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The .380 Rundown
In this article, I'll attempt to do a quick rundown on the pocket .380's under $350. Hopefully, seeing them all in one place with some photos and specs will help you decide which one you absolutely must have.  I'm looking at these pistols as ones you'd use for self protection, so some of my comments (or links I provide) will deal with the reliability.  I consider a pistol that will shoot a wide variety of ammo types with no problems reliable.  Guns that are super finicky about the ammo they need don't make me feel very good,  particularly now that .380 is one tough caliber to find.  If you don't see your favorite pistol here, let me know.  For example, I won't list the Bersa Thunder .380 here because I personally don't think it's a pocket pistol. 

The Ruger LCP .380
Why not start with the little pocket .380 that has really generated a ton of activity among all of the firearms manufacturers. This little mouse gun was red hot from the first time folks saw it.  In fact, my review on the Ruger LCP generates twice as much traffic as any other post I've written to date.

Instead of telling you what I liked about the gun, I'll start with what I didn't like.  I'd like to see the pistol have a loaded chamber indicator.  More importantly, I'd like the Ruger LCP to employ a slide lock.  I know it doesn't take much in the brains department to keep track of six shots, but at the range it would be nice to know when the last bullet was fired.  I can't imagine that under a pressure shooting situation this could be a bad feature either.  For a little semi-auto it's not too finicky about the type of ammo it likes to shoot.  I'm not saying it will shoot everything you put in it, but in general it shot enough different types of ammo with no issues that I could say I felt comfortable with the results.

Oh, and maybe it's just me.  But stripping the gun for cleaning took a little longer until I got a handle on removing the take down pin. 

Here's what I really liked about the gun.  First and foremost it easily fit in my front pants pocket... and it was light.  Lighter than a standard S&W j frame, and didn't print as much.  In fact, in an Uncle Mike's pocket holster it could have been my a cell phone or PDA.  The Ruger LCP would be great summer carry gun.  There's just no reason to go out without protection if you own an LCP.

At the range the gun was as accurate as could be expected from a pocket pistol with practically non-existent sights.  The Ruger LCP isn't a plinking pistol, it's a close-up, personal protection tool.  Tight groups at 25 yards isn't why you want this gun.  Recoil was manageable, but with hotter +P rounds you definitely feel it.  It fits well in the hand, and shooting it with the magazine extension really helps.

This gun is still really difficult to locate, but at the time of this writing the Ruger LCP was available on Gunbroker.com for approximately $300 to $325 dollars.

Ruger LCP Specifications:

Caliber: .380 Auto
Catalog Number: LCP
Capacity: 6+1
Barrel: 2.75'' Steel
Weight: 9.40 oz.
Overall Length: 5.16''
Overall Height: 3.6''
Overall Width: .820''
Trigger Pull Weight: 8 lbs.
Trigger Pull Length: .5''
Slide Finish: Blued
Slide Material: Through-Hardened Steel
Frame Material: High Performance Glass-Filled Nylon
Includes: Soft Case, One Magazine, External Locking Device, Instruction Manual
MSRP: $347.00

SOURCE: http://www.ruger-firearms.com/

Here are a variety of links to forum discussions and gun reviews I've dug up:

• http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-LCP.htm 
• http://elsiepeaforum.com/forum/index.php 
• http://bluesteeldemocrats.blogspot.com/2009/05/ruger-lcp-concealed-carry-gem.html 
• http://www.usacarry.com/forums/handgun-discussion/6812-new-ruger-lcp.html
• http://www.shootingtimes.com/handgun_reviews/ST_rugerlcp_200902/
  

Ruger LCP on YOUTUBE.com:

Kel Tec P-3AT

Ask any Kel Tec P-3AT owner and they'll tell you the Ruger LCP is just a rip-off of their beloved pocket pistol.  I have no idea if that's the case, but they sure look close.  The Kel Tec P-3AT has a very loyal following for a variety of reasons.  It's really small, easy to carry, and inexpensive.

Unfortunately, the little Kel Tec P-3AT is known to be finicky regarding the ammunition.  This is cured by the Kel-Tec "fluff and buff."  (Before doing this, realize you might be voiding the warranty.)  Many suggest just sending the gun back.

I can't make any first hand experience comments on this pistol although I know some owners.  As I expected, it's a love/hate relationship among these owners.  Some have been able to work over the pistol so it shoots some specific ammo types with no problems.  Some have never been able to get the P-3AT to work consistently enough that they feel like they'd depend solely on this gun for self protection.  So, most have been relegated to "truck gun" status.

Like the Ruger LCP, the Kel Tec P-3AT is not a plinking gun.  It's made for concealed carry and as I mentioned with the LCP, the size of this little pistol means you can carry comfortably all of the time.  My take on this pistol is this... do your research, talk with some owners, and determine if you are willing to fluff and buff the gun if it has issues or be willing to send it back.  Word is that Kel Tec has excellent customer service.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber : .380 AUTO
Weight unloaded lbs. : 8.3 oz.
Loaded magazine : 2.8 oz.
Length : 5.2"
Height : 3.5"
Width : .77"
Sight radius : 3.8"
Muzzle Energy Max : 250 ft lbs
Capacity : 6 + 1 rounds
Trigger Pull : 5lbs

Source: http://www.kel-tec-cnc.com/p3at.htm

Reviews and discussions about the Kel Tec P-3AT:

• http://www.gunblast.com/KelTec_P3AT.htm
• http://www.lesjones.com/posts/001097.shtml
• http://www.mouseguns.com/p3at/p3at.htm
• http://www.chuckhawks.com/kel-tec_P3AT.htm
• http://www.gunsandammomag.com/cs/Satellite/IMO_GA/Story_C/Kel-Tec+P-3AT
• http://www.firearmstalk.com/forums/f76/kel-tec-p3at-380-acp-14293/

Kel Tec P-3AT on YOUTUBE.com

Taurus 738 TCP

The Taurus 738 TCP (Taurus Compact Pistol I presume) has positioned itself specifically against the Ruger LCP.  The 738 TCP has attempted to one-up the LCP by offering a couple of nice options other little semi-autos in this class don't have.  The first is a loaded chamber indicator and the second a slide that locks open after the last round has been fired.  As of this date, I don't believe this gun is avialable yet.  A quick check of Gunbroker.com revealed no 738 TCP's for sale.

If Taurus gets this right and the gun proves to be able to eat a wide variety of ammo without any malfunctions, this could be a really tough gun to find once it hits the market.  Only time will tell on this one.  The price is certainly right if it debuts at the rumored $300 price point.

For full specs and a photo, check out my earlier posting on the Taurus 738 TCP.

Taurus 738 TCP Manufacturers Info: http://www.taurususa.com/2009newcatalog/?catalog_page=5