380 advice

[Khyber]

Hi all, thought I would use the experience of others to guide me in a possible firearm purchase. I am planning on obtaining a CWP and a 380 to "stick in my pocket." The gun store that I frequent has a few choices and I would appreciate any advice. The choices are as follows: Bersa Thunder, WaltherPPK, Sig P232, and Browning BDA. I like the Browning for looks and highest magazine capacity, but it is also the most expensive option. And also the largest in size. All of these guns are used, but in near perfect condition. Thanks in advance

[adaman04]

I would recommend the Walther or the Sig. My dad has always said "It's not much more to go first class." So, buy what you like the most and will be the most reliable, even if it means spending a little more up front. Good luck. They just passed CCW here in MO, just waiting on them to straighten out funding.

[punchie]

No bad choices on any you listed. Personal opinion is all would be a little large for a pocket pistol but would lean towards the SIG because it is thin and reliable. Walthers seem to have a real finicky diet on what they like to feed and the Browning (Beretta) is rather large. In spite of their cheap price Bersa makes a very good gun but they are a little thick.

Why go with a 380? The little KelTec P11 in 9mm is smaller than your listed choices and costs less new than most used. The KelTec P3AT in 380 is just about perfect in size and weight for a true pocket pistol. An extra magazine or two more than makes up for the 6 round capacity. Just a thought anyway.

[JAD1225]

I'll suggest you look at one of the new, unissued Makarovs from www.dansammo.com More rugged, reliable, accurate, and slightly more powerful; while being in the same size category. Do yourself a favor, you won't regret it. Other than that, the Bersa is ok, the Browning is the best of the bunch you named; buy the Mak!!!!! $150 for a $500 pistol.

[Khyber]

Hi and thanks for the responses. In response to your question punchie. Not that I am recoil sensitive, I like 9mm's, but I prefer a more natural weight to recoil ratio that these particular guns have. With less recoil you can fire faster and with better accuracy after the 1st shot. About Kel-Tec in particular I find their guns hideously ugly. I hate to sound vain, but I like a sexy looking gun.
A Makarov is not too bad of an idea, I'll consider it. Again thanks a bunch.

[mrmeyer]

Have you ever considered some of the compact pistols that Glock offers? The G26 is in 9mm and the G30/G36 is in .45 ACP. They are small, light weight and pack a punch. If you are looking for something in between these calibers, the G27 is in .40 S&W. The G26 and G30 hold ten in the mag and one in the pipe, the G27 will give you 9 plus one, and the G36 holds 6 plus one. :2guns:

[Ray P]

If you are thinking of a Mak, the original Makarov model has an excellent reputation, and the 9x18 is available in SAAMI-spec production.

Be careful in your selection, though. Gun Tests just panned the Makarov P64 as useless trash; the double-action trigger pull was *WAY* too stiff, and internal fit & finish was poor. So I'd recommend sticking to one of the late-production earlier models. The one shown on "Dans Guns" link mentioned above is an example of the late production earlier model that has the best reputation.

I've had a couple of .380s (9x17) & 9x18's; my favorite was a very obscure Stnls Stl PPK clone by Indian Arms; just felt better than my PPK.

I also liked the convenience & low cost of the PA-63; an Eastern Bloc attempt at a PPK clone. Fit & finish were "about good" to "good", and function was flawless.

IIRC, S&W is now making the PPK in Houlton ME.

Forgot to mention: I also like the AMT Backup, which is available in .380; but I prefer .45 version. AMT is *VERY* much like Dan Wesson guns; people either love them, or flat-out hate them. There is no middle of the road.

[benji]

NO, man, you can have an alloy compact 1911 in the same size and wt as a Makarov, so why hit 1/3rd as hard as you possibly can, hmm? Get that 1911 in 9x23, with a 9x19 spare barrel and mag for cheap practice, and yes, you most assuredly can have 660 ft lbs at your disposal, if you load it right, and it will still be quite contralable, in skilled hands Ditto if it's 10mm, too.

You dont want a 380 that is larger, heavier than the 15 oz, 6" long Kahr PM 9mm. Why settle for having at best half as much power as you can possibly have? The PM is very pocketable indeed. The Makarov is not. It's just cheap, that's all. there's very little(if anything) a blowback 380 or a Mak can do that a good .22lr can't do, for 5x less in ammo cost.