I REALLY like shotting this one and it is not bad at the range.

I once had a Kel-Tec p3at but it was no fun to shoot so I ended up with the Sig p238. If you must go small (.380) I recommend the p238 because it is much easier to shoot and you will likely shoot it more and it is much easier to control.

I decided to switch to pm45 based on some of the concerns mentioned here (price of ammo, concern about effectiveness of round). I feel like the pm45 is a great compromise. I bought mine for ~ 635.00 on ~ 12/10/11. This is a lot more than the ~ 269.00 that I paid for Keltec p3at and approximately ~ 519.00 I paid for Sig p3at.

I also like the fact that I now have another .45 as opposed to only one .380 and don’y have to buy separate ammo for my one and only .380.

I actually keep one of the 8 rounds strips in a pocket, and another 6 round strip. I use the 6 round strip loaded with 4 rounds as my “speed” load for the snub. I have found the 2X2 reload as taught by Michael de Bethencourt and Claude Werner to be the best way to get reloaded with the strips when you are in a hurry.

Stay safe!

-Richard

IMHO the place for the tiny guns is an an off-duty BUG for smaller people, or for special purpose carry when clothing restrictions do not allow any other choices.

I’m 6’2″ and I can carry a Glock 19 in a Milt Sparks IWB holster, two mags, a Sure Fire light, a good knife, AND a S&W 642 in a pocket holster along with a speed strip for a reload.
I’m often wearing a T-shirt, cargo shorts and sandals or my FiveFingers with that load-out, I can literally be in my on vacation and relaxing clothes yet very well armed.

The idea that one can not hide a better carry piece than a micro .380 is simply untrue.

The Hornady Critical Defense line of ammunition is not magical. While I do like it, I prefer the CorBon Pow’RBall which has been around a bit longer. Regardless, I would not bet my life on this cartridge. In the ugliness of combat, I do not believe that any .380 ACP cartridge can reliably destroy enough lung and heart tissue, or penetrate the cranial vault, to stop a drug-enraged dirtbag.

Regarding recoil, I agree with you that a .380 generates more than “very little” recoil. In the article I stated that was an argument presented to me for the desire to carry a .380. Generally speaking the bigger the gun, the less felt recoil. Design also comes into play. A SIG SAUER P226 chambered in .380 ACP would generate a lot less recoil than a Ruger LCP. But then, I doubt the .380 ACP generates enough energy to operate a P226 reliably anyway.

-Richard

The .380 in the above incident “stopped” someone who was *trying* to die, not trying to kill you. I hope you recognize there is a vast difference.

While you are correct that “every round has failure stories,” you do not mention that failures for small, underpowered rounds outnumber the failure stories for larger, more powerful rounds. While there is no magic bullet, I do prefer to play the odds and carry one of the more powerful, less-prone-to-failure rounds.

Stay safe,

Richard

When I’m feeling like I want to carry something more substantial, a Kimber 9mm Aegis is the ticket (LOVE this weapon and you will too – Springfield EMP is a clone of this gun and just as excellent).

So far I have 1000 rds and no pop ups or feed jams. I do clean my weapons which is a must. I was going to get a .38 but a brother of a old friend tried to take himself as well. It did the same thing. He stayed in the hospital for a few hours before being transferred to mental health.

My next semi auto will be a springfield xd 45 acp. I played with one and I love it. A very good option when 1911′s are going up in price every year.

What I want is a bullet that will penetrate at least 14 inches in a body, with maximum expansion between 7 and 9 inches. That will cause the most damage in the human chest cavity, and there are two gun/cartridge combination’s that will do this without punishing recoil; the 85 grain Federal Hydra-Shock 380 fired from a Ruger LCP, and the 85 grain Hydra-Shock 327 Federal Magnum fired from the 3 1/16″ barreled Ruger SP-101.

I have yet to test one myself on a living human, and have no great desire to do so. However, tests with a full pork shoulder did achieve quite acceptable results. The 380 did an adequate job stopping at about 12 inches and staying in the meat while the 327 went clear through, a distance of about 17 inches. The interesting point is that both made fairly straight tunnels for about 7 inches; at that point they created a double-fist sized cavity before continuing on, leaving an exit tunnel about twice the size as the entrance wound. In actuality the 380 made several short tunnels; when that rodded-hollow point hit full expansion it fragmented most impressively, but the largest piece continued on as noted above. Since approximately 7 inches puts it right in the middle of the typical human torso, that seems like a very acceptable performance.

So, here’s how a couple of concealed carry permit holders in Kansas are gong forward: the LCP is going to be our primary carry from late spring through early fall since its small size is easy to conceal even in shorts and a t-shirt. The 327 Magnum will be our primary in fall and winter when more and heavier clothing makes concealing the wheel gun easier. We may use the LCP as a BUG during the cold months.

If I could only have one gun for concealed carry, I would definitely take the SP-101 over the LCP, simply because of the noticable edge in penetration. Thankfully I don’t have to make that choice and can have the best of both carry options.

Oh, regarding the attempted suicide that failed at blowing his brains out: from wounds seen in combat theaters I would guess the gun was held to his head at a high angle and the bullet actually ricocheted off his skull. Most people who try to shoot themselves in the head without eating the gun don’t hold the piece at a right angle; it’s an uncomfortable position. Most will just lay the gun against their head the way their arm and wrist normally fall, which gives a 30 degree angle. If the gun is held low in front of the ear they will likely succeed, but if it is held higher on the skull the angle of attack becomes great enough that it has more than a 50/50 chance of producing a non-fatal glancing blow. That’s been my experience at least.

You’re absolutely right on a good holster being the key. Appendix carry in a good IWB and the gun just disappears.