Best small .380 EDC gun on CA Roster?

[Markbsae]

Nice, but not on the roster.

In my case, my IA wouldn't accept a converted from on-roster 9mm P365 to off-roster P365 380. This in San Mateo county, likely different else where.

I'm in Kern County and our Sheriff is super cool regarding firearms but I had an LC380CA that I bought the 9mm barrel conversion for and had on my existing permit. After SB2 I had to convert back to .380 to continue to carry it. They can only issue it for the caliber that it is registered as now.

 

[Markbsae]

For pocket pistols I have an LC380CA and a MAX 9. I prefer the MAX 9 over the LC380CA as its 10+1 so one spare gives me 21. They are both pocket pistols and shoot as such. I do run a few mags through each one I carry for every range trip, at least once a month. Even with the pocket pistols I grouped easily for the qualification.

 

[BillSmith]

Sig P238 for all the reasons I've stated in every other thread that asks this specific question.

Dead solid reliable, shoots straighter than owner, flawless cycling every kind of those bumpy little bullets used in self-defense rounds, recommend a Hogue grip, carries cleaner with the flat bottom magazine, one more round with the pinky finger extension and...

It's on the roster, unlike its bigger brother in 9mm.

 

[BR1911380]

There was a fairly long thread a while back that boiled down to anecdotal evidence of others here getting their IA's to accept P365-380s through a fairly simple (and seemingly legal) pawn shop method: P365-380

That being said, I also agree with others that the P238 is great. For fun at the range, you can grab an extra slide relatively cheap and have it cut for a red dot, and - if you're patient and lucky - find some 10 round colt mustang mags (USAMags, NOT Promag) to go with it.

 

[DIYPSCM]

One note on the P238... there is also an all metal HD version on the roster. It's a great little gun for off body carry but a bit too heavy for pocket/ankle etc. Ask me how I know.


Moot point in my IA (Contra Costa county)... single action pistols are not allowed.

 

[Wolkenflieger]

Thanks everyone! As of now, I'm going to buy the LCP Max and I will look for the all-metal SIG P238. I can always sell a gun I don't want to keep, but owning both based on these glowing reviews will let me really spend some quality time with them, using the best .380 ammo I can find. I'm still curious about your favorite .380 ammo too. I've read somewhere that flat-nose may not always feed properly, and Ruger states that +P ammo shouldn't be used in the LCP Max, apparently.

Thanks again!

 

[rfanalyzer]

+1 for the P238. Great shooter but it's on the heavier side and lower capacity than LCP max. The Kahr P380 is pretty good too. It's smaller and 2/3 the weight of the P238. I don't see any reason for the P365 in 380 since it's the same size and capacity as the 9.

I know it's off roster but the best 380 made today is the Bodyguard 2.0 if you can find a way to get one. 10+ capacity, just about as small as anything else on the market except the seecamp, less than 10oz unloaded, great grip and very shootable.

 

[Gat Man]

LCP MAX

 

[Wolkenflieger]

+1 for the P238. Great shooter but it's on the heavier side and lower capacity than LCP max. The Kahr P380 is pretty good too. It's smaller and 2/3 the weight of the P238. I don't see any reason for the P365 in 380 since it's the same size and capacity as the 9.

I know it's off roster but the best 380 made today is the Bodyguard 2.0 if you can find a way to get one. 10+ capacity, just about as small as anything else on the market except the seecamp, less than 10oz unloaded, great grip and very shootable.

I would definitely be interested in the Bodyguard 2.0 if I could find one off-roster. Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[jnorr]

I have the off roster version of the LCP Max. I highly recommend it for deep concealment and ease of carry without needing to wear a belt.
It's about 10 ounces and holds 10 rds.

I use Winchester flat nose fmj. Most hollow points won't get reliable expansion out of a short barrel that short and if they do expand, they won't get deep enough.

Regardless a bullet is a bullet, I’ve seen some YouTube videos showing expansion but not 9mm level tho.

 

[Sparky11]

SIG SAUER Elite V-Crown .380 ACP 90-Grain Centerfire​

This is the .380 ACP JHP ammo I use in my P238...Runs without any Problems!
According to LUCKY GUNNER Ballistic tests a few years back, The Sig V-Crown was one of the BEST performing!

Handgun Self-Defense Ammunition - Ballistic Testing Data

Lucky Gunner tests more than 110 different 9mm, 45 ACP, 40 S&W and 380 ACP handgun self-defense ammunition loads in ballistic gel with analysis and video.

www.luckygunner.com

Edit: You heard correctly...I cant get more than the FIRST SHOT with FLAT NOSE ammo! Does NOT work in the P238!

 

[Markbsae]

SIG SAUER Elite V-Crown .380 ACP 90-Grain Centerfire​

This is the .380 ACP JHP ammo I use in my P238...Runs without any Problems!
According to LUCKY GUNNER Ballistic tests a few years back, The Sig V-Crown was one of the BEST performing!

Handgun Self-Defense Ammunition - Ballistic Testing Data

Lucky Gunner tests more than 110 different 9mm, 45 ACP, 40 S&W and 380 ACP handgun self-defense ammunition loads in ballistic gel with analysis and video.

www.luckygunner.com

Edit: You heard correctly...I cant get more than the FIRST SHOT with FLAT NOSE ammo! Does NOT work in the P238!

I use this in my LC380CA, MAX 9 and in my P2000sk. It feeds really well.

 

[five.five-six]

Khar P380. 6+1 single stack. Very handy.

 

[Wolkenflieger]

Update! I bought a Ruger LCP Max 75th Anniversary Edition today with the stainless slide! On-roster and new-in-box, now in CA jail. Got a couple mags and the last of the .380 they had and will order some recommended ammo too.

The person at the gun shop assured me that the Riverside IA would not balk at internal mods for comfort, such as a trigger/guide rod/spring from MCarbo or Galloway and Hogue or similar grips. I hope that's true as i intend to have mods in place before adding a gun to a new CCW license.

Thanks everyone for your recommendations so far!

Looking for good pocket holster recommendations for either the LCP Max and P238!

 

[brokehands]

 

[five.five-six]

Update! I bought a Ruger LCP Max 75th Anniversary Edition today with the stainless slide! On-roster and new-in-box, now in CA jail. Got a couple mags and the last of the .380 they had and will order some recommended ammo too.

The person at the gun shop assured me that the Riverside IA would not balk at internal mods for comfort, such as a trigger/guide rod/spring from MCarbo or Galloway and Hogue or similar grips. I hope that's true as i intend to have mods in place before adding a gun to a new CCW license.

Thanks everyone for your recommendations so far!

Looking for good pocket holster recommendations for either the LCP Max and P238!

I don’t know of anyone who the Riverside CCW unit has even seen any of their guns.


If you ever had to use it, I’d expect they’d go through it with a fine tooth comb though.

My wife loves her LCP 380, she even got a laser for it! Not my cup of tea but it is a fantastic firearm. Reliable and easy to operate (cleaning is a pita) it’s plenty accurate, thin and durable. I make 1 messy hole at 5 yards on a paper target.

 

[Wolkenflieger]

I don’t know of anyone who the Riverside CCW unit has even seen any of their guns.

Oh that's interesting. It's just a list? That answers a lot of questions.

 

[Wolkenflieger]

SIG P238 HD: Why are these impossible to find? There are two HD variants on the CA roster.

I hate the look of the two tone but I guess aftermarket grips would sort that out right?

 

[Wolkenflieger]

Based on various comments here and on YouTube, I went ahead and ordered the parts I needed from M*Carbo to improve the LCP Max;

Short-Stroke Flat trigger
Trigger Spring Kit
Stainless Steel Guide Rod
Heavy-Duty Stress-Proof Takedown Pin
Gunsmith Shank Installation Tool

This may seems like overkill but I think I will enjoy the install process too. If the gun shoots as well as it can I'm more likely to want to keep it and carry it once I'm qualified.

 

[81W-Sig]

Yes, I just read that too. I can't modify a P365 for .380 even if it's legal to do so for a non-carry gun. I'm in Riverside County and they probably won't allow it.

I see that the Shield Plus is also on roster, though this gun seems to be 9mm only.

I've never seen a Bersa but would love to shoot their version of a carry gun.

Looks like I should just buy the Sig P238 and the Ruger LCP Plus on the same DROS as suggested. Won't break the bank and I can always sell one later. High praise for these two!

I am selling my P238 and LCP Max in January. DM me if you want to PPT and save on tax.