I recommend three .380's: the Bersa Thunder Combat; the Beretta 84 FS; and the Beretta 85 FS. My Bodyguard .380 is the only S&W "problem child" I've ever had and cannot recommend it as an EDC firearm.
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I recommend three .380's: the Bersa Thunder Combat; the Beretta 84 FS; and the Beretta 85 FS. My Bodyguard .380 is the only S&W "problem child" I've ever had and cannot recommend it as an EDC firearm.
hey chief, what dont you like about the bodyguard?
I don't know the answer, in terms of the SIG 238. But I do know about the 1911 platform, and its clones.
If there is a "half-cock" notch on the 238's hammer, most probably it really is not a half-cock notch. Putting the sear-nose into that notch will not make the pistol safe.
The "half-cock" notch on any 1911 clone serves only to catch the falling hammer, if the user bobbles the thumb-cocking operation starting from Condition Two.
(If the instruction-book which accompanies a 238 contradicts me, then, in that case only, I stand corrected.)
Yes.... the Sig P238's hammer does go in a half cocked position.
The Insight laser set screw will back out of its seat (even with blue loctite applied) after putting several hundred rounds through it in a single range session. This will disable the slide "return" function, keeping the firearm out of battery and make it very difficult to disassemble the pistol. I realize this little pistol probably wasn't made for this punishment, but I will only trust my safety to a firearm that will routinely perform flawlessly under these conditions. All the other firearms I own do so without a problem. I'm very leery of recommending the BG 380 to others until I have several successful extended range sessions with the "new & improved" screw in place under my belt. It troubles me because I love S&W firearms (own many of them). I also can't believe S&W hasn't done more to address this well documented design flaw. BTW - taking the BG to the range today - will provide an update.
The wording there is a bit ambiguous. Is the intent the girlfriend would know there is a weapon handy should she need it or do you anticipate needing a gun to defend yourself against your girlfriend? Certainly a valid case can be made for both. If you are gone and she is alone in your bed she may well need access to it for protection. If she is gone and you are not alone in your bed you may well need it for protection from her when she arrives unannounced. There are certainly other possibilities for the meaning behind what was written, particularly if you are married! Though it is a good idea to keep posts brief and to the point, sometimes a few extra words are a really good idea. ;)
Update for batcat and anyone else who may be interested: I put 325 rounds downrange through the BG 380 this morning in under 2 hours - this was the pistol's debut with the new screw (fortified with a dab of blue Loctite and torqued down with the new wrench). For the first time with this pistol that I've owned for 3 months, I got that "I love my Smitties" feeling. Hopefully, this performance will continue.
I had to go with "other" here. As far as the mouse gun .380's go, I still believe that the Ruger LCP is one of the best on the market. The Bodyguard is pretty good, with the laser and all, but it's kinda "busy" with slide stops and safeties and all. Lets face it, a gun like this just needs to come out quick and put bullets on the bad guy efficiently, and at a distance of ten to fifteen feet, I think the laser and all the extra controls just make things more complicated - even in low light. This of course is just my humble opinion.
deba here; first post from new mem. my .02c worth don't forget to take a look at the taurus 738 good luck on whatever sel. u make!
10-4. Other than this issue, which I believe S&W is now adequately addressing with a different screw, I love the BG 380. I won't use it as a carry gun until I have several more successful range visits with it.
I've been carrying mine for some time now.........I don't shoot the heck out of it, but, it's not meant for that...........use Rem. UHD 102 gr.
I had a Beretta 84fs.........very nice, but too large and heavy for carry, for me. Otherwise, nice firearm.
I have two Beretta 84BB's. I really don't think of them as a compact .380, but rather, a mid-sized handgun.
I do have a S&W BodyGuard, but still wouldn't mind having a true sub-compact .380.
If you are looking for a sub-compact .380 you might want to take a look at the Masterpiece Arms .380 Protector. Same size and weight as a Seecamp .380 and can be bought for around $300.00. It is an all steel gun and very well made especially when you take the price point into consideration. Purchased mine last fall to replace a NAA Guardian .32 that I have used for about 15 years as "my gun when I could not carry a gun". Have put about 250 rounds through it with no problems at all. Also, taking size and no sights into consideration it is very accurate - 6" at 21'. If it is a sub-compact .380 you desire well worth looking into. Check their web site.
Um, if the SIG 238 has a "safety intercept notch," it is not a half-cock safety.
Instead, it is a holdover from the original M1911 design, meant to catch a falling hammer when the pistol's user bobbles a thumb-cocking maneuver (or if the full-cock notch fractures).
It is not a safe place to leave a semi-auto's hammer.
Single-action semi-autos could be carried in Condition Two, with the hammer down on a loaded chamber.
Although Condition Two is a perfectly safe carry mode in a "flying firing-pin" design like the M1911, bringing the gun to Condition One by thumb cocking is not a safe maneuver. It is all too easy to accidentally let the hammer slip out from beneath the thumb. In that case, if the hammer falls far enough, even a flying-firing-pin gun could be induced to discharge.
Just getting the pistol from Condition One into Condition Two is seen by many experienced shooters as an unsafe maneuver, also because of the possibility of slipping the hammer as it's being lowered. Because of that, the "safety intercept notch" is there to catch the falling hammer before it contacts the firing pin.
If SIG refers to this notch as a "safety intercept," I have to assume that they know what they're talking about. They designed the pistol (or, rather, they adapted an existing, older design). If it were a true half-cock notch, SIG would call it that.
Therefore, it is not a half-cock safety, and it should never be used as if it were one.
I don't think anyone called it a "safety" if so I missed it. It would not be what I call a safety, however it is a safety feature.
Bersa .380 Thunder and ignore that it is made in Argentina.Great carry piece,great value.
Just realized this thereafter is over a year old, hopefully the Op has bought his gun since then...