Need help deciding....

[LADave]

Hey guys,
Im looking into purchasing a .380 so my gf can shoot when we go to the range, but im stuck deciding on which one to get... My options are as follows
SIG- P238
Kahr- P380
Bersa Thunder 380
Has anyone had experience with all three? I know the bersa is alot cheaper then the other two, but money isnt an issue since it will be a one time purchase i want to make sure i get the best. also the kahr pm9 is a weeeeebit bigger then the p380..should i just go with that?
Thanks in advance

[redcliff]

Small lightweight .380's are better carry guns than range guns generally speaking. Most .380's have significant recoil for the cartridge they shoot due to being recoil operated, and the short sight radius and rudimentary sights on most of them make accurate shooting more difficult, especially for new shooters. As the owner of both a P380 and PM9, as well as a couple other .380 pistols I don't find any of them to be ideal range pistols, but that isn't their primary role.

Any number of 9mm's with steel frames will have less felt recoil and be easier/cheaper to shoot, as well as the polymer frame 9mms, but often they have trigger reaches that can be rather long for women with smaller hands and require compromising proper grip. A good target .22lr pistol can provide a lot of cheap fun and practice alos.

Also, many women prefer the simplicity of revolvers, so a .357 with 4" or longer barrel which can shoot .38 specials for low recoil are often popular with women.

Why don't you take her to a range and let her try shoot various rental handguns and see what she likes before you decide on what to purchase?

[LADave]

we generally go to the range about once a week together, and she has shot both 9mms and .380s that we have rented there. She shoots alot better with a .380 then 9mm (im the opposite) so i was leaning more towards a 380, although i do understand what you are saying as far as more felt recoil due to smaller frames. and .22lr is already in the range bag...how much should i pay for a p380 these days?

[Freshshooter]

+1 for the Sig P238 love the lil things.

[IntoForever]

+1 on renting several and see what she likes. My .380 has a 3" barrel (2" of usable barrel past the tip of the bullet) and it's accuracy is measured in "clothes dryer @ 10 feet".

[J.D.Allen]

Just curious, why a .380? I would probably suggest a 9mm or a .38 sp. Not a significant difference in recoil for much better performance, and cheaper ammo.

[Lead Waster]

Argh! Stop littering the range floor with .380 cases! When I swoop in to snatch that brass, it gives me a headache! :P

j/k!

Hey, are there full sized .380s?

[Swift Justice]

If you can find one, a Colt Government .380 is the best .380 that I have shot, and I've shot a few (PPK, LCP, FEG, Lorcin). The large (for a .380) steel frame and the locked breech system really make recoil not much more than a .22.

If I couldn't find a Govt. .380, then I would go with the Sig from your choices above as it is essentially a Colt Mustang copy. The Bersa is a good less expensive choice, but some people that shoot that type of design (blowback PPK copies) have an issue with slide bite.

[LADave]

she just shoots it better then a 9mm

[Oldnoob]

From your list, I would go with Sig 238. Just remind her don't lock and cocked when purse carry.

[teflondog]

I shot a friend's Bersa Thunder before. At 7 yards, I had 10" groups. I found the recoil very snappy and not pleasant to shoot at all. I had the same experience with the PPK. I would imagine that the other ones in your list would feel similar since they're about the same size. A compact 9mm such as the XD 9sc, M&P 9c, or Glock 26 is a lot easier to handle IMO.

[LADave]

i understand what all you guys are saying but what can a guy to if his gf thinks "their soo cuuute" and prefers to shoot the .380 anyways? hahaha. it seems like the kahr is about $100 more then the p238 just wanna see if thats worth it.

[IntoForever]

i understand what all you guys are saying but what can a guy to if his gf thinks "their soo cuuute" and prefers to shoot the .380 anyways? hahaha. it seems like the kahr is about $100 more then the p238 just wanna see if thats worth it.

Have her rent a 'cute' little gun and when her hand is sore from recoil, she'll be better informed. I'm a recoil junkie and I hate shooting my .380

[Roach_Infinity]

I'd let her decide, she obviously has enough experience to make the call to prefer a compact .380 over a larger framed 9mm (As discussed by redcliff.)

-Eric

[mmrx2]

She should pick the one that fits her hands the best.