Best small .380 EDC gun on CA Roster?

[Wolkenflieger]

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

I'd be interested in your P238 if it's the HD version! Besides that, I wouldnt buy used just to save tax since the stainless/aluminum is on-roster and easy to find. Also hate the look of it but that can be changed...namely those plastic-looking off-color panels on the CA two-tone.

The HD though, I'd definitely PPT one!

 

[drinktothat421]

Just rock the p365 in 9mm. Id only put a 380 like a ppk or cheetah on my ccw for the vibe check.

 

[Wolkenflieger]

Just rock the p365 in 9mm. Id only put a 380 like a ppk or cheetah on my ccw for the vibe check.

What do you mean by "vibe check"? Is this a check for your IA?

 

[drinktothat421]

What do you mean by "vibe check"? Is this a check for your IA?

Like cool guy gun. I have my hd p4 a dr920p a g34 p365 xmacro and a j frame 5 shot revolver. I carry the xmarco daily. The other for like camping or working armed.

 

[Wolkenflieger]

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!

Thanks for the recommendation!

I ended up putting together a little sampler pack from Target Sports USA;

Sellier & Bellot XRG-D 380 ACP AUTO Ammo 77 Grain Copper Hollow Point

Remington HTP 380 ACP Auto Ammo 88 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point

Sig Sauer Elite Performance 380 ACP Auto Ammo 100 Grain Full Metal Jacket

Aguila 380 ACP Auto Ammo 95 Grain Full Metal Jacket

These are all different price points but no flat nose, so I'll see what I like from the LCP Max. I may also bring some ammo to my local range which has a nice assortment of small EDC guns for rent, which I tried a couple months back. They had an LCP Max, Sig P238, Hellcat (which I didn't like at all), and a P365 which I thought was great but it's a little bigger (still very EDC-capable). Unfortunately, I can't remember the nuance of the little guns I tried as I was just starting my research back then. Some of them were terrible, though the terrible ones weren't the LCP Max or SIG P238.

I bought some choice mods for the Max which I may install before the first shot.

Amazing how much more .380 ammo is compared to 9mm! Some of these rounds are <$1 per round, such as those from Corbon.

 

[DJD100]

Thanks for the recommendation!

I ended up putting together a little sampler pack from Target Sports USA;

Sellier & Bellot XRG-D 380 ACP AUTO Ammo 77 Grain Copper Hollow Point

Remington HTP 380 ACP Auto Ammo 88 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point

Sig Sauer Elite Performance 380 ACP Auto Ammo 100 Grain Full Metal Jacket

Aguila 380 ACP Auto Ammo 95 Grain Full Metal Jacket

These are all different price points but no flat nose, so I'll see what I like from the LCP Max. I may also bring some ammo to my local range which has a nice assortment of small EDC guns for rent, which I tried a couple months back. They had an LCP Max, Sig P238, Hellcat (which I didn't like at all), and a P365 which I thought was great but it's a little bigger (still very EDC-capable). Unfortunately, I can't remember the nuance of the little guns I tried as I was just starting my research back then. Some of them were terrible, though the terrible ones weren't the LCP Max or SIG P238.

I bought some choice mods for the Max which I may install before the first shot from the LCP Max.

Amazing how much more .380 ammo is compared to 9mm! Some of these rounds are <$1 per round, such as those from Corbon.

IMO the copper fluted nose solids are the way to go with short barreled 380's, things like these...

https://lehighdefense.com/ld-ammunition/ld-ammo-380-auto.html

https://www.black-hills.com/shop/honeybadger/380-automatic-hb/

...assuming you've tested which ever thoroughly and they function well in whatever you choose!

 

[H. Bowman]

Where are you located? I have a Glock 42 I'd sell for a reasonable price.

 

[Wolkenflieger]

Where are you located? I have a Glock 42 I'd sell for a reasonable price.

Riverside County. That wasn't on my radar. PM deets!

 

[hlcarbine]

I absolutely love my p238. I rented one at an indoor range and bought one the next day. Im a 1911 guy and was able to put 4 rounds through the same hole. Ive tried the p365 in 380 and its nice but the p238 is a little smaller. My IA would only allow a p365 in 380 if I qualified with it and kept it in that configuration for carry. I couldn't switch back and forth between 9 and 380 on the same gun

 

[petargray]

Nobody running Speed Gold Dot for .380 carry ammo?

 

[H. Bowman]

Riverside County. That wasn't on my radar. PM deets!

Being off roster, it can't be shipped. I posted an ad for it this morning since I'll be driving through several northern CA counties on Saturday and would have been willing to schedule my drive to meet up with someone at a local FFL and sell it for 400 bucks but Ikeo deleted the ad and won't let me post it. I'll just put the thing on gunbroker I guess.

 

[Wolkenflieger]

I absolutely love my p238. I rented one at an indoor range and bought one the next day. Im a 1911 guy and was able to put 4 rounds through the same hole. Ive tried the p365 in 380 and its nice but the p238 is a little smaller. My IA would only allow a p365 in 380 if I qualified with it and kept it in that configuration for carry. I couldn't switch back and forth between 9 and 380 on the same gun

High praise for the P238! Do you have the HD or stainless/aluminum variant? Which county are you in? Asking since they were going to allow .380 on a P365 and if you're in Riverside County it gives me another option. Thanks!

 

[hlcarbine]

High praise for the P238! Do you have the HD or stainless/aluminum variant? Which county are you in? Asking since they were going to allow .380 on a P365 and if you're in Riverside County it gives me another option. Thanks!

The p238 is on roster and im in San Bernardino. The only thing they cared about was the model, serial, and caliber of pistol. I got an off roster p365, p320 xten comp, and p238 on my card. I carry the p238 during the day because it really comfortable. P365 XL at night with a green dot and light. P320 Xten comp for hiking, backpacking and hunting.

 

[luna323]

P365 with the .380 conversion kit is pretty nice, and is optics ready too.

It is not that easy, for CCW you can only shoot what your gun is registered as.

 

[luna323]

I have the P365 with the X frame, I was not a good shooter with the stock frame. I also have the S&W shield plus which I am also a good shooter with the magazine extension. I purchased the .380 slide, spring, barrel and magazines for the p365 thinking it would make me a better p365 shooter but my problem was not recoil, it was grip. Have the LCP Max and I love how small it is but I need to practice more with it before I can't carry it, also the lcp max magazine extension helped a lot. Now that I have a better grip and more practice I can shoot the p365 and shield plus in 9mm. I hope my story helps you save money .

 

[Skilly]

There is a P365 on CA roster but I don't know if a Riverside IA would approve the .380 modification for carry.

Riverside doesn't have any restrictions related to these kind of modifications that I could find. Outside of CoCo, I'm pretty sure these "restrictions" are guesses, with some exceptions of course (I didnt look extensively). The place that you are taking your cert will be able to tell you for sure. The Alameda Sheriff thought about eliminating red dots for a hot minute and quickly retracted the thought.

A post up a couple of spots up said it best - explaining modifications should be in the pursuit of making the gun safer and more controllable. A 380 is going to be easier to manage than a 9mm and could be defended as that - avoiding risk. Other than checking serial numbers, there was no inspection to verify anything non-OEM.

Im not sure how they know what the specifications were during your cert; however, in places like Riverside or Orange County, If you do the mods AFTER you cert on the gun you are supposed to re-submit them for review.

 

[RustyIron]

Colt Government .380 ???

 

[old tech]

Don't pass on a Sig P232. Beautiful little guns, shoot right where you aim them. Surprisingly, still on the roster. Can be shipped to Ca.
They are readily available on GB.

 

[Wolkenflieger]

Don't pass on a Sig P232. Beautiful little guns, shoot right where you aim them. Surprisingly, still on the roster. Can be shipped to Ca.
They are readily available on GB.

Thanks for the recommendation! This looks somewhat similar to my CZ 75 D PCR. I've read good things about the 232's accuracy and shooting where it's pointed.

The gun I'm searching for now is a P238 HD, which seems like a rare bird these days. I'm willing to trade my CZ 2075 RAMI for one and a little cash.

 

[kodenko]

P238 is the only answer here. Honestly one of my favorite guns that I picked up on a whim and anyone I know who sold theirs is either looking for another, or have picked up a replacement.