My new P380 review

9172 Views 15 Replies 9 Participants Last post by animalmother, Mar 29, 2010

shipdog

Discussion Starter · Dec 7, 2009

I am new to this forum and this is my first post. Just bought my new P380 on Saturday at a gun show in Mesquite, TX. I had been doing alot of research for several months on this gun, including lots of reading on this forum, prior to purchase. I was looking for an off-duty/back-up gun and from my research, the P380 was the best gun for the job.
I think I got a great deal at the gun show, $536 + tax. Really liked the feel, ergonomics, and overall functionality of the gun right off the bat. Took it out the next day and put 125 rounds, all FMJ target rounds, through it The first 50 rounds I had a few hiccups, FTF's and stovepipes. After that it smoothed out and ran like a fine sports car. I could not believe the accuracy of it. And I found the trigger pull to be very smooth and crisp compared to other subcompacts/pocket guns I own or have owned.
I cannot say enough good things about this gun. It is a bit more expensive than others in its class, but well worth the extra expense. Anyone that is considering purchasing the P380 I would highly recommend it. I own and have owned many guns over the years and I would rank the P380 in my all-time top 5.
I will keep reading and posting as my experience develops with my P380.
Happy gunning :'( and remember: "Get them before they get you"

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

jocko

· #2 · Dec 7, 2009

NICE POST. It will only get smoother and better with more rounds down range. Once the slide and frame mate themselves properly, it will be smooth as glass. there is no smoother trigger system than kahrs, although looooong by design, it is so so smooth.

I just recently ghad the xs big dot night sights installed and trust me they are totally awesome. Extremely fast acquistion , when you pull that gun up, all u see is that big dot up front directing the way. Kahr really did it up right and xs must have seen that also to come out so fast with a sight set up for the little gun that could..

datachk

· #3 · Dec 19, 2009

Jocko, I just purchased a P380 and was wondering about the Big Dot night sights. Did you have Kahr install the sights?

Patch44

· #4 · Dec 19, 2009

Sorry for a slight change in topic ...

Been thinking about a P380 for some time now. Just curious what a good price is. There are some on GB, but your price is below any of those. Seems you got a pretty good deal ...

We will be heading to FL soon, and plan on checking some LGS in my area. What is decent price?? Some posts reflect a long waiting time, so I don't quite get the availability factor with this gun.

Ended up keeping one of my LCP's and bought a Bersa .380. I seem to have a .380 fetish, so a P380 should fit right in. Too lazy to retool my Dillon too ... all set up for .380 now.

Thanks ...

John

See less See more

wyntrout

· #5 · Dec 19, 2009

John, I just got back from a gun show here in Jacksonville at the Fairgrounds. I only saw one P380 and they had $699.99 on it. A couple of months ago I saw one at Gun Gallery for $620. Of course, at the show some dealers were asking $700 to $900 for the Sig P238, night sights on the highest. The previous show at the Morocco Shrine, I saw one P380... for about $700, I believe. Someone on this forum got it for $650 -- retail. And I saw a Sig P238 for $550. I don't recall if it had N/S or not.
I saw my first PM9, I guess, and that was nice looking with black slide and N/S. I don't remember the price, but I was thinking that I could have had one of those -- it was pretty small. I ordered and prepaid for a KP3833N the end of April... and then found they weren't shipping those until Fall 2009. FLASH! Fall ends Monday and no word on the night-sighted models, yet. The same notice is at the Kahr Site.

Most guns were over priced, including the LCPs. There weren't many Kahrs there. Mostly CW40s and some 9mms -- no .45s. I saw a bunch of DBs -- Diamond Backs -- .380 acp that looked a little like the Kahr P380, but I dismissed them and didn't even note the price. I had never heard of those, but that's not saying much.
Wynn

Oops! I'm off topic, too. :-[

See less See more

jocko

· #6 · Dec 20, 2009

datachk said:
Jocko, I just purchased a P380 and was wondering about the Big Dot night sights. Did you have Kahr install the sights?

Yup and they are super, love um to death, now if I could just find sme 380 ammo that isn't $25 bucks a box...

jocko

· #7 · Dec 20, 2009

I know no one wants to hear this but buy the P380 and shoot it like you stole if for awhile then send the slide in to kahr and let them install the night sights on it. Trying to order a P380 with night sights is just going to slow the entire process down big time. Kahr is going to offer two different night sights, I think if you count the small es big dot, then it could be 3 night sights, No way your gonna order a specific sight and get it in a short time even.

My slide was in and back from kahr in alittle over a week and trust me those factory kahr sights are a real bugger to even move let alone get off the slide and alot of sight pushers won't even work with this small P380 slide, Let kahr do it IT, . iT WILL COST YOU PROBALBY $25 BUCKS MORE IN THE LONG RUN BUT IT WILL BE DONE CORRECTLY WITHOUT ONE MARK ON YOUR NEW SLIDE EITHER..

See less See more

jocko

· #8 · Dec 20, 2009

I bought my P380 off of a poster on the ar15 forum for $550, I have yet to see one at any gun dealer in my state. If u can find one for $650 and under buy it and don't worry about it. If it is 50 bucks more than you want to pay for it normally, consider yourself lucky that you are looking at one in front of you for sale for even $650.

they are a super quality gun, are they worth $650 or even 550, well that is in the eyes of the beholder...

G

· #9 · Dec 20, 2009

jocko said:
I know no one wants to hear this but buy the P380 and shoot it like you stole if for awhile then send the slide in to kahr and let them install the night sights on it. Trying to order a P380 with night sights is just going to slow the entire process down big time. Kahr is going to offer two different night sights, I think if you count the small es big dot, then it could be 3 night sights, No way your gonna order a specific sight and get it in a short time even.

My slide was in and back from kahr in alittle over a week and trust me those factory kahr sights are a real bugger to even move let alone get off the slide and alot of sight pushers won't even work with this small P380 slide, Let kahr do it IT, . iT WILL COST YOU PROBALBY $25 BUCKS MORE IN THE LONG RUN BUT IT WILL BE DONE CORRECTLY WITHOUT ONE MARK ON YOUR NEW SLIDE EITHER..

The XS sights (get the Big Dot front) are perfect for this gun. If it was me, I wouldn't wait for anything else. Yes to the fact that the stock sights are hard to remove - as Jocko said, let a pro take them off but the XS sights are relatively easy to install at home and XS gives you a nice little plastic punch to make it quick work. I probably should be discussing this in the Accessories Room. Oh well (one of the advantages of being a moderator

).

Happy holidays.

See less See more

jocko

· #10 · Dec 20, 2009

kraigster414 said:
jocko said:

I know no one wants to hear this but buy the P380 and shoot it like you stole if for awhile then send the slide in to kahr and let them install the night sights on it. Trying to order a P380 with night sights is just going to slow the entire process down big time. Kahr is going to offer two different night sights, I think if you count the small es big dot, then it could be 3 night sights, No way your gonna order a specific sight and get it in a short time even.

My slide was in and back from kahr in alittle over a week and trust me those factory kahr sights are a real bugger to even move let alone get off the slide and alot of sight pushers won't even work with this small P380 slide, Let kahr do it IT, . iT WILL COST YOU PROBALBY $25 BUCKS MORE IN THE LONG RUN BUT IT WILL BE DONE CORRECTLY WITHOUT ONE MARK ON YOUR NEW SLIDE EITHER..

Click to expand...

The XS sights (get the Big Dot front) are perfect for this gun. If it was me, I wouldn't wait for anything else. Yes to the fact that the stock sights are hard to remove - as Jocko said, let a pro take them off but the XS sights are relatively easy to install at home and XS gives you a nice little plastic punch to make it quick work. I probably should be discussing this in the Accessories Room. Oh well (one of the advantages of being a moderator ).

Happy holidays.

WHATS the other advantage??? Probably the 5 grand a week pay to be a moderator-huh???

Have a good Christmas kraigster. You know ol jocko loves to rag you alot but in my book ur one hell of aa good moderator and a darn nice friend. You have helped me alot. I am going to give you Tiger's personal cellphone number, You need to calland talk to him, he needs some good advice as to how to text message under another name ;D ;D ;D

See less See more

G

· #11 · Dec 20, 2009

Thank you Jocko. I am here to serve. Other than disobeying one's own rules, I see no benefit to being a moderator. The pay stinks and as for the health benefits....under the Obama plan, admin says the best I can hope for is a low dose aspirin every 6-months.

Rumor has it that Mrs. Tiger and Lorena Bobbit have been bonding of late. 'Appears too Mrs. Tiger is suddenly interested in gardening - she was seen trying out a pair of pruning shears at Home Depot.

aodem

· #12 · Dec 21, 2009

Bought my P380 yesterday morning and have a few questions. This isn't my first Kahr, but it is the first .380 I have ever owned, so have patience with me. Actually jocko answered my first question about night sights and who to have install them. Second is what kind of ammo does everyone prefer? (for carrying, not killing paper) and does anyone have any recommendations for an IWB holster? Nice to have this forum to talk to other P380 owners!

jocko

· #13 · Dec 21, 2009

AODEM;

PM sent.

Rangemeister

· #14 · Dec 27, 2009

Just got my new 380 for $610. I traded a Kahr PM40 which was a little too much caliber for a gun that size. Wanted to go to range today, but have been carrying Hornaday Extreme self defense rounds so these will go into this little guy. Initial perception, great little piece.

Lumpy Pockets

· #15 · Feb 23, 2010

Too bad you didn't wait a couple months. I'd do that trade if the 40 was reliable.

animalmother

· #16 · Mar 29, 2010

Good thread. I love the XS Big Dot sights. Perfect sight for the P380.

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.