Posted on 04/05/2019 4:40:25 AM PDT by w1n1
For Under $400 - These days you can browse the web and find tons of good quality .380 handguns for sale for under $400, but if youre not familiar with the market. You wont know which .380s are the best. The .380 has been known to have the ability to effectively stop an attacker yet small enough to comfortably carry for long periods.
Which makes it a popular choice for many concealed carriers. Without further adieu here are the top five .380 handguns under $400 for men and women.
Kahr CW3833 - This is a smooth double action .380, the offset barrel and ergonomic grips gives the shooter better control.
Walther PK380 - Designed for the concealed carrier that wants a small gun. With its slim grip its a good match for female carriers. Other features includes manual safety blocks, 3 dot polymer and an ambidextrous magazine release.
Beretta Pico .380 ACP - This Beretta is a double action, frame made of polymer, magazine holds 6 rounds. Designed for self-defense and deep concealment. Can be used for ankle carry and inside-the-waistband carry. Read the rest of best 380 pistol.
I just got a Remington. I had a ministroke last year that left my left hand and arm weak and I cannot rack my FEG without awkwardly switching hands. The Remington is easy. I had to get the laser sight separately. If your concern is protection in a church setting that laser is almost mandatory. The only time I normally carry is when I go to church and I want to know exactly where that bullet is going if ever I have cause to use the piece. That said I expect I will never have occasion to use the gun at church but you never know. Anyone that comes in the door with a gun out will face more than three armed men. I know of two besides me and know several others I would assume are carrying.
A few years ago, I was looking for a small .380 for my wife. I had read about the Ruger LCP2. I had some other business in town with a businessman who I knew was also licensed gun broker. After we finished the other business, I asked him what he thought of the LCP2. His response: he reached into his pocket and pulled one out. I took that as a strong endorsement, particularly when he told me that it was his everyday carry.
I would never give anything but a revolver to anyone not used to handling pistols.
I am used to them (I was in the military police) and I don’t like to carry semi-auto’s.
Training is everything.
Bersa Thunder 380 ACP = outstanding weapon. Deadly accurate, reliable, easy to shoot, easy to CC, easy to clean, and reasonably priced.
I’m in CA and the P938 is not approved, but I’d sure like to have one.
A Browning Hi-Power can be racked using a table or a door frame or any other solid object to push the slide back - it is unique among pistol designs that the slide can be pushed back all the way and chamber a round one-handed. You mentioned having an FEG which should be a Hi-Power clone, if I have the right pistol in mind. Should work the same way as the Browning.
John Moses Browning was a dam genius.
An outfit called Clipdraw Clipdraw
Most Maks come in 9X18, but the commercial versions come in .380 and I can attest they are fine weapons and the 9X18 is not a bad round for this size pistol. I carried a Bulgie Mak for CCW for many years.
I currently have a Taurus TCP and would carry if I found a holster I felt was safe to carry it in. Most holsters do not cover the trigger guard enough to suit me.
Another .380 I would toss into this pool is the Bersa .380. I have one and it is a nicely balanced shooter. My co-worker carries one for her CCW.
Another pistol in the category I would suggest if the FEG PA-63 which is essentially a Walther clone that comes in 9X18 caliber. Mine has been an excellent shooter and accurate. The one proviso with this piece is get a set of Wolff springs and change the springs out, it makes 100% difference in this pistol.
MY fav as well. Mine’s an original Colt and is a biy heavy as it’s all steel.
I am currently carrying a Taurus PT740 in 40s&w. What I like about that is that it has a frame mounted 1911 type safety. Nice gun , but in that small package it kicks like a mule. Eventually looking to replace it with the aforementioned mak.
CC
Got $200 into mine, with a Hogue grip. Should have bought more.
I have a bodyguard. It is reliable, but I don’t have any problems with the trigger pull. It requires more force than most, but that is a good thing if you are carrying it in your pocket. My wife doesn’t like it because of the blowback, so she shoots a 9mm.
Built in Hungary. That's where the Nazis moved the original FN tooling to, after Belgium fell. Didn't want the Allies bombing the plant.
> Do you know who makes that clip for CCW?
Bear in mind that the LCP is a pocket gun anyway. The clip would add visibility, generally a no-no when what you want is to _conceal_.
A $10 (or more) pocket holster is another alternative for you.
> LCP
Dittos. No reason to look further, unless it’s for someone unable to rack the orginal LCP.
I hear that the LCP II is a lot easier to manually cycle.
And the Remington RM380 is very easy to rack. Those could be had for less than $150 within recent memory.
Had the Ruger... too small. The Bersa Thunder is a good fit and solid as all get out.
Many commendations to you for carrying in church!
The RM380 is perfect for anyone who might have trouble racking the original LCP.
I have a 1960 Russian make Makarov... my only complaint is the small dove-tail... my hands are larger and first time I shot it didn’t realize my grip wasn’t adjusting for the dovetail and the slide gave me some good cuts on the web between thumb and forefinger.
When my Father’s battalion moved through Herstal, he said the factory was heavily damaged but they were still making a few Hi-Powers for presentation.
He said they were taking orders for Browning automatic shotguns. The GI paid and they would ship them to America when they were built.
I think some of the FN machinery for the Hi-power was shipped to Austria to the Steyr plant.
Do you know if Sig still services the P232? Or where magazines can be obtained without breaking the bank?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.