a question on .380
i got my new gun the other day and took my fiance to the range yesterday to try it out. we got to talking to one of the guys at the shop about a .38 for her. because her hands are small and the only way for her to shoot with accuracy is to cock it first, i suggested that she consider a .380 semiauto as compared to a revolver. she wants her ccw and having to cock the revolver each time just isn't practical should she be in a situation causing her to defend herself. now, i love my new pa-63, but it's a bit stiff for her to pull on the slide, and i'm a big ppk fan too. she has a better time with that one, but (here's the question) is there something you guys know that is comparable in a .380 that would be easier for her to use?
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How about a Kel-Tec P3AT? 0 -
Was discussed, somewhat, on another previous post. S&W Model 642 (38spl +P) revolver. Lightweight, DAO, no hammer to snag, great for smaller/medium size hand. Several available on GB auction. Just bought my wife it's "brother" (Model 640).
Model 642---->HERE0 -
My wife is pretty small too, so we had the same problem. She loved the PPK, but we decided on a double action revolver instead. One reason is no safeties to worry about when the time comes. She can shoot it single action at the range, but can just point and pull in a pinch. We went with a .357, but it is loaded with .38 +Ps. A small revolver is not that much harder to conceal than a small auto either. 0 -
she didn't like any kel-tecs and concerning revolvers, even the hammerless are too hard for her to pull the trigger with any hope of hitting a target. 0 -
sig 230 380 - hard to beat , blue or stainless, trigger can be mastered with practice , which is what your for. !!! 0 -
price is also a big factor, she liked the look of the sig 232, but the tag was too much for us to consider. 0 -
Double action trigger pull on a revolver can be greatly reduced with a little gunsmithing. The .38 Special is a much better defense round than .380 ACP. Check with your gunsmith before giving up on the revolver. If it's a S&W revolver, you can back off the double action spring pressure using the screw at the bottom, trigger side of the grip. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Spider7115
How about a Kel-Tec P3AT?
Maybe not the best choice if she's having trouble with the trigger pull on a revolver.0 -
.380 colt Gubment. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Spider7115
How about a Kel-Tec P3AT?
Doubt the avg. small woman would handle the slide on these.0 -
is she worth the price of the sig ? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by aramisvi
she didn't like any kel-tecs and concerning revolvers, even the hammerless are too hard for her to pull the trigger with any hope of hitting a target.
As someone said on a post the other day, "I can't think of anything more scary than facing a terrified woman with a gun in her hand". Whether she hits a "human target" or not---they ain't gonna keep coming, if there's "lead" going in their direction.0 -
What about a beretta model 84 [its chambered in .380 of course]?
Just like the 96, but much smaller.
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Sig Sauer P230 Auction # 67085433 0 -
Get her a Beretta with the tip up barrel, easy loading and cock it once. 0 -
By far, the best trigger on ANY .380 is the Sphinx AT 380. Small but solid, 10 rounds (15 if you can find the mags), easy slide, beautiful and compact and the smoothest trigger...like butter, at about 5 lbs pull, DAO. Saw one recently for $350, I think.
Otherwise the Sig P232 is good but has a hard slide pull.
The Beretta is top notch, heavy recoil spring too, but a very nice DA/SA trigger.0 -
Beretta 380 Cheetah NEW Auction # 67049071
here there's two of 'em and the last post on the sig.0 -
Not all .38's are single action, there are double action revolvers. And i think Ruger and I'm sure most other manufacturers even have a firing pin block on most if not all revolvers. so you can even carry half cocked. my Ruger GP 100 i have to keep fully cocked, but is totally safe in that position as the firing pin safety lifts up keeping the hammer off the pin if i was to drop it, now if i pull the trigger the firing pin block falls down out of the way of the hammer, i love it, keep it cocked and all i have to do is pull the trigger, this gun is how ever not a carry gun cause the trigger is not of carry tension weight, its light. some other revolvers and yes double action have a half cocked position that lifts up a firing pin block which would be the best way to go, cause you can't pull the trigger and it must be fully cocked before you can pull the trigger. should give you a little more info about a revolver.
I like the Bersa my self on the semi's. light weight, reliable and fun to shoot. Kel Tec i don't like, the grip on them just doesn't suite me right. but you and her should go around and see what she likes to hold. Comfort is a necessity if your going to carry. after all its hard to shoot a gun if it doesn't fill right.0 -
The Bersa .380 ACP Concealed Carry (not the traditional Thunder models) is a very nice and compact gun and has received pretty good reviews. Nice grips, good heft and balance, pretty decent trigger, too. The beavertail has been dramatically reduced away from the PPK/Thunder style and the rest of the gun has been rounded and smoothed for CCW. All-in-all, it's a very good gun, in blue, for well under $300. 0 -
IMO the Kel Tec P3AT is too small. That thing is louder than crap and kicks more than a 45. Really, it's too much for a small woman.
How about something more midsized?
The Taurus PT111 Millenium Pro is just a little more and the 9mm offers 12rds and a much more potent punch in a SA/DA pistol with a conventional safety, and loaded chamber indicator. It's a fantastic pistol for a lady. VERY soft recoil, she'll be less likely to flinch or be scared of it, and it is much more accurate than the P3AT. Also 9mil ammo can be had cheaper than 380 ball ammo.
The P3AT is a true, concealed carry weapon. I hate shooting it at the range because of the recoil, noise, and muzzleblast. Now the PT111 on the other hand is an absolute joy to shoot. My petite wife loves to carry it and also hates to shoot the Kel Tec. The Kel Tec is a last resort carry gun. It'll do the job in a pinch, but you'll never love it.
I have the PT111, I paid $285 for it last summer. Last spring the cheapest price I could find when shopping for the P3AT was $259.
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=18&category=Pistol
The PT series pistols also come in 32Auto and 380. But the 9mm will be a much better round and the recoil/blast/noise from the 9mm will be less than that P3AT.0 -
quote:Originally posted by cubslover
IMO the Kel Tec P3AT is too small. That thing is louder than crap and kicks more than a 45. Really, it's too much for a small woman.
How about something more midsized?
The Taurus PT111 Millenium Pro is just a little more and the 9mm offers 12rds and a much more potent punch in a SA/DA pistol with a conventional safety, and loaded chamber indicator. It's a fantastic pistol for a lady. VERY soft recoil, she'll be less likely to flinch or be scared of it, and it is much more accurate than the P3AT. Also 9mil ammo can be had cheaper than 380 ball ammo.
The P3AT is a true, concealed carry weapon. I hate shooting it at the range because of the recoil, noise, and muzzleblast. Now the PT111 on the other hand is an absolute joy to shoot. My petite wife loves to carry it and also hates to shoot the Kel Tec. The Kel Tec is a last resort carry gun. It'll do the job in a pinch, but you'll never love it.
I have the PT111, I paid $285 for it last summer. Last spring the cheapest price I could find when shopping for the P3AT was $259.
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=18&category=Pistol
The PT series pistols also come in 32Auto and 380. But the 9mm will be a much better round and the recoil/blast/noise from the 9mm will be less than that P3AT.
I like that little PT111 an awful lot myself and have been tempted on numerous occasions (same as now) to buy one in the Millenium Ti version. I like the size, feel, capacity and the price.
But every time I go into a gun store that has one and I ask to see it, hold it, etc., I ask about the gun's reliability, performance, and so forth. Regrettably, I'm told that there are numerous problems with Taurus' semi-autos and that they range across a plethora of complaints.
Is there substance to those comments - OR - is the Taurus PT111 a lower-markup, less profitable gun for most stores to sell?
I'm curious because I really do like the gun and I agree that a compact 9mm is generally better, usually more fun and always cheaper (ammo $$) to shoot than a .380.
So, Cubs, what's your take on what I've been told?0 -
+1 for the Beretta Cheetah 84FS
I bought one for the wife for carry and she loves it. She is a small framed woman (5') and it fits her good. Be careful though....I came to like it alot myself. I carry it more than she does.0 -
quote:Originally posted by scrumpyjack
+1 for the Beretta Cheetah 84FS
I bought one for the wife for carry and she loves it. She is a small framed woman (5') and it fits her good. Be careful though....I came to like it alot myself. I carry it more than she does.
Isn't the 85FS the smaller-gripped, single-stack version?0 -
wow guys.....that was an aweful lot of info there. thanks.
ok...lemme see if i can explain better.
when she shoots, she uses a s&w .38, i don't know the model. it is a range gun (we rent it there) so it is a full size, but with smaller grips. it is one that you can just pull the trigger and shoot or cock first then shoot. for her, she must cock it every time first. now for me, that doesn't sit right for a ccw type gun. if she can't pull the trigger without having to first cock it, it's not practical. she had tried different revolvers, but still the same thing.
she has tried semis and likes them too, but, in the case of my gun, an 11lb spring is too hard for her to pull the slide back. since she likes the ppk, tho it is more my choice than hers, but not the look. we tried the bersa, but when she pulled back the slide, it slipped in her hands, she almost dropped it. she hasn't tried the sig line yet because our range doesn't rent them. plus the price tag too. being a former private in the army, she wants an ar15 (she finally got to hold one yesterday) but hehe, that thing is worth more than my car. [:D]
lorcin, davis, bersa, and the colt mustang she didn't like. picky ain't she[;)]. [B)] so you can see how i'm stuck here right? i had an easier time picking out her engagement ring. if any ladies wanna weigh in here (is that a bad choice of words?) please...help.
if knowing her description would help...shes, 5'1" about 135lbs, and her hand may be 6 inches from tip of middle finger to top of wrist and about 3 inches wide through the palm. killer smile and green eyes. does that help?0 -
quote:Originally posted by big mango
sig 230 380 - hard to beat , blue or stainless, trigger can be mastered with practice , which is what your for. !!!
I agree with Big Mango, he is right on the money. Look for a Sig 230 or 232 and she will fall in love with it after shooting a few boxes of 380 through it.
Very accurate, and a light trigger pull after the first double action shot. It fits the hands of most women perfectly.
The picture is of the Stainless version, they also come in lightweight alum which is the one I have and its perfect for the gals.
Here is the alum one:
Suggest you get the hogue grips if you decide this is the right pistol for her.0 -
we just looked at all the ones you guys suggested, the only one she liked was the sig 230. but the price is too much. our range right now is under $250. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by aramisvi
we just looked at all the ones you guys suggested, the only one she liked was the sig 230. but the price is too much. our range right now is under $250.
Did you check the auction sight to see what is available?
The sig 230 is the older model, but pretty much the same as the newer 232. Both are top rated pistols.
You may be better off looking for a small 38 special in steel for your price range. The steel models will absorb the recoil that women hate in the little S&W 38's. Take your lovely lady to a large range where she can try out a few different models for herself and make a selection.
One of the mistakes I have made over the years is trying to make the selection for my wife and finding out later that the selection was fine for me, but that she doesn't like my choice.
What ever she shoots well is the best choice even if its a 22 cal, in my opinon. Because someone who can put all the 22 bullets in a small group is a lot more effective than the person with the big gun that sprays the target.
In addition you might look at the some of the inexpensive taurus revolvers in 38 cal. they are cheaper than the S&Ws but are pretty good values.0 -
Sig Sauer P230 Auction # 67085433
big mango
Price is right, auction now !!!!0 -
sig,
i did check out the aucton side, no p230 listed, and the 232's are outta her price tag (she wants something around 250 or under)
as for going to the range, we have. she loves the revolvers, but for ccw purposes, if she can only shoot it if she cocks it first because she can't pull the trigger back, then it's not something i'd trust her to carry. she also has weak wrists, so she wears a wrist brace when we shoot too. her opinion of a .22 was "i hate it". but we are shopping around.0 -
big mango...yup, but i lose out if i can't meet the reserve. 0
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