Looking for a 380 pocket gun

[M1NM]

Always liked my early (1969) Walther PPKS. The only improvement as a pocket gun would have been SS instead of blue.

[kmas]

Have you Bought One Yet?

Did you finally get your pocket gun?

[Mail Clerk]

Not many choices in California, but what is your opinion on the kahr P380? I think I would like the smith and Wesson bodyguard 380 semi auto but they are very hard to find for sale in my area.

wp50,

I think the Kahr version is not bad for a pocket gun. I have one of the brands in 9mm and they are good shooters reliability wise but accuracy is average. I also have a Bersa which is nothing more than copy of a PPK and I like that one better but it has a gritty trigger pull.

I can't say anything about the Smith and Wessons.


Mail Clerk

[kmas]

Try them First

If you are still looking, try out the LC390CA which is the old Ruger LC380.
Comes with a free attached laser sight (if you use such things)
I don't like it as much as my Glock 42 (off-roster) only because of that long trigger pull, and more felt recoil.
But ... I did buy it and am practicing lots with that trigger.

The Kahr P380 is finicky (unsafe if your life depends on it) - I owned one - went back for repairs twice and finally returned it (all this after finicky cleaning processes, and 300+ rounds of round-nose FMJ by various major manufacturers). My colleague had the same problems, and worse yet, during my CCW interview, the detective told me he had similar problems with his Kahr and no longer carries it.
Its a beautiful and very compact gun though, but recent Quality Control has been poor. When it did work, it was accurate and "fun to shoot"

Also, if you want to CCW a handgun, any SSE gun is no longer allowed in some counties, including Ventura Cty.

[kmas]

Kahr 9mm was okay

Just to reiterate - my comments were for the 2014/15 batches of the Kahr P380.

I have heard good things about the 9mm version (at least for previous production)

[tmh1]

Anyone have experience with the Firestorm 380 (generally the same as the Bersa Thunder 380)? About the same size as the Walther PPK except just a little longer in the grip. Pocketable? Reliable?

Still on the roster...

[JohnCCW]

A Kahr P380 with night sights is one of my CCW guns. I carry it more than any of my others because of its size.

[howbobert]

Did you consider anything in 9mm Mak? Ballistics similar to the .380. Most handguns are styled after the Walther. The only thing to remember is that you might have to change out some of the springs.

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Comparisonof9x18mmMakarovetc.htm

[kmas]

Here's the 380 List - Take your Pick

Here are the current .380 ACP guns on our CA Roster - take your pick.

.380 ACP Guns on CA Roster

Firestorm Firestorm 380 / 4140 Steel, Alloy Pistol 3.5" .380 ACP 1/1/2016
Accu-Tek AT-380 II / 17-4 Stainless Steel Pistol 2.8" .380 ACP 1/1/2016
Beretta 84 FS Cheetah / Blue Steel Pistol 3.8" .380 ACP 1/1/2016
Beretta 84 FS Cheetah Nickel / Nickel plated steel Pistol 3.8" .380 ACP 1/1/2016
Beretta 85 FS Cheetah / Blue Steel Pistol 3.8" .380 ACP 1/1/2016
Beretta 85 FS Cheetah Nickel / Nickel plated steel Pistol 3.8" .380 ACP 1/1/2016
Bersa (Industria Argentina) Firestorm 380 / 4140 Steel; Alloy Pistol 3.5" .380 ACP 1/1/2016
Kahr Arms P380 (KP38233/KP38233N) / Polymer Frame; Stainless Steel Slide Pistol 2.5" .380 ACP 1/1/2016
Sig Sauer, Inc. (Sauer, J.P. & Sons, Sig P232 (Stainless) / Stainless Steel Pistol 3.7" .380 ACP 1/1/2016
Sig Sauer, Inc. (Sauer, J.P. & Sons, Sig P232 (Stainless) Hogue Grips / Stainless Steel Pistol 3.7" .380 ACP 1/1/2016
Hi Point CF380 / Alloy, Zinc, 4130 Barrel Pistol 3.5" .380 ACP 1/1/2016
Sig Sauer, Inc. (Sauer, J.P. & Sons, Sig P238 (Two-Tone) 238-380-TSS-CA / Stainless Steel; Alloy Pistol 2.835" .380 ACP 1/1/2016
Sig Sauer, Inc. (Sauer, J.P. & Sons, Sig P238 238-380-HD-CA / Stainless Steel Pistol 2.82" .380 Auto 1/1/2016
Sturm, Ruger & Co. LC380CA 03253 / Alloy; Polymer Pistol 3.12" .380 Auto 1/1/2016

Enjoy your choice !!

[motoman96]

Some pics of my Sig p238 and my new S&W bodyguard. uploadfromtaptalk1439672922857.jpg

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

[huntercf]

Try to find a Ruger LCP 380. Super reliable little gun and lite as a feather

^^^This, I have one, picked it up this summer at Turner's, they have plenty of them and they come with a free laser sight.

[numpty]

p238

[Josh3239]

^^^This, I have one, picked it up this summer at Turner's, they have plenty of them and they come with a free laser sight.

He was describing an LCP, you are describing a LC380. They are two different pistols.

p238

This is the best pocket pistol available in California. Backed up by the Sig name, based on the Colt Mustang, very reliable and light recoil, easy to shoot, and comes with night sights out of the box.

I'd rate the P380 as a second choice. Kahr gives a lifetime warranty, comes with a nice case and 3 x magazines.

[hambam105]

Bond.

James Bond.

[Tovarish]

The definitive guide to pocket guns (autos smaller than a Shield/XDS/G43, etc.) is here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B22wLsyYEkTOMDU4MjJlNTktOTRlZi00NTJkLWE0MGMtZmEwNGFlMWE3ZDlm/view

While the larger .380s (PPK, G42, Bersa, etc.) are great for people who want an easy shooter, I personally believe if you're going .380, you should move to a smaller size like LCP/TCP. Otherwise if you're willing to pocket the extra heft, go for the slightly beefier 9mm--at least a Shield, which will get you more capacity in a better round. I think a too-small 9mm or a .380 with unnecessary heft should be avoided as long as you can put in a little practice (which you should be doing anyway).