Anyone with experience w/Taurus P58s

[noyo55]

I'm looking for a 380 for my wife and some of my research suggests that it has a very modest recoil? She can handle my Ruger P85, 9mm okay but I'd like something with less recoil and size. I bought her an East German Mak, 9x18 and put a 21 lb. spring in but it still has more snap than the Ruger. Thanks

[JTROKS]

A Beretta Cheetah w/ the high cap mag will be very similar. For it's size it should handle the 380 acp recoil just fine. It isn't the most compact 380 pistol, but if you're worried about your wife handling the recoil then it should be an excellent choice - that's if you can find one around here, since I don't see it in the approved list. I've shot one many years ago and the recoil is very manageable, if I remember correctly the barrel is stationary making it a straight up blow back pistol compared to the delayed blow back design of the Taurus PT92. It was only a little bit smaller than the PT92 in 9mm that I was shooting at the same time. The PT58 has a shorter barrel/slide and the grip felt smaller. I didn't have a measuring tape so I wouldn't know the size difference. I never like the grip on the my PT92 even after I replaced the wood grips with Uncle Mike's grips, it has more sharper corners instead of the smooth shape of a Beretta 92 grip.

[marsd]

Go to taurusarmed.net for more info on the PT58. Are you using the original grips on the Mak EG? You may want her to try the Pearce rubber grips for the Mak. I really like the feel of the Pearce rubber grips on both my Russian Commercial and Bulgy Maks. By the way, good choice in getting her a Mak EG. It is regarded as a high quality Mak.

[RedFord150]

Look at Bersa Thunder in .380acp before putting any money on the Taurus. I own the Bersa currently and would not think twice about buying a second. I have owned and sold a Taurus Revolver and will never own another Taurus product.
As always, the final decision is yours. Buy what makes you happy.
Good luck.

[Brian2217]

I have fixed a few to know enogh not to want one. Buy what you can afford and what makes you and your wife happy.

I will second the Beretta and the Bersa.

[railroader]

I would think the bersa 380 is going to kick at least as hard the p85. The bersa is a fixed barrel while the ruger is locked breech. That's one of the reasons the mak kicks so hard. It's like the bersa but 9x18 ammo is even more powerful than 380acp. Bersa is also lighter than the mak because it has an aluminum frame. The taurus it isn't on the roster so unless you have an exemption it will be tough to get.
For a soft shooting 9mm I have a ruger p95 and the polymer seems to really soak the recoil. Let your wife try one of those at a range. Mark