Which .380? & which round?

[voiceofreason]

for a deep concealment or BUG, which .380 would you recommend? (please don't suggest a 9mm...)

what round would you load it with? (after establishing reliability of the combo)



price isn't an issue. reliability is the most important quality

some .380s that I've considered, but am not limited to:

-Kahr P380
-Kahr CW380
-Ruger LCP
-Sig 238
-Kimber Solo


some .380 rounds:
-DPX
-Golden Saber
-Gold Dot


my friend's wife has decided that the 9mms are too large for carry, and she doesn't like wheel guns, which her hubby is dead set on her carrying; so she's asked me to help her decide

hard to find ranges that rent .380s


---update---

She ended up with a P238 in .380 and currently loads it with Golden Sabers as her carry load after running 2 boxes through it with no malfunctions - 200 rounds of FMJ were fired by her husband and I with NO malfunctions - firing it left handed with a limp grip did not induce a failure, 60 rounds were fired by her with some pretty nice groups

for a pocket gun, it shoots like a compact

thank you to everyone for your advice

I think the XTP might be a better load for her gun, though I wouldn't feel bad about loading FMJs given how weak the .380 round is

She's happy now and a .380 with her more of the time is better than a 9mm some of the time.

[Ibn Hakkan]

how about a stainless Walther PPK?

[BRANCHER]

I have the Kahr and Sig... Both nice.
Also Think SSE with 380 I have the LCI on the Kahr and hate the LCI. Can get off list without LCI and want it.
SSE also opens up other guns as well. Looking for a nice Beretta Cheeta 85 (single stack). Pissed I din't buy last year when I saw it.
I think the Beretta or Walther (have a line for one chasing down)...

[1CavScout]

I am currently carrying an LCP with Hornady Critical Duty .380. My other carry .380 is a Sig P230, but the LCP is much smaller. I looked at the P238, but did not want a cocked and locked gun for what I was intending to use it for.

[hunterb]

Sig P238. Cocked and locked. SAO. Simple, easy, effective.

Put 300+ rounds through it and it will be ultra-reliable. They can be a bit picky when new.

[titan2]

I carry the Sig P238 loaded with Hornady Critical Defense. Feeds consistantly all rounds with no FTFs.

Good combo and a great little gun!!!

[geedavell]

Does the Solo come in.380?
I thought that was 9mm?
And you know the Solo is off roster?
If you're looking for off roster, you could put the Colt Mustang on your list too

[highpower790]

consider the 90gr Fed hydrashock and the colt government.

[Quiet]

Ruger LCP or Kel-Tec P-3AT loaded with Speer 90gr Gold-Dot JHP or Winchester 95gr SXT JHP in a DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster.

[Ritchie8719]

Kahr and reliability don't go together. I think KISS and LCP.

[Tasty]

Kahr and reliability don't go together.

This has been my experience. I'm in the process of sending my p380 back because it isn't reliable in the slightest bit.

[macman9]

Go with the ruger lcp. Eats any ammo even my reloads and it's half the price of the Sig. I got on my permit and carry it everywhere.
I have a Keltec p3at also. But it's ammo picky. The only ammo it does not chock on is my reloads. And my reloads are bunny fart loads. But the Keltec eats them no problem. Kind of strange.

[Rango]

I own the Sig P238, S&W Bodyguard .380 and the LCP.

Sig P238 - nice gun but requires training - unless she's a 1911 shooter the cocked and locked may be an issue in a high stress encounter. And it has a magazine safety which I dislike....

The Bodyguard is nice, the laser is not bad and the grip is the best of the three.

The LCP goes to the dance the most often - small, light easy to hide and it goes BANG every time! My wife likes it best. She carrys the Bodyguard if I want the LCP. We are even considering buying a SECOND LCP.

I say LCP with the Bodyguard a close second.

As far as ammo? I've got the SXT in the gun now. These days you run what you can FIND.

[Twhite5555]

I love LC380 great gun.

[jaymz]

I carry an LCP with Hornady Critical Defense. That little sucker eats everything.