The slide is stainless steel while the frame is an aluminum alloy. Bottom line for me on this pistol, Ill never get rid of it, but I would replace it as a daily Carry. This is because it is slightly heavier and I find I can shoot small, but heavier guns more accurately than light small guns! WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF THE .380 POCKET PISTOL? I highly recommend it. The higher you can get your hand on a grip, the better the recoil management. Its also a sleek, well built little pistol with no rough protrusions that virtually disappears in your pocket. Which surprises me due to how hard the slide is to pull back. You forgot to mention the Bersa Thunder 380. I would like to comment on a takeaway I have. I do think you missed the boat on adding the Springfield Armory 911 on your list. I have put over 1000 rds through it without one failure. Also, the P238 slide is easier to rack/manipulate than many other mouse-guns. This seems to affect where the cases end up. Try the Remington RM380, it was a pleasant surprise. It's small size is great in my front pocket and performs great with my colleagues pressure drills. I also have a Micro 9 which is a bit larger than the Micro 380. I have both Cheetah and an LCP (with an upgraded trigger) and carry the LCP often for those reasons. OUCH! Amazing look and design for a small gun. It was inexpensive, and Ive never had a misfire or a jam. I trust both. I've ran 100 rounds through the Sig P238 and not one issue , it is awesome , pricey but awesome . The F.I. It MIGHT be OK in a totally CLEANED gun first 6 or 7 shots but that's about it reliability goes out the window after the first mag. I finally found it a few years back, in the Kahr CM9. Had a stovepipe with a Hornady 90 gr Civil Defense, though. Don't do plastic guns .. put to many rounds thru to many of them and about the ONLY one worth a flip is a p99 . . anyhoo, the sig can be had for $450-500 if you shop it and it's worth it and more . . By far, It's the best quality gun of the bunch, takes all ammo and won't fail after a ton of rounds if you really want to make a habit of .380 practice with a pocket gun. So embarrassing she emptied the box of low cost ammo and then shot the ammo that my gun rejected. But both only had a max capacity of 6+1 rounds. Should be on the list! I'd suggest hitting local gun shops and getting a deal on some of the more"creatively designed" (ahem) versions out there. A slight correction. The Spectrum, LCP Custom some. USA When it comes to a 380/9mm Kurtz however, without question, my old Stainless Sig P232 was and remains my favorite. One "embarrassing" point is, my wife Does use a 9mm. Plus it quickly converted to a .44 Magnum! The "other" gun will show before this one let's put it that way. Great gun. Split rails, cracked frames, cracked grips, broken take down pins etc. Has Excellent sights (tritium) and safety and did I mention, it's a real gun, not some plastic wannabe. I have a colt .380 mustang pocket lite I have been packing for a couple of years, and love it!! Try it, youll like it. Surprised it didnt make the list. The p3at hasn't failed yet at the range. I love mine. For some of us the best 380, is actually going with a mini 9. I can draw, take safety off, and hit target in less than 2 seconds. The TCP is hands down the worst firearm I spent money on! I like the DA/SA design, 8+1 capacity, lifetime warrantee, and $299/$309 price point. I also carry the Sig 938, which is almost as good to shoot as the little one. I had the Glock 42 FTE all the time and the Bodyguard kicked almost as bad as my 38 didn't like either one. Some of the results of this study show that rifles and shotguns are very effective (duh!) I always thought I needed to carry a 9 or 45 now I know I don't. Nothing beats the 9mm caliber when it comes to self-defense. The, much lauded, FBI study is not highly relevant to CCW, purely defensive, needs. I wouldnt trust the preservation of my life to anything less than a CQB pistol caliber of either 9 x 19mm or 45 ACP; and I use the term caliber very loosely OK. I carry the 42/43 since both are he same platform and only caliber difference so with either on I don't need to "think" which gun do I have today, Great review! you hope never to have, the 42 will be there for you. The sig comes with superior sights out of the box and the trigger even though plastic has a very nice pull and reset compared with my LCP2. Best sights in class. Peepew tends ro regurgitate older reviews and most likely the Sig wasn't available when the review was conducted. Jimenez 380 - Worst Guns Ever The term Saturday Night Special was specifically derived for guns like the Jimenez 380 ACP. Have you tried magazine extender that permits 3 finger grip, or does that magazine you mentioned offer that? The models I'm looking at today are the Glock 42, the Sig Sauer P238, the Kahr CW380, the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380, and because nearly half of all .380s made in the US come from Ruger, we've got two of their micro pistols: the LCP Custom and the LCP II. Particularly the compact model is a really nice-shooting pistol that is light enough and small enough for concealed carry. I have big hands and the pocket .380's don't work for me. I plan to clean it again soon. The slide will stop short of full closure and must be bumped from the back to complete the closure. I get that it's so expensive, but I tell you, it WILL the best investment you'll will ever make!!! I have owned several in different calibers and have carried them on-duty and have the utmost confidence in them. It's there as last resort if I happen to be down there and unarmed when an intruder comes in. There are nines Id rather carry for self defense but as 380s go Bersa is top of the line. It's about 30% heavier as a result, but it shoots awesome. Have carried a Bersa Thunder for several years now when the weather is too warm for my main carry. I simply bought it because of its price (too low to mention??? Center mass has never been a problem from the get go. Has anyone found something that works reliably. Im surprised in your updated article Mr. Gillem, you did not mention the Sig Sauer P365-380 (introduced Feb 2022) with the ability to mount a red dot optic like the Sig Sauer ROMEOZero Elite. It comes as a 5 +1 with a grip and thumb safety. The only real way to know for certain how a gun is going to handle is to shoot it before you buy it. Josh is a gun writer with several years of experience, who has devoted his life to teaching people about firearms, while continuing to learn himself. I've owned a number of 380 carry guns, the Beretta 84FS and the 85FS My favorite was the Beretta 85FS. It can handle Plus P ammo and with the 3.75 inch barrel is extremely accurate. A .380 pistol will generally produce around 160 to 200-foot pounds of energy at a muzzle while a compact 9mm pistol produces about 280 to 320-foot pounds of muzzle energy. I'm a novice and feel quite comfortable with ALL aspects of the LCP 2. Three years later and about 1100 rounds, I have mixed feelings. The original is one of the biggest selling personal carry pistols of all time. The Gen 2 is about 8lbs of pull, Smooth all the way through and deliberate. Hey, I understand! The Sig has a more "boxy" feeling to the slide, whereas the Kimber's slide is more "melted" along the edges, making for a more comfortable pistol for all day carry. It seems to be ignored often when discussing .380 's. Teaching CCW to point and shoot in this situation rather than retreat is like advising suicide. Nowthe LCP Max brings with it 10+1 rounds of .380 ACP. The semi-concealed hammer allows thumb cocking and decocking without any chance of hammer bite. I went to Government schools too :-) but there is more than I can ignore. Kimbers are not made out of a polymer plastic; I think the Kimber pistols are sexy, if not a piece of art, and the tolerances of the moving parts I feel is the best in the firearms industry. They are very helpful and want you to be happy with your pistol. Of the 7 Sig 238s we own, we have had zero FTF or FTE with factory loads, having fired over 3,000 rounds combined. So that is her EDC . They run like sewing machines. It was retired to range baby status because my aging eyes had trouble with the sights in Low Light Drills. Thanks for the great article. Another 380 that didn't make this list, but considered top 5 on many others is the Bursa FireStorm. In this caliber your discussing I wouldn't carry anything on this list simply because they're all too big with too many bells and whistles for me especially living in my "environment" (South FLA.). Looking for what is possibly the easiest gun to rackever? The P365 380 may be on the larger size spectrum of concealable 380s but is probably the flattest/lowest recoiling model. Picked up a Sig 238 and never looked back - just drop it into a pocket It works. I have several Sigs, S&Ws, Rugers, and a Glock 20, so I would have thought your list would serve. The stopping power, recoil management, and availability make it a more popular pistol caliber than the .380 ACP, and rightfully so. I bought the Sig P238. - its capacity of 10+1 in the tube puts every gun in this article to shame I personally carry my Beretta PX4 Compact in .40 S&W concealed during the 96 degree days of summer all the time. It runs Underwood penetrator, defender, Federal HST, Precision one, critical defense, you name it, The only reason I dont carry it is because it jammed on an HST ONE TIME. Hanging with wrong people. - It's cheaper and has much more capacity than the Sig P238, the Kahr CW or the Ruger LCPII The Bersa Thunder is a good gun but it is a PPK, PPK/s clone for a reason. With the after rebate price, it was just too good to pass up. Typically carry colt ofcr .45, but sometimes just can't. Best ergonomics, even for those with larger hands. Comes with a Hogue rubber grip as well. Nice gun but Ive had a couple of stoppages with it at the range. I got rid of a bodyguard. Personally, I like the Bersa Thunder .380 plus. Sometimes multiple things come together in one gun, and LCP II has it. The RM-380 is the easiest to rack of those I own and the Kahr CW-380 the hardest. I really like mine, small and compact. The trigger is amazing. Both are very easy to conceal and I never doubted the reliability should I ever need to use either. Was this a consideration? The Pearce grip extensions help with control. Jams all Underwood Xtreme Penetrator or Defender. I'm carrying a Kel-tec p3at in a Velcro ankle holster at work. I've found the fit and overall feel of the pistol to be more favorable than the Sig 238. I had been carrying a S&W M&P Shield 9 mm, with the Magguts conversion for 9 + 1 rounds, as my EDC until I picked up the LCP II. The size is perfect. Very small, very conceable. Once for a broken firing pin then again for a broken laser. Ruger markets the trigger as having a six pound pull. Not fun! What is in the box ? The thing is so ergonomically-designed, you don't even know it's in your pocket (holster) most of the time. It has been successfully tested in World War II. It's also rock solid reliableOver 100 rounds of mixed ammo types without the first hiccup. They're chambered for 25 ACP, 22 LR, 22 WMR, and 380 ACP, which are all small cartridges with relatively lightweight bullets and propellant charges. I have carried and shot many many rounds through both my LCP 2 and my sig P238. To help you guys, we've built out this list of some of the best 380 carry pistols with the help of our readers and our staff writers. Both tend to come out of my pocket stuck to the weapon. Like the Sig, the 911 is all metal and the fit and finish are excellent. To say that the 380 has limited stopping power is a moronic statement. I think you hit on a lot of good points. .. The Shield is not hard to carry and conceal, but my .380 is so much more comfortable and concealable that it is the one I choose most of the time. We both shoot and carry with a +1 magazine for better control and comfort. The new LCP II is single action only unlike the other 2, "ole reliable" would shoot barbed wire if would cycle. And yes, Pocket guns require diligent training. Great reviews, here 's my 2 cents. Highly recommend both, the Bersa Thunder and the ammo, Hornady Critical Defense. By contrast, the .38 Special, when shot out of a revolver with the standard 4" barrel, easily gives kinetic energy figures of 280 foot-pounds, and with +P loadings from Corbon (and others) can deliver over 300 foot-pounds of energy. There was a recall on it, but the trigger still sucked, a "3 stage", the first pull, then some weird twilight zone, and then the pull to release. The concealed carry version has a smaller beaver tail which can get in the way on the standard version if you are a bigger guy.. Great gun for the price and easy maintenance. Its much easier for me to shoot my Ruger than it is my S & W! We did a full review of the grip safety model, but you can also find it with a thumb safety, too! I am 6'2" and was shot in the gut in a drive by shooting and I doubled over in pain. I had to go with the .380 for health reasons. I am sure the S&W EZ .380 is a good gun (I have the 9mm version.). Well, now there are weapons that weigh the friendship, but this is a debatable topic because the weight as you have pointed out when referring to the benefits of the SIg 238, is a variable that plays in favor of reducing the elevation of the weapon in the firing and favors follow-up firing, which is a great help in a marginal caliber weapon. Theres not a pistol I shot more accurately then this Bersa. I sold my Ruger LCP (original model) and bought the Glock 42. We are often alone in situations where LE isn't dispatched to clear our scene because of the 911 nature of the call. I moved her to my S&W M&P Shield 2.0 9mm and she can fire and control it much better. Changing brands of ammunition might help. The data from the Luck Gunner ammo tests helped me arrive at the same conclusionCritical Defense for the 380. I can say I have spent a lot of time, effort, etc on my 380 quest. I always wanted something similar, but in a 9mm and something that had a better magazine release set up. In a real world gun fight capacity rules over caliber. over again. That's not funny either. I also carry this 'cannon' into theaters, libraries, to the park, to the zoo, etc. I love my Sig P238 so much that I bought another one (in a slightly different "flavor") for my Wife. The S&W M&P line of pistols has a huge following from concealed carriers to law enforcement professionals for good reason. The reason is simple - it's extremely small and versatile. Sights are cast bumps on the slide but are accurate. I prefer the LCP II because it doesn't have the long double-action pull. I have a S&W BG that's basically a paperweight. Still I would highly recommend this pistol, especially if you need to pocket carry. Don't be offended, Joshua, but I don't think a serious overhaul of the best 380 ACP pistols can stop including the Walther PP Series. I don't even own one (yetnext on the list). Smh I recently bought a Taurus tcp 738 (on sale for $149, shoulda bought two) and really like it. It's not a lot of the fun at the range as it is small and powerful and beats up your hand but it's not supposed to be. Sig Sauer P365 380 Optics Ready 2. PSs-I've owned/own Brownings, Rugers, Sigs, Smiths, Springfieldsadd Bersa to the list! All of these features together, the improved trigger, the enhanced serrations, the stippling on the grip, and the slightly wider grip size all combine to make the LCP II a better handgun to shoot than the original LCP. Most people don't stand a 25-75 chance within 21 feet of an alert active attacker because they can't react, draw, point and shoot under stress in under 1.5 seconds. I highly recommend the LCP as an everyday carry. It looks like something that belongs in a pawn shop case. I've ran thousands of rounds through it and have never had any failure to fire, or jams. Theyre made about 15 miles from where I sit right now. I can say that cheaply made ball ammo seemed to cycle fine in this six in the magazine, one in the chamber pocket pistol and so do a lot of others. Mine was complete garbage and would come out of battery requiring disassembly! Rating the Ruger LCP II above the Sig P238 made me laugh. w209 primers ensures greater sensitivity and more reliable firing in all guns, controlled blends of primers with the right weight with consistency in both size and quality precision measurement and tolerances to the height of anvils and the ability to withstand extreme temperature and humidity.

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