I decided to do a review and comparison of 6 380 pocket guns. Why these 6 guns? Simple, it's the 6 that I either already own or could borrow for the review. I did my best to be impartial and fair in the review and testing.
These are the 6 guns I will be comparing in no particular order:
Top Left: Taurus TCP
Barrel Length 2.84 inches Magazine capacity 6 Weight 10.2oz Slide lock back YES
Pros: Decent trigger, Longest barrel
Cons: This gun is difficult for me to disassemble
Top Right: Beretta Pico
Barrel Length 2.7 inches Magazine capacity 6 Weight 11.5oz Slide lock back YES
Pros: Thinnest of the group, Good Sights, Decent Trigger
Cons: Magazine release is odd, Heaviest of the pistols tested, Sights are not low profile
Middle Left: Ruger LCP Gen 1
Barrel Length 2.75 inches Magazine capacity 6 Weight 9.4oz Slide lock back Manual Only
Pros: It's been on the market a long time
Cons: With the LCP 2 redesign why buy this one?
Middle Right: Ruger LCP 2
Barrel Length 2.75 inches Magazine capacity 6 Weight 10.6oz Slide lock back YES
Pros: Best Trigger of the group by far, Has a trigger safety, Refined feel
Cons: Second heaviest of the group
Lower Left: Kel-Tec P3AT
Barrel Length 2.75 inches Magazine Capacity 6 Weight 8.3oz Slide lock back NO
Pros: Lightest gun tested, been on the market a long time
Cons: Rough trigger
Lower Right: IO Hellcat
Barrel Length 2.75 inches Magazine Capacity 6 Weight 9.4oz Slide lock back NO
Pros: None
Cons: Worst trigger of the group, seems "clunky" rattles when you shake it, Not considered a successful design
On to the testing:
I shot each gun six times at a target plate placed 5 yards away. I understand that these are not target/range guns. They are designed to be carried in a pocket and used for self defense at short distances so I thought 5 yards seemed reasonable. I only had two issues shooting the guns. The first was a FTF while shooting the IO Hellcat. The other was with the LCP 2. The trigger on the LCP 2 is in a whole different world as the other guns. After dealing with the other triggers when I went to fire the LCP 2 the first time it created a flyer because the trigger broke well before I was ready. I decided to disallow that test. Got a new target and restarted.
Here are the results:
Final Thoughts:
I thought that 5 of the 6 guns that I tested performed well enough to get the job done. The only one I would not recommend is the IO Hellcat based on the testing and my experience with it. If I had to rank the six guns I would put the Ruger LCP 2 at the top of the list. It easily has the best trigger and I think that shows looking at the target shooting test results. I would put the Beretta Pico, Taurus TCP and Ruger LCP in the middle of the pack somewhere. Second to last would be the Kel-Tec P3AT and easily in last place is the IO Hellcat.
Disclaimer:
I am not a firearms "expert". I do not work for any firearms manufacturers or sell firearms for a living. Some of this is purely my own opinion. I shoot handguns about every two weeks and am an average shot with them at best. Your results shooting these guns may vary from mine. YMMV etc....
These are the 6 guns I will be comparing in no particular order:
Top Left: Taurus TCP
Barrel Length 2.84 inches Magazine capacity 6 Weight 10.2oz Slide lock back YES
Pros: Decent trigger, Longest barrel
Cons: This gun is difficult for me to disassemble
Top Right: Beretta Pico
Barrel Length 2.7 inches Magazine capacity 6 Weight 11.5oz Slide lock back YES
Pros: Thinnest of the group, Good Sights, Decent Trigger
Cons: Magazine release is odd, Heaviest of the pistols tested, Sights are not low profile
Middle Left: Ruger LCP Gen 1
Barrel Length 2.75 inches Magazine capacity 6 Weight 9.4oz Slide lock back Manual Only
Pros: It's been on the market a long time
Cons: With the LCP 2 redesign why buy this one?
Middle Right: Ruger LCP 2
Barrel Length 2.75 inches Magazine capacity 6 Weight 10.6oz Slide lock back YES
Pros: Best Trigger of the group by far, Has a trigger safety, Refined feel
Cons: Second heaviest of the group
Lower Left: Kel-Tec P3AT
Barrel Length 2.75 inches Magazine Capacity 6 Weight 8.3oz Slide lock back NO
Pros: Lightest gun tested, been on the market a long time
Cons: Rough trigger
Lower Right: IO Hellcat
Barrel Length 2.75 inches Magazine Capacity 6 Weight 9.4oz Slide lock back NO
Pros: None
Cons: Worst trigger of the group, seems "clunky" rattles when you shake it, Not considered a successful design
On to the testing:
I shot each gun six times at a target plate placed 5 yards away. I understand that these are not target/range guns. They are designed to be carried in a pocket and used for self defense at short distances so I thought 5 yards seemed reasonable. I only had two issues shooting the guns. The first was a FTF while shooting the IO Hellcat. The other was with the LCP 2. The trigger on the LCP 2 is in a whole different world as the other guns. After dealing with the other triggers when I went to fire the LCP 2 the first time it created a flyer because the trigger broke well before I was ready. I decided to disallow that test. Got a new target and restarted.
Here are the results:
Final Thoughts:
I thought that 5 of the 6 guns that I tested performed well enough to get the job done. The only one I would not recommend is the IO Hellcat based on the testing and my experience with it. If I had to rank the six guns I would put the Ruger LCP 2 at the top of the list. It easily has the best trigger and I think that shows looking at the target shooting test results. I would put the Beretta Pico, Taurus TCP and Ruger LCP in the middle of the pack somewhere. Second to last would be the Kel-Tec P3AT and easily in last place is the IO Hellcat.
Disclaimer:
I am not a firearms "expert". I do not work for any firearms manufacturers or sell firearms for a living. Some of this is purely my own opinion. I shoot handguns about every two weeks and am an average shot with them at best. Your results shooting these guns may vary from mine. YMMV etc....
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