Pocket 380s as your main carry


Rocketgeezer

Rocketgeezer

New member
This is something I rarely do, (start threads), but what's on my mind is looking over the most popular carry gun thread, I see that the Ruger LCP is out front, by a lot, now most of the weapons mentioned are really good guns as carry's, but what I and several others I have talked to would like to know is, how many of you that carry a 380, and I'm talking about the small inexpensive ones, not sigs or kahr's, actualy go out and shoot the gun, I mean practice with it on any sort of reg basis, I'm asking this because of what I have found in asking people that have purchased these small 380's to carry, that the largest majority of them buy the gun take it home, fire of a few rds, maybe a full mag or two, and then the gun goes in there pocket or purse, and while maybe not forgotten about, it may not get fired again for months, and being cleaned probably never happened, at all, of all the small autos I have and have had, never get what I would call reliable untill they have had at least 2 or 3 box's of ammo though them, I guess what I'm trying to say is if you carry one of those little guns, and do not properly break it in, and keep it clean, it will screw up on you, possably when you may need it the most, personaly my wife and I have tryed several differant brands of small 380's and we would never carry one of them as a main carry, back up, but not as your only weapon
 

My experience (1 mag full)with the tiny 380's is that They are very uncomfortable to practice with!

It was like firing the cartridge from the palm of my hand. Not a pleasant experience.

Of course, it would hurt less than being murdered.

My one 380 for carry is a Bersa.

-Doc
 
Your right.......... That is what most people do.. The diminutive LCP is an excellent pocket 380. and most people don't shoot it enough.. I carry mine everywhere when I can't carry my compact 45... I shoot mine wherever I can... But like you say.. I doub't that I have put 200 rounds thru it... It's shot whatever I have put through her though...

I think the main reason for most people.. IS.. NOT ENOUGH RANGES OR PLACES FOR MOST PEOPLE TO GO OUT AND SHOOT...
 
Well, first - I'm not tring to give you a hard time OR start a argumentive thread, but I think that even though the LCP can be had for under $300, most folks would agree that it really is a high quality 380 - compared to there other cheap ones. More to your point though, most people also agree that the 380, thanks to advancements in propellents and bullets, the 380 is a much better defensive round than it was 5 to 10 years ago, if you r using that "modern" ammo. The only problem is, good 380 ammo today is equal to good 38 special ammo of 20 years ago, maybe even plus P. That never was all that great compared to the 9mm or 40 cal. Today though, most people think it works as the minimum with good modern ammo in a reliable pistol.
 
I carry a Kel-tec 3AT, and have a 9 round extended mag as a spare. Pocket carry is just too easy, even when I have the opportunity to strap on, I usually go with the pocket.

Granted, if I had a decent carry rig, that could change, but pocket carry works just fine for now.
 
I added an LCP to my carry arsenal about three months ago. I'm lucky to have a nice range very close to my home which gives me plenty of practice time.

I used to subscribe to the old saying, "A .380 is something nice to carry if you don't want to carry a gun." Not any more. The newer self-defense rounds are cranking about 1000 FPS and the penetration/expansion tests I've seen are pretty impressive.

I agree that some folks fail to run enough rounds through their new carry piece to ensure it is dependable...regardless of size and/or caliber. That's not the gun's fault.

Regarding the discomfort of firing the LCP, I haven't experienced it. Agreed, some modification of technique and a slip-on Pachmayr grip are likely to be the reasons for my success.
 
Yeah, a little over a month ago, I bought a Ruger LCP for use as a BUG.
Now, it's my primary, at least for the summer months, and will carry the 9 MM with heavier clothes.

I've shot her quite a lot ~ recoil is not that bad ~ and she's pretty accurate for her size. I would hate to be hit with a .380 anywhere. They seem to be potent enough for CC.

Elsie rocks!!!!!
 
I think too many 45 chauvinists have derided mouse guns too long!

A well placed hit with a 380 is better than a 45 in something less than vital.

The cartridge is certifiably lethal and was a mainstay for many non-USA police departments for decades.

Newer SD ammo makes it even more of a viable round.

I can also carry that Bersa in clothing that prohibits my 1911, G30, or other "Man-stoppers."

“You should not have a favorite weapon.” -Miyamoto Musashi

-Doc
 
Last edited:
I carry my LCP quite a bit as a primary carry gun. I also will carry my Taurus PT-111 in 9x19, but not in the pocket and not as much. I have put about 150 rounds thru my LCP without any malfunctions. I can still fire a full size pistol better than the small one, but I can't carry it as easily concealed. I usually keep my LCP loaded up with either Fiocchi 90 grain JHP or Remington "Golden Sabers". It functions just fine with both of them and the recoil is not all that bad. When I go to the range, I usually put fifty rounds down the bore each time, then take it home and clean up up. I'm happy with that little gun.
 
I use my LCP as my primary carry probably 60% of the time (the rest being my LCR .357 or HK SK 9mm). I shoot all of my pistols on a regular basis with emphasis on my carry pieces.

Yes, the LCR isn't a very pleasant gun to shoot but not many pocket guns are. I usually go through 5-8 mags when I take the LCR to the range. I find it easier to shoot the smaller guns after I've shot my larger pistols, the harsh recoil not seeming as bad after going through 100-150 rounds of .45ACP and/or .357 before moving to the little guys. I think my hand has gotten used to the LCR because it doesn't seem as bad now as it did for the first few hundred rounds.
 
My primary is a S&W 642 with +P's. However, it gets carried in an ankle holster in my boot, especially in the summer, as it's HOT here in Texas. Therefore, I also always carry a TCP738 in my pocket, which makes it the fastest and easiest to get to if trouble happens. I'm confortable with it, as it has about 400 rounds through it, and it works good on brand name ammo, but not so much on the cheap Russian stuff. With Winchester, Remington, or Federal HP's, it's perfect so far. Come cooler weather, the 642 goes to an under the shirt shoulder holster and the 380 goes in the boot holster. I NEVER, EVER worry about the 642, but still always carry the 380. I'll never feel secure without carrying 2 guns.
 
I had seriously considered this myself at first but eventually settled for a XD9 sub compact. I could not really find any 380 that seemed to have reasonable mag capacity (beside Bersa) and when I shot a friends BERSA the recoil was actually quite unpleasantly snappy, more so than in my 9mm.
 
The point I was trying to make is not weather the 380 is a capable caliber, I was just saying I personaly do not think that they are enough gun for a main carry, that is my personal opinion, if a guy or lady wants to carry one for whatever reason thats there choice, my main reason for the post was that if you are determined to carry a 380 no matter what the make, get that gun to a range with a load of ammo and shoot it till your fingers hurt from loading the mags,( honestly this rule should apply to most semi autos no matter what the caliber, that you intend to carry for personal protection) then after 2 or 3 hundred rds if the gun is giving you any fits, any at all, sell it, trade it or keep it for something to shoot at the range, but do not carry it unless you are 110% confident in the gun to function correctly when you may need it most
 
I shot my KelTec P3AT about 200 rounds or so, had a little "fluff and buff" done on it, and its shot without problems 100% of the time. I rarely take it out at the range, its just not a gun I enjoy shooting. Sooooo, your theory stands.... LOL!
 
bootsdeal said:
My primary is a S&W 642 with +P's. However, it gets carried in an ankle holster in my boot, especially in the summer, as it's HOT here in Texas. Therefore, I also always carry a TCP738 in my pocket, which makes it the fastest and easiest to get to if trouble happens. I'm confortable with it, as it has about 400 rounds through it, and it works good on brand name ammo, but not so much on the cheap Russian stuff. With Winchester, Remington, or Federal HP's, it's perfect so far. Come cooler weather, the 642 goes to an under the shirt shoulder holster and the 380 goes in the boot holster. I NEVER, EVER worry about the 642, but still always carry the 380. I'll never feel secure without carrying 2 guns.
Click to expand...
Not trying to sound like a Mister Know-it-all, but I would not give your Taurus a steady diet of steel cased ammo. JMHO.
 
mousegun.jpg

Pocket carry a .380? Not even mice use them any more. :biggrin:
 
I carry my PK380 daily and shoot at least once a month. I right now I'm shooting just for new brass to reload and my next outing I will have shot 1,000 rounds.
 
Bersa Thunder .380/Glock 26 as my choice ...

I've had mouseguns, always the KelTec P3AT and PF9. Not good handguns to practice with. I'm older, my hands are a little arthritic. Sold the P3AT's and I keep a PF9 and a few extra mags in my Happy Camper Sack as a backup. I wear a Bersa Thunder .380 IWB in light-clothing weather and a Glock 26 as my IWB in colder months.

Ammo matches what the local PD carries (usually hollow point).

HD is a tested Judge Public Defender, .410, double ought.
 
captsam54 said:
Your right.......... That is what most people do.. The diminutive LCP is an excellent pocket 380. and most people don't shoot it enough.. I carry mine everywhere when I can't carry my compact 45... I shoot mine wherever I can... But like you say.. I doub't that I have put 200 rounds thru it... It's shot whatever I have put through her though...

I think the main reason for most people.. IS.. NOT ENOUGH RANGES OR PLACES FOR MOST PEOPLE TO GO OUT AND SHOOT...
Click to expand...

If you have had 200 rds through it with no trouble its probably good to go, personaly I prefer the taurus TCP over the LCP, slide locks back, and seems to have much better trigger, but if your happy with it great
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New Threads

Members online

No members online now.
Total: 426 (members: 0, guests: 426)

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
49,543
Messages
611,260
Members
74,964
Latest member
sigsag1

Share this page

Back
Top