.380 opinion

[bryang]

I carry an LCP with me at all times and loaded with a new .380 round. The HORNADY’s Critical Defense Ammo, it is quite impressive. http://www.tactical-life.com/online/exc ... ense-ammo/

-geo

[PArrow]

I'm sold

http://www.hornady.com/story.php?s=786" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

OK now to find them locally..

[PUCKER]

Don't doubt the .380 - a very good friend of mine has stopped two attackers on separate instances with his, one while on duty and the other protecting his home (and his family and himself). By stopped I mean that the front side of the attackers' heads appeared normal, well, except for an entrance wound, but, the backside, however, was a different story.

[ELB]

We (my wife and I) have a Kel-Tec P3AT. I have compared it to the Bersa's, PPS, Sigs, and pretty much every other .380 and small 9mm, and the P3AT beats them hands down for concealability. The LCP matches it of course, and the Seecamp/Guardians. It may only be a 1/2 inch shorter than some of the others, but it is so flat and minimalist that it is in fact, much smaller. I figure if you're going to go with a .380 for size/concealment's sake, might as well get the smallest one, not the biggest one. My wife has gone to an airweight snubnose .38 because her hands are just not strong enough to wrestle with the slide. I was carrying an all-steel snubnose, but I am going to steal the Kel-Tec now, because it is just so much more pocketable than the snub. I really like the snub, and maybe if I bought another airweight-- but I don't want to spend that money right now. I would also love to try out a Rohrbaugh 9mm, but last time I looked, they were still over $1K, and I just can't see spending that...


As for ammo -- the Corbon .380 DPX round has done very well in penetration and expansion tests out of P-3ATs, including through denim and all that, and that's what we have in ours. Haven't seen anything on the Hornady stuff, other than their own website, but will keep an eye out for other's evaluation of it.

[bryang]

I'm sold

http://www.hornady.com/story.php?s=786" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

OK now to find them locally..

I ordered mine from Ammunition to Go. You can also order it from MidwayUSA.

MidwayUSA
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.e ... mid=352263

Ammunition to Go
http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/catalog1/ ... ts_id/2843

-geo

[E10]

All o' those mouse guns are pretty rough shooting the .380 cartridge - I think they were originally designed for the .32 or .25 ACP, and then folks wanted more punch without the added weight. The light weight and straight blow-back action allows for considerable felt recoil, and the marginal two-finger grip makes me uncomfortable in my ability to control the weapon. However, I do like the Bersa Thunder, or my current CHL carry, the Beretta Model 84. They both offer some weight (not a lot) to counter the recoil, a full handgrip for better control, and the 13+1 capacity of my Beretta gives me confidence that we can deal with any social situation. Good ammo helps, too - Corbon DPX or, HydraShoks, or my own personal favorite, Remington Golden Saber 102 grain. I just wish FMJ was as cheap as 9mm, as I like to go to the range often.

[SCone]

Both the LCP & Kel-Tec are locked breach designs.

[KB5AKO]

I will not carry anything under a 9 mm. Only in the last 5 years have I ever carried anything else but a .45. One of the carry pistols in my rotation is a Kahr CW 9. It is priced reasonable, very accurate, very easy to conceal, and reliable. I have never pulled the trigger without the bang! You may want to consider this weapon. As a matter of fact, I am going to procure a CW 40 very soon to give the 9 a big brother! Have fun finding what works for you.


Victor

The Kel-Tec pistols do not impress me at all. Personally, there is no way I would trust a Kel-Tec for personal defense. The few that I have handled left me baffled as to how someone would want to carry one. I have a brother who carries one fairly frequently, and has no doubts about it.