Help deciding on a concealed.380 for the wife

23bobbyg

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looking at a few .380s for the wife. Looking at the Ruger LCP2, Taurus Spectrum, and the SW Bodyguard. Wanting to keep it under $300 and will probably buy 2nd hand (as I usually do) anyone have any input or suggestions
Thank you
 
I carry a bg 380 an feel very secure in the pocket with a long but smooth trigger pull. I really wanted a lcp2 they were just coming out when I got my bg, but they are striker fired and I just was starting pocket carry so I felt much safer with that long deliberate trigger pull. Your wife might also, something to consider and try out.
 
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DO NOT BUY A GUN FOR YOUR WIFE!

Best thing is take her to a range that rents guns, try all you can and LET HER DECIDE what she feels she can best handle. There might also be “first steps” or other classes where the instructors offer a chance to shoot various firearms. Buying a gun because it looks a certain way or because somebody says “it’s the best for _____” can lead to a future visit and trade-in for another gun.
 
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A couple to consider: the Ruger LC380 was around $200 used; the Remington RM380 was barely over $200 new (before a large rebate at the time).

The Remington is smaller and provides protection, but it isn't the easiest to shoot well.

The Ruger is large enough that it is a pleasure to shoot and can be shot quickly and very accurately.

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As suggested... Encourage her to try a few and pick the one she's most comfortable with.

For the same reason others above love their S&W Bodyguard, I hate mine. Everyone is different. None one is wrong, their just different...

(*except those who suggest Glock, they're wrong.)
 
Thank you guys. She has shot a few of my firearms, Taurus PT 111, SCCY, Glock 19. (Kept her away from the 357, .40, and .45) She said they all “kicked” too hard but she still wanted something to carry.
 
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My wife has really long fingers. Longer than mine such that her heal to finger tip in just a little longer than mine. She can't deal with the tiny mouse guns. Her smallest in the Walther CCP. The grip is a little wider than the typical single stack sub. But that works very well for her. It is also friendly to her arthritis.
 
I shot many, many guns in several calibers, and the one I ended up with wasn't even on my list, the guy suggested I try it along with lots of others....and it was perfect for me! Small enough to conceal, but heavy enough not to be too snappy! (But even used, it had a hefty $ tag.) So I can't really give you much help except to agree with the other posts: let her try out some in different calibers and configurations and she'll eventually settle on "the one" she can shoot well. Maybe she won't end up spending a ton more than she wanted to...lol.
 
I have the earlier BG that had the Insight laser. The laser would not hold adjustment and the slide would not lock back after the last round. Sent it to S&W and it came back with a Crimson Trace laser but will still not lock back. I still enjoy shooting it.
 
looking at a few .380s for the wife. Looking at the Ruger LCP2, Taurus Spectrum, and the SW Bodyguard. Wanting to keep it under $300 and will probably buy 2nd hand (as I usually do) anyone have any input or suggestions
Thank you
What @SPST said, I sold the last three this weekend at the gun store and I dont know how quick I will have then back in. Great wife gun.
 
Since you are in Lake Wylie, I can meet you and your wife at Sportsman’s. I have S&W Bodyguard (my wife’s carry gun), an LCP2 and to try something different I can also bring my SIG p290rs (9 mm).
I work from home so have some flexibility, PM me and we can arrange date/time that is convenient.
 
Yup... letter her shoot and choose is the way to go. My wife ended up going with a Glock 42 herself and initially selecting (and later dumping) an Springfield XDs 9mm
 
My wife carries a S&W .38 Featherweight. It's either in her fanny pack or in her purse. Either way I usually have to take it out every so often and pull the lint, dirt, makeup, and and other assorted crap out of it. I'm pretty sure if she had an auto it would be a single shot. But she is quite proficient with it.
 
Thank you guys. She has shot a few of my firearms, Taurus PT 111, SCCY, Glock 19. (Kept her away from the 357, .40, and .45) She said they all “kicked” too hard but she still wanted something to carry.
A Glock 19 shooting typical 9mm ammo has about 5.8 pounds of free recoil. The Remington RM380 I mentioned above has about 5.2 pounds of free recoil (a smaller, lighter gun, but offset by a less powerful round). The Ruger LC380 has 3.7 pounds of free recoil (the gun is around 50% heavier than the RM380). Finally, a mid-size gun in .380 will get down below 3 pounds of free recoil (think in the size of a Beretta 84).

There are locked-breech, mid-size .380 pistols that have substantially less "kick" than the guns your wife tried. However, a big determining factor will be how she plans to carry. A mid-size pistol would potentially be ideal if she wants to carry in a purse or glovebox; a mini or pocket-size pistol might be necessary if she wants to carry on her person. At any rate, she has a range of options.
 
Beretta Pico is the thinnest 380 out there. For me, I find a correlation between width and concealability. If you get it post upgrade, they shoot very well for a bug. Can be had for a little over $200 online and come in a lot of colors.
 
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DO NOT BUY A GUN FOR YOUR WIFE!

Best thing is take her to a range that rents guns, try all you can and LET HER DECIDE what she feels she can best handle. There might also be “first steps” or other classes where the instructors offer a chance to shoot various firearms. Buying a gun because it looks a certain way or because somebody says “it’s the best for _____” can lead to a future visit and trade-in for another gun.
^^^^^^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^
 
Thanks again
It will probably be best to just take her somewhere and let her shoot several different.380s I agree that it would be best to let her make the decision
I'm dying to know if she found her perfect gun yet????
I've got 2 .380 and they're very different from each other, so I would love to know what she got and why...I know I'm nosy, but being a newbie/woman, I get curious.
 
I know I'm nosy, but being a woman, it's natural.
Fixed it for you :rolleyes:




I kid, I kid, Miss Millie :D

But, in all seriousness, Im kinda curious, too.
My wife hated the LCP and the Keltec she shot. Loved the Bersa (Thunder?) 380, Sig 238, Walther PPK and PK380.
She ended up with a P238 and the PPK after it was all said and done.
My daughter ended up with a PK380. Currently the only 380 we have left. Heck, I even like that thing lol.
 
Fixed it for you :rolleyes:




I kid, I kid, Miss Millie :D

But, in all seriousness, Im kinda curious, too.
My wife hated the LCP and the Keltec she shot. Loved the Bersa (Thunder?) 380, Sig 238, Walther PPK and PK380.
She ended up with a P238 and the PPK after it was all said and done.
My daughter ended up with a PK380. Currently the only 380 we have left. Heck, I even like that thing lol.
That was funny, scared the cat laughing!
I actually love my Kel Tec, and shoot it well, but the Sig p238 was the big winner in the "finding the perfect gun" contest. It's heavy and biggish, compared to the Kel Tec, but I'm working on getting used to carrying it. Now all I need is a local range, and I'm all set!
 
I’d let her shoot some 9mm options also. There isn’t much difference in recoil and 9mm ammo is usually considerably cheaper than .380
 
I’d let her shoot some 9mm options also. There isn’t much difference in recoil and 9mm ammo is usually considerably cheaper than .380
I wish I had found 9mm comfortable, as I was wanting to get into 9mm. Sadly, only the Shield was tolerable for me in the comfort and recoil departments.
But I do agree she should try several things out. She might be young, with stronger hands than mine currently are! You never know which will end up being the perfect gun/calibre mix, do you?
(And I'm not giving up on 9mm....yet.)
 
Buy her a walther p22 or ruger sr22.The recoil is nothing and she will drill all 11 rounds through whatever she shoots.My wife is deadly with her walther p22.Its so accurate you have to close your eyes to even come close to missing your target.Cci hollowpoints wont drop an elephant but they will get the job done on a human.
 
Beretta Pico is the thinnest 380 out there. For me, I find a correlation between width and concealability. If you get it post upgrade, they shoot very well for a bug. Can be had for a little over $200 online and come in a lot of colors.

I love my Pico.

I hate the extension on one of the magazines. It messes with concealment. If it doesn't hold an extra round, I don't use them. The Pico is also the perfect example of why the best advice is to let her, or anyone for that matter pick their gun. It's not the easiest option out there as far as manipulating the slide, and the trigger pull is heavy compared to other options in the pocket pistol genre.

(And I'm not giving up on 9mm....yet.)

You already have a "9"! .380 ACP is basically an American thing. The round is known by many different names, and several of them include "9mm"!:cool:
 
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I love my Pico.

I hate the extension on one of the magazines. It messes with concealment. If it doesn't hold an extra round, I don't use them. The Pico is also the perfect example of why the best advice is to let her, or anyone for that matter pick their gun. It's not the easiest option out there as far as manipulating the slide, and the trigger pull is heavy compared to other options in the pocket pistol genre.



You already have a "9"! .380 ACP is basically an American thing. The round is known by many different names, and several of them include "9mm"!:cool:
Well, then, I'm all set, right? Lol. My bank account thanks you!
 
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