.380 acp

mjsnodgrass · Jul 24, 2018

I've bought my wife a compact .380 acp. she shoots a .22 just fine, but can't hang on to anything much larger. i'm looking for the lightest loads I can find for the .380 to get her acquainted with the pistol. anyone have any ideas? thanks.

TimV · Jul 24, 2018

Midway USA shows both Federal and Winchester offering Reduced Recoil loads in .380. I have no experience with either other, just saying they're available. Another thing to think about is getting her a larger-framed .380. Many of the subcompact .380's (the Ruger LCP being probably the most common example of the genre) are more difficult to operate because of their size and the heavy springs needed to reliably operate them. Moving up to a larger-sized gun--for instance a Glock 42, Ruger LC380, Walther PPK-S, Bersa Thunder, Makarov (quite a few were imported chambered in .380 ACP, not the more common 9mm Makarov) or something similar will often give her better control, not to mention often better sights, easier to work components, a longer sight radius, and less recoil by virtue of their greater weight.
Midway USA

GlenIdaho · Jul 24, 2018

Federal .380 ACP 90gr HydraShok JHP is touted to be a Low Recoil Round, but it is a self-defense round and you'll pay the cost. Another round is the Liberty 50 gr hp. It is also a self defense round with very light recoil. But, again the price is around $20 for 20 rounds. .380's don't have the much recoil to begin with. If just for practice get a 85-90 gr fmj round nose. One of the common problems/mistakes with women shooters is their grip not being strong which results in the perception of a lot of recoil. They make grip exercisers to strengthen the grip which helps with shooting. Lots of articles on low-recoil ammo on the web. Hope this helps/

Lazy WP · Jul 24, 2018

Why would you buy her a firearm without her shooting it first and liking it? My wife shoots a lot but she sold her 380 because it?s hard to shoot. A 9 is a lot nicer to shoot so she says. I HATE semi autos but I have 38s loaded light enough that my 9 year old granddaughter could shoot it comfortably.

mjsnodgrass · Jul 24, 2018

she seemed to like the compact sig sauer the best. weights a little more which should help with the recoil, and wood grips felt better to her. years ago I bought my daughter a colt mustang when she left for school. always liked that pistol. can't seem to find another however for her to try on for size. i'll look for those reduced loads. thanks

mjsnodgrass · Jul 24, 2018

i agree completely with you. I guess I should have said, I will be buying my wife a .380. she has shot 9 different compact .380, and likes the sig the best.

Stephen Newell · Jul 24, 2018

A number of years ago I bought a 380 for my wife and she couldn't pull the slide back enough to cock it. Other than that she didn't have any problem shooting it.

john *.?-!.* cub owner · Jul 24, 2018

(quoted from post at 22:11:10 07/24/18) A number of years ago I bought a 380 for my wife and she couldn't pull the slide back enough to cock it. Other than that she didn't have any problem shooting it.

f that was the Ruger LCP, the LCP2 is much easier and has a better gripping area on the slide, plus easier trigger pull.

grizz02 · Jul 24, 2018

I'm with lazy WP do not care for semi autos I carry a titanium 38 special and most of the time I have bird shot in it no recoil might not be lethal but it will ruin your day if shot in the face

D beatty · Jul 24, 2018

Colt still makes the Mustang and you can get it in plastic or metal frame.I liked the colt 380 government which is just a little larger.

D beatty · Jul 24, 2018

Wife has a S&W 380 Body Guard with laser and likes it. From what I have read the new Browning 380 is the best for light recoil.

4play · Jul 24, 2018

I'm not sure what model gun you have but is it blowback operated or locked breech? Locked breech guns will have less recoil than blowback operated. A P238 is locked breech and one of the heavier weight .380's which should allow one of the lightest recoils compared to competitors, a great gun BTW. Ultra compact pistols are some of the most difficult to handle due to size, weight and grips ( or the lack of ).

I have a Taurus Judge public defender. This gun shoots .45LC or .410 shotgun shells in a compact frame revolver. I hated the factory grips, they only had 2 defined finger grooves and could barely fit the 3rd finger on bottom of grip. I bought a Hogue grip (3 finger) and they made the gun a lot easier to control. What I'm saying is a simple change of grips might totally change the feel.

mjsnodgrass · Jul 25, 2018

it's a p238, black with rosewood grips.

macec3(TX) · Jul 25, 2018

Try this website. https://ammoseek.com/ You can enter all the specifications for your ammo and it will show what is available, where to get it and the prices.

steve19438 · Jul 25, 2018

ditto here about the slide and wife. I bought a 22 auto 1911 style from sig. (I think) easy to pull back and a hoot to shoot.

dhermesc · Jul 25, 2018

The Browning 1911-380 is a great small pistol not a great conceal and carry though. Roughly 2/3 the size of the original.

http://www.browning.com/products/firearms/pistols/1911-380.html

Destroked 450 · Jul 25, 2018

My wife didn't like the recoil of the 380's we tried, she's had corporal tunnel surgery on both wrist, ended up getting her a 32 ACP, she likes it.

bmack95hd · Jul 25, 2018

Bought my wife a Lady S/W 380 years ago. Small frame and grip fits her small hand. We don?t shoot as much as we used to but she could go through a box with no problem.

D beatty · Jul 25, 2018

Watch your light loads because some of them will not let your pistol cycle like it should.

grayrider · Jul 25, 2018

Not trying to derail your post, I carry a 380 concealed much of the time and really like it. My wife on the other hand keeps my 44 magnum close at hand, I?ve bought her 380, 38, 357, 22mag, 9mm but she prefers the 44mag, Lisa may weight 125 lbs soaking wet. Can?t figure it out, she won?t shoot a shotgun loaded with buck shot but can handle a hand cannon...

bp4455 · Jul 25, 2018

https://gunmagwarehouse.com/blog/new-mp-shield-380-ez-the-handgun-for-anyone/

DoubleO7 · Jul 25, 2018

(quoted from post at 11:10:52 07/25/18) Not trying to derail your post, I carry a 380 concealed much of the time and really like it. My wife on the other hand keeps my 44 magnum close at hand, I?ve bought her 380, 38, 357, 22mag, 9mm but she prefers the 44mag, Lisa may weight 125 lbs soaking wet. Can?t figure it out, she won?t shoot a shotgun loaded with buck shot but can handle a hand cannon...

She has a crush on Clint Eastwood !!!

DoubleO7 · Jul 25, 2018

(quoted from post at 03:14:42 07/25/18) it's a p238, black with rosewood grips.

When you find the ammo that your wife [u:1a176e110e]and the gun[/u:1a176e110e] likes, stock up.

During the last ammo shortage/craze (whatever) .380 anything was out-of-stock first and in-stock last.
It seemed.

the tractor vet · Jul 25, 2018

When the WAR Dept. Tols me that she wanted a hand gun first i about fell on the floor in total vapor lock . Yes she can shoot and shot well but she did not like the only large cal. hand gun i owned as she did not like the recoil . So instead of me going out and buying her a gun that I liked she and i went GUN SHOPPING and yes i held her Purse ( glad she change pusres as that one went with my outfit) . We went to the LARGEST out door outfitters place and she started at the east end of the countour and played touchy feely with EVERY Semi Auto in the cases and went to the west end and back to the east and started west again narrowing it down and we did this FOUR times ( felt sorry for the young salesman and she went back to the final four and had the four layen out and she went over them four five times and in the end she chose a Ruger American compact in 9 M M . We also bout two extra mag.s for it and five hundred rounds and a cheap holster to start out with . NOW this is not some tiny little i ca't hang on to pocket pistol and it about the same size as my new Springfield XDM 3.8 . you have a good hand full of a pistol that for a lady will go into a purse just fine and gives her 12 +1 . Once we did a slight sight adjustment and now with getting close to 900 rounds thru it lets just say that out to a 100 feet ya would not want to be in her sights , Still working on moving targets with her but not bad.

BobReeves · Jul 25, 2018

My wife has issues also, I let her pick what she wanted and she decided on a Beretta Tomcat 32APC. Mainly because she can load it without having to rack the slide, the barrel tilts up for the chambered round, insert the mag and cock. Small enough to carry and a little more knockdown power than a 22.

I have a baby Browning in 22 (1911-22). Love that little gun for carrying around the property and dispatching critters caught in my live trap.

K Effective · Jul 25, 2018

(quoted from post at 07:10:52 07/25/18) Not trying to derail your post, I carry a 380 concealed much of the time and really like it. My wife on the other hand keeps my 44 magnum close at hand, I?ve bought her 380, 38, 357, 22mag, 9mm but she prefers the 44mag, Lisa may weight 125 lbs soaking wet. Can?t figure it out, she won?t shoot a shotgun loaded with buck shot but can handle a hand cannon...

I wish I had a copy of the picture of my buddy's Mom shooting his Bone Collector 460

rustyfarmall · Jul 25, 2018

(quoted from post at 06:32:51 07/25/18)
My wife didn't like the recoil of the 380's we tried, she's had corporal tunnel surgery on both wrist, ended up getting her a 32 ACP, she likes it.

My wife has also had carpal tunnel surgery on her right wrist. Doctor must have done it right. She shoots a Ruger Vaquero .357 just fine.

.380 acp

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