.380 for personal defense????

Good Job Guys!!!

NICE!!!

I finally opened mine today and saw that. Nice write up. Picture was a little scary though.

I’m in the process of getting myself and my wife into a Carry class. In doing some shopping for a handgun I came across a rather cool little .380. It is a Smith and Wesson Bodyguard. I really liked the size and pricepoint as well as the built in lazer sight. Just currious about what everyones thoughts are on a .380 for personal Defense. I see you can get ammo for it in the 115 grain area.. I’m also looking into another handgun in either 9MM or .40 Cal. This .380 would be mostly for the wife or for me to carry where the size and footprint of the 9MM or .40 Cal would be a issue. Currious about what others here use for you standard carry weapon, Both the caliber and model. Thanks in advance for all of your thoughts and responses.

The most effective handgun is one you will actually carry. 9’s and up can be heavy and bulky or on a small frame can be hard to handle for a novice or woman shooter. A .380 is also easier to conceal during the summer months. The caliber probably isn’t optimal but its much better than the .45 that you leave at home.

I carry a beretta .380 daily. It can be carried in my pocket without being seen. A carry gun is only good if ya carry it!

I also carry a .380, if you have to use it in the house, less blood to clean up.

I carry a PK .380 as well. Light and I like the size and feel. Not to mention there isn’t much 8 shots of a .380 can’t do that 8 shots with any other load can’t do.

Plus the wife who NEVER picked up a handgun, didn’t put it down untill 100 rounds were through it. and I told her to stop! Then she wanted to upgrade to the 9mm for a bit. One magazine was enough for her 5’3″ frame. back to the .380 she went for another 100 rounds.

Funny how they love to shoot it HATE playing the “Find the Brass” game though.

Thanks everyone for the input. Anyone seen or shot the Smith and Wesson Bodyguard in .380?

I like .380 for concealment but I’d still keep a Judge in the car though!

I too am looking for a conceal/carry pistol. A buddy back home got the .380 Ruger LCP last fall. He’s having a lot of accuracy issues with it. His brother has the Bersa, cheaper, but bigger and heavier physically. I’m hoping I can get to a gun shop to shoot all 3 models to see how they fit me.

Kooty seriously check out the PK .380 if you can. Yeah it’s a cheaper build, but Walther admits that. that’s why it’s missing the slide lock, and why you need a key to disassemble. But once you get over those two minor things. I have found it to be a great gun, and accurate. Plus the u side is you get to go buy the P22 and you can practice with “the same gun” @ .22 pricing.

I have always wanted a .380. One of these days.

For new C&C folks dont forget the snubby wheel gun. Mechancially the easiest and most dependable. Size is nice too.

Accuracy? NO. But then again any of the tiny pistols aint shooting cans off the fence. That was one of my main concerns with most conceal type guns. They are more a belly gun in that you practically have to press them into your attackers belly to score a hit. That bothered me thinking of a mall shooter scenerio where I may have the tactical advantage of suprise but no hope of hitting a target out to 25 yards or so. That is why my current favorite is a Glock model 23. It carries real nice on the hip and is pretty darn accurate. Dont get me wrong. I’m not classifying all .380 as belly guns. I’ve held a Bersa for example and always thought it would shoot nice.

Smith and wesson offers the Body Guard in either a .380 auto or a .38 wheel gun. Both have a built in lazer sight that is fully adjustable. From what I’ve read they are both rather reliable and accurate guns. I think the price point on either gun is in the low to mid $300.00 range. Once I get my new permit to purchase card i may have to pick one up and give it a try.

Cabela’s has the Bodyguard .380 on sale in their flyer that I got in the mail yesterday…$349.99!

A CC gal here at work just got a .380… neat little packer I am in the process of investigating CC and classes… it is one that would make my short list

I’m headed for Cabelas this weekend. Gotta get these guns in my hand to see how they fit. Plus, I can’t wait to have a “plinker” when I’m back in SD working on the farm.

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I’m headed for Cabelas this weekend. Gotta get these guns in my hand to see how they fit. Plus, I can’t wait to have a “plinker” when I’m back in SD working on the farm.

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Kooty

The Bodyguard .380 is rather on the small side. I have rather small hands and it was even small in my hands. Take a look and lets us know what you think.

That is my fear with any CC class weapon. My sausage fingers may be an issue. I’m especially concerned about the slide whacking my hand. I guess I’ll find out.

Great thread!!!

I took my .357 with good sights and a nice long barrel for C&C qualification both times. Why chance failing with a point and shoot gun?

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I took my .357 with good sights and a nice long barrel for C&C qualification both times. Why chance failing with a point and shoot gun?

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Not a bad idea. Boom!

What I meant was a class(type) of weapon, not the actual CC training class. Took that already with a Taurus .357 revolver. My old pistol actually, sold it to a buddy 15 years ago.

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I’m especially concerned about the slide whacking my hand.

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Could always opt for a nice, little snubnose. Still small in your hands, but no worries about the slide stealing some skin. I’ve shot a little S&W .357 double-action only, and other than being minature in my hands, it was a nice little gun. I don’t think I would fire a .357 out of it, though. The .38 special was plenty in a gun that size.

I know I’m chiming in here late on this thread – I have a .380 Tarus TCP – seems very accurate in my hands and more importantly my wife’s hands….I reload the 90gr XTP Hornady bullets. Very easy to CC, and never had a hang up with it!

I handled one of those Ruger LCP’s this weekend. Cute as a friggin bug. Definitely not for plinking red squirrels out of the spruce tree but I have GOT to have one! Talk about easy to carry when you just want small.

Suzuki, my good friend just bought his wife the LCR Ruger .380, SWEET! I took them some of my XTP Hornady loads and we were all popping 20oz pop bottles at 30 feet.BAM
Between my Tarus and that Ruger, seemed very little difference…buy what you like….

Nice to know you can hit with them. On my list.

Mike,

My buddy Jeff in SD got one last fall and he’s very disappointed. He can’t hit squat with it. Jonny P also experienced this and if I recall correctly Ruger replaced his barrel.

I agree, they are nice for carry though!

Thought I would jump in with a couple thoughts.

The .380 is my pocket pal. Summer, winter always there. I don’t think of her as something to reach out and touch someone with. After 12 to 15 feet I “think” I can still run away from a bad guy unless they have a shotgun or rifle. Then I’m screwed anyway. I really don’t care about accuracy because it’s a point and shoot protection device.**

My Glock 26 compact 9mm is with me any time I can hide it using the FBI style (high riding) outside the waist band locking holster. Much preferred over the .380, but there are times when it just can’t be concealed.

My XD-45…sigh. Great gun but she doesn’t see the light of day too often. For me it’s too heavy to be wearing for any length of time. IF I was going into an area of high crime, I would ensure she was with me. I don’t so she stays home for the FW.

**Lazer sights and mouse guns.

I’m a lazer lover. I’m not totally sold on a lazer for mouse guns because of the limited effective range. It’s not like you’ll be taking aim when a person uses a .380 or any of the small framed weapons. The best practice shooting is (if the range allows) to have you .380 in the pocket or where ever you would normally carry and practice bringing it out (empty) slowly at first and pull the trigger as you’re raising toward the target. After getting comfortable and faster, start using live ammo.

Even with the larger weapons like my Glock 26, I’ll tape off the lazer so I have to shoot without it. Becoming dependent on that red dot is not a good thing. Bright days outside will make that dot too hard to find.
I don’t want to sound like they are bad. I wouldn’t be without one…but I don’t want to have to rely on it totally either.

I think that might be .06 worth.