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

[WTR]

I don't know why you wouldn't start out a person with a .38 spl/.357 mag. Begin with .38 wad cutters, move up to .38spl 158 gr. lead round nose. You can always go to a .38 spl +P loads and then to .357 mag. I started out at 12 with .38 wad cutters when I was learning, and they were very mild. .38spl/.357 mag is a lot more versatile.

[MechAg94]

I used to have a Firestorm 380 pistol which is really a copy of the Bersa. I sold it to a friend. His wife now has it as her primary pistol. It is easy to use, has a full size grip, and doesn't have a lot of recoil.

Has anyone ever shot the Beretta Cougar pistol?

[BCGlocker]

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.

Is there a bigger version of the Sig P238?

[LosAlce]

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.

Is there a bigger version of the Sig P238?

P938 is the 9mm version. It's slightly bigger. Still would recommend an extended mag for those with larger hands.

[Pawpaw]

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.

Is there a bigger version of the Sig P238?

P938 is the 9mm version. It's slightly bigger. Still would recommend an extended mag for those with larger hands.

I own both the P238 and P938. I can't tell the difference in size unless I hold the pistols up next to each other. The difference, in every measurement, is mere fractions of an inch. In fact, the pocket holster I use with the P938 was actually designed for the P238. It started out a bit snug around the front of the slide & frame, but it didn't take long to stretch into a good fit.

[LosAlce]

I own both the P238 and P938. I can't tell the difference in size unless I hold the pistols up next to each other. The difference, in every measurement, is mere fractions of an inch. In fact, the pocket holster I use with the P938 was actually designed for the P238. It started out a bit snug around the front of the slide & frame, but it didn't take long to stretch into a good fit.

The difference really is so slight. If they weren't labled I wouldn't be able to tell them apart in a case.

[BCGlocker]

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.

Is there a bigger version of the Sig P238?

P938 is the 9mm version. It's slightly bigger. Still would recommend an extended mag for those with larger hands.

I own both the P238 and P938. I can't tell the difference in size unless I hold the pistols up next to each other. The difference, in every measurement, is mere fractions of an inch. In fact, the pocket holster I use with the P938 was actually designed for the P238. It started out a bit snug around the front of the slide & frame, but it didn't take long to stretch into a good fit.

Is there a difference in slide racking strength needed and recoil?

[Pawpaw]

Is there a difference in slide racking strength needed and recoil?

The P938's slide is just a little harder to rack, but neither requires much strength. These are both locked-breech pistols, so they don't need the really heavy spring that a blow-back pistol does.

The two pistols are within a couple of ounces of each other in weight, but the 9mm packs a whole lot more punch (and a heavier bullet) than the .380, so yes, there is quite a difference in recoil. The P238 is a real cream puff to shoot. Neither gun has much muzzle rise, but that snappy 9mm recoil in the P938 slaps you right below the web of your shooting hand. I've let two different ladies shoot both pistols and both preferred the P238.

[BCGlocker]

Is there a difference in slide racking strength needed and recoil?

The P938's slide is just a little harder to rack, but neither requires much strength. These are both locked-breech pistols, so they don't need the really heavy spring that a blow-back pistol does.

The two pistols are within a couple of ounces of each other in weight, but the 9mm packs a whole lot more punch (and a heavier bullet) than the .380, so yes, there is quite a difference in recoil. The P238 is a real cream puff to shoot. Neither gun has much muzzle rise, but that snappy 9mm recoil in the P938 slaps you right below the web of your shooting hand. I've let two different ladies shoot both pistols and both preferred the P238.

Thank you. Great info.

[Zombified]

I own the pk380 and p238. I would recommend the pk380 over the p238 because the pk380 has a almost full size grip so the recoil is more manageable. Walther's customer service was great when I sent it in so any issues could theoretically be resolved.

[BCGlocker]

I own the pk380 and p238. I would recommend the pk380 over the p238 because the pk380 has a almost full size grip so the recoil is more manageable. Walther's customer service was great when I sent it in so any issues could theoretically be resolved.

I checked out the PK380, just not loving that safety then pull the trigger decocking thing? What can go wrong with this?

[BCGlocker]

Everyone, I found this little slide racker device, http://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/ ... 76373.aspx

Has anyone tried this? Does it help people with weak hands? How about EDC with it as possible injury and one hand manipulation?

[bulletslap]

I looked at the PK380 a couple of years back as a carry pistol for my daughter, it just didn't appear to me to live up to the Walther name as far as fit, finish, and materials. The price wasn't up to the Walther level either ;)

How well do they hold up ?

[Zombified]

Mine hasn't worked very well from the day I bought it. I bought it used from someone who obviously lied about it's reliability. I still recommend it as a good beginners gun because of low recoil and a full size grip. I don't know if walther would be able to fix it if I kept sending it back because it seems like the problem is the case sits too loose in the barrel and the extractor can't hold onto it properly. I did some mods that helped allot when I shoot it, but when I hand it over to my 11 year old the gun has failure too extract issues. I'm guessing because he is limp wristing.