BRShooting .380 Journal

50 rounds of Remington .380 thru the LCP

2012-02-05T17:37:00.000-05:00

One of my facebook friends mentioned that I have an eye closed, and I should have both eyes open. The problem is that I'm left eye dominant, so I have to close that eye to sight through my right (being right handed). I was just thinking that this is where the Crimson Trace Laser will really help out. Since I won't need to look through the sights, I can keep both eyes open and just put the red dot on the target. I couldn't do it this day because the target was 25 yards away in bright sunlight.

I put 50 rounds of Remington jacketed ball ammo through the Ruger LCP Friday and all but one round fired correctly. I would never use Remington ammo for defensive purposes because I've found it to be scarey undependable. The revolver cartridges are horrible, with primers refusing to fire more than 10% of the time. I've shot hundreds of Remington .38 Special and .357 Magnum though 3 revolvers and the malfunction has been consistent.

The final round in the .380's first magazine never went from the mag to the chamber. For some reason it just sat there. I then loaded the round at the very top of the magazine and it fired correctly. I'm not sure what caused it to hang up. This is the first time I've ever come across this type of malfunction. The other 49 rounds shot fine, but one malfunction is one too many in a defensive weapon.

My target was set out at 25 yards, so I wasn't bothering to test accuracy. This is a belly gun, so as long as it dependably fires, I'm happy. This ammo did not. If that single round were to hang up at the top of the magazine, it could cost me my life. The ammo is fine to have fun with and to break in your gun, but I wouldn't consider trusting my life to it.

The Desantis holster for Ruger .380 LCP w/ Crimson Trace Laserguard

2011-12-31T13:16:00.001-05:00

Note that the holster fits much better since I dropped 40 lbs of love handles since the summer.

Hornady's Critical Defense 90g FTX vs PMC Bronze 90g FMJ

2011-12-31T12:23:00.003-05:00

(Left- Hornady Critical Defense / Right- PMC Bronze)

If you've been reading this page, you know that I've been having problems with Hornady's Critical Defense 90g FTX cartridge jamming in my .380 Ruger. Today I picked up a box of PMC Bronze 90g FMJ which after shooting hundreds of rounds has never jammed, and I put them side by side. I always assumed it was the fact that the Hornady was a hollow point that caused the case to stovepipe. Putting them side my side there's another obvious difference. The Hornady is .978" long vs. PMC which is .969". I'm not sure what attribute is the culprit, but I personally would rather have 7 rounds of ball ammo that fire than a hi-tech bullet that jams before the magazine is empty.

TechnaClip for the Ruger .380 LCP

2011-10-08T22:50:00.001-04:00

Always start by removing the magazine, ejecting out the 6th round that's in the chamber and locking back the slide.

The Techna Clip as it comes packaged.

The Techna Clip parts. Instructions, Allen Wrench, clip and binding post.

The instructions say to use a hammer and dowel punch to gently knock out the rear frame pin. I used an ice pick and a ball-peen hammer because that's what I had at hand. It worked fine. The stock pin looked like junk plastic.

The new post is an upgrade to metal. It's threaded at one end so instructions say not to force the binding post through the rear frame hole because the frame could be damaged. I found the pin to be very tight, so I put a bit of oil on it, butted the wooden handle of a small paint brush against it and tapped it in with a small ball-peen hammer.

The kit comes with an Allen Wrench, so after you put the clip in place, screw the end-cap in with the wrench. You can later remove the end-cap to take off the clip if you'd like to carry your LCP in a standard holder.

I visited my mother-in-law tonight with my wife and I carried with the Techna Clip. Instead of the gun going to the bottom of my pocket, it stayed at the very top, eliminating the feeling that there's a chunk of lead in my pants swinging back and forth like a pendulum. This will also help keep lint and junk that sits at the bottom of your pocket from getting into the pistol. If you go to the company website, you will see that the clip can be used to carry your Ruger in your pocket or in the waistband.

The .380 is a 'mouse gun' that people carry because it's convenient and easy to carry. Holsters should facilitate this, and TechnaClip does. It's always on the gun, so there's no need to take off your belt to slide on a holster or dig through your dresser to find the pocket holster. The clip is made out of high carbon heat treated spring steel and made in America. I bet that most people who see the clip will think it belongs to a cell phone. The gun lacks an exposed hammer, so the back of the weapon shouldn't tip anyone off to what you're carrying.

To be fair, I need to give you the cons. I've only carried the gun once, but from that experience, it appears that drawing the gun is clumsier than from a holster. My suggestion is that if you begin to feel uncomfortable in your situation, make a move to get your hand on the clip and rotate the gun so it's in position to lift the gun. I think a bit of practice will make this second nature.

The TechnaClip sells for under $25, and I know that if you buy one you'll leave the house protected more often. I know I will, and that seems to be the main objective of the manufacturer. Buy this clip. It's $25 well spent. For more info, go to http://www.technaclip.com.

UPDATE

It's the day after I installed the clip and I wore the .380 in-pocket to church this morning with my shirt tucked in my pants. Anyone who noticed the clip likely figured I was carrying a cell phone because the deacons didn't 'SWARM!' when I went up to receive communion.

After that. I took a brisk walked for 70 minutes with the gun in my waistband. I forgot it was even there and it didn't move an inch. I'm really sold on this clip.

Galco Pocket holster for .380 w/ Crimson Trace Laserguard

2011-09-14T16:56:00.000-04:00

When I received my Crimson Trace Laserguard for the LCP, I realized that I didn't get the holster that I began to see advertised as part of the laser package deal. I often pocket carry and with the laser installed the gun didn't fit my standard pocket holster. I shot off an email to Crimson Trace and they were nice enough to send me the holster. It's really nice looking and made of high quality leather. I thought it would just be some cheap nylon thing, but this is top of the line. It's a snug fit, but it stretches quickly for a perfect fit. The holster is made by Galco, and it holds both the Ruger LCP and the KelTec P32. If you have a .380 with a Laserguard installed, you don't want to just throw it in your pocket. It needs to be in a holster like this one to keep it clean and facing the right direction, and so you don't become like THIS GUY.

Here's Ruger's link to the holster. It's called a 81-1034 GALCO POCKET PROTECTOR HOLSTER and it goes for $25. It's well worth the small investment. CLICK HERE.

THE ULTIMATE TORTURE TEST

2011-09-10T09:04:00.001-04:00

On July 4th of this year, about two months ago, I watched myself in a video and realized that I was really gaining weight and it was time to get serious about taking it off. Hunting season was right around the corner and I didn't want to be sucking wind and giving up early because I was so out of shape. That day I finally made the move and joined a gym (along with my wife and two kids). I set my mind to do this, and since that day I've only missed two sessions (over 2 months). As of today I'm down 25 lbs. and feeling 100% better.

Since the gym is open 24 hours a day, there are times that I have to work out late at night. On occasion, there will be some rather unsavory characters there that seem to be doing more hanging out than working out. It's during those times that I wish I could have a handgun on my hip, but the problem is, how can I carry? My gym shorts are thin and don't have a regular waste band or a belt, and a gun could work its way lose in the gym. Every night I spend a hard hour on the treadmill, angled up to it's maximum height of 15 degrees and set at 4 - 4.4 MPH. That's a lot of movement for an extended period of time. There are also people all around me who have nothing to do but notice that my shirt is imprinting a pistol. I can just see the gun working its way lose, hitting the track and being deposited behind me in the middle of the isle, right in front of 20 people on the elypticals. Is there an option that would be safe and work?

I had just written the article on SmartCarry, and while working out in the gym the SmartCarry option came to mind. Could I conceal the holster and pistol under a thin pair of workout shorts, and would it work lose in time under constant movement? I decided to give it a try.

The following day, I strapped on my SmartCarry with a .380 in place and pulled up my gym shorts. The gun totally disappeared. The wasteband butted up to the pistol grip, keeping the gun from moving up and out of the holster. The question is, would it stay there. The big long T-shirt that drapes over my trunks made the concealment complete. Now it was time to hit the gym.

Getting into the car, I could feel that the holster was on, but it wasn't at all uncomfortable. The same was true when I arrived and stepped out. The gun and holster remained in place and concealed. Stepping onto the treadmill, I could feel the holster a bit, but it didn't seem to interfere at all with my stride. The thought came to mind, would my crotch get over heated in time? I'd soon find out.

I cranked the angle up to 15 degrees, put on my music and went at it. After about 5 minutes I could easily have forgotten that the gun and holster were there. Every five minutes or so I ran my thumb across my waste band to feel if the gun had moved. The grip stayed locked in under the band. The holster's velcro-locking belt also didn't move an inch, so the gun position remained unchanged. The same was true for the rest of the hour. Over-heating never became an issue.

When I was done and in the locker room, I stepped up to the urinal and I was easily able to push the gun and holster aside which made it simple to take a pee. Ya, you laugh, but it's important.

Upon arriving home, I took off the SmartCarry. Considering that I looked like I had just jumped into a swimming pool, the back side of the holster was damp, but the gun and front remained fairly dry. It was obvious that sweat and salt never made it to the denim fabric at the front of the holster, nor to the gun metal. There was a slight dampness from the humidity generated in my gym shorts. Unless I also decide to pack an AC unit between my legs, that's something that can't be avoided. No big deal. I threw the holster in the wash and wiped the gun down with a silicone cloth, and all was well. The SmartCarry passed the test with flying colors, and now I have an option should I chose to carry at night in the gym. So do you.

Dropping My Drawers for SmartCarry

2011-08-25T21:54:00.001-04:00

I've been using a Smart carry holster for years to discreetly pack a .38 Special. Smart carry is an amazing holster. It holds the handgun up against your crotch and it becomes utterly invisible under your pants. Before you know it you'll forget that it's there. It has a Cushmax waterproof layer that also breaths so sweat never reaches your gun. To access your weapon, you just stick your hand into your pants and pull it out; the handgun that is. SmartCarry goes for around $50, so instead of buying a new one for the .380, I plan to retrofit the one designed for my .38. I contacted Charlie, the manufacturer, and he sent me the following comments and suggestions:

"The correct size for a Ruger LCP w/ a 2.75" barrel is our extrasmall size, the small size which you now have is too large for an LCP, asit seats too deep in the holster but it's perfectly safe to carry in asmall size."

I then wrote the following to Charlie:
"Do you feel that it would be better if I didn't show the LCP in the wrongsize holster?"

Charlie responded...

"You can show the LCP in your small holster and just tell your studentsthat we make a smaller holster (our XS or extra small) for it and similarsized handguns like the Kel-Tec P32, P3AT, the Beretta 21A's, 3032Tomcats, etc. Or you can put some cloth in the bottom of theholster or a safety pin through it to prevent the gun from seating toodeep in the holster. The trigger guard should be inside the firearmpocket and the grip above an out of the pocket."

Sounds like a simple enough solution to me! You can pick up SmartCarry at: http://www.smartcarry.com/

First test of the Crimson Trace Laser

2011-08-15T23:32:00.000-04:00

Dirk and I shot in the pouring rain today, but the lack of direct sunlight helped me to test the laser since it performs best in the dark or in subdued lighting. I had expected to do a bit of adjusting today, but from the first shot the bullets were striking the target wherever the red dot was pointing.

This was my first opportunity to shoot the .380 with Crimson Trace laser installed. It was hitting dead on shooting with the gun pulled into my chest without any additional adjustment required at the range. As you can see, I was pulling my shots to the left. That's me and not the laser.

This .380's trigger pull is so long that I have to admit that I stink with it. I set the targets out at 25 feet and pointed the laser at the target with the gun pulled into my chest. As I carefully squeeeeezed the trigger, I could see the laser jumping all over the target. As a training aid, the laser does a great job of pointing out a shooter's problems. If you flinch, you'll know it when you see that red dot jump across your target. It really can be embarrassing.

It seems that the more care I took to slowly pull back and release the trigger, the more the dot jumped due to the extremely long trigger pull. I can assure you that the holes you see in the target are located exactly where the laser was pointing. Many times I'd start right on the bullseye with the laser, but by the time I pulled the trigger all the way back, I'd be a couple inches off target. Sometimes my hand would get into such an awkward position that the laser would turn off. This would never happen in a defensive situation when the pull would take only a second. Tiny double-action pistols take some getting used to.

The range was filled with shooters today which was very unusual. This limited my ability to locate a camera in a position to get decent videos. I'm not happy with the footage I shot, and the fact that there was pouring rain between the lens and the target didn't help. I'll redo the videos and repost at a later date so you can see this laser in action.

All an all I was very pleased with the way the little .380 performed with the laser installed. I didn't need to be behind the sights to hit your target. This would be vital should you be knocked to the ground and had to draw your sidearm, or when shooting at close range while attempting to keep the bad guy from getting your gun. Laser activation is effortless. Simply grab the grip and it's on. That's as much complication as you want in a defensive weapon. Crimson Trace passed today's test. I wish I could say the same for some other items I tested, but I'll save those for another report.

Pro-Hears are being returned

2011-08-15T20:14:00.004-04:00

I field tested Pro-Hears yesterday and I'm sorry to say that they failed the test. The manufacturer is paying to ship them back and said they would analyze the problem. The weakness is obvious. They are simply not designed to block the kind of sound that is encountered on a shooting range.

I started out the morning with my standard plugs in and my Pro-Ears muffs on top. This Pro-Ears unit has worked well in the past, but is now a few years old and starting to fail, making it difficult to follow in a conversation with my buddy. This was enough incentive to give the Pro-Hears a try. The unit goes for just under $200 and resembles a behind-the-ear hearing aid. They are supposed to amplify good sound and cancel bad frequencies.

From their website: "...The unique compression circuit minimizes impulse sounds and, together with the companion ear plug, reduces the negative effect of muzzle blasts or other loud noises..."

To change hearing protection, I left the covered handgun area and walked into the parking lot. Removing the Pro-ears and plugs, I put the Pro-Hears supplied standard plug in my left ear and the Pro-hear unit in my right. I then preceded to slowly return to my shooting position. Considering that I always have to double-plug to keep from damaging my hearing, I couldn't imagine how this tiny piece of foam could possibly protect my ears from the deafening blasts around me. I turned the unit on low to keep amplification to a minimum.

Dirk was at my right shooting a .45 auto and there was no one directly to my left, though others were shooting about 5 positions away. I was still two positions away from Dirk when he fired 2 rounds. I almost jumped out of my skin! The ears seemed to amplify all the sound (good and bad) and muffle near to nothing. I turned the amplification totally off and when others began shooting, my ears hurt so much that I covered them with my hands and quickly left the range. Ripping out the units, I replaced them with my standard protection. More than a day had passed and my ears are still ringing.

These ears were obviously designed to protect your hearing from the sound of a single shotgun or .22 while you are behind the gun, but they sure as heck are not designed for range use.

UPDATE: ProEars has sent me a pair of Pro Tekt 300 NRR 26 - Black Behind the Head 'ears' to see if they're better suited for range use. That report appears on my 2011 Range Report page. Here's a link to my first post.

The Desantis holster

2011-08-14T21:13:00.001-04:00

It took a couple of days, but it looks like the Desantis holster is now broken in. I really like the way this holster is form fitted to the Ruger LCP with the Crimson Trace Laser installed. It now draws smoothly from the holster and I know that after a month of so it should draw like silk. If you're in the market for a nice LCP holster, you'll want to check this one out. Here's some pictures I just took to show it from various angles.

Tomorrow's shoot and product tests

2011-08-05T22:17:00.012-04:00

Above are some new items I hope to test at the range tomorrow. They are predicting pouring rain, but I'm hoping we can shoot anyway. Since there won't be direct sun it should be good weather to test the Crimson Trace laser.

The products to be tested include: Crimson Trace laser grips on a Ruger LCP, Pro-Hear sound amplifying ear plug, Hornady Critical Defense ammo and a Desantis holster designed to fit the LCP with laser installed.

The Ruger fits super-tight in the Desantis holster, but that's to be expected. A little trick is to put a thin sock over the gun, then bush in into the holster and let it sit overnight to stretch the leather. I did it last night and it works. This really seems like the perfect summer conceal carry package. The LCP with Crimson Trace laser is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, and the holster is form fitted to snugly hold the pistol close to your body. I'm really looking forward to trying the Pro-Hear device because if it works, it should be excellent for handgun hunting in the heat of the summer. As you can imagine, regular ear plugs block all surrounding sound which doesn't lend itself to hunting, and Pro-Ears muffs are hot in the dead of summer. An amplifying plug seems to be the answer. If it's able to cancel the damaging sound at the range, I will be totally amazed considering that I have to be double-plugged to keep my ears from ringing.

Tomorrow looks to be a fun and informative day. Check back for the results of the tests.

Crimson Trace LG-431 LaserGuard

Desantis holster for Ruger LCP 380cal

w/ Crimson Trace LG-431 Laserguard

More info from Crimson Trace

Installing the Laser Grips (pdf)

Owner's Manual (pdf)

Shooting Hornady's 380 Auto 90 gr FTX 'Critical Defense' ammo

2011-07-30T19:10:00.015-04:00

Today was a beautiful day to be at the range. It was hot, about 90 degrees but clear with no humidity. We shot at Dirk's club and I'm happy to report that the handgun range is under cover and out of the sun.

We tested Hornady's 'Critical Defense' ammo in two .380's; Dirk's Kel-Tec P-3AT and my Ruger LCP. Today's test was to check reliability, accuracy and recoil. If you want to see a penetration test, watch the video in my previous post. Hornady sent me 3 boxes of 25 cartridges to test. I gave one box to Dirk, shot one myself and I'm keeping the third for future testing; possibly a velocity test.

ACCURACY

We set our target frame out to 20 feet. Both guns shot low/left, but some of that I'm sure can be attributed to our gun handling. I noticed that when I was able to maintain a rock solid grip on the gun keeping muzzle rise to a minimum, I was able to put the bullets in the bulls eye. The problem is that these little 'mouse guns' aren't easy to hold and aim. The front sight on the Ruger is almost non-existent. Even so, unlike with a .38 snubby with a 2" barrel, I was able to keep all of the rounds on paper. That tells me that if that target were an assailant, he would have been badly hit. Hornady Critical Defense ammo has a plug that fills the hollow point which keeps the tip from clogging when penetrating through clothing like a winter leather jacket. This makes it possible for the bullet to expand within the target, doing maximum damage, rather than simply passing through the target. Watch Hornady's gel test in my previous post for a demonstration.

(Above) My target is on the right and Dirk's on the left. As you can see, we shot similar groups from both guns. Both had decent results but I wasn't wowed by it. The ammo did the job and stayed on paper. Later we shot Dirks full-size .45 at over twice the distance and both of us were shooting reloads through the same hole. That means that we're not bad shots. These guns have extremely long trigger pulls so you can keep them loaded and ready to rock while in your pocket. There's a price to pay for that. Accuracy is compromised and I think it's impossible to get a 'double tap'. I fired off a couple of magazines using junk ammo to see how quickly I could squeeze off 7 rounds into an attacker. I was very surprised at how quickly and effortlessly I could empty the gun on target if I really needed to. That long trigger pull no longer existed when my mindset changed.

DEPENDABILITY

Dependability is vital when buying defensive ammo. The ammo went smoothly through Dirk's Kel-Tec, though he didn't put as much lead down-range as I did. I wish I could say the same. I fired 25 rounds flawlessly, but after my box was empty, I loaded 6 rounds from Dirk's box to finish today's test. Guess what? On the final round, I didn't get a stovepipe. Instead, the case jammed horizontally, locking up between the barrel and the slide, so it was impossible to quickly clear. I had to pull out the slide pin, and it took both of us to work the case free. I would have attributed this to being a new gun, but I've already fired over 250 rounds through it. I doubt it was from low pressure, but instead, I think it was due to the gun being dirty. Between shooting the original 25 Hornady rounds and the final Hornady magazine, I shot 50 rounds of lower cost ammo. Maybe these guns don't have much tolerance for dirt build-up. That really isn't a problem with this type of gun since I doubt you will ever get to shoot more than a few rounds out of a clean gun during a defensive situation. I personally wouldn't think twice about using this cartridge in my carry gun.

TO SUM IT UP

The cartridge dependably gave us good groups with both guns, but I've gotten similar results from cheaper ammo. Recoil was no greater than with any of the other ammo I have tested. The big difference is that when you hit something with this ammo, you are guaranteed to do more damage, and that's what it's all about. Dependably getting the shot off and stopping the target quickly. Hornady Critical Defense lives up to that challenge, and I for one will start carrying it in my LCP.

VELOCITY

Muzzle: 1000 fps
50 yds: 910 fps
100 yds: 841 fps

Check out the smoking heart

CLICK HERE to find out more about this ammo from the Hornady website.
DOWNLOAD a pdf article from ShootingTimes about this ammo.

Coming soon: Hornady Auto 90 gr Critical Defense ammo test

2011-07-23T10:29:00.008-04:00

I'm happy to announce that Hornady contacted me and has shipped 3 boxes of their Critical Defense ammo for me to test through the LCP. Check back soon to see my test results, photos and videos of the product.

Testing some steel case ammo

2011-07-09T15:33:00.003-04:00

This was my vacation and birthday week, so I told everyone in my family not to buy me anything, but instead to chip in on the Ruger LCP (Lightweight Compact Pistol) that I wanted. They all agreed so I bought the gun for $285 at a local gunshop. Hey, how could I pass up that deal?! It was going for about $50 cheaper than at Cabela's. I told my wife that I had no choice but to buy it.

For many gun owners who buy a new AR just about every time they fill up their tank with gas, $300 is a drop on the bucket. But in my house money is always tight and there never seems to be enough to spend on fun. Since this was a needed concealed carry weapon, I made an exception, bought it and put the balance on plastic. Hey, this is a matter of life and death, right?!

Along with the gun I had to buy a pocket holster (another $20) and a box of ammo which ran for about $16. Last weekend I went to the range and quickly blew off the 50 round box of PMC Bronze, but I wanted to shoot again today. I heard it takes about 300 rounds to break in this pistol, so I hoped to get at least 100 more rounds through it today, which would put me at the half way break-in point. Cabela's had a special on Herter's 91g FMJ steel case bullets which were going for a bit over $10 for a box of 50. Since I already spent enough for one week and I didn't want my wife to turn the new gun on me, I decided to control my urge and buy just two boxes. I use steel case Russian ammo all the time in my SKS without much problem (though I have blown firing pin springs). The LCP is a lot smaller than an SKS, putting the explosion a lot closer to my hands. Even so, I bought it anyway and hoped for the best. I figured if people were being blown up by this Russian .380 ACP ammo, Cabela's couldn't afford to carry it.

Last week I shot the PMC Bronze 90g FMJ brass base ammo (see post below), which isn't what you'd call high-end cartridges. In fact, it's the cheapest stuff I could find at that specific gunshop. What the heck. For breaking in a gun and getting the feel of it, there's no reason to shoot buck-a-round ammo. I was pleased with the results, though the last round of each magazine stovepiped. I'm guessing it was that the gun needed a good cleaning and lubrication and not the fault of the ammo.

Today I shot 100 rounds of the Herter's steel case cartridges. As you can see from this typical target plate (photo at left) at about 25 feet, the groups weren't nearly as good as the PMC and it was shooting left. Or maybe I was flinching from the heavy recoil. After only five shots the gun jammed because the case was stuck in the chamber and I had to use an Allen wrench to push it out. I didn't get any stovepipes this time, but I did get quite a few jams during the feed process.

I was very surprised that this cartridge was a handful to shoot! It was obviously loaded much hotter than the PMC, and by the 10th round my hand was stinging. I almost stopped shooting, but I didn't and like when working out, once you get past the hump you don't feel it much anymore.

Will I buy this ammo again? I think so, if it remains under $11 a box. At least through the break-in period. But my plan is to get some really good ammo from Hornady and others to see what this little gun can really do. Check back for more ammo tests... and yes, I am considering reloading .380. I'll check my Hornady manual and if I can use powder that I already have on hand, I might as well go for it.

I'm sure you'll find the following information on the .380 ACP helpful on Wikipedia
and their info on the Ruger LCP.

2011-07-08T21:11:00.003-04:00

It's been a few years since I was issued my Connecticut Pistol permit. I came into the handgun market with very little experience. I qualified with a .45 in the military some 30 years ago, but that was the limit of my handgun experience. When I took the CT handgun course, I had the opportunity to shoot a .22LR revolver, a 9mm and a 40mm semi-auto. When the class ended we drove to the local range and each of us got to shoot about a dozen rounds through each gun. It obviously wasn't enough time to get the feel for the firearm and with plugs, shooting all around and 15 people waiting to shoot, there was no time for discussion with the instructor. How was I later supposed to make an educated decision on what type of gun to buy for concealed carry?

Not having anyone to discuss guns with, I went to a gunshop and asked a salesman for advice. BAD IDEA. He immediately steered me to a S&W .38 Special AirWeight and explained that this is the biggest seller for concealed carry. I ignorantly bought it and quickly discovered that the gun was no fun at all to shoot. I also couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with the short sight radius on a 2" barrel. The salesman never had the courtesy to inform me that the lighter the gun, the greater the felt recoil.

I lived with this gun for a couple of years, shooting it regularly until I almost became used to the recoil. Installing a set of Crimson Trace Lasergrips on it improved my ability to hit the target immensely, though the dot couldn't be seen outside on a sunny day. I finally traded the .38 in for a Ruger SP101 .357 Magnum. It will function as a double-action house gun. It's heavier, easier to shoot, accurate, more powerful than the .38 Special, and it can also shoot .38 Special ammo. Now I have a great shooting house gun, but that still didn't solve my need for a concealed carry firearm.

Typical .380 LCP group at about 25' from unsupported standing position

A month or so ago my daughter and her friend were victims of an attempted car jacking which quickly changed their attitude toward guns and dad. Suddenly I was no longer a 'gun nut' and both girls wanted to quickly learn how to shoot. My buddy and I pulled together 8 handguns for the girls to try (I wish someone did this for me!), and one was a .380. I was amazed at the amount of power contained in that small package. I did a bit of research, comparing features, price and reliability and ended up buying the Ruger LCP (Lightweight Compact Pistol) .380 ACP, today being my first opportunity to test it.

SIZE AND CARRY
First let me mention the size. I couldn't ask for anything easier to carry. The gun can be dropped in the front pocket of your shorts and you will soon forget that you are carrying it. It's the perfect Summer carry gun.

RECOIL AND ACCURACY
Recoil and muzzle rise is minimal. Much less than a .38 Special and the gun fit my hand well. With the airweight I was lucky to hit a paper plate at 25 feet from a standing position. With the .380 I was consistently getting groups of two or three inches at 25 ft. I was very impressed.

PROBLEMS
The only problem was that I got a stovepipe almost every time I fired off the last round in the magazine. I'm guessing it's because the gun needs to be lubricated and it isn't broken in. I heard that it will take 300+ rounds to do that. The jams were easy to clear. I was careful not to get sloppy in the wrist because I've heard that most jams in these small guns are the result of limp wristed shooters. If the gun recoils with the slide, the case can't eject properly.

CLEANING
This is my first semi-auto, and it only took a minute to disassemble the gun for cleaning. Push the slide a tad rearward and pull a pin with a small screwdriver. The slide, barrel and spring come off and it couldn't be easier to clean. This handgun can be thoroughly cleaned in about 5 minutes, where a .38 revolver could take a half hour.

FINAL THOUGHT
I was very impressed with this little gun. As of today, I really like it and I'm looking forward to getting out again soon to shoot. I'll keep you updated as I break the gun in and try a variety of ammo and pick up a few accessories.

COMMENTS

Matt said...

Excellent review of the gun. I love how light the gun is,even fully loaded, and you're absolutely right that you can carry it very easily in the front pocket of your shorts.

My only complaint is that the trigger pull is VERY long on this gun, compared to others, and that throws off my accuracy a bit. I wouldn't want my accuracy to be off when it counts due to a longer than normal trigger pull. Best advice is to practice, practice, practice with this gun.

Ronnie said...
Either one will work fine as far as the expansion properties go,I would pick the one that feed the most reliably and gives the best accuracy your gun.

Are you planning on reloading for this cartridge? reason I ask is that the 380 is what is know as a seasonal run cartridge in other words it not in produces as often as the 9mm,40 S&W and 45 ACP.

During the ammo shortage a couple years back it was impossible to find and took awhile to get back on the shelves and when it did the price went up. It's pretty much all over the place right now but you never know,this crazy economy tend to make people stock up on things like ammo they think may be hard to come by.

...I don't reload for the 380,I own a 9 x 18 Makarov and I do reload for it. I make my brass from once fired reformed and trimmed 9mm cases and cast my own lead bullets so my cost pre rd. is about half that of steel case Russian ammo.

About the only difference between the 380 and 9 x 18 Mak. is the bullet dia. 380/.355 same as 9mm, the 9 x 18 Mak. is .363 to .365 dia.depending on who's bullet you use in jacketed or cast.

I feel your pain on the S & W 38 snubby,friend of mine has one set up like your was. Without the laser sight I couldn't hit anything with that pistol.

Watch my buddie's Kel-Tec P-3AT .380 fly apart!

2011-06-01T17:20:00.000-04:00

This was my daughter Erin and her friend Sara's first shoot, and my buddy let me borrow his Kel-Tec P-3AT .380 to let the girls know what it feels like to carry and shoot a mini semi-auto. Obviously the pin that holds the slide together wasn't securely locked in place because before the magazine was empty, the pin backed out which let the slide blow off during case ejection. This was my first encounter with a .380 as well, so I learned the hard way to keep an eye on that pin. If this happens during a self-defense situation, it could be the last shot you ever get to fire.

Perry's jog sparks 'Coyote Special' pistols

2011-05-28T19:43:00.002-04:00

AUSTIN, TX -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry's showdown on the jogging trail has spurred a gun maker to sell a "Coyote Special" edition of the weapon he used to take down the varmint. Perry himself has one of the pistols.. MORE

Texas Governor Rick Perry shoots, kills 'wily' coyote while jogging

The governor of Texas has a message for "wily" coyotes out there: Don't mess with my dog.
Pistol-packing Republican Rick Perry told The Associated Press on Tuesday he needed just one shot from the laser-sighted pistol he sometimes carries while jogging to take down a coyote that menaced his puppy during a February run near Austin.
Perry said he carries a .380 Ruger - loaded with hollow-point bullets - when jogging on trails because he is afraid of snakes. He'd also seen coyotes in the undeveloped area... MORE

Texas Gov. Rick Perry