Posted on 07/15/2020 7:47:45 AM PDT by w1n1
These .380 mouse guns or "get off me" guns can be a good choice for personal defense. Prices vary from $200 to $700, some current full size handgun model may be a better choice to go.
But, if you’re looking for good concealment carry with a decent bite, then the .380 caliber is a good choice to consider. Before we get into the list, a quick word about .380 pocket size pistols and a pragmatic opinion.
Besides the concealment attribute, most of these pistols aren't that great. Full size semi-auto pistols are reliable, but the child size pistols are hindered with malfunctions during that melee.
While fishing to get the gun out of your pocket and wind up with a weird grip or you’re trying to create space when this 250 pound guy is hammering you from above – these are the things that tends to lead to malfunctions.
Ok, lets get to the meat of this – Here's a quick list of good .380 ACP pocket pistol for concealed carry to see if it works for you:
Upside
So the positive is that its a highly concealed gun, but you still need to be aware of deep concealment. This would make it harder to access in a stressful situation. Another upside is the caliber, I know what we said earlier about bigger caliber...Read the rest of best of .380 pocket pistols.
These aren’t terrible guns, but I’d suggest a sub compact or compact in the 9mm range.
Best Values are the S&W M&P lines and the CZ lines
CZ in the opinion of some are Glock quality, they’ve bee producing for a long time.
Said to have the best trigger system in the handgun realm by many. That means accuracy. I’ve seen a few SEALs on youtube, who like it better than the Glocks.
I’ve relied on my AR15 for too long and need to get a backup and something to carry or have available in my car, which is why I’ve been researching.
I’ll disagree on the girth thing, but Glockophiles have been pretty pleased with the single stack 43, 43x, and/or 48 for thinness. SIG fans have 365 and its longer cousin. Many many superb choices.
The thing about the 380s is that they are often not only small but light ... like half the weight of a micro 9. There is, of course, no free lunch. .380 is not as powerful as 9, tiny and light guns tend to be snappy, smaller barrels mean less velocity, and so forth.
Pick what works for your situation. If you think you’re going into trouble, don’t. If you *have* to go into trouble, you want a rifle and friends.
At the ranges that most CCW guns are used, that is not a problem.
I am of relatively small frame at 5’6” and 160 lbs. During summer months I cant conceal a G19 on the hip without a hint of print unless I am over dressed. So my personal carry is a P365 on the hip. I do duty as security for my church during services and I switch to the G19 on the appendix (all because of the White Settlement example and having a longer site base). That, for that few hours is fine, but not how I want to carry all day long or be driving in the car with.
“No. Wont fir in pocket.”
Then why are you recommending it as a pocket gun?
“I purchased the Keltec a while back, wish I hadn’t. CONS: trigger pull and the darn thing jams. Yes, I have cleaned it.”
I have one and did a fluff and buff and never had a jam.
My daughters boyfriend just sold his to a buddy he works with who was begging to buy the G2C.
I have carried a Taurus .380 TCP with a chrome slide for years in a Mika pocket holster and love it! I alternate between the TCP and a 20 year old Kel-tec P32 with a hard chrome slide. Occasionally a S&W 642 .38spl air weight in a Mika holster. Best pocket holster out there!
My brothers and their spouses carry a variety of those listed above, Rugers, S&W, etc... I prefer the little Taurus and old Kel-tec P32
I did the fluff and buff on the little P32 20 yrs ago and she’s been a champ, not one FTF.
Gave my daughter a S&W BODYGUARD .380 for her birthday. Laser sight, too.
I recently bought the same and have been happy with the purchase.
I havde found in about 100 instances wherin a woman brought her “lil’ 380” to my CCW cert course here in MO. hey were mostly novel pocket plastic tiny things, in boutique colors to boot.
Out of that 100, probably 75 gadly finished the course with a loaner Glock, Ruger, SW SA etc mid sized 9mmor 40 cal.
Several were great with it, but few.
Downside - too small to precisely operate the trigger, recoil spring too heavy due to teh low mass of the tiny slide and too small in the grip for positive grip and hold.
A lot of the women wanted to trade me for one of my G19s or 26s or.... Nope.
My wife, a RA sufferer, recently liked the Walther CCPM2 380- she could safely and easily operate the Al alloy slide, the trigger was just long enough to require deliberate pressure and stroke, and the recoil was, compared to a Ruger LCP 380, very mild. Its big enough with its single stack 8 round magazine to be grippable but no so tall as to not fit a CCW purse and, it has a long enough sight radius and bbl to take advantage of those benefits too.
Anyway, like the 410 shotgun, the tiny pocket 380 is an experts tool, not a novices entry level critical problem solver. In my opinion. YRMV.
The best .380 pocket pistol is a .357 revolver....lol
The Swiss/German design and manufacture of Sig Sauer is my choice for a self protection and sporting pistol.
As for caliber, you can’t go wrong with .22, 9mm, and .45 ACP.
That’s too bad.
Yes it is. All the .380s use a blowback design which is tougher on recoil. The 9mm guns today are as small as the .380s and 9mm ammo is cheaper and more readily available. The .380 guys don’t know what they’re doing.
Smith bodyguard with laser. Looks like a wallet in my back pocket.
Seen many articles on Automatics, but none on Revolvers, I CCW a .38 Taurus Ultra Lite, snub nose, the butt fits my small hands, I can’t rack an automatic any more. Any advice?
> All the .380s use a blowback design which is tougher on recoil
This isn’t actually true (Beretta Pico, Glock 42, LCP to name just three). Some are, though (e.g. Bersa, PPK).
Thanks, I stand corrected. Good to know since I’m an old Walther PPK guy.
My Walther PPK...I mean the one I had before the unfortunate boating accident...will really bite ya if you don’t pay attention. The PPK/S has that little but very important tang that helps with the biting problem.
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