.380 Auto for smaller hands

[Adehtla]

I took my girlfriend shooting today to search for a handgun caliber that she could manage since 9mm is a bit much for her. She shot a Sig P232 and loved it. She really wants something that has a thumb safety, and the only just the range had was a Bersa Thunder 380. Is that a good gun? I don't know anything about them, nor do I know anyone with one.

Are there other .380 Autos with a thumb safety that will fit small hands she should consider?

The the only thing that is important to me is that she enjoys it for a long time. I'm not concerned about cost.

[BigDogatPlay]

Not to sound trite here, but if the gun is intended for purely self defense and is a DA/SA or DA only a thumb safety is kind of redundant. My experience with the Bersa is limited to handling only, so hard for me to say.

If she likes that style and a slide mounted safety is a must, you might try to find a Walther PP series, but that could be a long and expensive search. The Walthers are, generally, the best there is.

If she likes the P232 and fired it well, you might suggest to her that it is a good solution. I've owned a P230 for many years and it is an excellent platform for the .380 cartridge.

[tunder]

Here's something that might help.

http://www.mouseguns.com/

Look for Pocket Gun Chart by BOB O
It's a PDF of scaled images and specs for a wide variety of pocket pistols.

[Adehtla]

@BigDogatPlay I see your point, and personally I agree. However, the gun isn't for me. I'm trying to work with her desires. I'll mention it to her, though this means I'll be explaining DA vs DA/SA. I don't think she realized she'd be learning so much ;-)

@tunder Awesome site! Bookmarked for future reference.

[pullnshoot25]

MAKAROV!

Ammo is cheap too!

[Mikeinblack]

.380 Ammo availability is a real problem... So she shot a 9MM? Is the recoil that much higher?

[Bug Splat]

Bersa all the way! Very well made and very reliable. Mine is just solid and has no rattle or play. The bersa is better made and easier to shoot than the Walther and it comes with a lifetime warranty. Its also lighter due to the aluminum frame. Don't be dazzled by the Walther name. Bersa's are very much underrated and worth more than their sticker. They are small enough to conceal if needed yet large enough to control in rapid fire.

I carry mine every day and forget its even on my side half the time. I would buy again in a heart beat.

[Adehtla]

@pullnshoot25 Hahaha! That would be an awesome gun

@Mikeinblack Odd, I've always seen .380 Auto ammunition when I go to buy .40 S&W. Maybe it's just a SoCal thing?

@BugSplat Thanks for speaking up. Since I didn't actually handle the Bersa (I made sure that my girlfriend did everything), how's the safety work? Is it hard to operate? Hard to reach? I have an XD, so I don't have to fiddle with a safety.

[pTa]

Find her a Colt .380 Gov't model. They rock!

I find it hard to believe she shot a 232 Sig and can't handle 9mm... Have her fire a Sig SAUER P239. That's an amazing 9mm compact.

[NeoWeird]

Beretta's 80 series might be up her alley. The grips are thin from muzzle to hammer, but a bit wider side to side by comparison to other pistols. It gives a good square feel to it; more like holding a baseball bat than a deck of cards on it's side. Makes for a more secure feeling grip purchase. It's got a top open design similar to the M9/92 series so jamming is never really an issue, has a magazine disconnect (if you like that sort of thing), and ambidextrous frame mounted thumb safety. The 84 is a double stack and the 82 (?) and 85 were single stacks which MIGHT have a thinner grip but I'm not sure (external dimensions may be the same with internal mag well dimensions being the only difference). Browning imported them for a while under the BDA name, but they have a closed conventional slide and (I believe) a slide mounted safety.

All I know is I've yet to find a woman who didn't like my 84, and everyone who has fired it has liked it, if not LOVED it.

ETA: To give you an idea, last range trip I went a friend brought a female friend. She disliked EVERYTHING but was having a good time. Even ARs she would fire a couple times and then put them down. Once I showed her my Beretta, she wouldn't put the thing down. Ended up thanking me at the end because she was enjoying the trip, but it wasn't until the Beretta that she actually had fun.

[Bug Splat]

@BugSplat Thanks for speaking up. Since I didn't actually handle the Bersa (I made sure that my girlfriend did everything), how's the safety work? Is it hard to operate? Hard to reach? I have an XD, so I don't have to fiddle with a safety.

Honestly, I don't like the safety. Its a Beretta style so up is FIRE, down is Safe. Its backwards to me and I don't use it. If the hammer is back the safety also is a decocker and I use that all the time. It does also has a mag disconnect which may or may not be your girls cup of tea. Its easy enough to remove if you want.

I'm a Glock fan so I roll with a round in the chamber, safety off, and make use of the DA trigger.

Edit: Oops, for got to say that the safety is easy to operate and reach. Out of the box its a bit tight and will require some play time to smooth things out. Mine was great after an hour in front of the TV.

[RogueSniper]

I have a Walther PPK, Stainless in 380Auto. It HURTS! I think the problem may be the size of the little bugger and it's grip. I'll use it for CCW and shoot once a week to stay in practice but for fun give me my 9mm/40/45/22. I also have a Walther/Manurhin PP but in 32Auto. Low recoil, very easy to shoot and handle, but, you're looking for a 380.

I agree with pTa that the Colt 380 Govt is a better 380, I believe it's due to the ergonomics. Good luck finding one, though.
(not mine)
I've never handled a Bersa but every review here on the Forum has given it high marks, absolutely underrated. If you find one, tell me, too!

[Colt]

Find her a Colt .380 Gov't model. They rock!

Absolutely!

[RogueSniper]

Found one for you ... in Cerritos

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=221737

[Adehtla]

Thanks for the help all. I really don't want to buy her a gun without her getting her hands on it first, so unless I can find a Colt that's local, it's not an option. I'm going to checkout the Walther. I'm sure a good grip can fix a lot of the hurt.

As to 9mm, she's fired a Browning High Power, and the shots were all over the place. It may just have been the size of the grip, but she said it kicked too much for her to control. I want the gun she gets to be effective at stopping a threat, but if she feels it's too much gun for her, she won't use it. And a gun not used--