.380 pocket pistol

[big rifle man]

need some input from those who own/carry .380 semi auto pistols. I'm basically a .45 carry person but in Florida during the summer months unless I'm using an inside the pants holster it's darn near impossible to hide my Kimber compact. I'm thinking that something like a Beretta, H&K or similiar quality handgun might be perfect for summer carry. Anyone have any thoughts.

 

[JD338]

My carry gun is a Kimber Tactical Pro II 45 ACP and I love it. I have had the same problem here in the hot humid summer months so I went with a Ruger LCP 380.

It fits perfect in the front pocket of dress slacks, shorts and jeans.

JD338

 

[big rifle man]

Thanks Jim, I went to my local gunshop yesterday and handled a "Lot" of small semi auto's. Do you know of anyone who's had any experience with the Sig Sauer P238. The Walther .380 in stainless felt heavy. (don't need it pulling my shorts down.) The LCP was just plain nice. Tried the rest (Kel-tec, Beretta and others) and came back constantly to the P238. It's light and fits perfectly with the holster in the pants pocket. They've just come out with a seven round magazine which is a nice plus. It also had a better trigger than the ruger. The nicest thing is that the P238 functions exactly the same as a standard .45 and can be carried cocked and locked. What do you use for ammo? I'm thinking Hornady critical defense but I'm definitely open to suggestions. Any info would bzxe great.

 

[NoelW]

I too love the full size 45 ACP's but are hard to conceal in summer in the south. I carry the LCP with a Crimson Trace Laser on it, shoot it quite a bit, seldom clean it and never had an issue with it. Sights suck so I opted for the Crimson Trace. As for the SIG P238, very nice, very reliable. Ever so slightly larger and heaver than the LCP. I really looked at it long and hard before buying the LCP, final decision was, SIG too nice considering what a pocket pistol looks like after only a couple of years of carry and was almost double the cost of the LCP without the laser sight. DAO on the Ruger makes it (me) less accurate but if I have to use it I'll probably be shaking so bad it won't matter anyway.

LCP it was for me, loaded with Federal Hydra-Shok. Here is a link to a picture of it in another thread on this site.

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=15468&start=15

 

[JD338]

The Sig P238 is very nice with a good feel to it.

My carry load is the Federal 90 gr Hydra Shock.

JD338

 

[big rifle man]

Thanks for the tips guys, The 90 grain hydra shock sounds like a winner. I think I'm going to invest in the P238 and look for a good pocket holster to go with it. I just read an article about the first defensive use of the Hornady critical defense round. It seems a woman was accosted by a male subject who had intentions of raping her. Unfortunately for the bad guy the woman was carrying a snub nose .357 in her purse with critical defense rounds. Two quick shots eliminated the problem permanently. You have to know that this will never make the mainstream liberal newspapers.

 

[SJB358]

I like dead rapists! They are the best of the breed! Scotty

 

[Jimbeaux82]

Louisiana gets pretty hot too so my normal carry has been a Keltec P3AT (380). It is extremely comfortable to carry and absolutely disappears in a front pocket. It has been a very reliable pistol but certainly a challenge to hit with over 7 yards. I keep it loaded with 90 gr Federal Hydra Shocks as well. Another 2 great 380 loads are the Corbon DPX 80 gr and the Speer Gold Dot 90 gr. These 3 loads, according to most of the studies/repórts, are the best you can carry in a 380.

However, I have been giving the matter some thought and have decided that it would be better to pocket carry a weapon of a little more capability than the little Keltec. So I have been researching a Keltec PF9, Kahr CM9, Ruger LC9, Diamondback DB9, Glock 26. These guns are about the largest, most capable that can be effectively pocket carried in hot weather. I have yet to make my final decision but I am leaning toward the PF9 or the DB9.

 

[Woodycreek]

I like my Glock G27 .40cal for summer time carry and as a backup to the G23. It would be the Ruger LCP if I got another small pocket pistol.

 

[FOTIS]

Ruger LCP or kel tec

http://www.keltecweapons.com/our-guns/pistols/p-3at/

 

[rjm158]

My wife and I both have P238's and use Remington Golden Sabers in them. We had the Kel Tecs for a long time and had no issues with them but I have long been a Sig fan and when I actually had the opportunity to see and handle one, I really liked the large sights. They were MUCH easier to see and my eye picked them up faster than the KelTec's even with paint applied to the front one. I know there is the opinion that such guns will always be used in very close quarters and the sights won't be used then anyway. I prefer to outfit myself with gear that allows me to function even when the "never" and "always" criteria doesn't materialize.

I had the opportunity to see the Golden Saber compared to the Critical Defense rounds fired into ballistic gelatin. Both had identical penetration and expansion, but the Remington had the better "characteristics", i.e. the "fins" that deploy and cut tissue during expansion. The Critical Defense tended to simply push the gelatin out of the way. Both had roughly 10-11 inches of penetration and .60ish recovered diameters. Shooting through heavy denim produced slightly smaller numbers in both categories.

We use the Desantis Nemesis pocket holsters since they tend to work best in my experience. They will stay in the pocket more reliably than some others I've tried.

Also, if you are like me and prefer rubber grips, try the Hogue version for the 238. They are fantastic!

Hope this helps.

Ron

 

[big rifle man]

well everyone, went to the range today to break in the P238. Prior to shooting I disassembled it, (found it dirty) cleaned it up real good and lubed it with Wilson's combat lube. Put 50 rounds of 95 grain ball ammo through it and didn't have so much as a hiccup. Tried the hydra shok and had no problems. I did replace the aluminum grips with Hogue rubber and it definitely felt more comfortable. POI was 2 1/2 inches above center at 15 yards. (Public range, can't shoot any closer, 7 yards would have been much more practical). long story short, very happy with results.

 

[JD338]

big rifle man

Nicely done!
Post a picture of your 380.

JD338

 

[big rifle man]

Jim, I'm not very computer oriented on picture posting. My sister in law is a whiz and I'll have her handle the picture part. The P238 is their copperhead model. The slide is a black stainless steel and the frame is aluminum with a copper color. I found the color combination pleasing. The nicest part about the gun is it works basically the same as my Kimber carry pro II. (less to remember when you get older).

 

[SPS]

After looking at every pocket sized handgun at Shot Show this year, I went with the Sig P238. It was the only one that felt like a real gun in my hands. It comes with night sights and shoots awsome. I put 150 rounds through it the day I got it without an issue. It shot and grouped as well as most full size guns I have. I had a local holster maker make me a holster for my back pocket. Of course when I saw that they make a U.S. Marine version that sealed the deal.

 

[SJB358]

After looking at every pocket sized handgun at Shot Show this year, I went with the Sig P238. It was the only one that felt like a real gun in my hands. It comes with night sights and shoots awsome. I put 150 rounds through it the day I got it without an issue. It shot and grouped as well as most full size guns I have. I had a local holster maker make me a holster for my back pocket. Of course when I saw that they make a U.S. Marine version that sealed the deal.

US Marine version of the pistol? Fill us in and pictures are always good. Scotty

 

[SPS]

Here's the right side with "Semper Fi" in gold. The top of the slide has a gold bulldog.

 

[SJB358]

Here's the right side with "Semper Fi" in gold. The top of the slide has a gold bulldog.

Son of a GUN! Man, is that a limited edition or what. That would be sweet and I could see myself carrying that, everywhere! Scotty

 

[SPS]

You can find them all over the internet. If you feel like paying a little extra you can get a matching Boker knive. A good "Devil Dog" never leaves home without it. I've seen them anywhere from $450.00 up to almost $700.00

 

[SJB358]

Nice! I will be on the hunt now. Thanks for the heads up. If you find a link to one, post a link. Thank you. Scotty