Why no love for the .380?

April 09, 2024, 12:22 PM

While I carry a P365 or a Kimber Micro 9 daily, I still have and occasionally carry my P232, and on a rarer occasion my S&W model 60. Some guns are just plain cool, if not up to date, easy to shoot, or the best option.

April 09, 2024, 08:39 PM

wrightd

quote:
Originally posted by josp:
While I carry a P365 or a Kimber Micro 9 daily, I still have and occasionally carry my P232, and on a rarer occasion my S&W model 60. Some guns are just plain cool, if not up to date, easy to shoot, or the best option.

VERY well put, absolutely.

April 09, 2024, 10:26 PM

TN Mark

quote:
Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
^^^^^^^^
SIG still makes the nifty P238. A clever design (thanks to Colt), and very reliable. Much softer recoil than the P230/232 thanks to its locked breech mechanism.

You may want to inform Sig about that. There's no P238 on their website under Firearms.

April 09, 2024, 11:38 PM

Vaftocr

quote:
Originally posted by josp:
While I carry a P365 or a Kimber Micro 9 daily, I still have and occasionally carry my P232, and on a rarer occasion my S&W model 60. Some guns are just plain cool, if not up to date, easy to shoot, or the best option.

Up to date? I bought my P230 new in the 80’s. If I were to buy a new .380 today I would not alter it. Is there something that is going to make me more accurate or quicker to get a shot off? Most likely it would be striker fired but the advantages of that could be argued for years.

April 10, 2024, 08:19 AM

josp

Well SIG discontinued making them in 2015 so, yeah, not up to date.

Doesn't mean it's not a great pistol but have you priced spare parts or magazines lately?

April 10, 2024, 08:26 AM

Pipe Smoker

quote:
Originally posted by TN Mark:
quote:
Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
^^^^^^^^
SIG still makes the nifty P238. A clever design (thanks to Colt), and very reliable. Much softer recoil than the P230/232 thanks to its locked breech mechanism.

You may want to inform Sig about that. There's no P238 on their website under Firearms.

Thanks for that info, sorry as I am that SIG dropped that sweet little pistol. Maybe, like the McRib, SIG will resurrect it from time to time.

April 10, 2024, 09:14 AM

92fstech

.380 has it's place, but not for me personally at this stage in my life. I can do anything I could do with a .380 in 9mm these days, and for less money. And I prefer little revolvers to tiny autos, so my J-frames have filled any role that a pocket .380 (or 9mm for that matter) might have. I do have a .380 barrel and a couple of mags for my Beretta 81, as well as a set of .380 dies that I found used for $15, just so I can shoot the caliber if needed, but I rarely do.

I do agree with those who said that the P238 is a sweet shooting little gun. If I was a 1911 guy and wanted a deep concealment option to replicate my bigger gun, it would make a lot of sense. Same goes for the Glock 42 for the Glock guys.

April 10, 2024, 09:29 AM

pedropcola

My buddy has a 238. Easily the sweetest shooting 380 I have ever shot. Great little gun. There is absolutely zero chance I am going to carry a cocked and locked mini 1911 in my pocket. Nope.

April 10, 2024, 09:36 PM

m58

Because there is 9x18 Makarov available for my CZ 82. It's been my carry pistol for the past dozen years.

April 10, 2024, 11:39 PM

DoctorSolo

quote:
Originally posted by pedropcola:
My buddy has a 238. Easily the sweetest shooting 380 I have ever shot. Great little gun. There is absolutely zero chance I am going to carry a cocked and locked mini 1911 in my pocket. Nope.

Because yer playing some pocket pool in there??

"Dream on you little fart"
-crazy old bitch on the Black Sheep

April 11, 2024, 12:21 AM

monoblok

quote:
You may want to inform Sig about that. There's no P238 on their website under Firearms.

Sadly this is the last one standing...

April 11, 2024, 06:23 AM

pedropcola

Because I think it’s dangerous. Pocket pool is optional.

April 14, 2024, 11:09 AM

NorfolkP229

quote:
Originally posted by Kobren:
NorfolkP229 that Colt M1908 .380 still hard to beat, bet it could tell some stories.

No doubt!!!

---------------
Jeffrey

P365 - GGI P220ST 10mm - Sig Mosquito - Various Others

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. " - Thomas Jefferson

April 14, 2024, 02:54 PM

mikey357

quote:
Originally posted by m58:
Because there is 9x18 Makarov available for my CZ 82. It's been my carry pistol for the past dozen years.

I think you mean "Foxtrot Juliet Bravo"...

April 14, 2024, 04:02 PM

Prefontaine

Never saw the need for .380 for myself. I carry a 2” Rhino a lot. 357 shoots like 38 out of it and 38 feels like a damn 22. So I just prefer the wheel gun and a hammer for something small. 38’s I’ve got lots of grains to choose from. 125gr, 135gr, 158gr. .380 would just be another caliber I need to stock. I like sticking to 9mm, 38, and 357. Makes things simpler.

April 14, 2024, 04:16 PM

parabellum

quote:
Originally posted by Prefontaine:
Never saw the need for .380 for myself.

That's an awfully short-sighted perspective. John Browning's little nine has killed people left and right for more than 110 years, and in the past few decades, has shown up in some small, slim packages.

The .380s only real issue is inadequate penetration with hollowpoints but it does OK with fmj.

Easy to conceal, easy to shoot, and a half-dozen or more slugs.

I carry a .380 all the time, but not as my primary. I carry a Glock G42 in an ankle holster, loaded with Hornady XTP, and while I dearly hope I never have to use it, seven shots out of a surprise package is pretty comforting. In terms of ease of shooting, the G42 is a locked breech pistol and it's a breeze to shoot.

I love the .380.

I'm just not in love with the .380.

April 14, 2024, 05:46 PM

Prefontaine

I accept that, that it’s short sighted to you. I prefer to keep my calibers pretty controlled. I’d rather stock deep, and have fewer calibers, compared to having more calibers but less surplus. That and my preference for handguns is hammers. All of mine are. I tried to get the strikers to stick. Spent the $ to do so, and they didn’t take. I’m very fond of revolvers also. 38 +p JHP’s have excellent penetration. And the cylinder takes 38’s or 357. I only have so much $ and so much room. And my semi autos can’t switch calibers like a cylinder. Even if they could I’d be changing barrels and magazines and such. The cylinder takes two types of ammo. That versatility means 380 is out.

April 14, 2024, 07:32 PM

Genorogers

quote:
Originally posted by Prefontaine:
I accept that, that it’s short sighted to you. I prefer to keep my calibers pretty controlled. I’d rather stock deep, and have fewer calibers, compared to having more calibers but less surplus. That and my preference for handguns is hammers. All of mine are. I tried to get the strikers to stick. Spent the $ to do so, and they didn’t take. I’m very fond of revolvers also. 38 +p JHP’s have excellent penetration. And the cylinder takes 38’s or 357. I only have so much $ and so much room. And my semi autos can’t switch calibers like a cylinder. Even if they could I’d be changing barrels and magazines and such. The cylinder takes two types of ammo. That versatility means 380 is out.

What you just tried to say has nothing to do with the 380ACP or the 9MM, or a variety of calibers. Makes zero sense to me anyway.

April 16, 2024, 07:04 PM

Stroonz

For me it’s a matter of practicality. On my next birthday I will be 80 YO and although I can still shoot good enough to bullseye a target @33 feet. However, I don’t enjoy coming home from the range with really sore hands……….so, my gun of choice is a 380 and I have a couple. Really nice ones. I carry every day.

April 16, 2024, 07:36 PM

bald1

quote:
Originally posted by Stroonz:
my gun of choice is a 380 and I have a couple. Really nice ones. I carry every day.

What 380 guns do you have and enjoy?