Looking at the Ruger, Kel-Tek and Taurus. Like the feel/looks of the Ruger. Would like the WC consesus!

Walther PPK.

Looking at the Ruger, Kel-Tek and Taurus. Like the feel/looks of the Ruger. Would like the WC consesus!

Looked at the Ruger LCP .380 and the Ruger LC9 9mm. Was not as impressed with the Kel-Tek and did not look at the Taurus. Went with the LC9 and so far I like it quite well. With these types of weapons you must consider they are designed for self defense and are not set up to fire and operate the same as a handgun that you might use for target or hunting situations. The LC9 has more bang with the 9MM and yet is not much bigger than the LCP. It also has a much better sighting system and with the extender on the magazine it fits my hand much much better. Ruger made in the USA and has a fantastic reputation. .02

what is your intended purpose for this hand gun ?
I would also endorse the Walther PPK, one of the big reason is reliability.

I realize the .380's are more concealable however you have to keep pulling the trigger to knock them down.- If for home defense, you are better off with a shotgun and #4'shot loaded. That is so because you don't want collateral damage when a bullet goes through a wall. With a pistol IMHO you need at least a 200 grain bullet traveling at 1,000 fps. That means a .45 acp +P. Look at the FNP stuff. Regardless of the caliber, always double tap. I have one and it shoots where you point it with little felt recoil. The FNP is very accurate out to 30 yards (4” group). I live in Arizona, so it's legal to conceal carry. Besides - I went to school and got a permit anyway.

I know you didn't ask for this but I thought to throw it in anyway. Most encounters in the home happen at 15 yards or less - but you still want to knock them down so they can't shoot back. A shot gun at close range will do that. I pray every day that I'll never have to use my .45 in self defense. I also pray that I will not hesitate if I have to. In home invasions, know your state laws first, and then know where other legal occupants are - don't announce yourself to the intruder, hide in a dark place - low - around a corner, and let the perp come to you. If you go to them, they will know where you are and you’ll be the target of the first shot. Don't talk - just shoot. Don't ever think you will wake up when you have to. Get alarms installed, or get a dog, or both. In CCW states and when outside your home, do everything you can to avoid confrontation including running away until you can’t run any more. If you absolutely have to use your firearm, expect to go to jail anyway and have your firearm confiscated. But at least you’ll be alive and if you did everything you could to avoid the situation, you’ll likely be adjudged innocent – but don’t count on it. . . sorry if this was too much information.

I realize the .380's are more concealable however you have to keep pulling the trigger to knock them down.- If for home defense, you are better off with a shotgun and #4'shot loaded. That is so because you don't want collateral damage when a bullet goes through a wall. With a pistol IMHO you need at least a 200 grain bullet traveling at 1,000 fps. That means a .45 acp +P. Look at the FNP stuff. Regardless of the caliber, always double tap. I have one and it shoots where you point it with little felt recoil. The FNP is very accurate out to 30 yards (4” group). I live in Arizona, so it's legal to conceal carry. Besides - I went to school and got a permit anyway.

I know you didn't ask for this but I thought to throw it in anyway. Most encounters in the home happen at 15 yards or less - but you still want to knock them down so they can't shoot back. A shot gun at close range will do that. I pray every day that I'll never have to use my .45 in self defense. I also pray that I will not hesitate if I have to. In home invasions, know your state laws first, and then know where other legal occupants are - don't announce yourself to the intruder, hide in a dark place - low - around a corner, and let the perp come to you. If you go to them, they will know where you are and you’ll be the target of the first shot. Don't talk - just shoot. Don't ever think you will wake up when you have to. Get alarms installed, or get a dog, or both. In CCW states and when outside your home, do everything you can to avoid confrontation including running away until you can’t run any more. If you absolutely have to use your firearm, expect to go to jail anyway and have your firearm confiscated. But at least you’ll be alive and if you did everything you could to avoid the situation, you’ll likely be adjudged innocent – but don’t count on it. . . sorry if this was too much information.

In some states I believe even if you are judged innocent, the perps family can still sue you for wrongful death.

You are correct. But, anybody can sue anybody else. anywhere, for anything. It's the litigation cost that will make you go broke before any judgement comes down. Happy Thanksgiving

I have the Ruger LCP. Feels awkward to hold. Even after installing Mag extension and grip wrap. Although those helped. I think it's shaped wrong. No problems shooting. Suprisingly accurate and not one single malfuntion with 2 boxes of shells. After buying it I realized that I already found the perfect carry gun for me in my Glock 23. I keep the noisy cricket in the glove box.

Gilligan,
Find a range where you can rent guns and try them out. It's not so much what we think, but how your hand and eye will function with the thing. In any event, shoot a high quality self defense ammo, like a Hornadt Critical Defense round. At this caliber it's all about placement and proximity. I bought an LCP, and find generally that these guns have long trigger pulls, out of necessity, since at least the Ruger has no safety. Before someone starts bashing, keep in mind for something over 100 years, no revolvers had safeties either.
That said, the Ruger is a good mouse gun, but most 380s are going to have a lot of muzzle flip due to the light weight. While it's a good hideout gun, and here to there it'll do the job, I'd rather carry more gun, at leeast a 9mm. While I've got my druthers there, in response to the original question, I think the Ruger is more relaible and with better finish than the Kel-Tec, and as good or better than the Taurus.

I'd recommend a Glock in .40S&W.
But if .380 is your choice... I'd go with a Walther PPK (made by S&W...nowadays)

First rule in a gun fight is to have a gun...after that we could go on forever about what the best gun would be.

OP asked about three in .380, and imho answered his own question..."Like the feel/looks of the Ruger"

Try to go shoot each of them, and if you still say, Like the ruger....
Buy the Ruger.

Al

I can tell you first hand, that the .380 is NOT a self-defense weapon to bet your life on period. Now I will explain to you and others just what I am getting at ok. Now 2 years ago, when I took on the job of teaching my wife how to shoot a pistol, I started her out on a .22-LR revolver.

Then she ended up going through some 7 different pistols and calibers before she could handle the one she carries now, a Glock model 27 in .40 S&W. Now during this time I conducted a test of calibers for our gun club in the heat of summer. We used a large bundle of newspaper soaked in a 55gallon barrel for 3 days. It was bound together with duck tape prior to the putting in the water.

Now the calibers we tested were the .308-acp, 9mm Luger, .38spl, .357 magnum, 40 S&W, 10mm, .45acp. Also all ammo used, was the self-defence type buy Federal, Cor-Bon, Winchester, Pow-R-Ball. The pistols used where fired at 6 feet from the target of wet newsprint. The measurements were taken and documented by two people. Once the test was over, it was apparent to everyone there, that the penetration of a .308 acp was NOT very far etc.

It penetrated (2.7 inches) less than 3 inches, while the 9mm Luger (125 grn bullet weight) went in over 6 & 5/8 inches. The only two calibers that penetrated close to 12 inches, were the 10 mm with 180 grn HP bullet and the .45 acp when shooting a FMJ bullet. The 10mm went almost 12.5 inches and the .45acp FMJ went in 11.5 inches. the .45acp hollow point penetrated 8 inches. I later took the .308 with FMJ and fired it at point blank range, it then penetrated only 4.25 inches.

Now we went through 4 of those Kel-Tecs in 2 different models. (These pistols did NOT like hollowpoint bullets) The PF-9 is by far the better pick but they all were Jam City when shot fast. The Ruger hurt my finger when I tried shooting it and then they had a recall on that pistol so it went down the road. The Taurus Millenium my wife was talk into purchasing and brining it home, "Shucks" why that pistol never could keep the clip in place when the first round went Bang. They had a recall on those later also, it went on a trade fast.

Happiness was when the wife got her Sig Sauer but the trigger pull on a Sig is close to 8 pounds for the first shot.....something the wife could not handle without putting the round 12 inches low on target do to her squeezing the trigger so hard and dropping the point of the barrel toward the ground. Once she got past that, the action of the Sig was much less on trigger pull but I told the wife { YOU can NOT give up the first shot to the Bad Guy on the street}

So along came a GLOCK in a 9mm Luger caliber, she was in Heaven as far as shooting well on target and fast to boot without any JAMS period, no matter what type of jacketed ammo was used or brand. She then as I stated moved up to the .40 S&W after 9 months later and some 5,000 rounds at the range. Yes, I do reload them thank the LORD.

Walther or Beretta.

A .380 is less powerful than a .38 special. I've been shot with a .38 and didn't even notice it until the cops arrived and took the punk away. I then realized that my leg kind of "felt funny" and when I felt it and pulled my hand back, it was covered in blood... Of course, if it had hit a major organ, it might have killed me. Just goes to show you that shot placement is extremely important. When the adrenaline is flowing freely, you might not notice getting shot.

If the .380 is the most you can conceal in your state due to leftist anti-2nd-Amendment gun laws, then it's better than nothing... Personally, the smallest that I ever carried was a 9mm when I went down to Mexico a few years ago... In NYC, I carried a .45 and was able to stand right beside a cop and carry on a lengthy conversation without him noticing that I was carrying. Not that this is much of a challenge in NYC in the winter consider the heavy coats that you need to wear due to the cold...

In addition to finding a place to try them out before you buy, do a search online regarding the handguns you are considering.

I found some interesting posts when I did.

Sig Sauer P238 is worth a look if you are a 1911 fan. I love the gun. I carry it in the summer and it has the same functions as my Kimber which is nice.

Addendum to my previous post. I bought a custom leather pancake style belt holster for my LCP. It carries so nice I have been carrying that more lately. Falls under the "having any pistol better than none" category.

Addendum to my previous post. I bought a custom leather pancake style belt holster for my LCP. It carries so nice I have been carrying that more lately. Falls under the "having any pistol better than none" category.
LCP's are very nice to carry. It fits right into my jeans pocket with no muss or fuss.Surprisingly accurate little buggers too.

My neighbor had the lcp and it kept jamming on him. Returned it to Cabelas and got the lc9. So far no problems with it. It's accurate
too.:thumbsup:

An excellent primer on handguns can be found at corneredcat.com. There's even a link that discusses how a handgun should fit your hand. It's obviously designed for a female first-time buyer (pink background on the webpage), but it is basic enough that any first-time buyer, male or female, should check it out.

Addendum to my previous post. I bought a custom leather pancake style belt holster for my LCP. It carries so nice I have been carrying that more lately. Falls under the "having any pistol better than none" category.

Also falls under the "I can carry this with out no problems and it doesn't bother me, versus the it's to heavy/big/powerful/doesn't fit right handgun"

Having a LAR Grizzly in .45 win mag is a great carry gun...till you have to carry it....I know, I had one, sold it and bought a Ruger LCR in .38 +p, that I can carry with out much trouble.

Al

I just bought a new Bianchi holster for my LCP. My old holster was great but I was afraid the gun would fall out. Bianchi came out with a sweet pancake with snap to secure gun to holster. Its perfect. Hard to find as well so must be popular. WIth summer fast approaching I have a feeling I wont be carrying consistently much longer. Doesnt work for me with shorts and t-shirt. Might have to figure something out though because I am so use to carrying, from getting out of shower to going to bed, that I cant imagine not carrying now.