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.380 for concealed carry
salzo
Member Posts: 6,396 ✭✭
Currently I carry a Beretta tomcat in .32 caliber. I am leaning in the direction of trading this in and getting something else-thinking about a .380. Gun shop has a couple of colt ponies and mustangs, and a smith and wesson, which is a lot cheaper, both financially and the way it looks.
Is a 380 better thanthe .32? What other rounds should I consider. Keep in mind, I really like small guns when it comes to carry. I used to carry A kel tec .40, and that was too big for comfort. I realize there are better calibers if I move up in size, but the reality is, if the gun isnt small, I wind up not carrying at all.
"Waiting tables is what you know, making cheese is what I know-lets stick with what we know!"
-Jimmy the cheese man
Is a 380 better thanthe .32? What other rounds should I consider. Keep in mind, I really like small guns when it comes to carry. I used to carry A kel tec .40, and that was too big for comfort. I realize there are better calibers if I move up in size, but the reality is, if the gun isnt small, I wind up not carrying at all.
"Waiting tables is what you know, making cheese is what I know-lets stick with what we know!"
-Jimmy the cheese man
Comments
I carry all the time and the one that I am never without is the kal-tec 380 six shot light as a feather and of the four that I have seen and fired they will hit a four to six inch circle at 20 feet with no problem. I have shot mine at 15 yards 45 feet and can hit center mass with all six rounds. I'm not the best shot in the world but this small light auto is worth a look. would not leave home without it.
There are a number of self-defense rounds available for the .380 - so that's no problem. I also have a Browning .380 but I prefer the Mauser over it.
I practice a lot with the Mauser and at 50 feet I can hit exactly what I aim at. Needless to say, if it weren't for their size - I'd prefer to carry my Colt 45acp or S&W 10mm.
Regards
John
My Prayer: Dear Lord, Please let me be the kind of person my dog thinks I am.........
Did I make all of that clear as mud?
Just some ideas.[;)]
How you doin'!
You may also want to check out the Kahr PM9, roughly the same size as ppk/s-1, but lighter and 9mm. Of course, I just bought one, great in the front pocket, and I noticed what appears to be a crack in the polymer frame. Go figure...
Supposedly, the new PPK is now being made, and I'd take that over the PPK/s-1, due to the shorter grip = lighter & more concealable.
This is where I run into a problem with the smaller guns-the short grips. So if anything, I want a smaller gun, but a little longer on the grip then sy the tomcat or kel tecs.
I guess I would want a gun that would except a longer magazine with some type of grip extension. I Found a couple of longer magazines for the Beretta, and I thought that would solve the problem. But the longer magazines would not feed properly.
"Waiting tables is what you know, making cheese is what I know-lets stick with what we know!"
-Jimmy the cheese man
A dead intruder cannot testify against you in a court of law!
If they're still moving, put another round in them!
The 10mm - either you've got it, or you don't get it...
It must be right, or we wouldn't do it this way!
Mine is all aluminum incl the cylinder and with Glasers it's lighter.
The Keltecs will accept magazine extensions that hook under the third finger for a better grip. However,the Chief starts off with a better grip which is improved for concealed carry by a Uncle Mikes Boot grip.
My Keltec 380 will be picked up in two weeks. It also takes the Bersa or factory mag extension. They are supposed to be somewhat of a brute to fire. I suspect the 380 Keltec may be my carry gun if I can get used to the long DAO trigger for fast shots.
On a side note, My older,second hand P11 with dead tritium sights is
going back to the factory for new freebe sights, mechanical updates,
and a hard chrome plated slide. Gratis except for $20 for the plating.
Cant beat that lifetime warranty.
GhostCat
"If they won't give us good terms, come back and we'll fight it out."
-- Gen. James Longstreet
There was a S&W .380 Special Edition, 2001, 2002, or so. Only one year. Saw a big guy slip it out of the back pocket. Didn't get the model, but it sure looked sweet. I offered to buy, but no answer in three months.
I'm working on getting a PPK (Interarms, Stainless) but now that the Ruger 5-shot is strapped on, the smoother lines are really appealing to me, as opposed to the Walthers.
The Sig P-232? Great gun, a little larger than it could be; if you've a flat gut you could slip it in front no problem. They were just on sale in the CDNN catalogue for $420 delivered ($460 out-the-door in these parts, still cheaper than dealer price).
Mustangs? I'd love to have them, but in THIS state they are overpriced because there are so few.
But we've plenty of AMT 380 Backups. The flame will come-a-shooting along with the charge. I kicking little chunk. I sold mine to an LEO as his backup, and before me, it was LEO for 20 years.
If you have something that you like (the Beretta), keep and use it. All the paper targets and ballistic geletin in the world pales when you are about to get shot.
No one, especially bad guys, want to get shot. The secret with a small pistol is to wait until you can get it under their chin or in their eye.
This may mean keeping it hidden and playing whipped until the right second to commence firing. No "Halts" or "I've got a gun" are needed or desired.
I carry a 1911A1 .45 when in the shop. When out on the town, my .380 PPk with long pants, or a .22 Beretta in shorts. They ALL will do the job, just as your .32 will when needed.
Now if you just want a new toy, you ought to say that.
Ciao
quote:This may mean keeping it hidden and playing whipped until the right second to commence firing. No "Halts" or "I've got a gun" are needed or desired
Give the man a cigar[:D] He hit the nail on the head.
I carry a .40 glock in the shop and a baretta 21a .22lr when concealability is of the utmost.
I just picked up a SW 940-1, a nice little hammerless revolver in 9mm for those times when something in-between is called for[^]
But, to answer your question I would take the Pony over all the others listed in this thread. my boss at the pawnshop carrys one of the Kel-tecs and its a sweet gun and shoots nice but that pony is quicker on target and more importantly quicker on target with the second shot due to the increased weight.
JuJu(just my opnion, others are wrong[:D][;)][:p])
I know I may get some flack from some of my statements.....
"meet me in Margaritaville"