I chose the Taurus PT738 as my first venture into the CC world. I got it for just over $200 at a local shop recommended by a family member. So far I'm pleased. I've shot 50 S&B rounds, about 30 American Eagle, 70 Winchester white box, and a few mags of Hornady Critical Defense. The only reason I haven't shore more is I'm between jobs for a few weeks and since I still have some AE and Hornady left I can't justify extra right this minute. I will shoot it quite a bit more when I'm working again. With the Winchester I experience a FTE twice. The other brands worked fine. I believe it to be because of the shape of the Winchester tips. They are flat nosed where the other FMJ models are rounded.

The only semi-odd thing I've noticed is when the pistol is loaded and I'm ready to shoot if I draw the trigger really slow the trigger doesn't always want to release immediately. I have to pull a little more swiftly and it works every time. In dry fire practice this has never happened. Has anyone else experience this?

I do plan to upgrade to a larger caliber later this year when I've become more comfortable having a weapon on me always. I think the Ruger LC9 will be my choice for my next primary CCW. Size wise it is only slightly larger so I think it will make a nice IWB carry model.

My P3AT and P32 have NEVER failed to go bang when the trigger was pulled. Ruger copied the P3AT because it worked.

I had an LCP and carried it for a while then one day I had a friend over and we had a ND in the garage (gun pointed in a safe direction) and it hit an axe handle and all it did was crack the wood and wedged in the axe head long short it didn’t make the grade.

Foot lbs of energy for a 380 is only 168 lbs as were 9mm is in the 350 lbs range at the muzzle

Originally Posted by barstoolguru

I had an LCP and carried it for a while then one day I had a friend over and we had a ND in the garage (gun pointed in a safe direction) and it hit an axe handle and all it did was crack the wood and wedged in the axe head long short it didn’t make the grade.

Foot lbs of energy for a 380 is only 168 lbs as were 9mm is in the 350 lbs range at the muzzle

168 foot pounds of hollow point in a bad guy's chest should be plenty enough to make his day turn bad pretty fast though. Even a shot in his leg or foot will make his day suck pretty bad.

I know .380 isn't the biggest or baddest round out there but going into human flesh it's plenty enough to give you an advantage over a dumb criminal.

Originally Posted by MikeyMike

I cc an LCP .380 everyday. I sold the LC9 to get it. The LC9 is an unreliable piece of garbage, IMHO, and will not own another.

Interesting comment Mike, you must of had a bad LC9. Mine has been very reliable and fairly easy to shoot accurately. I admit that I shoot tighter groups with my glock(due to the diff in the triggers) but the LC9 puts up tight enough groups for a pocket pistol. I also prefer the 9mm LC9 round to the 380 LCP just for a little more power, and find the LC9 to have much better sites. I'm not being critical of the LCP cause I would love to own one someday, I just chose the LC9 first for the above reason and haven't regretted it yet.

Originally Posted by stantheman1976

168 foot pounds of hollow point in a bad guy's chest should be plenty enough to make his day turn bad pretty fast though. Even a shot in his leg or foot will make his day suck pretty bad.

I know .380 isn't the biggest or baddest round out there but going into human flesh it's plenty enough to give you an advantage over a dumb criminal.

The FBI standard for penetration in 14 inches, a chest shot is great but that doesn’t happen most of the time. Say his arm gets in the way and you hit it; that gives him a second chance to shoot back. With a more powerful round it will go through the arm and still hit the chest. remember trama kills, not the bullet

I did not vote since I have no experience with any of the pistols you have listed. Many years ago I bought my Sig Sauer P230 and I haven't looked back. My P230 is smooth accurate and fits my hand nicely for a small pistol. I also have a PPk/s, which bites the hand that feeds and fires it. That little stinker.

Vv

LCP .380 & two spare mags; get you the Tagua IWB leather holster with belt clip in LH and it fits your SOB perfectly for RH draw, and it works great in your pull on boots as well. Get the Tagua double mag holder & your all set. Enough gun and ammo to get you out of whatever you got into and to your bigger guns ...

Originally Posted by MikeyMike

LCP .380 & two spare mags; get you the Tagua IWB leather holster with belt clip in LH and it fits your SOB perfectly for RH draw, and it works great in your pull on boots as well. Get the Tagua double mag holder & your all set. Enough gun and ammo to get you out of whatever you got into and to your bigger guns ...

I carry mt Taurus TCP in pocket with a Galco holster. I chose that method for multiple reasons. I'm a large guy with a flat butt so my pants tend to sag a bit naturally without having a pistol (even a small one) pulling them down more. I've also heard a couple reports of police receiving serious spinal injuries from falling when they were carrying their radio or BUG SOB.

I plan to upgrade my primary carry to a PT709 slim or Ruger LC9 in a few months and will likely choose IWB at that time but for now I'm good with where I'm at.

Even though the LCP is a remake of the P-3AT, I think the remake is an improvment.

Of those three, I'd go with the LCP. However, I'd take a Sig P238 over any of those three any day. Sure it's more costly, but it's better made, customizable, sports a sweet SA trigger and (gasp!) actual useable sights.

Having said that, I'd take a Sig P938 over the P238. 9mm is cheaper to shoot and it has superior ballistics compared to the more expensive .380 ACP.

this initial post is so old it should be deleted
i don't think the p238 was even out when the post was made
i used to own an LCP but couldn't shoot even 50 rounds at the range before i quit -
i wonder if the p238 has better springs and recoils less
now little 9mms are out and the p938 looks like a BIG winner - not striker fired - but has an exposed hammer for cocked and locked