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A 12 Pack of .380 Backup Guns

From left to right: Diamondback DB380, Kimber Micro CDP (LG), Taurus 738 TCP, and Beretta Pico

A 12 Pack of .380 Backup Guns
From left to right: Diamondback DB380, Kimber Micro CDP (LG), Taurus 738 TCP, and Beretta Pico

September 12, 2014

From left to right: Diamondback DB380, Kimber Micro CDP (LG), Taurus 738 TCP, and Beretta Pico — A 12 Pack of .380 Backup Guns
From left to right: Diamondback DB380, Kimber Micro CDP (LG), Taurus 738 TCP, and Beretta Pico

Colt Mustang XSP — Colt Mustang XSP
Not surprisingly, at the top of our list of current .380 models is a Colt, the newest version of the Mustang Pocketlite known as the XSP. This pistol sports a modern polymer frame, a squared off triggerguard, a larger grip profile, a dust cover accessory rail, ambidextrous safeties, improved dovetailed sights, rough-textured checkering and an undercut triggerguard to allow a little extra grip surface. In other respects it is the same great little Mustang single-action (SA) with a 2.75-inch barrel, a length of 5.5 inches, height of 3.98 inches and a lighter carry weight of 11.8 ounces. For more information, visit www.colt.com

Glock 42 — Glock 42
The new Glock 42 has the smallest frame, slide and barrel length available from the famed Austrian armsmaker. The new pocket pistol offers every desirable feature for a .380, including dovetailed white-dot sights, easily operated slide and magazine releases, and a slide that locks back after the last round is fired. The new subcompact .380 employs a dual recoil spring unique to the model, and a cold-hammer-forged, 3.25-inch barrel. The Glock measures 5.94 inches in overall length, a very pocket-friendly 0.94 inches in width, weighs 13.76 ounces (empty) and has a capacity of 6+1. For more information, visit us.glock.com.

Beretta Pico — Beretta Pico
The Beretta Pico is remarkably small, even for a .380. The entire gun only weighs 11.5 ounces, but “the gun” is actually the serial-numbered sub chassis, thus the polymer frame can be switched for one in a different color, or with built-in accessories such as the optional LaserMax or tactical light chassis that will be available. The little .380 even has interchangeable, dovetailed white-dot sights. The 6+1-capacity, double-action-only (DAO) Pico operates on an internal hammer-fired, short recoil system. It has no manual/external safety, and by virtue of its trigger design has second-strike capability, something the majority of .380s in this size class cannot offer. The Pico is the narrowest semi-automatic pistol available, measuring a scant 0.71 inches at its widest point. The slide is even a pinch thinner, measuring 0.68 inches. A gun this narrow is less apt to print through a pocket and small enough to holster totally out of sight. For more information, visit www.beretta.com

Beretta Pico — Beretta Pico
The Beretta Pico is remarkably small, even for a .380. The entire gun only weighs 11.5 ounces, but “the gun” is actually the serial-numbered sub chassis, thus the polymer frame can be switched for one in a different color, or with built-in accessories such as the optional LaserMax or tactical light chassis that will be available. The little .380 even has interchangeable, dovetailed white-dot sights. The 6+1-capacity, double-action-only (DAO) Pico operates on an internal hammer-fired, short recoil system. It has no manual/external safety, and by virtue of its trigger design has second-strike capability, something the majority of .380s in this size class cannot offer. The Pico is the narrowest semi-automatic pistol available, measuring a scant 0.71 inches at its widest point. The slide is even a pinch thinner, measuring 0.68 inches. A gun this narrow is less apt to print through a pocket and small enough to holster totally out of sight. For more information, visit www.beretta.com

Beretta Pico — Beretta Pico
The Beretta Pico is remarkably small, even for a .380. The entire gun only weighs 11.5 ounces, but “the gun” is actually the serial-numbered sub chassis, thus the polymer frame can be switched for one in a different color, or with built-in accessories such as the optional LaserMax or tactical light chassis that will be available. The little .380 even has interchangeable, dovetailed white-dot sights. The 6+1-capacity, double-action-only (DAO) Pico operates on an internal hammer-fired, short recoil system. It has no manual/external safety, and by virtue of its trigger design has second-strike capability, something the majority of .380s in this size class cannot offer. The Pico is the narrowest semi-automatic pistol available, measuring a scant 0.71 inches at its widest point. The slide is even a pinch thinner, measuring 0.68 inches. A gun this narrow is less apt to print through a pocket and small enough to holster totally out of sight. For more information, visit www.beretta.com

Kahr CW380 — Kahr CW380
Based on the P380, the Kahr CW380 striker-fired DAO pistol incorporates all the award-winning features developed for Kahr’s PM and CW series pistols, including a lightweight black polymer frame with 4140 steel inserts molded in front and back for added strength and rigidity. The CW380 has a 416 matte stainless steel slide, the patented “safe cam” action trigger system, a drift-adjustable white bar-dot combat rear sight and fixed white-dot front sight. The gun weighs 10.2 ounces (empty), with a palm-sized overall length of 4.96 inches, a height of 3.9 inches and a slim 0.75-inch slide width. For more information, visit www.kahr.com

Ruger LC380 — Ruger LC380
Ruger started a .380 revolution with the ultra-compact LCP back in 2008, but it never rested on the laurels of that success, following up with the 9mm LC9 and a .380 ACP version aptly named the LC380. In all respects, other than caliber, the .380 version has the same compact measurements as the LC9: 6 inches in overall length with a 3.12-inch barrel, 4.5 inches in height and a narrow, pocket-friendly 0.9 inches in width. Weight is 17.2 ounces (empty). The Ruger LC380’s construction once again relies on Ruger’s innovative glass-filled nylon frame paired with an aluminum grip frame insert and a through-hardened steel slide. The LC9 design translates to the .380 caliber by providing just a tad more gun in the hand, the same 7+1 capacity (one round more than the LCP), better balance, a manual safety, a loaded-chamber indicator and white-dot sights, which are a notable advantage over the smaller .380 LCP model. It’s also significantly easier to manipulate the LC380’s slide as compared to the smaller LCP or the more powerful LC9. For more information, visit www.ruger.com.

Sig Sauer P238 — Sig Sauer P238
The market’s booming with .380s, but none so elegantly crafted as the Sig P238. This is the smallest .380 Sig has ever designed. The Sig P238 is all-metal in construction, slim, compact and solid in the hand with just enough heft to make its recoil manageable. What sets the P238 further apart from most of the competition is Sig’s decision to use a stainless steel slide with an anodized alloy beavertail-style frame. With an overall length of just 5.5 inches, a height of 3.9 inches and weighing just 15.2 ounces, this is one of the go-to .380s on the market for fit, finish and reliability. For more information, visit www.sigsauer.com

Sig Sauer P238 — Sig Sauer P238
The market’s booming with .380s, but none so elegantly crafted as the Sig P238. This is the smallest .380 Sig has ever designed. The Sig P238 is all-metal in construction, slim, compact and solid in the hand with just enough heft to make its recoil manageable. What sets the P238 further apart from most of the competition is Sig’s decision to use a stainless steel slide with an anodized alloy beavertail-style frame. With an overall length of just 5.5 inches, a height of 3.9 inches and weighing just 15.2 ounces, this is one of the go-to .380s on the market for fit, finish and reliability. For more information, visit www.sigsauer.com

S&W Bodyguard 380 — SS&W Bodyguard 380
Weighing only 11.85 ounces, the S&W Bodyguard is the first .380 ACP with an integrated laser sighting system. The 6+1 capacity Bodyguard 380 is a DAO with second-strike capability, a high-strength polymer frame, stainless steel barrel and slide, dovetailed/adjustable front and rear sights and a manual safety. Overall length is just 5.25 inches and width is 0.75 inches. The Bodyguard 380 fits easily into a pocket holster even with its built-in laser. For more information, visit www.smith-wesson.com

Taurus 738 TCP — Taurus 738 TCP
The 738 TCP has already earned its reputation as one of the smallest and lightest .380 autopistols on the market, but now it is also one of the most colorful. The Taurus 738 TCP now comes in either a black or pink polymer frame with a blued or stainless slide. With a 6+1 capacity, this is a gun that looks as light as it feels at just 10.2 ounces (empty). The polymer frame has a large triggerguard, integral ambidextrous thumb rests, a contoured slide and molded grip serrations all around. With an overall length of 5.25 inches, the DAO hammerless semi-auto is easy to conceal with all rounded surfaces to prevent snagging on clothing. For more information, visit www.taurususa.com

Kimber Micro CDP (LG) — Kimber Micro CDP (LG)
Kimber’s famous Custom Shop turned its sights on the .380 concept in 2012 and pioneered a brand new design with the company’s smallest and lightest handgun, the Mirco CDP. This gun has pure 1911 ergonomics scaled down like the Kimber Solo, to a weight of just 13.4 ounces and a standard capacity of 6+1. What truly sets the Micro CDP apart from its competitors is Kimber’s use of a custom stainless steel slide and barrel, an aluminum frame with 30-lpi checkering, dovetail mounted white-dot (tritium) night sights, ambidextrous thumb safeties and magazine releases, and “Carry Melt” treatment for rounded and blended edges. Measuring 5.6 inches long overall, the Micro CDP has a two-tone finish with a satin slide and matte black alloy frame accented by checkered rosewood grips or Crimson Trace “Rosewood” Laser Grips. For more information, visit www.kimberamerica.com

Kel-Tec P-3AT — Kel-Tec P-3AT
This is where it all began for the 21st-century .380. After Colt discontinued the Mustang Pocketlite in 1999, the .380 was almost written off except for the popularity of the Walther PPK/S. Then, in 2003, Kel-Tec introduced a then innovative polymer-frame .380 with a durable, Parkerized steel slide and a 6+1 capacity small enough to hide in a pocket. Weighing only 8.3 ounces, the tiny .380 became an overnight success as a backup gun and personal defense sidearm. As a result of the P-3AT’s success, ammo makers began improving .380 ballistic performance, and by 2008 Ruger had unveiled its LCP. The rest is history, but for this generation it began with Kel-Tec. For more information, visit www.keltecweapons.com

Diamondback DB380 — Diamondback DB380
Diamondback Firearms’ DB380 is another innovative, 21st-century .380 carry pistol. This micro-compact .380 semi-automatic is made entirely in the United States and was designed with safety in mind. It utilizes a “zero-energy” striker firing system. This includes a mechanical firing pin block and a steel trigger with dual connecting bars to provide for a crisp, smooth trigger pull. The DB380 also features a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) designed slide and barrel, which improves durability while reducing felt recoil. And the absence of removable pins or tools makes field-stripping the pistol easier than ever. The slide, 2.8-inch barrel and internal parts are all coated to resist corrosion. This 6+1 capacity pistol also has windage-adjustable sights. The lightweight, polymer-framed DB380 weighs a modest 8.8 ounces. For more information, visit www.diamondbackfirearms.com

Diamondback DB380 — Diamondback DB380
Diamondback Firearms’ DB380 is another innovative, 21st-century .380 carry pistol. This micro-compact .380 semi-automatic is made entirely in the United States and was designed with safety in mind. It utilizes a “zero-energy” striker firing system. This includes a mechanical firing pin block and a steel trigger with dual connecting bars to provide for a crisp, smooth trigger pull. The DB380 also features a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) designed slide and barrel, which improves durability while reducing felt recoil. And the absence of removable pins or tools makes field-stripping the pistol easier than ever. The slide, 2.8-inch barrel and internal parts are all coated to resist corrosion. This 6+1 capacity pistol also has windage-adjustable sights. The lightweight, polymer-framed DB380 weighs a modest 8.8 ounces. For more information, visit www.diamondbackfirearms.com

EAA Witness Pavona Compact — EAA Witness Pavona Compact
The Witness Pavona Compact, made by the Italian armsmaker Tanfoglio and imported by European American Armory, is an eye-catching handgun, available in five sparkling polymer frames. But make no mistake: It’s a shooter, with finely tuned hammer and recoil springs for easier loading and less felt recoil. Also abetting the Pavona’s ease of handling are its widely spaced slide serrations and ergonomically contoured grip. The Witness Pavona was designed with the female shooter in mind, but in the clutch persons of all genders will appreciate the gun’s 13+1 capacity. The Witness Pavona weighs 30 ounces and measures 7.3 inches long overall. The gun is also available in 9mm (13+1) and .40 (9+1). For more information, visit www.eaacorp.com

The .380 ACP is one of the oldest handgun calibers in use today, older than the .45 ACP by three years, and both share a history that began with John M. Browning and the Colt’s Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company.

Browning invented the .380 cartridge in 1908 and the gun to fire it, the Colt Model 1908 Hammerless Pocket Model.

The Colt Model 1908 was the very first .380, but production ended in 1940. By then, the .380 ACP had become much more closely associated with the German Walther PPK, the .380 with the longest continuous production history in that caliber.

But we should never forget the .380 ACP is an American cartridge, and today’s modern .380 rounds, designed for personal defense, have higher velocities, better expansion and greater penetration than the round-nose 9x17mm .380 ACP (also known as a 9mm Short) invented by Browning in 1908.

For the last 106 years, the .380 ACP has been among the most popular handgun calibers in the world. The Walther PPK and PPK/S have been the standard bearers for the .380 ACP cartridge for over 80 years, but today, there are dozens of pocket guns chambered in this venerable caliber, and most are made right here in the United States (even the PPK)!

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