Range report on New Girsan .380 Tip up
clays
Member Posts: 1,926 ✭✭✭✭
A couple of weeks ago I saw where EAA (Girsan) had started making a reproduction of the discontinued Beretta 380 with the tip up barrel for loading. Being quite a fan of Girsan products, (I have several now), and finding them to be of good quality and function, I purchased the new .380.
I found it to be what I expected. Got the plain one in black finish & plastic grips, comes with one magazine. I ordered two factory Beretta 13 round mags which fit and function perfectly. Tip up barrel makes for easy loading & of course the slide does not have to be racked as first shot is DA. Barrel locked firmly and secure in battery. Right out of the box I ran three mags of various reloads thru it. Consisting of round nose, hollow point & wadcutter. Not a single malfunction. Accuracy is very acceptable, but this is not a target pistol.
All considered, I would not hesitate to carry this gun as a defense weapon.
While at the range I brought along a Taurus 62, pump .22 rifle. Have not fired it in years, so it was it's turn. Loaded the tube and just started plinking, then for some unknow reason, I held the trigger while pumping the gun and found it would fire every time. In other words, if I hold the trigger, it will fire as fast as I could cycle it. Surprised me as this gun is probably only 20 years old.
Comments
Good report, thanks for posting it.
I posted a video of this gun a little while back. I like it's looks,size and function.
Clay, I bought a Ruger LCP II 380, and absolutely hate it. First it bites my hand and secondly, I have no accuracy even at 10 yards. Today I was reading an article in handloader magazine, and they had a practice load in there. It was 3 grains of titegroup, a federal 100 small pistol primer and a 90 grain Hornady XTP bullet. Slow velocity,882 FPS at 10'. I was thinking about reloading for this gun, instead of using factory ammo. Do you have any recipe's for the 380 that I might try??? I have many different powders. I also have to look at my Hornady reloading manual, but wanted your opinion. I figure I might try reloading, before giving up on it and buying a Kimber. Oakie
The load I used (been over 10yrs ago), was Accurate #2 @ 3,5 grns & a 115 grn HP bullet. It is not a light load but cycles all of the .380 pistols I have used it in.
Thanks for the report. I am interested in getting one in the future - but a couple of others must leave before that one comes in.
Best Regards - AQH
How much larger is it compared to a LCP or a Mustang?
It is larger, definitely not a pocket pistol. I would say it is a little larger than a Walther PPK, & does take a 13 round mag.
I like them, purchased a package deal and ended up with the 92 clone, great shooter half the price, fits my hands well, I can't miss with it.