There are so many great .380 pistols on the market, but every gun owner has their own opinion on what is ideal in a gun. The gun’s size, the weight, the grip, and the recoil of the gun are just a few things that gun buyers consider as selling points when picking out what they believe to be the ‘best’.
What is a .380 Pistol?
A .380 pistol is a compact, extremely powerful handgun. Due to its small size, it can be comfortably concealed for long periods of time. These characteristics have made it a favorite amongst concealed carry license holders.
The .380 Automatic Colt Pistol, or ACP, was created by the creator of Colt, John Browning. The .380 pistol has always been an excellent gun for both men and women. The rimless, straight-walled cartridge has made it popular as a scaled-down backup gun or an IWB (inside the waistband) gun.
There are many different 380 pistol options, but our favorites include the following: Ruger LCP II, Walther PK380, Kel-tec P3AT, Taurus Spectrum, and M&P Shield EZ. Each of these guns has a lightweight, compact design making them ideal for concealed carry. They are all solid, dependable, and reliable.
Ruger LCP II .380 ($349)
The Ruger LCP II has a smooth design. Its lightweight frame makes it comfortable and easy to carry concealed for long periods. The Ruger's low-profile sights and compatibility, combined with the laser sights, give the shooter better accuracy and consistent results. The grip frame is made from black, high-performance, glass-filled nylon. The slide material is alloy steel, and the barrel material is stainless steel. The slide finish is a black oxide, and the barrel finish is satin stainless giving the gun the ultimate protection from general wear, tear, and adverse environmental conditions.
Ruger LCP II Specs
- Capacity: 10 + 1
- Barrel Length: 2.75 inches
- Weight: 11.2 oz
- Overall Length: 5.20 inches
- Height: 4 inches.
- Width: 0.81 inches
- Sights: Integral
- Trigger Pull: 6 lbs.
- Safety: Manual safety
Walther PK380 ($499)
This low-profile handgun is perfect for shooters who want a small carry gun. Its slim grip and small slide make it ideal for female shooters or male shooters with small hands. It is available as a single-action trigger or a double-action trigger. It includes manual safety blocks, three-dot polymer, and an ambidextrous magazine release. The Walther PK380 is a fusion of power and function, and it provides a soft and manageable recoil, making the shooting experience even better. The Walther PK380 is easy to handle as a concealed carry handgun because of its size and light frame.
Walther PK380 Specs
- Capacity: 8
- Barrel Length: 3.7 inches
- Weight: 17 oz
- Overall Length: 6.1 inches
- Height: 5.2 inches
- Width: 1.2 inches
- Sights: Integral
- Trigger Pull: 4 lbs.
- Safety: Manual + 1 auto
Kel-tec P3AT ($340)
The Kel-tec P3AT has a frame made of polymer with the slide and barrel composed of steel. This small, light pistol is similar in size to the Kel-tec P32 and was designed for deep concealed carriers. It comes with an easy, smooth trigger pull and a 6 + 1 capacity single-stack magazine. One of the best characteristics of the Kel-tec P3AT is that it is simple. With internal safety and built-in sights, the Ke-tec P3AT has a smooth and easy action to operate. Another characteristic is how concealable this pistol is. This gun is one of the smallest semi-automatic, center-fire pistols in the world. This has made it popular amongst law enforcement officers as a back-up weapon and for everyday carry options.
Kel-tec P3AT Specs
- Capacity: 8 + 1
- Barrel Length: 2.7 inches
- Weight: 7.7 oz.
- Overall Length: 5.2 inches
- Height: 3.5 inches
- Width: 0.77 inches
- Sights: Integrated Low-Profile
- Trigger Pull: 5 lbs.
- Safety: No manual safety
Taurus Spectrum ($257)
The Taurus Spectrum was the first semi-automatic with soft-touch panels merged into the grip and slide. It is a double-action-only, DAO, tilt-barrel semi-automatic. The Taurus Spectrum is constructed with a matte or melonite stainless steel slide and a polymer frame with rubber overmolds that come in various colors. This is another great gun for use as a concealed carry handgun because of its size and lightweight frame.
Taurus Spectrum Specs
- Capacity: 6 + 1
- Barrel Length: 2.8 inches
- Weight: 10 oz.
- Overall Length: 5.4 inches
- Height: 3.8 inches
- Width: 0.9 inches
- Sights: Integrated low-profile
- Trigger Pull: 8.25 lbs
- Safety: Internal drop
Smith & Wesson M&P Shield EZ ($428)
The Smith & Wesson M&P Shield EZ is a small, lightweight handgun that is perfect for older shooters or people with weak wrists because of its light frame. The light trigger with tactile and audible trigger reset makes it easy to shoot quickly and accurately. An excellent characteristic of this gun is that it can be disassembled without pulling the trigger, and the grip texture has been optimized for size and recoil. The gun is available with the option of ambidextrous, manual thumb safety.
The Picatinny-style rail holds lights or lasers. Some other features of the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield EZ are the reversible magazine release and tactile loaded chamber indicator (TLCI), to see and feel if there is a round left in the chamber. The armornite finish protects the polymer gun from corrosion and keeps it more durable. The barrel and slide material are stainless steel. This firearm starts at $428, making it a little more expensive than most of the other guns on our list, but it is worth every penny.
Smith & Wesson M&P Shield EZ Specs
- Capacity: 8 + 1
- Barrel Length: 3.7 inches
- Weight: 18.5 oz.
- Overall Length: 6.7 inches
- Height: 5 inches
- Width: 0.9 inches
- Sights: White dot
- Trigger Pull: 5 lbs.
- Safety: No thumb safety
Side-by-Side Comparison
Deciding on which .380 pistol to purchase depends on the gun buyer’s preference. Some people prefer a thicker, heavier gun, and some prefer a slim, sleek feel to their gun.
When it comes to pricing, guns fall all over the spectrum of cost, so it highly depends on what you’re in the market for when purchasing a firearm. Some people might prefer a fancier gun with all the extras added, and they don’t mind paying for it. Some people aren’t looking for a fancy gun; they are simply buying a gun that will do its intended job at a low price point. The .380 has always been an excellent option for people shopping on both sides of the spectrum.
Final Thoughts
At We The People Holsters, we know how important it is to have the right to a solid self-defense weapon and we fully support your Second Amendment rights. We have a line-up of .380 holsters that work well with your choice of firearm. Regardless of which .380 you choose, you can be confident that a .380 is a gun that is genuinely subcompact and easy to conceal, but is comfortable enough to hold in your hand when the time calls for it.