CCW Question
I am thinking of getting either a Taurus .38 or a Bersa .380 and wondered if anyone had an opinion on this. It would be nice having the Bersa for the extra ammo but I also like the fact the .38 could be used without having to worry about a chambered round or a safety. Any thoughts on these 2 guns or other possibilities would be very helpful.As always thx, you guys are great.
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This may be in the wrong forum, but do local cops have a list of all permit holders in their county/city? 0 -
Ah, yes, tastes great, less filling!
Expect to get both answers here.
Personally? I carry a double action 357 snubby. Because when things get frantic, I do not have to worry about is the mag seated? Did it fully go into battery when I chambered a round? Safety> Did I limp wrist it? Etc ad infinitum.
DA revolvers are just a lot simpler in the number of steps to make one go BANG.0 -
Yes, I would expect you get quite a few answers here.
Here is what I would do:
1. Rent, borrow (or buy) your weapon of choice.
2. Shoot the heck out of it. See how well you perform with it.
3. List the pros/cons of both
4. make an informed choice based on your personal data.
For me, i own a DA only 38 SPecial. I have a lot of trouble keeping good groups with it because of the trigger. If I have time to aim steady I can be fairly accurate with it. In a quick response draw and fire I can't be very accurate. mostly, I think because the trigger is so stiff, and it's such a long pull, that I tend to jerk the trigger.
I have a Bersa 380 that if I shoot DA only I am equally as innacurate as with the 38 revolver on the first shot. After the first shot, I do pretty well as the trigger pull is not so long since the hammer is back.
I know this because I have tried it out, and i know my limitations. That is why I choose a different weapon than those listed above as my primary carry gun. They would both be okay if I had no other choices, but they are not my first go-to guns.
The only way you will know for sure is to try it out. Get some basic info from the posts here, but don't carry a pistol or revolver based just on the info here. You need to review them yourself.0 -
S&W 642 for carry. Especially because you are relastively new shooter. If you ever need to use it, it will go bang first time and every time. No matter what you decide, practice, practice, practice and the practice some more. 0 -
I got a Bersa Thunder .380 for my daughter to carry. I like it except for one thing and I don't know why it was the way it was. But the trigger bar that is sprung up to fire didn't fire. I found the light load I worked up for it knocked the spring out of it's slot. it came up and jammed under the e-clip that contains the trigger bar. For those of you not familiar with the Bersa Thunder, the trigger is attached to the trigger bar which is attached to the sear. As noted the exposed position of the spring bothers me. Once I figured it out it doesn't even require taking of the grip to get to it. A pen can be placed between it and the frame and pop it back into it's groove on the trigger bar.
The load I used was 7.1 gr. of AA #7. behind an 88 gr. bullet. I noticed this kicked a lot but got the normal velocity. I checked with Accurate and they said that load would work. I noticed it didn't do it when I bumped the load to the minimum in the book of 7.3 gr. Anyhow, I went back to Bullseye for the load. In a small efficient case it burns clean.0 -
IMO I wouldn't bother with a .380, especially since today you can get 9mms in a similar size....check out the Kel Tec PF-9
There is something to be said for the simplicity of a wheel gun...same as above I'd go for a .357 instead of a .38...to say you can get revolvers in a similar size/weight, plus a .357 gives you the flexibility of both calibers, if you find the .357 is uncomfortable recoil then shoot .38 loads...Taurus/Ruger/Smith(i'm sure there are others too) all make smaller 5 shot .357 revolvers...I like the Ruger SP101 myself0 -
S&W 49, single or double action, shrouded hammer, 38 spl. revolver. 0 -
have a bersa firestorm that I occasionally carry. Practiced wiping off the safety and thumbing the hammer as well as da first shot. I like it for quick jaunts to the store etc. For everyday use I will stick with my smith 66 with 4 inch barrel or my hk usp 40 compact. Then again in everyday I get to dress like a slob so it is fairly easy to conceal them.
Would like to echo Rtwng, whatever you get practice practice practice, and then practice some more.0 -
I myself carry a taurus 38 ultralite in double action. It is so light and very accurate. I carry this gun often as I forget I even have it on. It is that light and comfortable. Yes with a double action if you have the time to draw back the hammer your accuracy is improved greatly. Myself is of habit to draw the hammer back automaticly. If not than I can do both. I would never trade mine off. 0 -
Small .380 automatic vs .38 special snubnose is an old debate.
Personally, I prefer the revolver.
Revolvers are significantly more reliable, .38 is more powerful than .380 (not to mention ammo is cheaper and easier to find, especially right now), and the wheelguns are simpler to use. This is a big advantage when your life is on the line, the adrenaline is pumping, your hands are trembling, and your fine motor control goes out the window.
Revolvers have no external safety to forget to disengage or accidentally engage. There is no magazine to accidentally eject or malfunction. If a round doesn't go off, there is no "tap rack bang" drill to clear the malfunction. . .you just pull the trigger again for a new round.
Want to know if the gun is loaded? Just glance at the side of the cylinder.0
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