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

The best .380 is a P365

RM380.

I've HAD a lot of 380 pistols. I KEPT the Ruger LCP Custom as it was by far the most reliable, yet pocketable of the bunch, including Kahr, CZ, Walther. My wife has an earlier KelTec P3AT, and it is very reliable as well, but it's my understanding that they are kind of hit or miss in that department. I have a NAA .32 acp as well, it's an older one and is reliable with Silvertips, but heavy for size. The LCP is the way to go.

As far as a true pocket pistol goes, and a compact 380 probably falls into that category, that's something the size of the LCP, Pico, CW380, something like that. I really tried to make the Glock 42 work, as I really like it, but I carry a concealable 380 in my front jeans pocket, and the 42 was just too big.

I carry a Glock 43 most of the time, and although it's somewhat of a compromise between a pocket 380 and something like the Glock 19, I really like it's size and concealability.

Check out the Kimber.

For a true summer-time swim-trunks pocket-rocket, the only choice is the Ruger LCP not II version.

If you don't really need such an item, then the LCP would never be the first choice.
But if you need it, it is the only choice.

I bought an LCP a few years ago and was impressed with its dependability and my ability to hit with it. I added a Hogue slip on grip and it really changed the ergonomics of the little pistol. The trigger pull is long and it has a long reset. But you can get used to it. In fact, I don't want an exceptionally light, short pull trigger on a DAO pistol that I carry hot.

The Hogue grip is the best thing you can do for one, in my opinion. It adds a little bit of bulk to the pistol but it puts it where it's needed. One of the best aspects of the slip on grip is that it increases the thickness of the grip where it contacts the web of your hand and greatly improves the positioning of your index finger on the trigger. Basically, it increases the pistol's length of pull.

I carry it in a Desantis pocket holster. Some people will fault the Hogue grips because they say that the rubber they're made of creates drag when you pull the pistol from your pocket. But the grip area of the pistol is so small that your entire hand wraps around the grip,...so none of the grip is exposed to drag on your pocket when you bring it out.

Lots of small .380's out there today. Most of them are going to require practice to be effective with them. I think an LCP is about as good as a pocket .380 its size can be,...especially with the Hogue grip.

Meh.......
Bersa .380 combat plus 15+1
Back pocket of a pair of blue jeans and your t shirt over it...
Walther ppk clone.

Got a S&W bodyguard. Runs and runs.

I also have a .380 bodyguard. Irritates the heck out of me that I had to replace the magazine catch with a metal one from Galloway.

S&W sent me a replacement catch and spring. Catch still made out of plastic. You don't want your mag to fall out.

Get a Ruger LCP and enough ammo to learn how to shoot it.

Bought an LCP, then traded it in on a Glock 42 when they first came out.

Traded that in on a Glock 43 when they came out and am now happy.

Not much more recoil on a 9MM compared to a .380 to ME.

I can "hit" better with he Glock size pistol, and it rides in my "jammie" pocket as I type.

It's my "always on me" pistol

In an ElPaso Saddlery pocket holster, it rides in a loose fitting pants pocket or a jacket pocket really well.

Virgil B.

I found my ppk in my bosch rechargeable drill bag. lol. It wasn't lost-lost like the p-22 when I forgot about it in that shoe for over a year in the trunk.

The bersa, it's living the hard knock life now. Might be in the pathfinder next to an empty RoundUp jug.

😄😄

That's my vote too. Amazing how good a $200 pistol can be.

Half these posts should just be honest and start out with "i was reading a guns n ammo magazine down at the erectile dysfunction clinic"

bought a new LCP a couple months ago. FTE every mag for the first 50 rnds. Stripped it ; doused with CLP, ran ‘more rounds through it and it was flawless until the extractor blew off the gun after 110 total rounds.


What a POS.

What do you prefer about the original over the II?

I haven't carried anything smaller than a J frame in about 30 years, so I don't have any experience with the LCP. I have retired revolvers, though, and the Glock 42 fits fine in a front jeans pocket in either an Alabama pocket holster or Boraii Eagle. It weighs 16.2 ounces loaded with 7 Xtreme Penetrators, and I have no problem keeping A zone hits at 25 yards. (I am not sure that an LCP will keep up with this.)


I disagree with this. The Glock 42 is like shooting a .22 LR compared to my Sig P365 that weighs about 7 ounces more loaded, and which I do not consider to be a pocket gun. Although I did not do the test as a recoil comparison, I do have some video of the two guns when I did a different test that shows the difference. It's here if anyone is interested. (I also had a Glock 43 that I did not like in the pocket, either.)

Walther PK 380........?

$307 from Gun Pro + ship + FFL

do a search on link

https://www.gunprodeals.com/product-category-group/handguns

Most here know my dislike for the traitor bill ruger.

But we have somewhat gotten over that.

We own a couple of the 380s LCPs. They have never failed to fire. Accurate enough for what they are. Work well with reloads even.

Have not shot a deer outright with mine yet, but have used it to finish 2 so far.

For the TX heat I used to have to put up with, it fits in my front pocket holster or not, and just fine. Did not really show signs of wanting to rust.

Wife carries hers not in a pocket but ankle holster and a few other ways and likes it too.