.380's in the Neighborhood.

Well, since TJ started off with a technical question in the wheelgun section, I thought I'd kind of go the other way and ask who has a .380, etc.

I would most like to hear the experiences of any ladies here, but anyone who carries one or shoots one regularly is also polled.

?What do you like most about the gun/calibre. ?What do you DISlike most about the gun/calibre. ?Ever have to defend your life with one. ?How often you do practice with one (especially the ladies). ?If you've had one for a while, would you want something different more or as a substitute, and why.

I ask all this in part because I have a daughter for whom I have purchased a .380 that I am function shooting to insure it is a good gun for her to use for defense. But I plan on offering her a choice of the .380 or the Shield in 9.

Can't give any thoughts on the 380, but have had the same thought. Just curious, which 380 are you function shooting?

I am shooting the Ruger LC 380. I got it because it was a locked breech gun, so the recoil spring is a lot lighter than usual .380's, and it's for my daughter. I thought a .380 would be easier to shoot, so she might actually go practice, and the slide is easier to rack, so she might actually go shoot.

I will be interested to see how that goes. I am doing something similar with my daughter. Started with a 32 acp Colt 1903 she likes shooting. Trying to move her up to something more substantial. I didn't think of a 380. Great idea.

There is a 1903 version that is .380.

Without getting into calibre wars, the .380 is 9x17, 2mm shorter than the usual 9x19. You can shoot +P's at 1,000fps for 90 gr. I think if you have SOME shot placement, the ultimate answer to defensive shooting, up close and personal it's still a significant weapon. But I'm interested in hearing anyone else's experience.

I have a little .32 ACP P32 Keltec for very discreet carry. Very mild recoil, easy to rack, and surprisingly accurate. Sights are 4" right at 7 yards, but the group is very tight (2"). I use Kentucky windage.

For a very recoil sensitive person, it would work real well. It won't knock an attacker down, but it beats a pointed stick.

LA642 wrote:I have a little .32 ACP P32 Keltec for very discreet carry.  Very mild recoil, easy to rack, and surprisingly accurate.  Sights are 4" right at 7 yards, but the group is very tight (2").  I use Kentucky windage.

For a very recoil sensitive person, it would work real well.  It won't knock an attacker down, but it beats a pointed stick.

I agree. My Keltec P-32 holds 7+1 rds of 75 gr. hardcast Buffalo Bore a little over 1000 FPS out of the barrel. It's a sweet shooter. I wouldn't go for HP with the P-32 because of lack of penetration.There are some hot 73 gr. Italian Fiocchi fmj and Czech Seller Bellot on the market that works pretty well. I put around 200 rds through a range session with my P-32. something hard to do with my defunct LCP (lots of FTF and FTE). The LCP would hit hard the web of my hand. When we were given 380 as back ups there was a concern when shooting through glass and barriers. That's why I always came back to my J-frames.

Wow! .32 ACP! I actually learned to shoot on a .32 back in the Stone Age. I still have a couple of those, that belonged to my father. Two were lost when he died and the office went to someone else, but I have a Llama that looks like a 1911 (doesn't function like one obviously) and a Walther. The Walther has always been a fascinating pistol for me. I believe Walther was left handed, as a lot of early Walthers ejected to the left. This one does too. It is a pocket pistol, with nothing sticking out to catch on anything. Comes apart easily, too. Only thing I am not wild about is the magazine catch, which is one of those under the mag in the back of the frame. Very European.

Devereaux wrote:Wow! .32 ACP! I actually learned to shoot on a .32 back in the Stone Age. I still have a couple of those, that belonged to my father. Two were lost when he died and the office went to someone else, but I have a Llama that looks like a 1911 (doesn't function like one obviously) and a Walther. The Walther has always been a fascinating pistol for me. I believe Walther was left handed, as a lot of early Walthers ejected to the left. This one does too. It is a pocket pistol, with nothing sticking out to catch on anything. Comes apart easily, too. Only thing I am not wild about is the magazine catch, which is one of those under the mag in the back of the frame. Very European.

You have a treasure Sir. I shot a Bersa in 32 acp. It is very reminiscent of the Walther PP. Sweet shooter. Not a big fan of the european mag release either.

You know, there are little treasures all over the place. You just have to keep your eyes open. Strange what all you can find.

I had a little ruger lcp in .380, but it got "stolen" by my wife who likes to carry it while jogging. The small package is hard to beat as far as size and weight go--but man, it is not fun to shoot and the sights suck. The way we figure though, is that carrying that sure beats having nothing.

My dad threw a crimson trace laser on his, which helps a little, but it is hard to see when shooting on a bright day outside. My father-in-law went the other route and bought a sig. The sig shoots a lot nicer and has way better sights, but also weigh quite a bit more. and is not as thin.

Corn - ?does your wife shoot the thing for practice.

Devereaux wrote:Corn - ?does your wife shoot the thing for practice.

Yeah, we usually both fire a few mags through it when we go--not every time but usually once every 2 months or so.  Personally I hate shooting the thing, but do it for practice because I occasionally carry it in my pocket.  I'm a better shot with the .38 snubbie, but the snubbie doesn't fit in the shorts pocket as easily.

Well. I guess I will give the LCP a second chance. Pachmayr makes a nice grip sleeve with cushions on the sides. That would help with the recoil. Or I might as well get a Keltec in 380.

LHUSBY wrote:Well. I guess I will give the LCP a second chance. Pachmayr makes a nice grip sleeve with cushions on the sides. That would help with the recoil. Or I might as well get a Keltec in 380.

Or an LC380. Or a G42.

I never really recommend the LCP to anybody. It has crappy sights, it is not a pleasure to shoot, it feels slightly "cheapy" but... for me it has functioned flawlessly. It is small and light weight and easy to throw in a pocket. It is what it is--a pocket gun.

I am willing to carry a somewhat bigger "pocket gun". And for me the LCP is WAY too small.

Devereaux wrote:

LHUSBY wrote:Well. I guess I will give the LCP a second chance. Pachmayr makes a nice grip sleeve with cushions on the sides. That would help with the recoil. Or I might as well get a Keltec in 380.

Or an LC380. Or a G42.

I need to try the LC380. What's keeping me from doing it is Kahr makes fine single stacks in 9mm. Maybe I will get excited with a possible single stack in 9 mm from Glock.

Devereaux wrote:I am willing to carry a somewhat bigger "pocket gun". And for me the LCP is WAY too small.

Then you might like the M&P Shield or a Beretta Nano.

Cornmastah wrote:I never really recommend the LCP to anybody.  It has crappy sights, it is not a pleasure to shoot, it feels slightly "cheapy" but... for me it has functioned flawlessly.  It is small and light weight and easy to throw in a pocket.  It is what it is--a pocket gun.

Agreed, sights are horrible. But you would be amazed with the accuracy of these pocket guns with a laserlyte. I put a video with my Keltec P-32 shooting Speers Gold dot. Looked nice on paper.

Take a look at this:

LHUSBY wrote:

Devereaux wrote:I am willing to carry a somewhat bigger "pocket gun". And for me the LCP is WAY too small.

Then you might like the M&P Shield or a Beretta Nano.

I have a Shield. I just switched the rear sight for the 10-8 one. Just dry firing I like it. Mostly it doesn't detract with the rear dots, and the notch is wider. There are similar sights for M&P's if one is interested.

BTW, nice video and nice shooting. ?How far away was that target.

Devereaux wrote:

LHUSBY wrote:

Devereaux wrote:I am willing to carry a somewhat bigger "pocket gun". And for me the LCP is WAY too small.

Then you might like the M&P Shield or a Beretta Nano.

I have a Shield. I just switched the rear sight for the 10-8 one. Just dry firing I like it. Mostly it doesn't detract with the rear dots, and the notch is wider. There are similar sights for M&P's if one is interested.

BTW, nice video and nice shooting. ?How far away was that target.

Thanks!
I was around 12 to 15 feet away from the target. I don't intend to use laser as my primary sighting, but turning 50 this year and considering my eyes are not that good anymore, I tend to grab any help I can get.

Hey Dev, how do you rate the M&P shield as far as ergonomy goes? I shot both in 40 cal  and 9mm. I have mid sized hands. Liked both but favour the 9mm because of ease follow ups. But I don't own one. I was about to get one when I heard d about the recalls. I know S&W stand behind their products and the ones available now should be in good shape. But to me, if a gun doesn't feel  well in my hands, I just can't have it.

I have huge hands. It feels fine in mine. I have had friends shoot it and they, too, like it. Mine is a 9; I have less and less like for the .40. I tend to view it as the practice ammo for the couple Sig's I have in that AND .357 Sig. The latter is the fighting round; the former just for busting up paper. It's a lot easier to reload, and shoot relatively similarly.

I like the Shield. My trigger was fine, so it didn't need to go back. I have changed out the rear sight as a personal preference; many like the 3-dot system. I find it distracting; keeps me from focusing on the front sight dot, which is where one should be I believe. I find it a little easier to grip with the longer mag, BUT that won't drop clean at the end, while the shorter one will. And ultimately shooting the shorter one really isn't that much different - just a little less of the bottom of your hand holding it. And for the record, my hand seems to be the only one I have seen with this problem with the longer magazine. Every one of my friends has no trouble with the longer one dropping out.