380 For CCW

[OCCCW]

Anyone have thoughts on a small, pocket size 380? Semi Auto, reliable and good quality.

Thanks!

[inboost]

O-frame! (Yes, it's in the O-frame parts section)

Colt made three major variants of a single action .380ACP

• Government 380 (7+1): "Full Size" gun with longer grip frame and 3.25" barrel
• Mustang (6+1): Shortened grip and muzzle (2.75" barrel)
• Mustang Plus II (7+1): Long grip frame with short slide/barrel

Same as it's big brother O-frame 1911 guns in outward function (sans grip safety). Known for mild recoil and the infamous ejector olympics (see bottom of NRA page) they are increasing in value these days even though they weren't anything special when actually produced (1983 ~ 1999). You won't find anything like it on the shelf of your DOJ approved dealer here in California. And to tell the truth, probably not anywhere else either. Everything small, compact, and current is SA+DA or DAO. A far distant second for a California approved gun would be the Walther PPK/S with respect to size in this caliber


Real World Carry Gun

NRA writeup

[OCResident]

+1

I have a Government .380, but would like to trade up (actually down - it is smaller & lighter) some day to a Mustang.

Hard to come by in California. They are not on the list, so you have to find someone in-state that wants to $ell it.

[K-dog.v3]

Friends don't let friends carry .380

[UNSUB]

Dear OCCCW,
PLEASE DON'T!!! Unless you like making somebody mad. The .380 auto round is not a good stopper. The J frame S&W is about the same size and comes in .38 spl. or .357 mag. And this revolver "out of the box, stock" is more reliable than most .380s will ever be. If you have to have a semi automatic look at the GLOCK 26 or 27, again it's about the same size and fires a 9mm or .40 S&W. And you will have 11 or 10 rounds on tap. The .38 spl. and 9mm are the bottom end of reliable stoppers. .380, .38, and 9mm have about the same size projectile; the .38 and the 9mm just have a tad more power and that makes the difference. Just think of a car and you have to drag race, would you like the one with the four cylinder engine or would you like the one with the big V8? Being a winner is good. If you do get in a situation where there is gun play, you want to be the winner.

Also notice the photo of the (.380) with the (TUSSEY .45 acp), in inboost's reply, not that much bigger. I have owned the Mustang and the Pocket Lite, the light weight version of the Mustang. Both were gone through, very reliable, but never carried them, "could not" justify carrying them. I could always carry and conceal a 1911.

[X-ffdo]

The absolute minimum carry ballistics for me is 9mm.
Like someone said, "I like anything that starts with a .4 ". Having said that, there are choices in 9mm/.40 S&W that are about the same size/weight, as a Mustang .380
The G 26/27 are good examples, unless you hate Glocks. You are the chooser!
Shop around for whatever fits your own purpose. Test drive before you buy!
There are some very efficient packages available out there now!

[OCResident]

Originally Posted by UNSUB

Dear OCCCW,
PLEASE DON'T!!! Unless you like making somebody mad. The .380 auto round is not a good stopper. The J frame S&W is about the same size and comes in .38 spl. or .357 mag. And this revolver "out of the box, stock" is more reliable than most .380s will ever be. If you have to have a semi automatic look at the GLOCK 26 or 27, again it's about the same size and fires a 9mm or .40 S&W. And you will have 11 or 10 rounds on tap. The .38 spl. and 9mm are the bottom end of reliable stoppers. .380, .38, and 9mm have about the same size projectile; the .38 and the 9mm just have a tad more power and that makes the difference. Just think of a car and you have to drag race, would you like the one with the four cylinder engine or would you like the one with the big V8? Being a winner is good. If you do get in a situation where there is gun play, you want to be the winner.

Also notice the photo of the (.380) with the (TUSSEY .45 acp), in inboost's reply, not that much bigger. I have owned the Mustang and the Pocket Lite, the light weight version of the Mustang. Both were gone through, very reliable, but never carried them, "could not" justify carrying them. I could always carry and conceal a 1911.

I'm going to (mostly) agree. A .380 is good for two things as far as a carry weapon - 1) a backup weapon and 2) for when you wouldn't carry otherwise. Admittedly, I can count the number of times on one hand that I've carried a my .380 - but at least a couple of times I wouldn't have carried at all if my only choice was my normal .45 carry gun.

Probably a situation 99% solved by getting better holsters. Since I've rounded out my holster collection, I find myself having no problem concealing and carrying the weight of a 3" O-frame (1911) or even a Glock .

Now if I had a Mustang...have you felt how light they are? I could see myself carrying that over a full size if I was going to the beach or otherwise wearing clothing without a belt where I would have trouble supporting the weight of a loaded .45.

Backup gun - I don't carry one, but maybe if I had to go into a really really bad area and had no choice in the matter. If so, it would have to be something pocket size like a .380.

[UNSUB]

Thanks for your vote of confidence. You might want to try Thunderware for beach carry without a belt, unless you sport Speedo's. The Mustang is heavy for a little firearm or do you mean the Pocket Lite version. A backup of the same caliber as your primary is something to consider. A back up that uses a magazine same as the primary is also something to ponder. Getting back to beach wear GLOCKs are pretty much water and rust proof. Oh, by the way the backup to my GLOCK 36 is another GLOCK 36. Have a great day.

[X-ffdo]

The BUG for a Glock 23 is a Glock 27. You can also use the Glock 23 magazine in the Glock 27 for higher capacity. They compliment each other.

[UNSUB]

Yes, X-ffdo is correct, the magazines for the GLOCK 23 will service the GLOCK 27 and to add to his comment; the GLOCK 22 magazines will add even more rounds. BUT we in CCCaliforniaP are limited to LOW crApSSity 10 round maxium magazines by law currently. My apolgies if I sound like a know it all. I have been around awhile and have seen alot of things and I am not afraid to inform people that are in my sphere of influence. In the past I used GLOCK 18 magazines for my car gun. And yes, it was only a nine. 9mm is a better penetrator than .45 acp in that senario. Smaller frontal area of the projectile and more velocity make it a better choice vs. cars and the tango(s) in them. And you'll have a tedency to not make hits, so you'll need more rounds to solve the problem.

[OCCCW]

Guys,

This gun would be carried in areas that I otherwise would not want to carry the Kimber ultra. Doesnt look like much choice for a "pocket" 380 that is Ca approved. North American had neat 380 but was taken off the list due to issues with the safety. Bersa has one that looks small, but, dont know them.

Anyway, I am expectecting DOJ approval and should be headed for the armory
soon.

[IAmASensFan]

Originally Posted by OCCCW

Guys,

This gun would be carried in areas that I otherwise would not want to carry the Kimber ultra. Doesnt look like much choice for a "pocket" 380 that is Ca approved. North American had neat 380 but was taken off the list due to issues with the safety. Bersa has one that looks small, but, dont know them.

Anyway, I am expectecting DOJ approval and should be headed for the armory
soon.

What about a nice tight little S&W in .357 or .38 +P for pocket carry?

I'm not so versed about such things, but I kind of expect that 5 or 6 in those calibers has got to beat 7 or 8 in .380?

[OCResident]

Originally Posted by UNSUB

You might want to try Thunderware for beach carry without a belt, unless you sport Speedo's.

My GunThong has a built-in holster. Gunthong trumps Thunderware.

Originally Posted by UNSUB

The Mustang is heavy for a little firearm or do you mean the Pocket Lite version.

Yes, you're right - I was thinking of the Pocket Lite version.

Originally Posted by UNSUB

A backup of the same caliber as your primary is something to consider. A back up that uses a magazine same as the primary is also something to ponder.

Good advice as long as you can carry two of them.

Since thinking this out a little more, and now that I have some nice holsters for my Kimber, I'm almost considering dropping the .380 off the permit since I never really carry it anymore anyways.

[TaxMan]

I have a Beretta 85 that I use as a backup. It conceals well enough, for what I need it for. I wouldn't use it as a primary though. YMMV

[UNSUB]

Hi, again. Is Gun Thong a real product? Thunderwear is real and doesn't crawl up yer crack. Arrrh. I am sorry you didn't get a chance at the Pocket Lite when it went. It was a stainless steel version. The guy that got it from me, "although I warned him", "it's just a toy" and "it's nice to look at" , wore me down. I sold it to him. And then he went back to full size guns. And I think he sold it. Dang and that gun was sure cute. I should have kept it. To make myself clear, about back up guns. The primary is a full size normally. The back up is compact is a smaller version of the full size, carried on or behind the vest. The bug is normally a smaller caliber gun carried in a rear pocket. The hide out normal again a sub caliber anywhere it can be carried comfortably. IE. GLOCK 21 primary; GLOCK 30 back up, "a 30 can use 21 magazines" ; A PD series ultra light weight revolver as a bug. A Tomcat, ugh, as a hideout. A nice eve to all.