What is the best concealed carry pistol for a.380 ACP?
The concealed carry community often looks down on these pocket pistols for their low power and capacity.
We at Pew Pew Tactical, however, believe that carrying anything is better than having nothing.ย There are some.380 pistols which are superior to others.
We’ve collectedย The Best of the Bestย for you to choose from if you are looking for a good concealed carry.380 ACP gun.
We’ll dive into what the.380ACP round can and cannot do before recommending the best models for you to choose.
Why you should trust us
You want to be sure that you are getting accurate information from a trustworthy source.
Our editorial team has a combined experience of over 30 years with guns. I personally have 15 years with my favorite pistols.ย I am an NRA-certified instructor of pistols and have previously taught classes on basic handguns and concealed carry.
Since almost a decade I have also worked as a gun reviewer, editor, and journalist in the industry, testing new gear and guns.ย I spend a great deal of time researching, analyzing and testing the best products.
Let’s now look at my top picks, sorted by price!
The Best High-End Pistols in.380 ACP
1.ย Sig Sauer P238
Theย P238ย is my favourite.380. It’s not the most recent, but it’s still the best.
The P238 is a very impressive gun.ย Although aesthetics are certainly a secondary concern to functionality, a well-designed gun is hard to argue with.
The design is made entirely of metal, which gives it a weighty feel.ย It weighs 15.2 oz, which is more than the LCP Max.ย It’s heavier yes, but it works wonders on the range.
The P238 is much more comfortable than the LCP, and is not as snappy.
The barrel is 2.7 inches long, while the overall length of this gun is 5.5 inches. It has a capacity of 6+1.
It’s my back-up gun and the one I use when my EDC (aย Shadow Systems Shadow Systems MR920ย ) doesn’t work.ย It is small enough to slip under clothing and almost disappear.
The Best Mid-Tier Pistols in.380 ACP
2.ย Ruger LCP Max
Ruger’s LCP series has been a mainstay in the.380 caliber community for many years.ย The series began with the compact LCP and grew into theย LCP Iย and theย LCP max.
The OG LCP served me well for many years.ย Eric PPT, founder of PPT, now wears the LCP Max while wearing athletic gear.
The LCP Max is an updated version of the LCP Series with 10+1 rounds in.380 ACP.ย All of this while being ultra compact and lightweight (10.62 oz unloaded).ย Theย Sig Sauer Sig Sauer P365ย is 17.8 oz lighter.
If you are looking for a lightweight product, the LCP Max is a great choice.
The barrel measures 2.80 inches long and is 5.17 inches total.
We’d be remiss to not mention that the lightweight construction comes with a price.ย This gun is snappy…much as its LCP siblings.ย It’s not fun to shoot it at the range, and it isn’t recommended for plinking.
The LCP Max is a great choice if you are looking for a concealable, lightweight gun.
It is also worth noting that the LCP Max loves brass ammo and self-defense ammunition, but hates steel-cased ammunition.ย When buying ammo keep this in mind.
3.ย Smith & Wesson M&P Shield.380 EZ
If you have a problem with your grip or if an injury has affected it, I would recommend the Smith & Wesson Shield EZ.380 ACP.
It is available in 9mm, for those who want it. But the.380 ACT model in this series really stands out to me.ย The 6.7-inch gun has a barrel measuring 3.68 inches and weighs 18.3 oz.ย The capacity is 8+1.
Smith & Wesson’s design is accessible to beginners and people with disabilities because it is so easy to use – from racking the gun to firing.
My mother suffers from severe arthritis and a nerve damage that has reduced her grip strength.ย Most modern handguns are difficult, if they’re not impossible, to rack for her.ย When I tested this gun, I placed it in her hands to see what she was capable of.
She said she had no problem manipulating the slide, and that if she were to purchase a firearm, she would choose this one.
The pistol is designed to fit smaller hands, with a thin grip.ย This gun is a great option for those with smaller hands.
S&W has two models in the.380 range – one with thumb safety and another without. Both come with grip safety.ย This pistol offers two versions of the same feature.
If you are looking for something easy, I recommend the EZ Series.
4.ย Sig Sauer P365-380
Theย P365 380 is Sig Sauer’s latest addition to their.380 line.
This version, based on the popular P365 platform from the same company, offers a modernized take on the.380 handgun.
The 10+1 capacity is a great feature. It has an overall length 5.8 inches, and a barrel length of 3.15 inches.
This gun is equipped with SIGLITE night sights, which are an upgrade from the stock sights of most manufacturers.
Lena Miculek, a Team Sig competitor and competition shooter, has just partnered with the company to launch the P365 380 Rose.
This was an upgrade that I appreciated.
The P365 9mm is a favorite of ours, so we are not surprised that its smaller cousin has made it onto this list.ย The P365 is an ergonomic pistol with a comfortable grip.ย It’s also optics-ready so you can attach your favorite red dot.
Overall, the Sig P65 380 is a great gun for its comfort and increased capacity.
The Best Budget-Friendly Pistols in.380 ACP
5.ย Bersa Thunder & Firestorm.380
Theย Bersa Thunder.380ย can be a great option if you are on a tight budget and want a good gun that won’t break the bank.
It is still going strong. My father has carried this gun for many years.ย The Thunder.380 has a barrel of 3.5″ and an overall length 6.6″.ย It is one of the heavier options in this list, weighing 20 oz.
It was still snappy. Like a super sore hand the next morning, snappy.ย You may have a different experience.
The ergonomics was okay for me but not great, but again, my father carried it forever and loved this.ย It will all depend on your ergonomic preferences.
This model is a good compromise between concealability and capacity. It has an 8+1 capacity.
The Thunder has a sibling, theย Firestorm. It is similar to the Thunder, but with a few improvements – notably finger grooves in the grip, rubber grips that are oversized, and a round trigger guard.
Bersa Thunder has a serrated and scalloped trigger guard.ย If you want a bit more grip, I’d recommend the Firestorm.
Overall, if you’re looking for a CCW that is reliable and affordable, the Bersa Thunder or Firestorm will satisfy your budget concerns.
6.ย Glock 42
Glock is known for its reliability and theย Glock42ย does not disappoint.
This Glock.380 ACP builds on the successful and reliable design.ย This model will be very familiar to anyone who has used a Glock full-size anywhere else.
The barrel measures 3.25 inches, and the overall length is 5.94 inches. It weighs 13.76 ounces.ย The Glock 42 has a polymer frame and a 6+1 capacity.
The stock sights aren’t great, but you can get better ones by going Glock.ย This allows you to make minor accessory adjustments whenever necessary.
The Glock 42 has a very smooth and comfortable shooting experience, although it is a little quick.ย It is easier to carry to the range than some of the other models, but I still get tired after a few magazine.
The takedown is relatively easy. However, I do complain about the trigger pull required to remove it.ย No, it’s not a deal-breaker.ย You want to make sure it is unloaded before you remove the gun.ย This is true for all pistols that you plan to clean.
The Glock is a good choice for those who are looking for a pistol with minimal fuss and no muss. It will also make it easier to transition into larger guns such as theย Glock 18ย or Glock 19.
7.ย Kahr CW380
Kahr may not be a brand that you hear much about, but it doesn’t mean there aren’t options.
Kahr’sย CW380ย takes on the.380 ACP cartridge, with a smooth-trigger and decent sights.ย It weighs just under 10 ounces and is therefore a very concealable gun.
The gun is very similar to itsย CW9ย 9mm brother, but it’s a bit smaller for ultra-concealability.ย The barrel length is 2.5 inches and the overall length is 4.96 inches.
The Kahr CW380 is a very comfortable gun to hold.ย It’s ergonomics is decent and it’s a manageable pistol.
Small guns are known for their snappy recoil.
It can be difficult to find the right ammo for your gun. You may need to experiment with different types to find what works best.ย We found that cheap ball ammo worked best. Hollow points performed poorly, and steel-cased ammunition was not recommended.
We don’t have a review of the CW380 but we do cover theย CW9 and, which are similar enough for you to understand.
What is the best round for concealed carry?
It’s a loaded (pun intended) question.ย If you have the time and training to understand its quirks, then almost anything can be “good”.
We believe that if you are comfortable and confident with your gun, you should carry it.ย It’s okay if that means.380 ACP.
Take some classes to familiarize yourself with your gun and your ammunition.
Spend time on the range so that you feel confident, and most importantly, can perform well if ever required to use your gun.
Final Thoughts
This list is not exhaustive, but it does include some of the best.380 ACPs we’ve found.
I personally carry the Sig Sauer P238 in.380. Other PPT staff prefer the LCP Max (also available as a.380), P365-380 and Bersa Thunder.ย You can’t really go wrong with any one of these guns.
What is your favorite.380 ACP cartridge?ย Comment below.ย See our topย picksย for.380 ACP ammo.ย If you’re looking for more options that fit in your pocket, check out our list of the best 380 ACP ammo.ย See the Best Pocket Pistols.
