What would be the Best 380 ACP Pistols for a Beginner?

[BCGlocker]

I am looking to purchase a 380 rental pistol for beginner LTC students. The two criteria I am seeking are minimal recoil and ease of working the slide for someone with limited of strength. It seems most 380 are subcompact size, I am not looking for a concealable 380 and prefer mid size to tame the recoil. Also, it is going to be a rental gun, so I don’t want to spend too much money for it. I am considering Glock 42 or Bersa 380, but I am not sure which one or there are another model fits the requirement best?

[Beiruty]

Browning new nano 1911 in 380ACP.

[txglock21]

I personally hate .380's. Sorry, that's just me. Most use 9mm. for their rentals/loaners for testing. If I HAD to use a .380, the only one I have ever half-way liked was the Glock. YMMV

[John Galt]

I really like the Glock 42, and it is very pleasant to shoot.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Whatever you choose, be sure it's a locking-breech design. The straight blow-back .380s must use a stronger recoil spring and that's a problem for many women shooters.

Chas.

[Zombified]

I have a pk380 that's very easy to rack. Not sure if mine is a dud, but it's very sensitive to limp wristing and sometimes fails to extract. I've sent it in and they didn't fix it. I did a little adjustments myself that seems to have solved the problem. Only reason I don't dump it is because it's a great gun for teaching newbies how to shoot.

[Oldgringo]

A Sig 230 SI has taken the place of a SA Lightweight Compact 1911 as my most comfortable CC. YMMV.

[CoffeeNut]

Most of the women in my family have fallen in love with, and purchased, the P238 after shooting mine. It's super easy to rack and the recoil is quite manageable for a small gun. Get the extended magazines if you want them to have a bit more purchase on the gun. The sights are full size Sig sights so it makes it quite easy to acquire your target unlike a lot of micro .380s.

Academy usually has the Nitron version cheaper than anywhere else I've seen them.

[bulletslap]

CZ83

[Dadtodabone]

Colt Mustang, It's like a Glock but for Shooters with small hands!*
Locked breach, minimal recoil, smooth and easy slide rack, great trigger, 1911 manual of arms.


*with apologies to AndyC

[o b juan]

PJ ..380 forget recoil they will learn about that the PK.380 is easy to load mag and rack slide. older men and ladies have a hard time racking slides and loading mag, in my opinio Many of the guns listed above are not the answer.

If we could take time to start them on the PK.22 many would do better after finding recoil w/ 22 and the 380.

But magazines and slides are the real problem for beginners not recoil.

Again just my thoughts from aboout ??thousands thru my classes.
The PK .380 & PK.22 has been a real help in my classes since they were introduced :
How long ago?

[striker55]

Inexpensive and mine shoots great, Bersa.

[LosAlce]

My votes are for browning .380 1911 (Black Label I think is the line they're calling it?), Bersa thunder and/ or sig p238. The browning and the sig are spendy but man are they easy and smooth to operate.

My preference is to have a 9mm minimum as my carry but I would absolutely carry that browning 1911 in .380 or the sig p238 with a pinky extension magazine. Makes it feel like a much bigger gun despite being so tiny.

[Countryside]

I'd look into Rock Island "Baby" Rock, .380 1911 (true 1911...smaller frame) IF I could FIND ONE!

[SewTexas]

The Curve. I have no problem with the slide, which I do with my LCP. It really doesn't have nearly the recoil that my LCP does. Although I do like my LCP.