol. And so I went and found it, it is a pocket pistol and it comes in both 9mm and 380. Looks like what the OP may be looking for if striker fired is okay with them.

 

[Killer Bee]

I've had this bodyguard on my ccw permit over 10 years with no complaints

safety delete and second strike capability works for me just dandy

.380 debate is trifle with modern cartridge offerings providing adequate stopping power where a larger frame isn't practical for some carry situations

good luck with your decision!

 

[OMCHamlin]

My thoughts on pocket carry of a .380 are (#1, it's obviously NOT a Walther, LOL!), but, I started with a NAA .32 Guardian, shifted to a lowly KelTec P3AT that refuses to quit on my wife to this DAY, shifted again to a gen I LCP, then a gen II Custom (red trigger, taller sights) LCP, then a Kahr P380, and finally to split time between a KelTec P32 (yes), and a Ruger LCP Max. Of all those, the one I WANTED to love was that tiny little Kahr, and it ran good, had that silky DA trigger, decent sights, thin as all get out... But then, for no apparent reason, it began NOT running so "good". Of everything, a pocket .380 or a 38 snub has GOT to
A. Run Good., and
B. Make you FEEL like it will "run good" when the chit hits the fan.
Nothing less, because you've already trimmed all the margin out of the equation.
And by the by, I had a very early, and reliable US made stainless PPK in .380 that actually DID feed Winchester Silvertips, that I DID pocket carry! That thing was state of the CCW Art! ...30 years ago. The scars have largely faded...

 

[bowzette]

"The scars have largely faded..."

 

[moparclan]

Stainless Colt Mustang Pocketlite, one in chamber hammer down and safety on. Everyday carry winter and summer, Colt Commander in door of car with two extra magazines.

 

[sixmranch]

I carry a Sig P238. Great pocket pistol. Basically a miniature 1911.

 

[Killer Bee]

Stainless Colt Mustang Pocketlite, one in chamber hammer down and safety on. Everyday carry winter and summer, Colt Commander in door of car with two extra magazines.

this Colt CLW (commander light weight) is one of my favorite carry guns

 

[Jeepnik]

A true pocket .380.
It rode in the rear pocket of my bike jersey for almost two decades.

 

[OMCHamlin]

A true pocket .380.
It rode in the rear pocket of my bike jersey for almost two decades.

Did it run well? I've always kinda wanted one.

 

[Jeepnik]

A bit stiff for the first hundred or so rounds. A few FTF’s. Since then no issues. Oh, I did get a magazine with our the finger extension. Much easier on my back.

 

[Duckfart]

My first and only pocket pistol, Ruger LCP MAX.
I can’t get through 1 mag without releasing it. Not sure if it’s a grip problem but definitely a problem.
Mine also has the familiar rattle I’ve been hearing about. I have to say it is comfortable, light and its print profile I think is excellent. Not sure what to do about the mag release?? Curious if anyone else is dealing with this issue?

 

[larry8]

Personally I like my Ruger Security 380. It's the best one I have.

 

[bhp9]

Original German made PPK, PPK/s or PP or FN/Browning 1910/1955 in .32 or .380.

The reason the German Army rejected the .380 and adopted the .32 acp was because the .32 acp would penetrate military helmet while the .380 bounced off.

And the U.S. Military in tests run in 1945 (see the book "The Inglis Diamond) found that the .45acp also bounced off military helmets at a scant 35 yards while the 9x19 penetrated them at 125 yards.

 

[CAJUNCHEF]

I know you will think I am crazy but my favorite 380 is a bersa firestorm it's amazingly accurate shoots where you point and never hiccup on me in over 1500 rds . It really is a great gun check it outView attachment 50188

I have to check out the Bersa, as I am thinking about getting a .380. Styling similar to PPK, and came highly recommended by my first CWP instructor, a veteran Deputy Sherrif of Jefferson Parish in the New Orleans metro area. Damn good police force, they quickly catches bad guys.

 

[jav]

I have to check out the Bersa, as I am thinking about getting a .380. Styling similar to PPK, and came highly recommended by my first CWP instructor, a veteran Deputy Sherrif of Jefferson Parish in the New Orleans metro area. Damn good police force, they quickly catches bad guys.

You won’t be sorry it’s a great gun for the money . I have lots of expensive guns but my bersa is still one of my favorites

 

[CAJUNCHEF]

You won't be sorry it's a great gun for the money . I have lots of expensive guns but my bersa is still one of my favorites

Thanks for the insight. My LGS just moved to a nice big new location 2 miles from my house. I'm going look at these today.

 

[SiliconSorcerer]

I'm typically a hammer guy but I liked the P365 so much I bought 3 of them, my typical thing when I decide on a carry I want to have a small stash of them. I do have a LCP that little sucker is a lot better if I use Ruger ARX ammo in it, I've done the testing with ARX ammo myself on my range, it's up there with or better than the defensive ammo and the LCP is hard to hang on to with normal defensive ammo. Just my 2 cents...
I also keep ARX +p 9mm in my P365's.

 

[Hvymax]

I was recently carrying my gen 1 LCP while my Max9 was back at Ruger. I forgot how effortless it was to carry . Max9 feels like a brick in my pocket. If they came out with an optic equipped LCP I'd be on it like a bad smell. Of course the new ones with actual sights would probably help.

 

[Buckeye!]

 

[Hvymax]

I carry mine with the mag below the grip in the holster. It completely breaks up the outline of the gun in my pocket. It looks exactly like a wallet in jeans.

 

[pisgah]

Sig-Sauer P365 .380.

 

[DaveyDug]

I really like the looks of the Bodyguard 2.0. Nice low bore axis, ergonomic grip, 10-12 round capacity...

I suspect I may end up with one at some point.

 

[JackBull]

As of new the 10 round BG 2.0 is only available with a safety.