small auto (.380) for small hands,,, have i missed anything?

[CJATE]

again, i don't keep up with small autos,,, after a quick google,,, I'm am familiar with the Sig P238, kinda forgotten about it as an option.

we will go look latter this week.

she does not have her plastic yet,,, so perhaps i can tote it around and see what i think about something smaller then a 5" 1911...

[drjoker]

Bersa 380 is actually better than the PPK in reliability. There's nothing wrong with the gun, but the thing you have to worry about is the ammo. Nobody has 380 ammo for sale. You have to order it mail order from Cabela's or Midway. I waited 6 months for my 380 ammo order to arrive. As a result, I've only practiced shooting with 380 pistols twice this year. Ugh....

[Carry-a-Kimber]

Bersa 380 is actually better than the PPK in reliability. There's nothing wrong with the gun, but the thing you have to worry about is the ammo. Nobody has 380 ammo for sale. You have to order it mail order from Cabela's or Midway. I waited 6 months for my 380 ammo order to arrive. As a result, I've only practiced shooting with 380 pistols twice this year. Ugh....

.380 isn't nearly as hard to come by as it was a year or so ago. I have been seeing it pretty regular at both Academy and Gander Mountain. Gander wants a fortune for all of their ammo so .380 there is high. Mail order stuff is no longer on backorder most places so it doesn't take any longer than other calibers to come in.

[CJATE]

i was able to find it last week when we borrowed a bersa and headed to the range,


but i do understand its been hard to find in the past.

[RPB]

My local True Value hardware store has never NOT had .380 ammo, at least almost always Remington/UMC FMJ, often hollowpoints too, usually Federal Hydroshok, but yeah, the local Walmart sells out.

(It's like before a hurricane, Walmart and grocery stores sell out of masking tape and batteries..... but the paint store has tons of masking tape and Radio Shack has any battery you need .... and those stores aren't jam packed with customers in lines because people don't think of them, since they aren't home depots/Lowes/sutherlands/Mccoys etc etc one-stop shopping type supercenters)

[glbedd53]

Bass Pro in Pearland had a bunch of .380 the Tuesday but I didn't notice if it was FMJ or HP. Alvin Walmart has had .380 FMJ the last few times I was there.

[Matt78665]

My wife likes the LCP as well. Good luck in your search

[gregthehand]

Me and my wife love our Kel-Tec .380s. They shoot well and have never jammed. I recently shot a raccoon dead center on a full on run from about 25' away recently. I've had very good luck with them and they are very affordable.

[Rex B]

Here's some cheap .380:

http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.php ... ts_id/4535" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


+1 on the Keltec, I'm on my 3rd one.

[duggy]

CZ-83s are Walther-based .380s like the Bersa. The Walther, Bersa, and CZ-83 are some of the most pleasant shooters there are and accurate. The CZ-83 probably has the widest grip (and profile) and arguably the best feel/ergonomics of the three.

The only problem is that the Walther-based pistols take a little hand strength to rack the slide, and especially to break down for cleaning. (This is where you are wise to test drive first).

My CZ83 is my favorite handgun to shoot at the range. It has never missed a beat.

http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.php ... ts_id/3885" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[duggy]

I forgot to mention - the reason for the fat handle is that the CZ-83 is a high capacity .380 - holds 12 rounds. I think it may be the only one.

Even though the grip is wide, I doubt it will be too big for your wife to handle.

The grip width spreads out the force from recoil making the CZ-83 a very pleasant shooter. However, the width makes it less concealable.

[LarryH]

I forgot to mention - the reason for the fat handle is that the CZ-83 is a high capacity .380 - holds 12 rounds. I think it may be the only one.

Even though the grip is wide, I doubt it will be too big for your wife to handle.

The grip width spreads out the force from recoil making the CZ-83 a very pleasant shooter. However, the width makes it less concealable.

Beretta 84FS and Browning BDA are both 13 + 1 capacity .380's.

[quidni]

I'm a 5'2" female with small hands, and I've dealt with arthritis and CTS most of my adult life. That being said, my usual carry is a Sig P250 in 9mm. (on my belt, thank you, not in my purse) I also enjoy shooting the 1911 platform, Browning Hi-Point, Makarovs.... I've got a Ruger SP101 in 9mm (yes, a revolver!) that's a bit snappish but still fun, as well.

It's not the size of the gun/grip, or the caliber, it's the shape of the grip and the balance of the gun in my hands that determine whether I'll be able to comfortably handle the recoil.

If your wife is comfortable with the Bersa, and she's willing to practice with it and carry it, then by all means get her the Bersa. If she ever finds another handgun, in whatever caliber, that feels "right" to her also - well, there's no rule against having more than one, is there?

[duggy]

Thanks LarryH! I was too sleepy to be maiking such a bold statement. The Beretta 84FS is still marketed by Beretta but the Browning BDA has been discontinued, so only available as a used gun.

Being reminded of the Beretta 84FS reminded me of another discontinued gun, the Beretta 86FS. It is not high capacity (is 8+1) but uses the tilt-barrell concept. So a big help if hand strength is an issue. However, it may be hard to find one of these.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=0/si ... FS_Cheetah" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[powerboatr]

we have a bersa thunder 380 for carry
i like it because like many others its very easy to carry, i feel safe with it loaded and ready and the safety on,

but my wife prefers the grip feel of our colt 1911 (1967 circa), which is also a superb carry firearm, its just HUGE.

the xd 9 is also a great package to carry, but with 16 rounds its a bit heavy.


funny thing is the 1911 is her favorite for range time ...i almost never get to fire it

my wife has small hands

as far as ammunition availability, we reload all the range rounds. and replace pd rounds as required or every year....so far its the later.
i for one do want to put someone down, but its not off the table