Four .380acp Pistols
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ย. 2024
- We look at and compare four popular .380 acp pocket pistols: Walther PPK/S - 1, SIG P-232, Bersa Thunder and the Makarov
Walther PPK/S - 1 (1 pound 7.6 ounces)
SIG P-232 (1 pound 2.2 ounces)
Bersa Thunder (1 pound 3.6 ounces)
Makarov (1 pound 8.2 ounces)
This is a Russian 'Export' version of the Makarov, for all the people who don't know, they made them in .380 acp, go look it up
Russian Makarov Model; IJ70-17A
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more than pleased with my Bersa Thunder 380 with 8 shot mag, been flawless with over 750 rounds of all kinds of ammo through her
Steven Kolata ñ
I keep reading comments about the .380 pistol being under powered. I own two .380 automatics. A Walther PPK/S, and a Glock 42. Sweet firearms by the way. For self defense ammunition, I use Underwood loads. This innovative company happens to manufacture one the most devastating bullet on the market today. 90 grain (or 65 gr.) with a fluted head, and a "crossed" flat nose. Neither a jhp nor a fmj. No other .380 round comes close as far as knock down power. One bullet alone does the job. If you use two rounds against a threat, all you accomplished was wasting a bullet. Believe me. Go to Underwood's web sight to see for yourself. Simply incredible ammunition, period.
I have the Sig Sauer and PPK in stainless. I prefer the Sig Sauer because it fits my hand like a glove. If you look closely, you can see rather wide palm swells that helps fit the gun into your hand really well. The built-in finger extension on the magazine makes it even better. If it were 9mm, it would be my favorite CC weapon! Great gun, great shooter and sexy. I love stainless guns! If I were to play show and tell, the Sig and stainless Italian Beretta 92FS would be the first guns I'd pull out.
The stainless Beretta 92 is such a statement!! I would definitely agree with your thoughts on the grip for the PPK. My comparative is the bursa. Slightly more ergonomic and fits the hand better. The PPK could definitely use some refinement there.
I have concealed carried the Bersa 380 Thunder for over 12 years now and just recently upgraded to a Glock 26. I still carry the Bersa as a backup piece. I have never had a functionality problem with the Bersa.
nice collection. I like the all black Sig. very nice
Wasn't trying to offend you. I'm 83, blind in one eye and mostly deaf due to a car accident. Reading back my comment, it didn't read the way I intended. I did like the vid and appreciated your effort and the info just hard for me to keep up. I wasn't trying to provoke you into a harsh or critical response. Keep up the good work and God bless.
thanks, a lot of dumb kids out there, i mistook you for one, sorry
Yes, love the Bersa Thunders. Very cheap but very well made and reliable. I love the PPK look that all these pocket pistols have.
I purchased my makarov at the same time a friend bought the Sig, he gloated over it's superiority to my junky russian gun, showing me it's wonderful features. He was so proud of himself until he found out the Mak had all the same functions with cheaper and slightly more powerful ammo, and that at the range it shot better and was more accurate firing the pistols back to back.I paid $150 for mine in about '93, he paid over $300 for his,not such a good deal for a pistol you'll be just carry.
The PPKS is insanely accurate for a short radius, the P232 is almost as accurate with a lower racking force. The Bursa Thunder is a good low priced alternative. I have not tried a Makarov, but generally don't believe in things built in the old Soviet.
If I am trusting my continued existence to a firearm, it is the German one. Give me a PPKS.
I love the ppk and pp series of pistols. The great inherent accuracy of these little guns is owed largely to the straight blowback action they operate on, with it's fixed barrel design. A very common action found in .380 caliber weapons. Coincidentally, all 4 of the firearms showcased have that in common. Both action type and accuracy. Above all the Walther ppk is loved for its gorgeous ascetic value. So iconic!
All that being said, you chose undoubtedly the most unreliable pistol on this list.
I have a Bersa and for a cheap gun it's actually OK I didnt expect much but was surprised with it.
Thanks for sharing this comparison. Didn't know there were Makarovs chambered for .380 ACP. I have a Mak in 9x18 and a Bersa Thunder .380 acp and enjoy both of them.
I think that standart Makarov (9/18) can use .380 cartriges. As I know it was an initial idea of soviets during creation of makarov. In case of war, russians would be able to use foreign .380 cartriges.
Thanks for the video. Great Job. Just a heads up to all those PPK/S (S&W) Owners. Before you buy Packmayr grips, check the serial number of your weapon and compare it to the information on the grip packaging. I bought grips and then found out the were not compatible to the PPK/S with my serial number. The grips did not line up with the screw hole in the frame. Learn from my mistake. I ended up going with a nice wood grip.
Had a Bersa .380 and it was very good. But my favorite .380 guns now are the Ruger LC380 and the Walther PK380.
Fatal flaw with the P232: You can't put a front night sight on it! The newer ones (as of 2009, I think) have a pinned front sight that can be removed, but, if you have the older version, you're screwed (unless Sig can do something to it that I'm unaware of). Other than that, I think the Sig is definitely the sexiest.
I have one Walther and it is very accurate Only thing is during shooting make sure your hand it is under the rail other wise you will cut your hand
I wish I have Makarov with my collection
Great video thanks
Great vid man I have a P232, lite, good looking and fairly accurate, love it.
Shame they don't make the Sig P232 anymore.....
Great video. I love the Walther PPK but it's a little expensive. I got a Bersa thunder .380 coming next week.
My favorite is Sig Sauer.
I want a new sig 232 so bad but they don't make it anymore. My dad has one and it's probably my favorite, that's saying a lot because we have A LOT of guns haha
+Cameron Eacret ever heard of gunbroker and armslist?
+Ammo Man can't find shit on those websites
this one was made for export in .380..
Not really sure which is more powerfull, but I suspect there isn't much difference between .380 and 9x18
I purchased a S&W PPK. It was utterly unreliable. I sent it to a gunsmith, and reliability improved, but it still is not reliable enough to be used as a defensive firearm. This was an incredible surprise to me as I had owned a German-made PPK/S twenty years ago and it was you-bet-your-life reliable! I recall also that S&W had a safety recall for its PP guns and it now no longer manufactures them. My advice is to steer clear of the Walther made by S&W.
The design is a little ammo sensitive. I've heard bad things about the S&W models but a real German one should run like a top.
The S&W versions had quality control issues. There was even a recall on them.
If you're looking for one of these as a carry, here are some thoughts!
Bersa Thunder- I grabbed the CC version. It's a great pocket gun! Sights are a little hard to pick up as they're super low profile, but they can't catch on anything. Really pleasant to shoot and surprisingly accurate for a $300 gun.
Walther PPK-if you're looking for a PPK for carry with hollow points, you may wish to consider going with a PPK/S reproduction. The original PPK for some reason struggles to feed hollowpoint ammo even with a polished feed ramp. This seems to have been fixed in the PPK/S which has worked flawlessly for me so far. Hard to beat a stainless Walther PPK/S with pearl handles as a classy tuxedo gun. 😂
Regarding the SIG and Makarov, I've decided against buying due to the Euro mag release. If you're like me, all of your practice has been with a pushbutton mag release. There's a lot to be said for using one platform or the other, rather than switching between both! This may not apply to everyone, but it sure does for me. In an adrenaline situation I would be reaching for the button. That said, it may be worth shying away from using these as a carry option unless that release is what you are familiar with in training. Sure wouldn't mind having them on the range though! I hope the above is useful in helping any prospective buyers decide on a tux gun of choice! 😊
I think i'm going to pick up a Makarov. Online you'll see a lot saying that they're .380 but that's probably somewhat of a misnomer. .380acp is 9x17mm, 9mm Mak is 9x18mm, and 9mm Parabellum (or Luger) is 9x19mm. You can shoot .380 in the Makarov as it's shorter but there may be some blowby. Like others have posted, 9mm Mak is easy enough to find. I've got a Cheaper Than Dirt near me so ammo of any kind is not an issue. This little vid was VERY helpful in helping me decide. Many thanks!
I have both calibers. A Russian Makarov .380 as well as a Bulgarian Makarov 9x18. Also have a Cz 83. All great guns. Excellent review.
Love my .380 Makarov!
I really wish they would come out with a Walther PPKS in 32 acp+P.
I've watched many many reviews but this was the best review I've ever seen. Great overview. Good information. Not a lot of insignificant "talk". Thank you, this was tremendously helpful as my wife shops for a carry weapon.
@taskforce437
they were made in multiple calibers, especially the ones made to export
U got that right,when the Makarovs were being imported to the US during the 1990's,they made them in western .380 due to the ready available round made by many American ammo manufacture,"Federal,Winchester",etc.(my 1st handgun purchased back in 1995 was a genuine Russian made .380 Makarov).
I wish the Walther was still price pointed at $500 it's about $650 new in Virginia now
in my opinion 1) bersa 2) Sig 3) walther 4) makarov; they are all good, it is just my personal preference.
thanks, I like your vids, very useful and informative, I'll keep watching and learning until my time is up... I have and shoot the Bersa and the Browning .380 in the 1911 footprint and while very different, I love them both. Keep up the great work.🔫
thanks
But I prefer the P232, it's just beautiful consider more and more defensive loads are coming out for the .380 and not the 9mm Mak
Makarov is the best for me, but I prefer the PM model. Congratulations, good video.
I know what you mean, they are some nice guns
great replies, thanks
I got a chance to shoot a PPK/S last week and I must say I love the gun. I think i've decided to get the Walther rather than the Makarov due mostly to the availability in stainless and the mag release location.
@remus5 The Makarov also comes in .380, the commercial models anyway. If you want to make it 9x18, all you'd need is the correct barrel and a barrel press.
.380 is my backup pistol.
Colt Pocketlite.
@remus5
Makarov came chamber in 9x18 AND .380. I know people that do carry makarov, a little heavy imo but it's not unheard of.
Nice to see these side-by-side. I had a Walther PPK/S .380 for years, and while I didn't shoot it often, I definitely had it broken in. I gave it every type of ammo I could find, mainly FMJ, and it would still fail to feed pretty often. The return spring was painfully stout, and the slide catch developed an annoying habit of shifting sideways and making it very difficult to release the slide forward. I doubt this is typical, but it was enough to make me part with mine after 10 years...
I prefer the Kel-Tec or LCP that have free floating barrels as opposed to a fixed barrel.
This pistols are all lead sleds compare to the Kel-Tec or LCP too. Those models weigh in at about 9.5oz.
I really need to get a bersa that way my 1911 can just be my open carry pistol.
very good guns and .380 is a good and effective calibre for what it is...my weapon of choice of all f these is that Besa thunder 380....i have the exact same one.....accurate as all hell......great video....
I actually just got a .380 makarov. Pretty interesting piece. Both rounds have their pros and cons. .380 is easier to find and has more loadings available. 9x18 is generally more powerful, cheaper, but harder to find.
One more year and a few months I'll buy one of those 38s for protection. Great video man.=)
Ruger LCP .380 is my choice for a reasonably priced workhorse, but all models in the video are fine choices....
@pukkepop the 2 rounds are about equal in stopping power, but 380 is more produced by different companies in JHP defense ammo.
Walther for the best. And, it's ' Bond's ' weapon.
You can buy Makarov pistols in .380 acp. I owned one for years. No, not as common as 9x18 but .380 cap Makarovs do exist.
Mrachan20 i agree the bersa is great gun very reliable and deadly accurate... This is my cc weapon as well
@onwhun A 9x18 Mak is a 9mm. But you cannot use 9mm rounds. You have to use 9x18mak rounds. Near the end of the video he shows the left side of the Mak. You can see it reads IJ70-17A. The 17 denotes its a 9x17(.380).
@remus5 Except you're wrong. The Makarov has been made in both .380 and 9X18. I've held both kinds at gun shops.
@paulith101 sure why not?? the markarovs were built to military, and law enforcement specs. the KGB, and Russian police carried them, and so did the Russian military officers. they are built like a tank, if you are OK with the weight, the Maks are a great CCW option.
That's like saying the 1911 is chambered in only .45 Auto. The Mak is available in .380 for the commercial market.
Thanks Gwebs
I'd love to pick up one of those Makarov's. I got a thing for Euro-centric firearms.
Just a heads up for anyone looking for a ppk/s. You will spend a bit more that quoted in this video unless you can find a good deal. The average going rate right now is $600-700, though you might be able to find a good deal for $550 if you get lucky. Especially if you want the ppk/s-1 made by smith. Don't know if that is due to the inflation in the gun market lately.
After doing some research, I digress. Did not know they came in .380. My bad.
The Bakial export version of the makarov in stainless steel is 380 acp.
@remus5 That particular Makarov is .380. Baikal made many of them in this caliber for export.
@8lindf1ght Russian made stuff rarely breaks, and if it does, it is designed to be simple to repair. The Makarovs are built the same way. they are not pretty, but they work!!! back in the 90's the Maks were just being imported here, I bought a brand new one with 4 mags in the box for $79.99 the Walther, and sig $500 plus. the older walthers were not throated to fire model JHP ammo. only hardball....Maks shot anything.
Love pocket pistols, PPK/S
There's a double stack 15 shot Bersa Thunder Pro in the market
I will pick the Sig P232 out of this lot!
You left out the CZ 83, a very nice .380 and one that is quite inexpensive. I personally like the ones you included, but i would like to see a comparison of them to the CZ 83.
thanks exactly the comparisons i was looking for
Wish you summarized the weight comparisons
Thanks this is a very good presentation! cheers, Ron
The "th" in Walther is pronounced "t": Walter. In German: Valter. For what it is worth. Good video.
My family's got a Makorov 9mm Russian (Reffering to the ammo). But it has a normal mag release that's by the trigger guard. It might be newer/older than thay one though.
Its 9x18 which is slightly larger than .380 acp at 9x17 makarov
I'd like the Bersa... but it's currently NOT legal in California
Great video just got the bersa waiting to test it out..
good info for the difrent variants of the ppk but most of the guns don't have a six round mag but a seven round capacity mag.
Walther Ppk rules!
Makarov. Best of the bunch for reliability.
Sig P230/P232
@kevinrichardson8859
How did it do at the MAC torture test?
@ElCineHefe I don't know how his did...but I have 2 P230s from mid 90s...that have been flawless
great video! wow are some folks petty ok so the makarov is 9x18mm and a .380 in metric terms is equal to 9x17.3mm not much difference so why argue semantics the firearms reviewed are all fairly close is physical size and in the caliber chambered and IMHO the video was done well and informative. I lean towards the bersa; for all intents and purposes a clone of the walther with a better price tag!
good straight forward review!
They come in .380 too. Bakial of Russia imported a lot of .380 Makarovs.
@lanternlad3 KGB were issued the Maks too, they are built for combat. Love the Maks!!!!
don't think so, I don't think any parts (except the ammo) are interchangeable
love my Bersa :)
The sig will hold 7+1. so will the ppk/s. A regular ppk only will old six but will except the long 7 meant for the ppk/s.
not really.. do you know of anything that rusts from hand sweat?
you can buy them chambered for 380 acp. Not as common but they do exist.
sure, but I didn't remember which one the Bersa was made in so I said the continent.. no offense intended
all are based on the walther patent from 1929.
The ppk was first made in 1931/32.
Very nice gun. Just don't like the bling bling version.Sig is very reliable and a nice shooter.
Just watched the video. One error I noticed, actually the Makarov holds 8 rounds in the magazine.
Can't argue that.
Good review
@remus5
na... he's right.. you there are the Makarov PM, Makarov PMM, Makarov PB and the Makarov Izh-71.
he has the Izh-71. this version has a shorter round. not the normal 9x18 but the 9x17 and a other name for it is .380 acp
@wilfredotour2
Now that you mention it, I think I have seen one, but a long time ago.
If you have one make a video and link it here
My Next "Action Hero" or "Nemesis" should be concealing in his / her ankle holster one of these weapons.Which one?
@GunWebsites did they ever come in 380? As far as I know they only came out 9mm makarov. The ones that are true .380 were converted. Nice lineup of guns you have there. Take care!
what about them?
@imiritu
it can, but not an absolute
Love Makarov
The original PPK's did not have a bolt hold open on last round you had to rack the slide on every mag change. Not sure if the model he has does that or not.