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Old March 11, 2023, 09:48 AM   #26
Don P
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Precisely why thats not an ideal choice for a "pocket pistol".
John Browning knew why an external hammer wasn't ideal......lint and debris
I disagree for the fact that there is a thing we call maintenance. Thats like saying that the good old external hammer gun that gets put in the old sock draw is bad because of lint and debris.
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Old March 11, 2023, 12:08 PM   #27
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While I wouldn't exactly give it a recommendation, I had a Bersa 380 for some time that never gave me a problem. Got rid of the caliber more than the gun. EDC is now a 1911 CCO in 45.
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Old March 11, 2023, 08:44 PM   #28
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Quote:
Don P
Quote:
Quote:
Precisely why thats not an ideal choice for a "pocket pistol".
John Browning knew why an external hammer wasn't ideal......lint and debris
I disagree for the fact that there is a thing we call maintenance. Thats like saying that the good old external hammer gun that gets put in the old sock draw is bad because of lint and debris.
Take it up with JMB.
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Old March 12, 2023, 11:01 AM   #29
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I have owned them all but the PICO which has been all but officially discontied for 2 yrs. Want the pico bc of how thin.

Three of these guns have know internet hype that is just flat wrong though.

1 peeps say the kahr 380 is the smallest. It isnt. The butt of the kahr sticks out more than the lcp. The lcp is "longer" at the tang. I would take the tang over grip butt as being a better measure where the lcp wins. Plus the square profile made it the worst of all in my pocket. Sold mine for comfort and reliability probs.

2 the sigs pocket 380 and 9s have good triggers. I still have two SAS p938s, the nicest version....the triggers are honest horribly heavy. Bc they look like 1911s i think people just repeat how great the triggers are.

3 diamondback makes a reliable gun. They just don't. Not one of the versions (at 4 now) is just a cosmetic change. Db380 or db9. When you change a slide and rsa completely and have 4 plus mag follower designs? you've admitted a problem.

Cannot go wrong knowing that. I think the gen2 original lcp is the best of them all for the purpose. Otherwise it's p365 time. Meh
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Old March 12, 2023, 03:04 PM   #30
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Owned and shot lots of small .380s over the decades including most everything mentioned. Of the small ones I can shoot my Sig P230 the best consistently. But none of them are enjoyable to shoot and practice with.

Stepping up to a compact size I find quite a few really, really, really nice reliable, easy to maintain, easy to shoot accurately and repeatedly quickly, not quite pocket-able but relatively easy to conceal .360. The one I owned and shot the most (unfortunately given to a friend) was my Beretta 85, a single stack 380.

Today though there are three .380s I particularly like. All are more compact size than micro, IWB rather than pocket candidates. Lately it's been my S&W Shield 2.0 380EZ, a single stack 8 + 1 380 with a grip and thumb safety. As the name suggests, it is really, really, really easy to rack, field strip and shoot. I carry it using a Wes Dahl Privateer Leather Cutthroat holster.

The other two are also designed to be easy to rack, field strip, shoot and maintain. The Walther CCP M2 380 like the S&W 380EZ is a single stack 8 + 1 format. The other, the Ruger Security 380 Lite Rack is a double stack 10 + 1 or 15 + 1 format.

At 80+ I find I can still carry and shoot and maintain my all steel 1911s and my mostly steel 9mm full size and original compact size (S&W 469) pistols but the newer ones listed above are lighter, more enjoyable for all day carry and a whole bunch easier to rack.

Getting old is not for sissies but unfortunately it does have some real annoying attributes.
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Old March 12, 2023, 11:38 PM   #31
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Had an LCP, with several problems. One had the little spring that holds the slide retention pin in place break so the pin kept working its way out. Ruger replaced it with a new gun.

In the end I dumped the LCP for the Sig P238. Much higher quality gun, and I've never had problems with it.
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Old March 13, 2023, 01:05 PM   #32
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I have been carrying a Kimber Micro .380 since they first came out. Very nice quality and a very good shooter.

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Old March 13, 2023, 04:20 PM   #33
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I still have two SAS p938s, the nicest version....the triggers are honest horribly heavy. Bc they look like 1911s i think people just repeat how great the triggers are.
Odd. My wife and I both have P238s with good triggers. They are short and fairly crisp. The short throw makes them feel lighter than they actually measure, but I wouldn't describe them as "horribly heavy." I'm sorry, but I forget the exact measurement of trigger weight, but the numbers were moderate as I recall, like maybe in the five pound neighborhood? Ours shoot very nicely, including a trigger that does nothing to degrade practical accuracy. Not sure what is up with your P938s.
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Old March 13, 2023, 07:05 PM   #34
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I've had good success with S&W's Bodyguard380...carry it when I can't tote anything else. It's small enough to fit in most any pocket, even a shirt pocket. The gun's been very reliable with Federal and R-P ammunition. Rod
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Old March 13, 2023, 10:21 PM   #35
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If you can find one:
Attached Images
File Type: jpeg 8E0382C1-5778-48BA-8EFF-1C6266FDDDCD.jpeg (612.3 KB, 91 views)
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Old March 13, 2023, 10:36 PM   #36
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Kel tec p3aT

Yes, some consider it a "crap" gun, but I've found mine to be reliable and and accurate at close quarter use. And it truly is a pocket gun. Small enough to fit in just about any pocket. The one drawback for me is that you don't want to spend a lot of range time with it. Hard on the hand. I carry mine when the occasion calls for clothing in which nothing else can be concealed.

Life is good.
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Old March 14, 2023, 12:17 AM   #37
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Although not a .380, my edc is a Ruger LC9s pro. Very slim, compact, and lightweight. It holds 8 rounds of 9mm and has been reliable since its first shot over 5yrs ago.

I can be a “pocket pistol” but I carry it IWB in a sticky holster.

https://images.app.goo.gl/yDaJqYSKA56BymC97

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Old March 14, 2023, 04:24 AM   #38
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I'm retired and almost invariably go around in cargo pants, which provide several large and/or convenient pockets for flashlight, pepper spray, small auto and spare magazine. So it's no chore for me to carry an all steel Beretta 85FS Cheetah. I like how it shoots and find the recoil very manageable. Also, I'm used to external hammer and thumb safety, particularly when it comes to pocket carry. With enough specific training, range practice and muscle memory buildup, this is an ideal carry for me. It alternates with my S&W J frame revolver. Old guy here, need I say more.
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Old March 14, 2023, 10:01 AM   #39
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I have to say that a Beretta 85 would, in my opinion, be tough to carry in a pocket. The weight alone would be obvious, not to mention the size. Good for you if you carry this great gun but it just would be tough to conceal. I carried a 84f owb for many years myself.

The 85fs has an aluminium alloy frame. Only the slide is steel. The best grips I ever used were the "Indiana State Police" grips made by Farrar.
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Old March 14, 2023, 10:35 AM   #40
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I have to say that a Beretta 85 would, in my opinion, be tough to carry in a pocket. The weight alone would be obvious, not to mention the size. Good for you if you carry this great gun but it just would be tough to conceal. I carried a 84f owb for many years myself.

The 85fs has an aluminium alloy frame. Only the slide is steel. The best grips I ever used were the "Indiana State Police" grips made by Farrar.
You're right about the Indiana State Police grips. I really like mine:




Frank
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Old March 15, 2023, 08:30 PM   #41
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FWIW My son loves his Browning black label .380.

It may be bigger than some others, but is very lightweight, and overall is a slick, accurate little "1911".
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Old March 15, 2023, 09:44 PM   #42
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FWIW My son loves his Browning black label .380.

It may be bigger than some others, but is very lightweight, and overall is a slick, accurate little "1911".
I just picked up one of these myself, and I have to say that I really like it, but I wouldn't consider it to be a pocket pistol. But I have the 4.25" barrel on mine versus the compact, with the 3 5/8" barrel. It is nice and slim, and I'm considering trying it as my EDC, using an AIWB holster. Here it is, shown with my full size 1911:






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Old March 15, 2023, 10:45 PM   #43
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I have a Ruger LCP II. It is cheap and reliable. I put a Hogue grip sleeve on it, which makes it feel better. I have big hands though, so try it without it. I don't think you can go wrong with an LCP II given the price. Lots of holster options too.
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Old March 16, 2023, 05:41 AM   #44
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The 1910/55 is a great gun. Started WWI.
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Old March 16, 2023, 06:50 AM   #45
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I bought a Colt Mustang Pocketlite the same day Mrs bought a Sig 238, figured if we were going to add a new caliber to the family I should have one too. Out the box the Sig was the nicer pistol, better trigger & sights. Not to be outdone I went to work on "Sally" sending the slide to Novaks to replace the bump of a front sight with night sights & while the slide was gone I went to work on the internals & replaced the trigger. It's better than the Sig now but it wasn't cheap.

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Old March 16, 2023, 10:32 AM   #46
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That is one really slick little Colt!
Excellent work.
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Old March 17, 2023, 06:41 AM   #47
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Originally Posted by Schlitz 45 View Post
I bought a Colt Mustang Pocketlite the same day Mrs bought a Sig 238, figured if we were going to add a new caliber to the family I should have one too. Out the box the Sig was the nicer pistol, better trigger & sights. Not to be outdone I went to work on "Sally" sending the slide to Novaks to replace the bump of a front sight with night sights & while the slide was gone I went to work on the internals & replaced the trigger. It's better than the Sig now but it wasn't cheap.

Sally,LOL. I like that.
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Old March 17, 2023, 08:22 AM   #48
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vintage colt pocket 380. time proven. classic.
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Old March 17, 2023, 11:42 AM   #49
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Not a fan of the 380 as a dependable defense round. My pocket carry is a Glock 43 with +2 mags.
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Old March 17, 2023, 12:48 PM   #50
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That’s not the topic of this thread.
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