380 pocket gun recommendation

[drifter2be]

Looking for opinions from people that own them. I'm in the market for a 380 auto and it needs to be small. Its primary purpose will be to stay in the center box of my VW Jetta while I am driving since it will be easier to get to than my P11 which stays on my hip and is right against my seat belt buckle while driving. Because of where I am trying to stow it it cannot have a length from the bottom of the mag to the top of the slide that is greater than 3 3/4". Secondary purpose for this gun will be a pocket carry for when I just can't do IWB due to the type of clothing I will be wearing. I already eliminated my old favorite the S&W bodyguard as it is just a wee bit to big to fit. My current top 3 are the Hellcat 380II, the Ruger LCP and the KelTec P3AT and also the P32 as a possibility. I prefer the P32 only because of the last round hold open and the extra round over the LCP and P3AT and Hellcat. 380 doesn't have a whole lot more ummph to it than .32 and an extra round plus the significantly lower amount of recoil and the last round hold open forced me to consider it.

Seems like all of them have pretty much useless sights, with the exception of the Hellcat that has a dot on the front post, but just a bare notch in the rear, but definitely more pronounced than the others I am considering. All have lasers readily available so the lack of sights is a non-issue for the most part.

The only reason I haven't already bought the LCP is because I had an LC9 and hated, hated, HATED the trigger on that pile of garbage. Before anyone tells me I should have gotten the trigger upgrade from Galloway, I believe in NOT modifying a carry pistol, the last thing I want is some aftermarket part making the gun I am counting on to potentially save my life rendering my gun unreliable or useless. Besides the fact that it pisses me off when I have to modify a gun from factory configuration to make it feel like it wasn't put together by a monkey f***ing a football. Now I have gotten to dry fire an LCP at a local store and the trigger definitely was better than the LC9, but I still have a bad taste left in my mouth after that LC9, so I am not so eager to buy another Ruger at the moment.

I'm really interested to hear from anyone that has gotten to put rounds down range with the Hellcat, but would also like input from anyone who has owned any of the guns I am considering. Thanks.

[bigdawg86]

Tagged. I too am in the marked for a pocket 380... The Hellcat or LCP isn't on the roster so you too may have trouble finding what you want.

[stix213]

I find my LCP to have a hard trigger to pull while staying on target. Same with my PF-9.

In contrast, my .380 Sig P238 is very easy to shoot for such a small gun. Kinda 1911 style ergos, being single action only and you'd carry in cocked and locked condition 1. And it comes with tritium sights from the factory, how cool is that?

Mine isn't on the roster, but there is a new version of the P238 that should now be on (they added a mag disconnect and a loaded chamber indicator I believe).

[SARC_Mike]

I love my Taurus TCP. There is one video out there showing it wont fire in "half reset" which I am not fond of because after over 500 rounds shot mine has never once not fired from half reset. Accuracy is about what youd expect from a pocket pistol. Now I realize its not on your list, and you may not like it, but it wouldnt be a terrible idea to at least take a look. You may be surprised...I was. What I do know is it is ALWAYS in my pocket and at work its perfect in my dress pants.

[selfshrevident]

Really hard to beat the quality of the Kahr P380. EXCELLENT little gun. Very accurate, dovetail front and rear sights, last shot hold open AND slide release lever, match grade barrel (although it is a 2.5" barrel shooting a .380 so not like I matters too much, but it is very accurate), sexy looking and great quality parts. Downside is the price. I bought mine with Trijicon night sights, AND it had to be the CA approved model which added $100 to the MSRP. Walked out at about $775. Worth it.

[drifter2be]

Tagged. I too am in the marked for a pocket 380... The Hellcat or LCP isn't on the roster so you too may have trouble finding what you want.

Roster doesn't apply to me

I find my LCP to have a hard trigger to pull while staying on target. Same with my PF-9.

In contrast, my .380 Sig P238 is very easy to shoot for such a small gun. Kinda 1911 style ergos, being single action only and you'd carry in cocked and locked condition 1. And it comes with tritium sights from the factory, how cool is that?

Mine isn't on the roster, but there is a new version of the P238 that should now be on (they added a mag disconnect and a loaded chamber indicator I believe).

I lie the P238, 1911 ergos are due to the fact that is a colt mustang clone. Not a big fan of carrying with a safety, one more thing to have to remember and possibly have go wrong when I need my gun. It was pretty high on my list in the past, but when I really think about it, I really don't want to ruin a nice $550-600 gun carrying it around, and god forbid I ever actually have to use my carry gun do I want to be stuck with a $600 investment in a police evidence locker.

DAO triggers are something I have been used to for some time, staying on target with the long heavy pull takes practice. As long as its a smooth pull with a decent break its pretty easy after practice, and since my P11 is the same way I am trying to stick with that for carry. A lack of safeties on my carry guns means not having to remember what safety is where exactly and how do I click it off...

The last one I am going to lob onto the tail end of my list is the Diamondback 380, was talking to an owner at a gun store earlier and he had mentioned that it was his backup gun that he carried, looked like a mini-glock, striker-fired 380. 6 + 1 capacity. Unfortunately like the hellcat I have not really heard of them until recently.

[selfshrevident]

The last one I am going to lob onto the tail end of my list is the Diamondback 380, was talking to an owner at a gun store earlier and he had mentioned that it was his backup gun that he carried, looked like a mini-glock, striker-fired 380. 6 + 1 capacity. Unfortunately like the hellcat I have not really heard of them until recently.

STAY AWAY FROM DIAMONDBACK. They are JUNK guns. I was almost about to get one but did some research first and read about too many horrible experiences and quality issues people were having.

You get what you pay for.

[bigdawg86]

Roster doesn't apply to me

Whatever Mr. Arizona!

[M27]

I find my LCP to have a hard trigger to pull while staying on target. Same with my PF-9.

In contrast, my .380 Sig P238 is very easy to shoot for such a small gun. Kinda 1911 style ergos, being single action only and you'd carry in cocked and locked condition 1. And it comes with tritium sights from the factory, how cool is that?

Mine isn't on the roster, but there is a new version of the P238 that should now be on (they added a mag disconnect and a loaded chamber indicator I believe).

I agree with you about the LCP trigger, it is a long trigger pull with small sights.

in a fight I would not pull the trigger on this pistol at anything over 7ft away.

not to say I wouldn't carry it but when carrying a minimalist pistol you must recognize its limitations

[redcliff]

The Kahr P380 was the right pistol for me for pocket carry. I like it a lot.

[drifter2be]

Did a little more research and I think I am going to go with the LCP. Local shop down the road from me had one in the used gun cabinet in great condition for $280 with a lasermax laser, so it will be just a tad over $300 out the door, if not there was another shop that had one brand new for $270 without a laser. I liked the feel of the trigger on the LCP the best out of them, the P3AT trigger was slightly lighter but wasn't as crisp of a break. Yeah the sights are unusable on everything but the Hellcat, but I just can't find enough info on them to take the risk with both my money and my safety. Knowing myself I will probably end up picking up the P32 in a few weeks as well, since I am going to have to reload .32 anyway because my GF wants a Beretta Tomcat.

[Rockit]

I really like the p3at.
THe wife carries one. A little polishing goes a long way on the break of the trigger.

[Rockit]

And this can help the sights....

http://psenhancements.com/

[stix213]

I agree with you about the LCP trigger, it is a long trigger pull with small sights.

in a fight I would not pull the trigger on this pistol at anything over 7ft away.

not to say I wouldn't carry it but when carrying a minimalist pistol you must recognize its limitations

Exactly. Now when I really try and focus, I can get good groups, but when you're pulling your gun out with your life in danger you aren't going to be in the same mindset.

[Tiberius]

i'd take a good look at the Kahr P380, and the Sig P238. The Kahr has a long but smooth trigger; the P238 has a very good trigger.

I don't know Jettas well, but it seems like you might be able to fit a small 9mm in just as well. Maybe an M&P Shield or 9c or 40c, or even a Glock 26, or Beretta Nano. A Bersa Thunder is an affordable but solid .380. A S&W j-frame is another idea.

The advantage of .380s is that some are true pocket guns. But for a car console, you might be able to go bigger. Or mount a holster under the seat somewhere.

T