Torn between getting a Kahr P380 and the SW Bodyguard 380. Would like the Kahr if it was reliable - but I have been reading some bad reviews on another forum. What do you guys think? Any experience?
P380 - Any good?
-
Glocktalk is a forum community dedicated to Glock enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about Glock pistols and rifles, optics, hunting, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, and more!
Sharky7
1 - 20 of 20 Posts
Joined
·
199 Posts
There is a lot of bad news posted on the internet about the P380, but considering the number of P380's made the percentage of problem guns would be pretty small. Also, note that most people don't post about trouble free guns. My experience with the P380 has been a good one. Kahrs require at least a 200 round "break in" in order for the internal parts to wear in. Strip and clean your new Kahr and lubricate it per the lube chart before taking it to the range. I would run "ball" ammo for the break in. After completing break in, try a few brands of defensive ammo to see which work best. If all goes well, you will have one of the finest .380s with the smoothest trigger made.
The S&W Bodyguard .380 is a good weapon and should not disappoint you. However, the fact that the laser is an integral part of the frame could be problem should it fail. You will have to send the whole pistol in for repair which will leave you without the use of your .380. I prefer to attach a laser as a separate item for this reason.
A reliable alternative to the Kahr or S&W is the Ruger LCP. It sells for less money and seems to be highly reliable. It is a hammer fired pistol rather than striker fired as is the Kahr and offers safety features not found on many other .380 guns.
The S&W Bodyguard .380 is a good weapon and should not disappoint you. However, the fact that the laser is an integral part of the frame could be problem should it fail. You will have to send the whole pistol in for repair which will leave you without the use of your .380. I prefer to attach a laser as a separate item for this reason.
A reliable alternative to the Kahr or S&W is the Ruger LCP. It sells for less money and seems to be highly reliable. It is a hammer fired pistol rather than striker fired as is the Kahr and offers safety features not found on many other .380 guns.
I bought a P380.
Lubed as per diagram and then worked the slide a few dozen times.
Took it to our Tuesday night defensive shoot at the range and did real well.
I am totally impressed with my P380.
3 friends have bought them too and all but one was happy. That 1 didn't RTFM and was unhappy that he could not slingshot it.
You can slingshot after a few hundred rounds and you learn how.
He's happy now.
Lubed as per diagram and then worked the slide a few dozen times.
Took it to our Tuesday night defensive shoot at the range and did real well.
I am totally impressed with my P380.
3 friends have bought them too and all but one was happy. That 1 didn't RTFM and was unhappy that he could not slingshot it.
You can slingshot after a few hundred rounds and you learn how.
He's happy now.
LW J-frames have one distinct advantage. OTB to dead stone reliable = 10 rounds, and they stay that way.
I know this has been run into the ground but.
What's a normal range to practice self defense? 7 yrds?
Six shots from a .380 at 7 yrds will mess you up. And it's better than a sharp stick.
you can be more accurate with a stick though.
Don't get me wrong,I believe ANY gun is better than none but with the current crop pf small 9mm's out there......I HAD an LCP but went to an LC9 instead.
.45 is my first choice but when warm weather,smaller is better.
If you must use a .380acp, get the stoutest ammo you can, such as
http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=29
Joined
·
781 Posts
I love my Kahr pistols. The only Kahr that didn't agree with me was the P380 and myself and the good people at Kahr tried like hell to make to right but it wasn't meant to be. I have tried a good majority of the other offerings out there and ended up settling on the LCP until my S&W BG came in after a 4 month wait. It has turned out to be one fabulous BUG. It is an excellent shooter with or without the laser and it has been flawless, 100%.
Gdiddy is wrong about sending the whole pistol in for repair if the laser unit goes bad. Last week my laser unit took a crap, it was fine til then. I called S&W and they sent me a call tag, told me to remove the laser unit which is the same procedure you do to change the batteries and send it in. I told them that it was my BUG and asked how long will I be OOS waiting for the replacement unit. He replied, just reassemble your Bodyguard and your good to go, it's OK to shoot.
I have yet to find anyone that has one as a BUG in LE that has been unhappy with the S&W BG380. Also I'd like to say if I didn't have the issues I had with the P380 I would have been more than happy with that as far as size and accuracy went.
Joined
·
3,195 Posts
Thanks...good info. I will be using it for a BUG as LE. Kahr looks nice and I am familiar with the platform since I have the PM9, just overall worried about stuff I have read online. Using the PM9 now for BUG, but want to get something a little bit lighter - lots of foot pursuits in my area.
I really like the bodyguard when I checked it out, sort of wish they made a model without the laser, I will probably never use it except as a novelty at the range.
Joined
·
781 Posts
All you need to do is call S&W and ask for replacement grey buttons for your laser and they'll send you out a new pair. Your troubles will be over over.
The Bodyguard 380 being discussed by the original poster is not a J frame revolver, it is a semi auto 380.
I'm a Kahr guy - have 4. Love my P380, but it did take some breaking in. Some run perfect out of the box. Tolerances very close on these units. Not sure why, really. They could build it a tad looser and it might be a bit less finicky. It's a .380 with a sub 3" barrel for god's sake. Short range defense pistol, not a 50 yard target pistol.
Limp-wristers probably account for 3/4 of the reported issues. Great pocket carry. Most manageable recoil of all the tiny dudes and I've owned or shot most of them. Also have a Kel-Tec 380 that I'm very fond of. That thing will shoot anything including steel case russian stuff and Buffalo Bore +p. Never, never malfs.
I polished my P380 chamber and ramp with a felt tip dremel cone only. No compound, just the cone, medium speed. Never a problem after that. But they don't run very well when dirty, like after 100 in a row.
Limp-wristers probably account for 3/4 of the reported issues. Great pocket carry. Most manageable recoil of all the tiny dudes and I've owned or shot most of them. Also have a Kel-Tec 380 that I'm very fond of. That thing will shoot anything including steel case russian stuff and Buffalo Bore +p. Never, never malfs.
I polished my P380 chamber and ramp with a felt tip dremel cone only. No compound, just the cone, medium speed. Never a problem after that. But they don't run very well when dirty, like after 100 in a row.
1 - 20 of 20 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
