Jack Bauer
New member
I can only speak for the LCP and the Bodyguard. Sold the LCP, still have the Bodyguard. I think the Bodyguard is a much more substantial pistol, feels better built to me, and has a much better trigger.
380 Pocket Gun - which of these 3?
- Thread starter bedbugbilly
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Mrgunsngear
New member
100% agreed. It also accepts aftermarket night sights....
FloridaVeteran
New member
Since ShootersPlus started it, I'll pipe in that I too like the Walther. Mine is a stainless PPK. It is a bit heavier than the other two, but the fit, finish, controls (easy for a leftie) and handling are all first-rate. Excellent natural point, though I wish I could have a Trijicon dot up front.
All those guns are pretty good but personally I think the bodyguard's laser is overrated. In a self defense situation I just don't think it's practical to have a laser that isn't automatically activated when you grab the handle, it's just 1 more step that takes time before you pull the trigger - overall still a good gun. My personal favorite is the LCP, the sights aren't the best but they are plenty good for a close range self defense situation (which they almost always are).
Spats McGee
Administrator
Not to add too many more choices to the mix . . . I was reading my latest gun magazine the other night, and it looks like Ruger has a new .380: Ruger LC380.
Agreed on the KelTec. The Ruger seemed like the grip was too short for my hand. Maybe a extended mag would help. The bodyguard was my favorite for looks and felt very good in the hand. The laser though was more of a novelty. There was too many things to get hung up on with the safety, slide catch etc. the TCP738 was the perfect compromise for me.
Sent from iPhone
Walther PPK's are great pistols, but they are not pocket guns, at least for my pocket.
I have been carrying a KelTec P3AT now for close to a year. It is very unobtrusive, and has been reliable at the range. Certainly not "junk". Apparently, Ruger agrees as many believe LCP stands for "little copy pistol".
I have been carrying a KelTec P3AT now for close to a year. It is very unobtrusive, and has been reliable at the range. Certainly not "junk". Apparently, Ruger agrees as many believe LCP stands for "little copy pistol".
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bonefamily
New member
Ruger has upgraded the LCP with taller sights and a slightly lighter trigger pull not too long ago. The newer ones don't have a "-" in the serial number sequence. I like mine.
Good reading here. I have been keeping my eyes out for an LCP and today I found a used P3AT for $265.00 and considered it but I immediately came to The Firing Line and did a search for the KelTec. And after reading this thread and a couple others I think I'll just hold out for the right deal on an LCP.
Bill DeShivs
New member
I find it interesting that 9mm says "Keltec is junk" and then recommends the Ruger LCP which is a verbatim copy of the Keltec.
Everyone has opinions. Here is mine: Keltecs are innovative guns that do exactly what they were designed to do. I have 8 or 9 of them, and carry one daily.
Everyone has opinions. Here is mine: Keltecs are innovative guns that do exactly what they were designed to do. I have 8 or 9 of them, and carry one daily.
bonefamily
New member
I never had a problem with the two Kel Tecs I owned. The P-32 is a very much missed pistol that I regret trading away. I found the LCP locally recently and jumped on it. I am now in search of a TCP as I think it will make another nice carry piece.
ryanryan03
New member
Any more feedback on personal experience with the bodyguard?
Darker Loaf
New member
I've rented and fired the Smith and Wesson Bodyguard at a local range that is cool enough to have a rack of pistols to rent. I've also rented and fired a Kahr PM 9 (about the same size and weight as the Smith, but in 9mm). At the very same range, I got to shoot somebody's LC9, too. I own and carry a Kahr K9 Elite, and had a Kahr CW9 (same form factor, but polymer). Also, I've put some rounds through Diamond Back 9mm, too [not recommended--saw too many reliability issues].
So, I have some experience in firing some of these mouse guns, at least enough to throw that limited experience into the fray of the interwebs.
So, I'll proceed to compare them. The Smith BG was snappy, as snappy as the Kahr PM 9 or the LC9. Tiny .380's will buck as bad as 9mm, often, because .380's are straight blow-back, where as most center fire handguns have a delayed blow-back that slows down the transfer of energy to your hand. The Smith BG had a poor trigger and printed way high and right for me (probably poor trigger control on my part combined with a poor trigger), but printed consistently so maybe it was the gun. The LC9 also had a bad trigger, but better than the BG in my opinion. I had less problems fighting the trigger, and though chambered in 9mm, the LC9 did not have as severe a recoil as the BG in my opinion. The LC9 printed better for me than the Smith, but that could be because the form factor is larger. For my $0.02, lasers are silly on any gun, but that's me. The Kahr PM9 shot the best out of all of these, but kicked as bad as the Smith (because of it's 9mm chambering). That is due to the superior double action trigger that Kahrs have.
If I were your buddy, I'd get a Kahr P380, like Kilibreaux said. They are really light at 10 oz, and are only 0.75" at the slide. I've handled them before in stores, and their trigger really compares to other Kahr products. Last time I shot my K9 Elite, fired three times and all three bullets were touching (at 15 feet). However, my K9 is an all steel frame brick that wore out a 5.11 Trainer belt in six months of daily carry. So, I, myself, am considering buying a P380. I got my CW9 (the budget version of the P9, which is the plastic version of the K9) for $350 new. If you shop around, you could probably get the budget version of the P380, the CW380, for around the same price (once prices return to normal). Get a Crossbreed, horse leather holster, IWB, and you'll be good to go. Oh yeah, and even though it's a mouse gun: GET A GOOD BELT. I'm going to go with Kydex insert full-leather "Looper" belt for my next one.
Also nice, if you want simple, the P380/CW380 have no safeties. That's about as trim as you can get. If you prefer a safety, get an LCP or an LC380. That's my not-so-humble opinion at any rate. Kahrs are pretty reliable, in my opinion. My K9 Elite is one of two fire arms that I own that have experienced zero failures, but that's with only about 800 or so rounds through it. However, I had some issues with my CW9. But I've seen no issues with my friends' T9 and CW9. I'm an unlucky dude, in general.
I'd be perfectly happy to ramble more about Kahrs if you prod me.
So, I have some experience in firing some of these mouse guns, at least enough to throw that limited experience into the fray of the interwebs.
So, I'll proceed to compare them. The Smith BG was snappy, as snappy as the Kahr PM 9 or the LC9. Tiny .380's will buck as bad as 9mm, often, because .380's are straight blow-back, where as most center fire handguns have a delayed blow-back that slows down the transfer of energy to your hand. The Smith BG had a poor trigger and printed way high and right for me (probably poor trigger control on my part combined with a poor trigger), but printed consistently so maybe it was the gun. The LC9 also had a bad trigger, but better than the BG in my opinion. I had less problems fighting the trigger, and though chambered in 9mm, the LC9 did not have as severe a recoil as the BG in my opinion. The LC9 printed better for me than the Smith, but that could be because the form factor is larger. For my $0.02, lasers are silly on any gun, but that's me. The Kahr PM9 shot the best out of all of these, but kicked as bad as the Smith (because of it's 9mm chambering). That is due to the superior double action trigger that Kahrs have.
If I were your buddy, I'd get a Kahr P380, like Kilibreaux said. They are really light at 10 oz, and are only 0.75" at the slide. I've handled them before in stores, and their trigger really compares to other Kahr products. Last time I shot my K9 Elite, fired three times and all three bullets were touching (at 15 feet). However, my K9 is an all steel frame brick that wore out a 5.11 Trainer belt in six months of daily carry. So, I, myself, am considering buying a P380. I got my CW9 (the budget version of the P9, which is the plastic version of the K9) for $350 new. If you shop around, you could probably get the budget version of the P380, the CW380, for around the same price (once prices return to normal). Get a Crossbreed, horse leather holster, IWB, and you'll be good to go. Oh yeah, and even though it's a mouse gun: GET A GOOD BELT. I'm going to go with Kydex insert full-leather "Looper" belt for my next one.
Also nice, if you want simple, the P380/CW380 have no safeties. That's about as trim as you can get. If you prefer a safety, get an LCP or an LC380. That's my not-so-humble opinion at any rate. Kahrs are pretty reliable, in my opinion. My K9 Elite is one of two fire arms that I own that have experienced zero failures, but that's with only about 800 or so rounds through it. However, I had some issues with my CW9. But I've seen no issues with my friends' T9 and CW9. I'm an unlucky dude, in general.
I'd be perfectly happy to ramble more about Kahrs if you prod me.
Cheapshooter
New member
The Kel Tec P3AT, Ruger LCP, and S&W Bodyguard are not straight blowback designs. They are locked-breach tilting barrel designs.
Nor does the LCP have a mechanical safety. Just a long, fairly heavy trigger pull like a D/A revolver
Darker Loaf
New member
Re Cheapshooter
My bad on the 380 blow back vs. barrel tilt? You sure? The BG is snappy! I suspected the Sig P238 wasn't straight blow back, but the whole lot of them? I swear the Kahr PM9 wasn't as bad. The LC9 not being as bad makes a lot sense, extra mass and all. I guess I should have said "some .308's are straight blow back."
I've never handled a LCP, just an LC9. I'm surprised to learn they have a safety. At least the Bodyguard has one.
Now I feel like an ass, making silly non-truth comments on tfl.
My bad on the 380 blow back vs. barrel tilt? You sure? The BG is snappy! I suspected the Sig P238 wasn't straight blow back, but the whole lot of them? I swear the Kahr PM9 wasn't as bad. The LC9 not being as bad makes a lot sense, extra mass and all. I guess I should have said "some .308's are straight blow back."
I've never handled a LCP, just an LC9. I'm surprised to learn they have a safety. At least the Bodyguard has one.
Now I feel like an ass, making silly non-truth comments on tfl.