Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Best 380acp compact under $500 - Fall 2019 .

Need something smaller than my Kahr CW 45acp , it's comparable to some 9mm handguns .
So thinking a 380acp for warm weather carrying in safe [hopefully safe] daytime places . So ?

Ruger LCP 380. Way under $500 and probably the most reliable.380 out there.

Sccy cpx3. Cheap accurate and holds lotsa shots.

Always packed a G17 24/7, and picked my attire around it. Have carried it in summer in non-permissive environments without issue.

Dad has a Ruger LCP he likes a lot.

I use a KelTec .32 as a backup(I call it my eye socket gun) and it works well, although I am looking into a small revolver for that role due to likely contact distance use.

Have you considered a different holster? Alien Gear makes good ones that hide stuff like crazy. My buddy packs a S&W 645(full size steel frame) in one and it damn near disappears under his T-shirt. I truly have never seen a reason to carry a less effective system due to a seasonal requirement, a different holster or different clothes, sure, but not a different gun. YMMV.

+1

Glock 42

Kahr P380 all the way

how bout a 9mm?
ruger LC9S or the pro

That would be my second choice, behind the Ruger LCP .380

I'd go Ruger LCP II followed by the Glock 42. May even consider a Bersa.

There are good and bad reviews on the most expensive to the lower end pistols - makes it hard to decide .

Was thinking about a Sig p-365 but a lot of bad reviews .

Pistol guy at Ranger Firearms recommended getting a Kahr cw 380 - - that way i'd be perfectly familiar with it since it's just like the 45acp only smaller - quite a few bad reviews ''on video'' so can't decide .

OldGreyWolf , I have some brand plastic IWB holster and a cheap nylon Uncle Mikes [do use it at my hunting lease] - I don't use either around town i carry the cw45 in the waist of my pants . The IWB's i've seen seem to reveal a firearm more than my way of carry . I'm no holster expert & haven't tried a lot of them on . Around here nobody seems to carry anything except low end stuff .

Got rid of my Ruger and replaced it with a Glock. The Ruger can’t even compare in my experience.

Shoot them both.




P

Sig 238 SAS. Sized appropriately. Great sights. Great little shooter for me.

Can’t go wrong with the Sig P365 if you wont a small reliable pistol of that size. Better than probably any .380 currently available. I carry mine everyday, every where.

As far the bad reviews, you can find those on any handgun out there. Every one that I know personally that has one has NEVER had a problem with one. Myself included.
And several members on here have put several thousand rounds through one. In my personal opinion, it’s the best all around carry gun for its size and caliber. 13 rounds of ammo in a very accurate and reliable package of that size is hard to beat for a true concealment package. Not to mention great sights and a great trigger too.
The Ruger LCP .380 I mentioned above get carried as a BUG.

A Sig P238 is a great 380 auto. If you want a bit more power, the Glock 43 in 9MM is a good option too.

Ruger LCP II. The II is worth it as it has a much better trigger and several other "fixes" to the original. Recently picked one up for $249 so well below your budget.

I've become quite fond of my Sig P365. Can't really beat the Ruger LCP for size.

I've been impressed with my G42. I push 100 grain pills over 1,000 feet per second and it eats them all day long and it is still comfortable to shoot.

For a small easily concealed 380, I like the Beretta Pico.

Yes. Definitely the II

Better trigger.
Lock open on empty.
Slide grooved front and back.

Also, get the +1 magazine. Minimal weight/size penalty and much easier to grip.