I know very little if anything about the various manufacturers of "smaller" caliber handguns. I carry a Sig220. I am pretty sure my dad will not be able to master it and pass a carry qualification. I no longer own a 9 or a 380. In Texas we can qualify with as small as 32ACP, but I am not aware of any that do not qualify as "saturday night specials". I want my dad to qualify with an auto even though he will most likely carry a 38special because that way he can carry either. Can ya'll tell me about high quality 380 or 32 special autos on the market please.

Andy

Last year there was an article in the American Rifleman comparing 10 .380's, I think it was February 2010. I'll see if it's still in the magazine rack when I get home. Of the top of my head the Taurus Millenium is, or was available in .32. I think North Americam Arms and Kel Tec also chamber .32. I haven't handled a Kel Tec pistol but I have been disappointed in their rifles.

Andy, I'd stay away from the pocket 32s and 380s that are double action only. Most have very marginal sights and if hand strength is any issue, the trigger pull takes too much practice to justify qualifing with that genre of weapon. If it were to be his actual carry gun and he intended to practice regularly, I'd feel a bit different about it.

Bersa makes a nice cheap ($329 or thereabouts)380 with double/single action triggers. So do CZ, Taurus and Firestorm. For a little more money (almost twice, actually), the Beretta Tomcat comes in 32. Same money will get a Walther PK or PPK380 or Beretta 84.


I'd stick with something that has DA/SA capability, adjustable sights (even if windage only), an external hammer and a safety or decocking lever. At least then you could borrow it for plinking

quote:

I'd stick with something that has DA/SA capability, adjustable sights (even if windage only), an external hammer and a safety or decocking lever. At least then you could borrow it for plinking

All good advice.

If you are just looking for something that he can "qualify" with, keep in mind I have no idea what that means in Texas, how about a real gun. Something like the new Fnx-9? All the above features, and the safty and decocker on one leaver?

Andy

Get a Glock 17, 9mm.
They are easy to shoot, easy to learn to shoot, and reliable. And not too expensive.

I would recommend it for your puropses over the Glock 19 as the 19 can be sensitave to limp wristing.

The Glock is easier to shoot than any of the small 380's IMHO.

Sam
If you are thinking about the same American Rifleman article in 380 I am, it was in the Feburary 2010 issue.

NONE of the 380s were reliable. NONE, except the Rohrbaugh R380. $1,150.00

Was reading this, looks like you have to qualify with what you carry? Anyway, the small Glock or S&W MP in 9mm are both very shootable, comfortable, and surprisingly accurate. Also both are very user friendly, point and pull trigger. Must you use factory ammo for the qual? WW white box 9mm isn't too robust. If you can get away with handloads the MP will function with very light loads. I think there are a couple of places in Texas that sell the MP's for less than 500$.
I am no kid, I used my Sig 229 to qualify, my daughter (very inexperienced with handgun) used her Sig 229 .40S&W and had no problems.
C.G.B.

In Texas if you do your CHL qualification with a revolver, you can carry a revolver ONLY.

If you shoot a semi auto, then you can carry either.

one does not have to be the sole owner of a firearm to pass this test.

i recommend an EAA compact, in wonder finish, 9mm, 40, or 10mm (shooting 40s) ..

or a 1911 .. you can shoot light weight bullets in a 1911, if the springs are right, with trivial recoil.. its big, heavy, and easy to shoot.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
Sam
If you are thinking about the same American Rifleman article in 380 I am, it was in the Feburary 2010 issue.

NONE of the 380s were reliable. NONE, except the Rohrbaugh R380. $1,150.00

Same article, didn't remember how they rated them, not a .380 shooter.

quote:

NONE of the 380s were reliable. NONE,

Makes me wonder if they were property lubed, or if they just shot them dry out of the box. 1911's like to be well lubed, I don't see why the mini .380 versions would be any different.

Part of me suspects not broken in or lubed. If it were just one or two out of ten I'd think a quality difference.

quote:

Originally posted by Antelope Sniper:

quote:

NONE of the 380s were reliable. NONE,

Makes me wonder if they were property lubed, or if they just shot them dry out of the box. 1911's like to be well lubed, I don't see why the mini .380 versions would be any different.

Most low-cost autos of any caliber have reliability issues, expecially with ammo other than ball. Most of it is fixable with a little knowledge and effort.

I think the best small caliber handgun is the CZ83. In the photo below you see my CZ75 in 40 S&W on the left, and my CZ83 in .32 Auto on the right (actually it's in 7.65 Browning, but that's close enough).



It also looks good in a little inside the waistband holster:





It's super accurate and reliable. Never had a malfunction, failure to feed, failure to eject, nada, rien, zip. It's an SA/DA so you can carry it cocked and locked if that's your preference, or hammer down on a loaded chamber for a DA first shot.

Here's a link to the CZ site:

http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-83/

When people worry about cost of a carry gun I just have to ask what your life is worth? For that application I want some thing that isn't fussy, doesn't have to be hand tuned and works no matter what. I have lots of handguns that I play with that I would not carry for personal defense.
C.G.B.

andy.. ive got a couple of s&w's 9mms, you're welcome to them, 1 is a 39.. single stack, the other is a 59, double stack... depepnding on how big your dad's hands are... if he wants to use them to qualify.... im not a fan of glocks, but the model 17 is the best of them, IMO... it fires everytime... period.... for about $500

quote:

Originally posted by cgbach:
When people worry about cost of a carry gun I just have to ask what your life is worth? For that application I want some thing that isn't fussy, doesn't have to be hand tuned and works no matter what. I have lots of handguns that I play with that I would not carry for personal defense.
C.G.B.

Good point but if you'll notice, it was specified originally that this gun was for qualifying only, not to be carried. Which really means Jeff had the best solution: borrow one for qualification and buy the revolver to carry.

There are lots of obscure (in the USA) police handguns from Europe that fit the bill but are not easy to locate. I had a MAB Model D in 32 ACP that was an outstanding little pistol. No hammer but everything else I mentioned.

Like Wink said I'd gor for a CZ.

I would say beg or or borrow a CZ82 or 83.

82 in 9mm Mak is great gun for such an endeavor in my limited opinion.

IF I owned any firearms and IF I were going to carry a pistol then it would be one to consider, certainly seems like a choice for qualification purposes.

I am a CZ fan, but if it is not a pistol you/he intends to keep and carry, only to use to qualify, pick up a Bersa in .380.

I don't know what you guys have to go through for your CCW "qualification" but if accuracy counts, it is hard to beat the CZ's. My CZ83 is bulls-eye accurate. I also think the 9mm Makarov the best round for a small handgun (CZ82). It's better than a .380 or a .32 and fits into some very small handguns which are very cheap, like the Makarov.

I picked up a used Beretta 84 many years ago, and it has been super reliable and easy to shoot.
380ACP

You and your father should visit a shooting range where they rent pistols! Now he can try out a Glock, H&K, Smith & Wesson, Springfield etc. Now finding out what fits his hand the best, most comfortable and what he shoots the best at the range is what I would purchase for now. I suggest letting him shoot the 9mm Luger caliber in any of those pistols I mentiond above ok. The 9mm with Cor-Bon or Pow-R-Ball is a very good round packing 483 pounds of energy verses the .380-auto with only 190-lbs of energy.