I have the Bodyguard .380 and your description of the trigger pull as being like a double action revolver is spot on. I think people who don't like it are disappointed that it doesn't have the shorter, lighter trigger of a striker gun. Personally, I find the long, heavy pull comforting with it in my pocket.
100% agree. One in the chamber, no holster required, only a belt clip. That makes for a fav small light comfy piece, that actually gets carried. Micro 9s will seem like a total PITA after the Bodyguard. Add a green Armalaser and its crazy accurate. 20 yard fist sized, check. Fiocchi runs solid. Mag extensions allow a full grip, hinder carry little. Recoil is moot, its a 380.
Worst gun I ever owned. Could not hit anything and the firing pin broke. I will never buy a S&W or anything advertised by Jerry Miculek again. I now carry a LCP Max and consider it the best gun I have ever bought.
My love for the 380 began over 40 years ago with my AMT Backup. This pistol traveled all over the country with me on back packing, climbing and hunting trips. When the LCP came out I was the first in line to get the same ballistic punch while carrying half the weight. Now my Glock 42 is in the rotation also and has never jamed. I find plenty of self defense load options, but Critical Defense are hard to beat. Thank you for the great video!
Ah sure but with due bias. In this video for instance, he mentions wanting to focus on truly pocketable pistols but completely leaves out the Seecamp 380 or NAA Guardian in 380. Both of these two shooters are built for absolute minute size and the Seecamp in 380 is known for it's quality. In another video he reviews the NAA 22 mini revolvers while mentioning their size is their biggest selling point (true) and then goes on to recommend larger pistols which completely negates the purpose of the NAA mini. Anywho, yes good info but tinged with much bias from time to time.
I have a P238 which is my first auto loader purchased a couple of years ago when I first got my CCW. I've live in California for over 60 years and never felt the need for anything like this until recently. All my other experience is with revolvers (little) and hunting long guns (a lot). The safety has never been a problem, probably because it is a part of operating a hunting weapon, except that I use the off hand to re-engage it. I have never had a failure, FMJ, hollow point, xtreme defender, nothing, never. I really love this gun! I understand there were problems with the P238 in the past, at a certain point they were fixed, and there are not problems with guns manufactured after that. It would be useful if anecdotal comments of 'some are good' and 'some are bad' would include the relative age of the gun. Maybe it could be narrowed down to 'all are bad' and 'all are good' depending on the age of the gun. I think this is a good choice with the xtreme defender but would trade it immediately for a P938 if they were available in California. I would recommend a P238 to anyone.
There is a Gen 1 vs Gen 2 design change which occurred sometime in 2015. Also, some of the early magazine designs contributed to FTF issues. I have a P238 and it is 100% reliable.
I recently had a local PD officer explain to me how much of an advantage a legally armed civilian with a small pocket 380 has over an assailant in a self defense encounter in that the pistol can be easily concealed yet withdrawn pretty quickly if need be. That's why of all the pocket 380's out there, I chose the M&P 380 bodyguard. The double strike capability and S&W's reputation was the deal maker for me...
Maannn....Can I say how much I appreciate your video presentations? You're calm, focused, provide clear specific information, cause-effect insight. Thank you!
You are in my top 3 firearm related channels. Love your content!!! You always shoot it to us straight, after your personal experiences with a particular gun. Good, or bad. And, I respect your opinions, because I can just tell when someone has put in the work. You, my friend, are a breath of fresh air.
Now that summer is here I love carrying my LCP. With the 7 round mag and one in the pipe along with the stock 6 round mag as a spare. Very light and comfortable in the pocket. I also painted the front sight orange and it glows well for a dark pistol. I love it.
The overall production of your videos is off the hook. Some of your videos I have watched multiple times. I appreciate the thoroughness and objectivity of your presentations. I also appreciate the lack of obnoxious background music. Will buy ammo from you. Thank you for the content!
I’m 60 with a dominant wrist/thumb injury. The Glock 42 is perfect for my small hands and current injury status. I can easily rack, whereas the 43 was impossible. Shooting accuracy was easy, maybe small people (5’2) with small guns don’t experience the issues that larger people tend to experience with them? I’m just glad I found something to help me secure my home should these upheavals roll into our residential area, and I can’t wait to start competition shooting and meeting all you nice A2 supporters 🇺🇸
Yes ma'am! My mom carries the 42. Pretty much for the same reasons. It perfectly fits her hands. She broke her wrist a couple of years ago and had to find something she could shoot well with her other hand while her dominant was healing. She figured she would switch back after her wrist healed but she never did.
Great video. Thanks for putting this together. I am a repeat customer, new to firearms and bought my first-ever box of ammunition from you earlier this year and have since purchased more. You covered a lot of information here with these micro 380s. I learned a lot
I have a Ruger custom and a Sig P238 and when I need a pocket pistol I reach for my Ruger custom. Not because I've had problems with my P238, I haven't, it's always been reliable. My Ruger custom is just a great gun to carry in a pocket.
there is no right or wrong answer here, just a matter of what someone likes better, I prefer the LCP Custom trigger to the LCII trigger so much I sold my LCPII.
Love my SW Bodyguard!! Fits great in the pocket and fires without problems. Wear it with the extended magazines.. My only issue is that my wife liked it so much she took it :-(
I loved my bg .380 gave it to my son when he turned 21 and got his ccl now I’ve got a lcp2 and love it to but haven’t fired it enough to decide if I like it better the the bg
I chose the M&P Bodyguard 380 over the G42, LCP, and LCP II after shooting them all extensively. I carry it quite a bit. Hornady CD all the way. Buy plenty of spare mags and rotate frequently. 380 mags...ALL of them...tend to wear out quickly.
@@Shinobi1Kenobi u shot lcp 2 and g42 but u ended up with the bodyguard(worst gun)? Lol. U lost your mind. Bodyguard has the worst long trigger. It shoots like shit. Lmao
@troytruong8246 lol why are you hating on someone else's preferences? I rented all these before I decided to get the body guard as well. If you've shot revolvers, then you'd probably feel more comfortable with it. The trigger itself has a very predictable wall before it breaks. Plus, the double strike capability ads a lot of peace of mind.
I'd love to see a Part 2 with compact size options. Bersa Thunder Plus, PPK/s, Shield EZ, RIA Baby Rock etc. What you lose in "carry-ability" puts you in the same category of many 9mm guns. But what you gain in "shoot-ability" vs similarly sized 9mm guns is interesting to think about.
Sold both my 1st & 2nd design LCP's and picked up a G42, Love that pistol !! With that being said, I have never been without a gun and have never felt under gunned when I carry .380
I like how confident and opinionated you are. It is refreshing and entertaining and your so professional about how you say it. I like your videos. Keep it up. I would love to see a video on firearm trends, and past and future firearm technology disruptions… (e.g., 1911, polymer style). I feel like firearms have to way behind where they can when compared to the progress we’ve observed with computers, cars, and mountain bikes. What is next? Who is bringing it? What will make the world safer for my kids? The fact that you mention in another video that people are shooting 50 year old walthers and Makarovs over current offerings is a case in point. I’d like to see bigger scope of discussion beyond comparisons. Maybe you guys can bring it?
The Hogue grip that is made specifically for the LCP (custom and regular) is a blessing. Makes the grip a little wider and easier to grip and absorbs some of that micro pistol recoil.
Since many people pop for these to thicken the grip a bit. Ruger should take a hint and release a slightly thicker LCP with a staggered higher-capacity magazine...
If you're going to carry an LCP/LCP Custom, I would recommend using Ruger's extended 7 round mag. Helps give a bit extra grip. DeSantis Super Fly holster is a great pair for pocket carry.
Great advice. I've been rocking an LCP with a Veridian Reactor TL and pocket holster for a little over 3 years. My only complaint? Last time I drew it I didn't have to shoot it. The strobe light gained compliance way too quickly.
I too used a Ruger factory 7rd .380acp extra magazine. I used the DeSantis Nemesis model holster with the mag holder. I considered buying a add on Hogue Hand All but I did not keep the LCP ll. It's not well made or engineered. The stupid retaining pin will scuff, mar the frame. I used no lead Inceptor brand ammunition & the Winchester Bass Pro series SXT training brand. For CCW I used Underwood Ammo .380acp loads(great stuff).
I agree the 7rd is a must. Also if you haven't I put a houge grip sleeve on mine. Wow did it make a difference fits my hand perfect now. Worth the extra width as I can shoot it a lot better.
What a fabulous education! Wifey wants a concealed carry and this video is a great start in assisting us to choose. Really enjoy your channel that we just discovered. Thanks.
Springfield Armory 911 380 with an IWB kydex holster! It is one of my carry guns when clothing and/or circumstances require something small a discreet. It likes Federal and Speer range/target ammo. For defensive ammo it didn't like Hornady CD FTE (feed issues maybe due to the pointed nose), but loves Remington HTP. All my carry guns have an external safety, and yes they do require practice (not a bad thing) to automatically release the safety. They all have a safety that is easy to deactivate from a firing grip, which is more important than activating. Your ballistics tests are great and I have used them to aid in my 380 ACP and 9mm ammo selections. MANY THANKS!
When I first purchased my S&W Bodyguard I hated it. I hated the very long trigger pull, PU! So I put it away and contemplated selling it. Shortly after a friend at work talked me into shooting steel plate matches. He was a big revolver guy and soon all I was shooting was revolvers. My 1911's and HK's soon were put away for the wheel guns. So, three years learning to shoot revolvers and getting very proficient shooting them, I broke out my S&W Bodyguard from the closet and wallah! I could shoot the BG quite well, due in part to my years of shooting revolvers. I got so use to shooting long trigger pulls that the BG fit right into my shooting style. My BG goes with me just about every time I leave the house, especially in summer where it can slip into any pocket. I LOVE it now.
Every one of your reviews is a brilliant ad surprisingly thoughtful. Well done. This is an asset to all gunner worldwide. What would be nice to see in future is practical tasks being carried out while concealing compacts/sub compacts with different holsters. We all love seeing the performance of the guns, but in that moment when you really need it that doesn't matter as much as whether you are carrying it or not. Keep up the great work!
I have an S&W Bodyguard .380 I like this pistol BECAUSE of it's "revolver like" feel. I'm "Old School", and have carried "J"s (and even "K"s! - Love me that K frame!). I actually like the relatively long trigger pull, and DAO is fine with me because I for decades was a revolver shooter, this is the "feel" I understand.
I carried revolvers for 20 years and finally realized they just don't hit as well as a semi-auto, and are not as concealable. The double action only semi-autos don't hit well either. LCP max rocks.
As a backup I carry a North American Arms .380 Guardian. This little .380 is built like a German tank with its all stainless steel construction and it also has a stiffer trigger pull ( 10 lbs. ) that allows me to pocket carry it without the worry of a negligent discharge, plus it holds 6 rounds in the magazine plus one in the chamber giving me 7 rounds. This little Beast shoots every time I squeeze the trigger and as a backup gun I wouldn’t carry anything else!
I really love the trigger on my LCP2. I would trade increased trigger weight for trigger crispness any day. It is my favorite of all the polymer pocket .380s.
F.B.I. data shows that 88% of all defensive shootings occur within 25 feet or less. So, pocket pistols are fine for the majority of all self-defense situations that you're likely to be in. A concealable pistol not only adds the element of surprise, but it's extremely difficult for someone to "knock the gun out of your hand." I've seen angry mobs sneak up on a person and pull a large gun out of a guy's hands. With a pocket pistol, each of your hands envelopes the gun.
I have an old Keltec P3at I’ve had for many years and it’s served me well. Snappy, sure. Never failed though. Bunch of rounds and easy to carry anywhere. Good video series on all these calibers and designs. One of the best gun channels.
This was the best gun review I've ever watched on TH-cam. Excellent job!! You're obviously incredibly knowledgeable, and you articulate what is most important when researching a new potential firearm for purchase.
I own a S&W Bodyguard and appreciate the long and hard trigger pull. Keep in mind that the use of this weapon will be at a range of five feet, more or less. It is not a target shooter. This weapon will be used at a moment of extreme stress, when a light trigger pull may result in the weapon being discharged before it’s out of the holster or pocket.
Mine is excellent as well. Of course I live in a non carry state, so I don’t to worry about it getting full of lint. Though I’ll be moving in a few weeks to a ccp state. Anyone know how to simulate pocket carry so I can test the dang thing?
@@grappler7343 NONSENSE ! If you carry a firearm then a round is to be in the chamber. I don't care how super operator you think you are, you're not going to chamber a round to deal with a threat. That Israeli stuff is pure rubbish. Use a pocket holster
I started watching your videos recently. I wasn't expecting much, but you have surprised me. You're very well spoken, and very articulate. Your video's are very polished and professional looking, and they have a lot of good information in them. Keep up the good work.
I pocket carry mine every day in a desantis nemesis holster. Added a magguts +1 extension giving me 7+1. Also a pinky extension and painted the front sight white. Never had a hiccup. I'll typically run 300+ rounds at each range visit. I find it a pleasure to shoot.
@@abc456f I also carry a bodyguard on and off. i have been considering the magguts +1 spring and follower. Have you noticed any difference in reliability since you’ve switched to magguts?
I really enjoy your videos. You explain things well and to the point. I commend you on being polite and not being a potty mouth. I usually prefer revolvers for reliability. My wife and I both have ruger lcr's. I also like smith and Wesson and some others. Thank you for your integrity.
Great video. I think the Glock is to big to be included in this video but I know how popular it is so it makes sense to include it. You did a great job of describing the perils of pulling a semi auto from your pocket. That's why I prefer my S&W 637.
I really like the lcrx too. But I think of it more of a small belt gun. I'm not a big guy (around 5'9 160) and the snubbies are just a little too big for me to comfortably and pocket carry. And they print really bad lol so I went LCP2. What do you think about the lcrs chambered in .327 mag?
I’m a Phoenix native and because of that I’m constantly in basketball shorts I use to have to carry my full sized G22 in the waistband of my basketball shorts I pulled that off for years but for the last year since I’ve owned the LCP it has stayed in my pocket effortlessly and comfortably daily it’s actually smaller then my iPhone 6+ or whatever and I’m not a small guy I’m 6ft1 my hands are man sized I go out to the white tanks and put many rounds through it I’d be more then comfortable with it in a close up fight,my gfs edc is the 42 it’s probably the most comfortable to shoot not to carry.
Matt McNicholas I carry my lcp2 in a fanny pack sometimes if I need to but it’s not good for a quick draw situation but like I said I do it in desperate times when I have no choice
I like my M&P Bodyguard quite a bit, but I have put it in the safe since getting a Sig P365, except for summer days when I wear shorts. The 365 is a bit bigger, but with 13 rounds of 9mm it's got too much of an advantage for EDC.
The thing about Kahr that i like so much is you can order replacement parts and replace them yourself. they're very easy to work on w/o having to return the pistol to them. Under the slide there is a channel clean out hole, shoot some Casey gunscrubber up in there & flush out the firing pin channel, worse case is you can easily order a new firing pin & spring on Kahr's website.
I bought a cm9 and a cw380 as a set, so I could carry depending on what Im wearing ( hot climate ). Then like a genious I didnt actually test them until the warranty had expired. It turns out there is no spring to withdraw the striker in this design. It depends on inertia. So if you dry fire either one, the striker may remain extended, and when you try to put a cartridge into battery the rim of it will catch on the extended striker. And sometimes with the CM9 it happens also after firing a round. Have to manually retract the striker by shoving it in or reaching under the slide to do it that way. Ive cleaned them up really well and will go back to the range to try again but Im really, really dissappointed and angry with myself for not trying them out before. I cant believe this design. How is this supposed to function reliably? A cleared misfire, FTF, or FTE may cause the firing pin to remain extended. I find it astounding. How have they sold so many when its designed this way? Is there a way to make it work properly?
I had a lot of light strikes with a used k9 i purchased and noticed the firing pin was barely coming through the firing pin hole. Got a new firing pin from kahr and the light strikes stopped.
Glad you liked the Kahr. I have had my cw380 for over a year and it's not failed to fire once so far at the range and it shoots really well. I have a camo version of it and the magazine drags badly when trying to remove it but otherwise, I love it.
Awesome video! Love all of the comparisons with solid explanations backed up by serious range time. We own both the Kahr Arms CW380 and CT380 which is slightly longer. Both weapons have a lot of rounds through them with out malfunction, including multiple brands of hollow point. As with all Kahr Arms, the triggers are smooth, the guns are extremely accurate and their pleasures to shoot, even for a small pocket gun.
I've shot 5 of the .380s he discussed, the Kahr, the M&P Bodyguard, the Ruger LCP, and the LCP II, and the Glock. This guy knows what he is talking about, his comments are pretty much spot on. But, I had serious reliability problems with the Bodyguard wit all types of ammo. I hated the original LCP (not the custom or the 2), because it's sights were so tiny, I literally could not see them at all at my indoor range, I've never had that problem with any other gun.
BimmerGear It totally depends on the pocket! I carry mine in jeans and dress pants. I only have one or two pairs of dress pants where it feels unsecure in the pocket.
All of the cons you mentioned about small semi-auto pistols is why I carry a small revolver. I also have an LCP, but I typically only carry it in situations where it's "better than nothing".
LAPD had a large part in the bodyguard revamp. It is one of the most widely used backup/off-duty pistol in the department as long as the Lazer was deactivated. As such I can't wait to hear any stats they have after using it for it's intended purpose.
Lcp max is the best in line. I was not optimistic about the gun until I visited shooting range. Flawless, low recoil, magazine capacity 10 rounds, super compact so that I barely feel it on me. Genius engineers designed it. And I don’t understand people who carry 9mm, really why? You want your bullets penetrate walls and car doors? So then why load hollow point cartridges? 380 is center fire, has very low recoil, it is more easier to handle and carry.
How I reliability tested my M&P Bodyguard using 95 grain FMJ two mags each: Limp wristing, hold 90 degrees left, hold 90 degrees right, and hold 180 upside down... No malfunctions... Read somewhere to avoid import ammo as it may have hard primers. I only use Hornady Critical Defense and Speer FMJ. About 500 rounds total now no malfunctions.
Circular File I will second the advice to be careful about hard primers. Me mothers bodyguard will only run Hornady ammo reliability. She now has a LCR
My BG has been 100% so far with over 100 rounds through it--Am. Eagle, Lawman, and Fiocchi FMJ and Hornady American Gunner XTP and Fiocchi Extrema XTP JHPs.
I had the original lcp and now have the lcp 2 and am accurate as I'll ever need to be with them. I CAN recommend both lcp's. They're meant to save your life, not hit clay pigeons. That's why they have minimal sights
i have a glock 19 a g42 a m&p shield 2.0 9mm and a taurus g2c..my favorite is the glock 42..i also swapped the plactic recoil spring for a heavy duty tungsten steel rod..man its just awesome..also added 4 and 2 extra rounds
Great video. I’m glad you explained the different scenarios and situations when coming out of the pocket. Great video. One of the best explanation of a caliber gun I’ve seen. This is a great video.
Excellent video; tough subject. I've generally had good luck with my Sig P238 but I have had a few stupid malfunctions with it as well. To my surprise my little Beretta Pico has become my favorite pocket carry 380. I had a disappointing start with it until I fixed a defective recoil spring and guide rod. After that it has become super reliable, and I've even learned to shoot it well. Talley ho on the cleaning and lubricating advice. These little wonders seem to like lighter weight, CLP lubricants and not much of it. Anything heavier and I've had some slide operation problems that go away when I switch back to CLP or Ballistol.
I went to our local gun shop, already had and usually carried a 38 special Revolver. I looked at the Glock 42, and it wasn’t comfortable in my hand and just too big. I made the right choice, but the same choice isn’t good for everyone. That’s why I’m glad there are so many different styles of weapon. Something for everyone. Went with the LCP.
I have an RM380. Either they are very reliable or I've been lucky. Only fired 150 - 200 rounds of various cheap ammo without a single issue so far... and it was under $200 shipped.
I also have a Rem380. Have only put 100 rounds or so through it and no issues. Only thing is the removal small pin during takedown cleaning. It goes a certain way in and out Gets kinda loose too. Dont loose it! Good gun otherwise.
Thank you for sharing your take on these little guns. I once held a Beretta .380 but I didn’t get to shoot it. It felt really good in my hand and I would like to know how it stacks up against the competition. So, please review more little .380 “pocket guns”.
I loved my s&w .38 snubbie but I got rid of it which I greatly regret I got rid of it because I honestly couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn with it as a former cop I took great pride in my shooting never scoring less than 95% only once did I shoot my duty weapon under 100% but I couldn’t for the life of me get accurate with it not a bad gun it was all me!
Love my Beretta Pico. It never makes any of these lists, but I still love it. It's not as snappy as the LCP, has good build quality and is super small. Very easy to pocket carry.
I wonder why the Bersa 380 didn't make your list? I've owned 1 for years shoots every time I squeeze the trigger. Reliable easy to CCW and fast on the draw. I brought 1 for my wife last year she loves it lite recoil and easy to shoot.
@@moregainsmoreveins5267 I have two of them and they have been 100% reliable for thousands of rounds each. The CW series is cheap junk, the regular P & K series guns are not. My K40 Elite is a fantastic hand-fitted gun.
I love shooting mine. Back in 2019 when you could get those cheap 500 rd packs of monarch steel case .380, I put several through it. It's surprisingly reliable and accurate. I only had 1 light strike/hard primer per 500 rounds of that cheap monarch. It even feeds Underwood Xtreme Penetrator which is what I carry with. The only ammo I've had reliability issues with is the Sig Sauer Elite Performance fmj with the flattened nose. It just doesn't feed that stuff at all.
Love my Taurus TCP .380 .. mine is reliable.. sites are decent for a pocket pistol a little nail polish on them helps... And it has a slide that actually locks open on the last round....360 rounds out of a brand new gun out the box no stoppages or failures to feed
@Dave Alexander I got da original second gen lcp you prolly just not confident in yourself da sights are slightly lifted so I painted em and got accessories for grip control and the trigger pull is lighter it's all preference just because you think its trash don't make it trash
@Dave Alexander I'm da 1% data not programmed like da 99% of u who sit round n watch videos n let other people opinion effect how u think about your shit without trying it take pride n yo lcp 2 it dont make it better doe dis same gun u talkin down on can put u under
@@RyedTheLightning right on! 10+1 makes it one of the best defensive 380's on there. I own 5 pistols in that caliber. The SCCY is by far the best shooting of the bunch, with the Rem. RM380 coming in second. Safe shooting to u!
Rev. Gunn. I have both those as well ,my gf actually carries the 42, I’ve been carrying my LCP exclusively for almost a year now as a edc so we go out almost weekly and put quite a few rounds through them and although the sights are what they are my groups are not bad at all and I have had absolutely no issues.
I have a Sig P238 and it was my first pistol. I do agre that you have to train with it because of the manual safety, but for me since it was my first handgun manual safety training is second nature at this point. The P238 is a small gun but I found adding Hogue grips with finger groves improves handling tremendously. Sig offers many versions of this pistol with different types of sights and I will testify that the fiber optic tritium sights (what I have) are wonderful. As for Sig P238 problems, I did have a few issues at first with fail to feed or fail to eject, but I think a lot of my issues were break in and bad aftermarket magazines (don't go cheap on magazines!). Keep the gun clean and oiled, keep the mags clean, polish the feed ramp on occassion and enjoy!
I love my lcp2! Very reliable it’s first trip to the range even fires the Lehigh rounds without issue! I’ve heard nothing but good things about this gun until the whole anti .380 review as seen here. It’s a joy to carry and glad I bought it!
I like mine a lot. Not a fan of the original LCP but the improvements on the II have made a difference. It's not a range gun it's a pocket gun. I'd rather have a long deliberate trigger pull over a smooth easy pull on a pocket gun that can possibly be pointed at my junk.
On my last range trip I had a pocket pistol range day and these are noticeably the three best shooters out of the 7 pistols I took to the range that day. The absolute best shooter and most comfortable was my Ruger LCP Max. My S&W M&P Bodyguard and Phoenix HP22a tied for second place. While the PT22, TCP, MP25 and VZ50 performed well, they were definitely not up to the level of the others, at least in my hands. I realize that the VZ50 being very similar to the PPK is a bit too big for pocket carry, it is the only 32acp pistol I own. Thanks for the video and even though it is an older video it is still quite relevant. Keep shooting bro 👍.
My CW380 has also been flawless through 700 rounds. My wife carries either her 42 or Bodyguard. For me the choice is easy for pocket carry when my 19 is just too hard to conceal. Kahr wins hands down.
@@moregainsmoreveins5267 I find my g43 too large to pocket carry... Can't imagine putting a 27 in my pocket. But if it works for you that's a fine option to have!
I know its a cheap but with a little white nail polish on the sights, the keltec p3at is a very reliable and accurate gun. I have 2 and they work great with brass ball ammo like PMC Bronze, but one of them wont cycle blazer steel case very well, but will eat hollowpoints all day and the other wont cycle hollow points but will eat up the steel case all day. I just stick to the PMC Bronze when I carry one. They are so light and can carry them anywhere with the pocket clip. My cousin has an LCP and they are great also, look a lot nicer, but function pretty much the same. Awesome video!!!!!!
I paid $165 out the door for my Ruger lcp. I shoot it great. If I could get a Glock 42 for that price I would go for it, but for under 200 I'll go with the rugers.
Cory Carlson. I got the Flat dark earth framed one so I paid $25 more then you but I also own the 42 I looove to carry my LCP and my groups are more then decent at the range that I’d be using it at so it’s been my EDC since the day I got it a year ago,I’m a huge Glock fan because they just work and I carried a G22 for yeears daily and although I did it I’m sooo much happier that I can just skip my lcp in my pocket no matter if I’m in slacks or basketball shorts.
@@Evergreen1400 I also have a Glock 43, depending the shorts sometimes I can pocket carry it. I just saw a yellow two tone Ruger lcp and I almost jumped on it. I really love the size of these lcps.
Scowler. I don’t understand why a person would ever get a hi point when for not much more you could get yourself into a Ruger that you can count on and because I’m from Arizona and have friends and family that have been employed by them I know their quality control and customer service are top grade. So I agree.
I got my Bodyguard 380 at Academy for essentially $204 during Black Friday week last year. (BG and a $75 Academy gift card for $279.) Tiny thing and I love it.
great video. if you're a 1911 or 2011 guy and really runs those guns really hard, the P238 is the most logical choice. the darn thing is utterly reliable and the safety is no longer an issue if you honest to goodness train with it
Really interesting. I have a G42, a Sig 238, and the M&P Bodyguard. I’ve never had a single problem with the G42 with around 5,000 rounds out through it. Shoots super straight and easy. I put better sights on it, along with a streamlight laser/light and plus 2 mag extensions from strike industries making it 8+1 The P238 has ran just as great with about the same round count fired through it. Again, super accurate and easy to shoot. I did have a mag release issue about a 1000 rounds ago. Called Sig, sent it in and they fixed it and sent it back within a week. The safety to me is not at all an issue. Practice with it and you’re good to go. I’m also not bothered by where it is place either. My thumb easily grabs it as I draw it from my holster. The bodyguard shoots ok, a little less rounds fired through it. I like the 238 and the G42 much better because bodyguard is double action and to fire it under duress potentially with one hand would present accuracy issues even with practice. I would much rather shoot a single action or a striker fired gun under duress. In addition to the double action, the recoil is significantly more than the other two. It is a bit smaller than the other two but that’s not enough for me to like it more. The key to being able to use your firearm in a threat situation with confidence, is to practice! Alot! Every time I would go shooting, I would put at least 300 rounds through the the firearm. The more you shoot, the more accurate you become, the better handle of recoil, and the more you force integrate solid firing habits, good muscle memory bla bla bla etc. Make no mistake, these 380 firearms will all absolutely stop bad guys, just practice your butt off and learn to run your weapon like a boss! 👍🏼
Shooting in duress? Dude, when you're being attacked it's up close and personal. Close combat. Accuracy and duress doesnt matter with a da trigger 9 lb pull. Your pistol will be up against the dudes stomach anyway.
@@thegeth4293 It mostly depends on the pants you're wearing. I don't like baggy pants or ones with pleats. The main issue for me is the length of the 42 (it's a little longer than most compact pistols and a little heavier). I have pants and jeans that have deeper pockets than others I sometimes wear, and the 42 works just fine as a pocket carry in the longer pockets. The pants with shorter pockets tend to leave the 42's grip so close to the pocket opening that I'm not comfortable carrying the gun in the pocket. On those days I use an appendix in the waist holster which works great for a 42. I have a number of guns and the 42 is by far my favorite!
@@JohnW-yv6yp yes it is a carry option as I have people who carry the Makarov and CZ82 and 83 in 380acp. It was mentioned that he would do a performance review as other YT but have yet to show any quality videos in this format presentation.
I see very few comments about the pocket carry that I own, the Sig P238. I have the HD-2 model which supposedly has all the "bugs" engineered out of it. I love this gun because it's easy to operate & very accurate. It DOES require a firm grip to function flawlessly though. I have learned this through much practice of switching between strong hand & weak hand shooting. The only malfunctions in over 1500 rounds,(just a couple), were "failures too feed" when rapid firing in my less dominant hand. Since learning this, zero issues, only fun.
You overlooked the Taurus spectrum 380 I have two of them and next to The bodyguard I would call it one of the most comfortable snag-free pocket pistols available the new LCP Max now that's a gem
Love my G42 for easy IWB with a Bladetech Klipit holster in gym shorts when I’m just running up to the store or taking the dog for a walk. I don’t pocket carry. I also had Trijicon HD’s on mine.
This is a good presentation. Thank you. You are right in saying the Walther PPK/S is not a pocket pistol. It is heavy. But I can carry mine very easily in a shoulder harness. Mine is a .32ACP, and with hot custom loads it is very hard hitting. It is my preferred conceal carry.
I have the Bodyguard .380 and your description of the trigger pull as being like a double action revolver is spot on. I think people who don't like it are disappointed that it doesn't have the shorter, lighter trigger of a striker gun. Personally, I find the long, heavy pull comforting with it in my pocket.
I agree! Love my BG.
They make a really nice trigger upgrade for not much.. deff worth the upgrade if ur carrying it..
I use one as a target pistol I always get laughs but when I hit that 4 inch grouping at 30 yards I surprise myself
100% agree. One in the chamber, no holster required, only a belt clip. That makes for a fav small light comfy piece, that actually gets carried. Micro 9s will seem like a total PITA after the Bodyguard. Add a green Armalaser and its crazy accurate. 20 yard fist sized, check. Fiocchi runs solid. Mag extensions allow a full grip, hinder carry little. Recoil is moot, its a 380.
Worst gun I ever owned. Could not hit anything and the firing pin broke. I will never buy a S&W or anything advertised by Jerry Miculek again. I now carry a LCP Max and consider it the best gun I have ever bought.
My love for the 380 began over 40 years ago with my AMT Backup. This pistol traveled all over the country with me on back packing, climbing and hunting trips. When the LCP came out I was the first in line to get the same ballistic punch while carrying half the weight. Now my Glock 42 is in the rotation also and has never jamed. I find plenty of self defense load options, but Critical Defense are hard to beat. Thank you for the great video!
You guys are making some of the best firearm related content on TH-cam. Keep it up!
I agree. No BS just good information!
Word.
Ditto that, bra. Professional and informative, with no horse hockey.
Ah sure but with due bias.
In this video for instance, he mentions wanting to focus on truly pocketable pistols but completely leaves out the Seecamp 380 or NAA Guardian in 380. Both of these two shooters are built for absolute minute size and the Seecamp in 380 is known for it's quality. In another video he reviews the NAA 22 mini revolvers while mentioning their size is their biggest selling point (true) and then goes on to recommend larger pistols which completely negates the purpose of the NAA mini.
Anywho, yes good info but tinged with much bias from time to time.
"...some of?"
I have a P238 which is my first auto loader purchased a couple of years ago when I first got my CCW. I've live in California for over 60 years and never felt the need for anything like this until recently. All my other experience is with revolvers (little) and hunting long guns (a lot). The safety has never been a problem, probably because it is a part of operating a hunting weapon, except that I use the off hand to re-engage it. I have never had a failure, FMJ, hollow point, xtreme defender, nothing, never. I really love this gun!
I understand there were problems with the P238 in the past, at a certain point they were fixed, and there are not problems with guns manufactured after that. It would be useful if anecdotal comments of 'some are good' and 'some are bad' would include the relative age of the gun. Maybe it could be narrowed down to 'all are bad' and 'all are good' depending on the age of the gun.
I think this is a good choice with the xtreme defender but would trade it immediately for a P938 if they were available in California.
I would recommend a P238 to anyone.
There is a Gen 1 vs Gen 2 design change which occurred sometime in 2015. Also, some of the early magazine designs contributed to FTF issues. I have a P238 and it is 100% reliable.
I recently had a local PD officer explain to me how much of an advantage a legally armed civilian with a small pocket 380 has over an assailant in a self defense encounter in that the pistol can be easily concealed yet withdrawn pretty quickly if need be. That's why of all the pocket 380's out there, I chose the M&P 380 bodyguard. The double strike capability and S&W's reputation was the deal maker for me...
That bodyguard is junk. Get rid of it and buy an LCP max.
@@GaryChurch-hi8kb Good for you especially with your 380 pistol micro optical sight nice !!!
I really like how it fits into my hand. Also, it's easy concealed
@@GaryChurch-hi8kbstand in front of it then Boris
@@GaryChurch-hi8kb S&W Bodyguard 2.0. One .380 to rule them all, change my mind...
Maannn....Can I say how much I appreciate your video presentations? You're calm, focused, provide clear specific information, cause-effect insight. Thank you!
You are in my top 3 firearm related channels. Love your content!!! You always shoot it to us straight, after your personal experiences with a particular gun. Good, or bad. And, I respect your opinions, because I can just tell when someone has put in the work. You, my friend, are a breath of fresh air.
It would be great to see an update to this including the Ruger LCP Max, Kahr CT380 and some other newer or updated 380 pocket rockets.
agree
Now that summer is here I love carrying my LCP. With the 7 round mag and one in the pipe along with the stock 6 round mag as a spare. Very light and comfortable in the pocket. I also painted the front sight orange and it glows well for a dark pistol. I love it.
The overall production of your videos is off the hook. Some of your videos I have watched multiple times. I appreciate the thoroughness and objectivity of your presentations. I also appreciate the lack of obnoxious background music. Will buy ammo from you. Thank you for the content!
Love my LCP 2. Lightweight, great trigger and shoot it pretty well. Highly recommend
I have 2. You don’t have issues with the mag dropping out?
I really like my lcp 2 as well. Mine fits nicely into my rear pocket. ...feels just like a wallet.
I have a P365 but I also want a LCP 2. Been looking at it for the longest lol
I hear the lcp2 can't fire +p ammo?
Prometheus Prometheus I’ve never had a mag fall out.
I’m 60 with a dominant wrist/thumb injury. The Glock 42 is perfect for my small hands and current injury status. I can easily rack, whereas the 43 was impossible. Shooting accuracy was easy, maybe small people (5’2) with small guns don’t experience the issues that larger people tend to experience with them?
I’m just glad I found something to help me secure my home should these upheavals roll into our residential area, and I can’t wait to start competition shooting and meeting all you nice A2 supporters 🇺🇸
Yes ma'am! My mom carries the 42. Pretty much for the same reasons. It perfectly fits her hands. She broke her wrist a couple of years ago and had to find something she could shoot well with her other hand while her dominant was healing. She figured she would switch back after her wrist healed but she never did.
Ahhh, Perfecta ammo...I remember that ammo when Wally World used to carry it for $13.00 a box for .380 acp. I miss you Perfecta.
I still have 5 boxes of Perfecta 9mm that i got there a few years ago for under $10/box
Great video. Thanks for putting this together. I am a repeat customer, new to firearms and bought my first-ever box of ammunition from you earlier this year and have since purchased more. You covered a lot of information here with these micro 380s. I learned a lot
I have a Ruger custom and a Sig P238 and when I need a pocket pistol I reach for my Ruger custom. Not because I've had problems with my P238, I haven't, it's always been reliable. My Ruger custom is just a great gun to carry in a pocket.
there is no right or wrong answer here, just a matter of what someone likes better, I prefer the LCP Custom trigger to the LCII trigger so much I sold my LCPII.
My favorite series in this channel. I personally don't carry a 380 pocket pistol, but I'm always intrigued by them.
Love my SW Bodyguard!! Fits great in the pocket and fires without problems. Wear it with the extended magazines.. My only issue is that my wife liked it so much she took it :-(
I like mine too. And I'm a woman. I don't find the recoil bad at all. Am Eagle, Lawman FMJ, Hornady XTP JHPs for carry.
I loved my bg .380 gave it to my son when he turned 21 and got his ccl now I’ve got a lcp2 and love it to but haven’t fired it enough to decide if I like it better the the bg
I chose the M&P Bodyguard 380 over the G42, LCP, and LCP II after shooting them all extensively. I carry it quite a bit. Hornady CD all the way. Buy plenty of spare mags and rotate frequently. 380 mags...ALL of them...tend to wear out quickly.
@@Shinobi1Kenobi u shot lcp 2 and g42 but u ended up with the bodyguard(worst gun)? Lol. U lost your mind. Bodyguard has the worst long trigger. It shoots like shit. Lmao
@troytruong8246 lol why are you hating on someone else's preferences? I rented all these before I decided to get the body guard as well. If you've shot revolvers, then you'd probably feel more comfortable with it. The trigger itself has a very predictable wall before it breaks. Plus, the double strike capability ads a lot of peace of mind.
I'd love to see a Part 2 with compact size options. Bersa Thunder Plus, PPK/s, Shield EZ, RIA Baby Rock etc. What you lose in "carry-ability" puts you in the same category of many 9mm guns. But what you gain in "shoot-ability" vs similarly sized 9mm guns is interesting to think about.
Sold both my 1st & 2nd design LCP's and picked up a G42, Love that pistol !!
With that being said, I have never been without a gun and have never felt under gunned when I carry .380
I like how confident and opinionated you are. It is refreshing and entertaining and your so professional about how you say it. I like your videos. Keep it up.
I would love to see a video on firearm trends, and past and future firearm technology disruptions… (e.g., 1911, polymer style). I feel like firearms have to way behind where they can when compared to the progress we’ve observed with computers, cars, and mountain bikes. What is next? Who is bringing it? What will make the world safer for my kids? The fact that you mention in another video that people are shooting 50 year old walthers and Makarovs over current offerings is a case in point. I’d like to see bigger scope of discussion beyond comparisons. Maybe you guys can bring it?
The Hogue grip that is made specifically for the LCP (custom and regular) is a blessing. Makes the grip a little wider and easier to grip and absorbs some of that micro pistol recoil.
Dukeq27 Yes!!!
Since many people pop for these to thicken the grip a bit. Ruger should take a hint and release a slightly thicker LCP with a staggered higher-capacity magazine...
I feel confident when I have my Smith and Wesson Bodyguard in my pocket, goes bang every time!
549charger that don’t sound very good
I have the 911 .380 & I'm going to trade it in for for bodyguard
If you're going to carry an LCP/LCP Custom, I would recommend using Ruger's extended 7 round mag. Helps give a bit extra grip. DeSantis Super Fly holster is a great pair for pocket carry.
Great advice. I've been rocking an LCP with a Veridian Reactor TL and pocket holster for a little over 3 years. My only complaint? Last time I drew it I didn't have to shoot it. The strobe light gained compliance way too quickly.
I too used a Ruger factory 7rd .380acp extra magazine. I used the DeSantis Nemesis model holster with the mag holder. I considered buying a add on Hogue Hand All but I did not keep the LCP ll. It's not well made or engineered. The stupid retaining pin will scuff, mar the frame. I used no lead Inceptor brand ammunition & the Winchester Bass Pro series SXT training brand. For CCW I used Underwood Ammo .380acp loads(great stuff).
Yes, 7 round mag and a pachmayer grip palm swell grip sleeve. Just point and shoot, and it goes bang...perfect size, 2nd gen lcp...
I agree the 7rd is a must. Also if you haven't I put a houge grip sleeve on mine. Wow did it make a difference fits my hand perfect now. Worth the extra width as I can shoot it a lot better.
Agreed. I do that with a Sticky Holster.
What a fabulous education! Wifey wants a concealed carry and this video is a great start in assisting us to choose. Really enjoy your channel that we just discovered. Thanks.
Remington RM 380 is my favorite, but also carry the Beretta 21a for a few days a week.
Springfield Armory 911 380 with an IWB kydex holster! It is one of my carry guns when clothing and/or circumstances require something small a discreet. It likes Federal and Speer range/target ammo. For defensive ammo it didn't like Hornady CD FTE (feed issues maybe due to the pointed nose), but loves Remington HTP. All my carry guns have an external safety, and yes they do require practice (not a bad thing) to automatically release the safety. They all have a safety that is easy to deactivate from a firing grip, which is more important than activating. Your ballistics tests are great and I have used them to aid in my 380 ACP and 9mm ammo selections. MANY THANKS!
When I first purchased my S&W Bodyguard I hated it. I hated the very long trigger pull, PU! So I put it away and contemplated selling it. Shortly after a friend at work talked me into shooting steel plate matches. He was a big revolver guy and soon all I was shooting was revolvers. My 1911's and HK's soon were put away for the wheel guns. So, three years learning to shoot revolvers and getting very proficient shooting them, I broke out my S&W Bodyguard from the closet and wallah! I could shoot the BG quite well, due in part to my years of shooting revolvers. I got so use to shooting long trigger pulls that the BG fit right into my shooting style. My BG goes with me just about every time I leave the house, especially in summer where it can slip into any pocket. I LOVE it now.
Yep. Got a 38 special first, so a little trigger pull does not scare me. Pretty sure I can hit a guy at 7-10 feet with either it or a 380...
Every one of your reviews is a brilliant ad surprisingly thoughtful. Well done. This is an asset to all gunner worldwide. What would be nice to see in future is practical tasks being carried out while concealing compacts/sub compacts with different holsters. We all love seeing the performance of the guns, but in that moment when you really need it that doesn't matter as much as whether you are carrying it or not. Keep up the great work!
I have an S&W Bodyguard .380 I like this pistol BECAUSE of it's "revolver like" feel. I'm "Old School", and have carried "J"s (and even "K"s! - Love me that K frame!). I actually like the relatively long trigger pull, and DAO is fine with me because I for decades was a revolver shooter, this is the "feel" I understand.
same with me, I prefer pistols with revolver like triggers.
K frames are Great! 😉
I carried revolvers for 20 years and finally realized they just don't hit as well as a semi-auto, and are not as concealable. The double action only semi-autos don't hit well either. LCP max rocks.
As a backup I carry a North American Arms .380 Guardian. This little .380 is built like a German tank with its all stainless steel construction and it also has a stiffer trigger pull ( 10 lbs. ) that allows me to pocket carry it without the worry of a negligent discharge, plus it holds 6 rounds in the magazine plus one in the chamber giving me 7 rounds. This little Beast shoots every time I squeeze the trigger and as a backup gun I wouldn’t carry anything else!
I really love the trigger on my LCP2. I would trade increased trigger weight for trigger crispness any day. It is my favorite of all the polymer pocket .380s.
I'm not shooting for bullseye, I'm shooting to make holes in a perp.
Exactly...strickly across the room distances, center of mass hits.
F.B.I. data shows that 88% of all defensive shootings occur within 25 feet or less. So, pocket pistols are fine for the majority of all self-defense situations that you're likely to be in. A concealable pistol not only adds the element of surprise, but it's extremely difficult for someone to "knock the gun out of your hand." I've seen angry mobs sneak up on a person and pull a large gun out of a guy's hands. With a pocket pistol, each of your hands envelopes the gun.
Up close and personal
Seems perfect for a small framed guy like myself. I don't want no big ole gun. But which one to choose is my issue
@@imsorrythatimright6082 get ya a big ole .44 magnum my boy
I have an old Keltec P3at I’ve had for many years and it’s served me well. Snappy, sure. Never failed though. Bunch of rounds and easy to carry anywhere. Good video series on all these calibers and designs. One of the best gun channels.
This was the best gun review I've ever watched on TH-cam. Excellent job!! You're obviously incredibly knowledgeable, and you articulate what is most important when researching a new potential firearm for purchase.
Great information and great presentation. Always looking forward to your videos.
I own a S&W Bodyguard and appreciate the long and hard trigger pull. Keep in mind that the use of this weapon will be at a range of five feet, more or less. It is not a target shooter. This weapon will be used at a moment of extreme stress, when a light trigger pull may result in the weapon being discharged before it’s out of the holster or pocket.
Five feet or less? Hrmm..... Not if you're Jerry Miculek ;-)
th-cam.com/video/5Fwb-9aYDa0/w-d-xo.html
Ah we can now tell the future of what our gun fight might look like. amazing.... Also keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to shoot.
I love the Bodyguard 380- I can shoot it as good or better than the P238
@@crankygunreviews that’s because the p238 shoots like dirt and is one of the least reliable of all the 380 platforms.
@@jrlym I’ve not had that experience with mine... it’s reliable, course I shoot mostly ball ammo out of it, but I just can’t get great groups with it.
I love my p238. Carry it every day I'm in the office. The hogue grips make a world of difference.
I have had nothing but a great experience with my P238. Awesome gun.
Mine seams to run great. It is ammo dependent though. I believe sig changed the recoil spring and know its much more reliable
The p238 is the best of the pocket 38's he reviewed by far no question about it
@@zzxxooooxxzz4964 I wholeheartedly agree!
Mine is excellent as well. Of course I live in a non carry state, so I don’t to worry about it getting full of lint. Though I’ll be moving in a few weeks to a ccp state. Anyone know how to simulate pocket carry so I can test the dang thing?
Extremely helpful analysis. I wanted a 380 for occasional pocket carry. Kahr was where I was leaning. This helped me greatly.
A pocket pistol should not be carried loose inside your pocket. It should be in a pocket holster. Good review. Thanks
It's ok if you dont have a round chambered
@@grappler7343 NONSENSE ! If you carry a firearm then a round is to be in the chamber. I don't care how super operator you think you are, you're not going to chamber a round to deal with a threat. That Israeli stuff is pure rubbish. Use a pocket holster
A pocket inside your pocket... lol I like the pocket holster that looks like a wallet.
Yes must be unterstood "pocket pistol" its a concept of small size, not a style of carrying. Never carry any kind of gun without holster
@oldmanwitherspoon Your style of carry is fine. My point was don't just slip a small handgun into your pocket.
I started watching your videos recently. I wasn't expecting much, but you have surprised me. You're very well spoken, and very articulate. Your video's are very polished and professional looking, and they have a lot of good information in them. Keep up the good work.
For my 380 needs my Kahr P380 makes me oh so happy. Such a fantastic little pistol. Stupid accurate.
No offense but the pistol you picked the trigger really f****** sucks try the Glock just once try the Glock
Vinnie Vincent f glock
@@jeffvincent6772 lol Micro 380 is not a glock, its huge and sounds too much like...
I love my bodyguard. The size, double action only, and reputation make it hard to seriously consider a different 380
Charles Cox I had one but gave it to my son once he got his ccw got the lcp2 but miss my bg .380!!
I pocket carry mine every day in a desantis nemesis holster. Added a magguts +1 extension giving me 7+1. Also a pinky extension and painted the front sight white. Never had a hiccup. I'll typically run 300+ rounds at each range visit. I find it a pleasure to shoot.
@@abc456f I also carry a bodyguard on and off. i have been considering the magguts +1 spring and follower. Have you noticed any difference in reliability since you’ve switched to magguts?
@@mikepanzetta4154 had that happen twice with my m&p bodygard. kind of dont trust it in a pinch and went back to my Springfield range officer 1911.
I really enjoy your videos. You explain things well and to the point. I commend you on being polite and not being a potty mouth. I usually prefer revolvers for reliability. My wife and I both have ruger lcr's. I also like smith and Wesson and some others. Thank you for your integrity.
Yes, thanks LG for keeping it clean. It's impossible to tolerate some of the "reviewers."
Great video. I think the Glock is to big to be included in this video but I know how popular it is so it makes sense to include it. You did a great job of describing the perils of pulling a semi auto from your pocket. That's why I prefer my S&W 637.
Thanks, the az heat is really changing my mind on pocket carry. I barely know where to start, the lcrx so far is on my list .
I really like the lcrx too. But I think of it more of a small belt gun. I'm not a big guy (around 5'9 160) and the snubbies are just a little too big for me to comfortably and pocket carry. And they print really bad lol so I went LCP2. What do you think about the lcrs chambered in .327 mag?
I’m a Phoenix native and because of that I’m constantly in basketball shorts I use to have to carry my full sized G22 in the waistband of my basketball shorts I pulled that off for years but for the last year since I’ve owned the LCP it has stayed in my pocket effortlessly and comfortably daily it’s actually smaller then my iPhone 6+ or whatever and I’m not a small guy I’m 6ft1 my hands are man sized I go out to the white tanks and put many rounds through it I’d be more then comfortable with it in a close up fight,my gfs edc is the 42 it’s probably the most comfortable to shoot not to carry.
@@Evergreen1400 Just pull a page out of the yankee Marshall or nutnfancy playbook and wear a fanny pack to keep your gun/gear in lol
Matt McNicholas. I’ve been juggling with the thought of if I can pull the fanny pack look off lol.
Matt McNicholas I carry my lcp2 in a fanny pack sometimes if I need to but it’s not good for a quick draw situation but like I said I do it in desperate times when I have no choice
My Bodyguard is my go to carry gun on a daily basis. Especially when I want to carry but shouldn't be.
My BG been my EDC here the last few months.
I like my M&P Bodyguard quite a bit, but I have put it in the safe since getting a Sig P365, except for summer days when I wear shorts. The 365 is a bit bigger, but with 13 rounds of 9mm it's got too much of an advantage for EDC.
Loved my Kahr until it started having light primer strikes
The thing about Kahr that i like so much is you can order replacement parts and replace them yourself. they're very easy to work on w/o having to return the pistol to them. Under the slide there is a channel clean out hole, shoot some Casey gunscrubber up in there & flush out the firing pin channel, worse case is you can easily order a new firing pin & spring on Kahr's website.
Indeed.
@@CaptainRon956
I guess if you cant build a good gun, you should make the parts available...
I bought a cm9 and a cw380 as a set, so I could carry depending on what Im wearing ( hot climate ). Then like a genious I didnt actually test them until the warranty had expired. It turns out there is no spring to withdraw the striker in this design. It depends on inertia. So if you dry fire either one, the striker may remain extended, and when you try to put a cartridge into battery the rim of it will catch on the extended striker. And sometimes with the CM9 it happens also after firing a round. Have to manually retract the striker by shoving it in or reaching under the slide to do it that way. Ive cleaned them up really well and will go back to the range to try again but Im really, really dissappointed and angry with myself for not trying them out before. I cant believe this design. How is this supposed to function reliably? A cleared misfire, FTF, or FTE may cause the firing pin to remain extended. I find it astounding. How have they sold so many when its designed this way? Is there a way to make it work properly?
I had a lot of light strikes with a used k9 i purchased and noticed the firing pin was barely coming through the firing pin hole. Got a new firing pin from kahr and the light strikes stopped.
Glad you liked the Kahr. I have had my cw380 for over a year and it's not failed to fire once so far at the range and it shoots really well. I have a camo version of it and the magazine drags badly when trying to remove it but otherwise, I love it.
Awesome video! Love all of the comparisons with solid explanations backed up by serious range time. We own both the Kahr Arms CW380 and CT380 which is slightly longer. Both weapons have a lot of rounds through them with out malfunction, including multiple brands of hollow point. As with all Kahr Arms, the triggers are smooth, the guns are extremely accurate and their pleasures to shoot, even for a small pocket gun.
I've shot 5 of the .380s he discussed, the Kahr, the M&P Bodyguard, the Ruger LCP, and the LCP II, and the Glock. This guy knows what he is talking about, his comments are pretty much spot on. But, I had serious reliability problems with the Bodyguard wit all types of ammo. I hated the original LCP (not the custom or the 2), because it's sights were so tiny, I literally could not see them at all at my indoor range, I've never had that problem with any other gun.
“Today we’re reviewing pocket pistols”
“The glock is my favorite.... but it won’t fit in your pocket” 😣
BimmerGear It totally depends on the pocket! I carry mine in jeans and dress pants. I only have one or two pairs of dress pants where it feels unsecure in the pocket.
None of these guns fit in my pockets, so it's all relative.
@@LuckyGunner skinny jeans aren't for all guys.....😲
In LG's defense, he did say it was bigger than the others. I agree it more nearly belongs in the next-size-up .380 category, though. It's too big.
@@bigdaddy6965
Lol.... you sir are correct!
All of the cons you mentioned about small semi-auto pistols is why I carry a small revolver. I also have an LCP, but I typically only carry it in situations where it's "better than nothing".
I agree. I’m currently trying to decide if it’s worth it to replace my 442 with the sig p238 as my edc pocket gun.
LAPD had a large part in the bodyguard revamp. It is one of the most widely used backup/off-duty pistol in the department as long as the Lazer was deactivated. As such I can't wait to hear any stats they have after using it for it's intended purpose.
Lcp max is the best in line. I was not optimistic about the gun until I visited shooting range. Flawless, low recoil, magazine capacity 10 rounds, super compact so that I barely feel it on me. Genius engineers designed it. And I don’t understand people who carry 9mm, really why? You want your bullets penetrate walls and car doors? So then why load hollow point cartridges? 380 is center fire, has very low recoil, it is more easier to handle and carry.
How I reliability tested my M&P Bodyguard using 95 grain FMJ two mags each: Limp wristing, hold 90 degrees left, hold 90 degrees right, and hold 180 upside down... No malfunctions... Read somewhere to avoid import ammo as it may have hard primers. I only use Hornady Critical Defense and Speer FMJ. About 500 rounds total now no malfunctions.
Circular File I will second the advice to be careful about hard primers. Me mothers bodyguard will only run Hornady ammo reliability. She now has a LCR
My BG has been 100% so far with over 100 rounds through it--Am. Eagle, Lawman, and Fiocchi FMJ and Hornady American Gunner XTP and Fiocchi Extrema XTP JHPs.
my M&P bodyguard has been 100% reliable with all major brands except Monarch ,PPU
This video looks so professional. Like someone with a couple million subscribers. Keep up the work bud. U will get there!
I had the original lcp and now have the lcp 2 and am accurate as I'll ever need to be with them. I CAN recommend both lcp's. They're meant to save your life, not hit clay pigeons. That's why they have minimal sights
Exactly ...not to mention that an LCP in your pocket is far better than any other handgun left back at home in your gun safe!
i have a glock 19 a g42 a m&p shield 2.0 9mm and a taurus g2c..my favorite is the glock 42..i also swapped the plactic recoil spring for a heavy duty tungsten steel rod..man its just awesome..also added 4 and 2 extra rounds
I have a ppk and colt mustang in .380 and love both of them. The mustang is a little easier to rack but love the double action of the ppk.
I plan to buy a new 🇺🇸 version PPK/S .380acp in black this fall or early 2020. 👍. I may add the Cerakote Elite Blackout.
Great video. I’m glad you explained the different scenarios and situations when coming out of the pocket. Great video. One of the best explanation of a caliber gun I’ve seen. This is a great video.
Excellent video; tough subject. I've generally had good luck with my Sig P238 but I have had a few stupid malfunctions with it as well. To my surprise my little Beretta Pico has become my favorite pocket carry 380. I had a disappointing start with it until I fixed a defective recoil spring and guide rod. After that it has become super reliable, and I've even learned to shoot it well. Talley ho on the cleaning and lubricating advice. These little wonders seem to like lighter weight, CLP lubricants and not much of it. Anything heavier and I've had some slide operation problems that go away when I switch back to CLP or Ballistol.
I went to our local gun shop, already had and usually carried a 38 special Revolver. I looked at the Glock 42, and it wasn’t comfortable in my hand and just too big. I made the right choice, but the same choice isn’t good for everyone. That’s why I’m glad there are so many different styles of weapon. Something for everyone. Went with the LCP.
I have an RM380. Either they are very reliable or I've been lucky. Only fired 150 - 200 rounds of various cheap ammo without a single issue so far... and it was under $200 shipped.
I have one also and it is a great 380....shoots anything and quite accurate.......trust my life to it often.
I also have a Rem380. Have only put 100 rounds or so through it and no issues. Only thing is the removal small pin during takedown cleaning. It goes a certain way in and out Gets kinda loose too. Dont loose it! Good gun otherwise.
Thank you for sharing your take on these little guns. I once held a Beretta .380 but I didn’t get to shoot it. It felt really good in my hand and I would like to know how it stacks up against the competition. So, please review more little .380 “pocket guns”.
I own a few pocket guns. I always go back to my LCR .38 Special. Always reliable and light weight.
Good choice, watch Clint Smith a combat veteran(SE Asia) & cadre talk about 5 shot .38spl snubs... ✔
Cant beat a lcr/jframe
Casey Powell I enthusiastically agree
Put that on god
I loved my s&w .38 snubbie but I got rid of it which I greatly regret I got rid of it because I honestly couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn with it as a former cop I took great pride in my shooting never scoring less than 95% only once did I shoot my duty weapon under 100% but I couldn’t for the life of me get accurate with it not a bad gun it was all me!
I have an M&P380. I call it an Elevator Gun because it's useful for self defense in an elevator.
Love my Beretta Pico. It never makes any of these lists, but I still love it. It's not as snappy as the LCP, has good build quality and is super small. Very easy to pocket carry.
In practice sessions with my LCP, I have found that self defense ammo works the most reliably.
I wonder why the Bersa 380 didn't make your list? I've owned 1 for years shoots every time I squeeze the trigger. Reliable easy to CCW and fast on the draw. I brought 1 for my wife last year she loves it lite recoil and easy to shoot.
Bersas are a lot like Taurus, with their quality being either hit or miss.
To big
Great technical info with no clowning around
The CW380 was my choice. I wanted a true pocket summer gun. It has real sights and is very light.
I carry a P380 for the same reason.
Kahr is trash, wouldn't trust my life with it.
@@moregainsmoreveins5267 I have two of them and they have been 100% reliable for thousands of rounds each.
The CW series is cheap junk, the regular P & K series guns are not. My K40 Elite is a fantastic hand-fitted gun.
I went with the CT380, added a mag guts kit so I have 8+1, and the grip is long enough to fit my pinky, no miss fires yet after 2k rounds.
I love shooting mine. Back in 2019 when you could get those cheap 500 rd packs of monarch steel case .380, I put several through it. It's surprisingly reliable and accurate. I only had 1 light strike/hard primer per 500 rounds of that cheap monarch. It even feeds Underwood Xtreme Penetrator which is what I carry with. The only ammo I've had reliability issues with is the Sig Sauer Elite Performance fmj with the flattened nose. It just doesn't feed that stuff at all.
So clear and concise. Great video as always.😊
The Ruger LCP 2 hands down sir! Nuff said.
My LCP 2 is junk, unfortunately. Pretty sure it's a lemon, but dissapointing to say the least. My Glock 42 and SW BG 380s worked flawless.
Stfu
@@nurseguybri is not the gun its the shooter.
You are correct
Sorry, it’s a POS.
Love my Taurus TCP .380 .. mine is reliable.. sites are decent for a pocket pistol a little nail polish on them helps... And it has a slide that actually locks open on the last round....360 rounds out of a brand new gun out the box no stoppages or failures to feed
Great review! I am just the opposite. I love the LCP-II trigger, but just can't get used to the Kahr trigger no matter how hard I try.
Oh! Meant to say, adding the Hogue grip sleeve helps tame the LCP-II considerably.
I shot another 400 rounds thru my Glock 42 380 since my last post. Excellent Shooter!! Zero Negative Issues!
The LCP 2 us such an upgrade over the other LCPs.
Both the original LCP is still far superior. No snag from the sights, double action only, smaller, etc.
@Dave Alexander I got da original second gen lcp you prolly just not confident in yourself da sights are slightly lifted so I painted em and got accessories for grip control and the trigger pull is lighter it's all preference just because you think its trash don't make it trash
@Dave Alexander dude how programmed r u
@Dave Alexander I'm da 1% data not programmed like da 99% of u who sit round n watch videos n let other people opinion effect how u think about your shit without trying it take pride n yo lcp 2 it dont make it better doe dis same gun u talkin down on can put u under
@Dave Alexander dats
I’m new to this channel, great straight forward clear reviews - thank you!!
SCCY is my favorite. . .the cost, American Made and amazing quality.
I'm with u! CPX3 is fantastic! But a little on the larger side.
@@markedman3990 I agree but the extra round capacity is hard to beat.
@@RyedTheLightning right on! 10+1 makes it one of the best defensive 380's on there. I own 5 pistols in that caliber. The SCCY is by far the best shooting of the bunch, with the Rem. RM380 coming in second. Safe shooting to u!
Thanks for this TH-cam Video i like learning about different features on American made 380 pistols keep making these videos Thanks appreciate it.
I wish I had them all! My LCP and 42 goes bang every time
Rev. Gunn. I have both those as well ,my gf actually carries the 42, I’ve been carrying my LCP exclusively for almost a year now as a edc so we go out almost weekly and put quite a few rounds through them and although the sights are what they are my groups are not bad at all and I have had absolutely no issues.
I have a Sig P238 and it was my first pistol. I do agre that you have to train with it because of the manual safety, but for me since it was my first handgun manual safety training is second nature at this point. The P238 is a small gun but I found adding Hogue grips with finger groves improves handling tremendously. Sig offers many versions of this pistol with different types of sights and I will testify that the fiber optic tritium sights (what I have) are wonderful. As for Sig P238 problems, I did have a few issues at first with fail to feed or fail to eject, but I think a lot of my issues were break in and bad aftermarket magazines (don't go cheap on magazines!). Keep the gun clean and oiled, keep the mags clean, polish the feed ramp on occassion and enjoy!
The LCP II is just great; disappears on your body; and you forget about it.
I love my lcp2! Very reliable it’s first trip to the range even fires the Lehigh rounds without issue! I’ve heard nothing but good things about this gun until the whole anti .380 review as seen here. It’s a joy to carry and glad I bought it!
Over 1000 rounds through my LCP 2 stainless steel slide. Love it and less than 10 oz.
I like mine a lot. Not a fan of the original LCP but the improvements on the II have made a difference. It's not a range gun it's a pocket gun. I'd rather have a long deliberate trigger pull over a smooth easy pull on a pocket gun that can possibly be pointed at my junk.
J Yang hey ding dong they are great guns lol
On my last range trip I had a pocket pistol range day and these are noticeably the three best shooters out of the 7 pistols I took to the range that day. The absolute best shooter and most comfortable was my Ruger LCP Max. My S&W M&P Bodyguard and Phoenix HP22a tied for second place. While the PT22, TCP, MP25 and VZ50 performed well, they were definitely not up to the level of the others, at least in my hands. I realize that the VZ50 being very similar to the PPK is a bit too big for pocket carry, it is the only 32acp pistol I own. Thanks for the video and even though it is an older video it is still quite relevant. Keep shooting bro 👍.
My CW380 has also been flawless through 700 rounds. My wife carries either her 42 or Bodyguard. For me the choice is easy for pocket carry when my 19 is just too hard to conceal. Kahr wins hands down.
I wish my cw380 was that reliable. I love the gun except when it decides to jam
Thats a miracle, 40/100 rounds out of my khar fte, ftf, sold it got a glock 27 for my new pocket carry
@@moregainsmoreveins5267 I find my g43 too large to pocket carry... Can't imagine putting a 27 in my pocket. But if it works for you that's a fine option to have!
Mike Nichols you think so? I wear cargo shorts for the most part
Mike Nichols you do notice and feel the weight, however it seems to. Conceal good, no printing
I know its a cheap but with a little white nail polish on the sights, the keltec p3at is a very reliable and accurate gun. I have 2 and they work great with brass ball ammo like PMC Bronze, but one of them wont cycle blazer steel case very well, but will eat hollowpoints all day and the other wont cycle hollow points but will eat up the steel case all day. I just stick to the PMC Bronze when I carry one. They are so light and can carry them anywhere with the pocket clip. My cousin has an LCP and they are great also, look a lot nicer, but function pretty much the same.
Awesome video!!!!!!
I picked up a Taurus Spectrum brand new for $137. It's super fun and cheap. Makes a great backup gun or CC.
Great vid, as usual. Ty. I'm glad to have your opinions (and am still in pursuit of the Mustang for .380 carry).
I love my Smith&Wesson M&P 2.0 EZ and it is amazing!
I found reading the manual and properly oiling the chamber, gets rid of any reliability issues on the Sig P238. Now it’s just flawless. Pass it on
WorthyBuzz 1000s of rounds here and no issues
I paid $165 out the door for my Ruger lcp. I shoot it great. If I could get a Glock 42 for that price I would go for it, but for under 200 I'll go with the rugers.
Cory Carlson. I got the Flat dark earth framed one so I paid $25 more then you but I also own the 42 I looove to carry my LCP and my groups are more then decent at the range that I’d be using it at so it’s been my EDC since the day I got it a year ago,I’m a huge Glock fan because they just work and I carried a G22 for yeears daily and although I did it I’m sooo much happier that I can just skip my lcp in my pocket no matter if I’m in slacks or basketball shorts.
@@Evergreen1400 I also have a Glock 43, depending the shorts sometimes I can pocket carry it. I just saw a yellow two tone Ruger lcp and I almost jumped on it. I really love the size of these lcps.
Is it me, or does Ruger have the most polarized pricing scheme for handguns?
Scowler. I don’t understand why a person would ever get a hi point when for not much more you could get yourself into a Ruger that you can count on and because I’m from Arizona and have friends and family that have been employed by them I know their quality control and customer service are top grade. So I agree.
I got my Bodyguard 380 at Academy for essentially $204 during Black Friday week last year. (BG and a $75 Academy gift card for $279.) Tiny thing and I love it.
great video. if you're a 1911 or 2011 guy and really runs those guns really hard, the P238 is the most logical choice. the darn thing is utterly reliable and the safety is no longer an issue if you honest to goodness train with it
Really interesting. I have a G42, a Sig 238, and the M&P Bodyguard.
I’ve never had a single problem with the G42 with around 5,000 rounds out through it. Shoots super straight and easy. I put better sights on it, along with a streamlight laser/light and plus 2 mag extensions from strike industries making it 8+1
The P238 has ran just as great with about the same round count fired through it. Again, super accurate and easy to shoot.
I did have a mag release issue about a 1000 rounds ago. Called Sig, sent it in and they fixed it and sent it back within a week.
The safety to me is not at all an issue. Practice with it and you’re good to go. I’m also not bothered by where it is place either. My thumb easily grabs it as I draw it from my holster.
The bodyguard shoots ok, a little less rounds fired through it. I like the 238 and the G42 much better because bodyguard is double action and to fire it under duress potentially with one hand would present accuracy issues even with practice. I would much rather shoot a single action or a striker fired gun under duress. In addition to the double action, the recoil is significantly more than the other two. It is a bit smaller than the other two but that’s not enough for me to like it more.
The key to being able to use your firearm in a threat situation with confidence, is to practice! Alot! Every time I would go shooting, I would put at least 300 rounds through the the firearm. The more you shoot, the more accurate you become, the better handle of recoil, and the more you force integrate solid firing habits, good muscle memory bla bla bla etc.
Make no mistake, these 380 firearms will all absolutely stop bad guys, just practice your butt off and learn to run your weapon like a boss! 👍🏼
Shooting in duress? Dude, when you're being attacked it's up close and personal. Close combat. Accuracy and duress doesnt matter with a da trigger 9 lb pull. Your pistol will be up against the dudes stomach anyway.
Can a glock 42 fit in your pocket and not print?
@@thegeth4293 It mostly depends on the pants you're wearing. I don't like baggy pants or ones with pleats. The main issue for me is the length of the 42 (it's a little longer than most compact pistols and a little heavier). I have pants and jeans that have deeper pockets than others I sometimes wear, and the 42 works just fine as a pocket carry in the longer pockets. The pants with shorter pockets tend to leave the 42's grip so close to the pocket opening that I'm not comfortable carrying the gun in the pocket. On those days I use an appendix in the waist holster which works great for a 42. I have a number of guns and the 42 is by far my favorite!
Thanks for you honest opinions, with demonstrations.
Great review. I'm still waiting on the Comrade review of the 9x18 Makarov round and the pistols that fire it and compare it to the .380 ACP and 9mm.
I don’t know that I’d carry a makarov, but I do like the pistol, and would like to see what Chris thinks of the cartridge.
@@JohnW-yv6yp yes it is a carry option as I have people who carry the Makarov and CZ82 and 83 in 380acp. It was mentioned that he would do a performance review as other YT but have yet to show any quality videos in this format presentation.
Makarov's also come in 380 acp such an awesome gun
I see very few comments about the pocket carry that I own, the Sig P238. I have the HD-2 model which supposedly has all the "bugs" engineered out of it. I love this gun because it's easy to operate & very accurate. It DOES require a firm grip to function flawlessly though. I have learned this through much practice of switching between strong hand & weak hand shooting. The only malfunctions in over 1500 rounds,(just a couple), were "failures too feed" when rapid firing in my less dominant hand. Since learning this, zero issues, only fun.
My Bersa 380 with a threaded barrel is my favorite carry pistol
You overlooked the Taurus spectrum 380 I have two of them and next to The bodyguard I would call it one of the most comfortable snag-free pocket pistols available the new LCP Max now that's a gem
Love my G42 for easy IWB with a Bladetech Klipit holster in gym shorts when I’m just running up to the store or taking the dog for a walk. I don’t pocket carry. I also had Trijicon HD’s on mine.
R Priest I iwb carry a glock 19, and I have to say that bladetech klipt holsters are the best, and I have tried many.
This is a good presentation. Thank you.
You are right in saying the Walther PPK/S is not a pocket pistol. It is heavy. But I can carry mine very easily in a shoulder harness. Mine is a .32ACP, and with hot custom loads it is very hard hitting. It is my preferred conceal carry.
Frank Bishop I’ve said this before.32 acp is very underrated