Best 380 Pistols in 2021
When considering a pistol, 380 pistols tend to be overlooked in favor of larger caliber pistols. Well, we want to change that! These pistols have great advantages due to their lightweight and compact nature, allowing for easy concealment and use as a personal defense weapon. What’s more is that they tend to have a highly affordable price point without sacrificing quality. Check out the 8 best 380 pistols available on the market.
Our Top Picks for the Best In Stock 380 Pistols:
- Ruger LCP
- Glock 42
- Walther Arms PK380
- Hi-Point CF380
- Sig-Sauer P238
- Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard
- Kel-Tec P-3AT
- Taurus 738 TCP
- Armscor Baby Rock
Ruger LCP Standard
Type: Semi-Auto
Length: Barrel - 2.75" | Overall - 5.16"
Weight: 9.6 oz
Capacity: 6+1 round
Brand: Ruger
At the top of our list is the Ruger LCP Standard. This lightweight 380 pistol has proven itself to be a favorite for good reason. The size and weight of this pistol make for a comfortable all-day carry for anyone. What’s more is that it’s quick to deploy, as well.
The Ruger LCP is a double-action only pistol, meaning that if an intense situation should arise, there’s no hesitation when using. You can simply pull, point, and shoot. The hammer is recessed into the rear of the slide, and low profile front and rear sights are integrated onto the slide itself, preventing any snagging whatsoever.
The design of the LCP allows left and right handed shooters to handle the pistol comfortably, with the magazine release being easily reachable for both parties. The LCP is made with a glass-filled nylon frame and steel slide. The magazine holds 6 rounds. This firearm is sleek and well-designed, and a good fit for nearly anyone looking to purchase a 380 pistol.
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Glock 42
Type: Semi-Auto
Length: Barrel - 3.25" | Overall - 5.94"
Action: Safe Action
Capacity: 6+1 round
Brand: Glock
A 380 pistol built to the same standards at the larger Glock pistols, the G42 is a solid choice in any lineup. Knowing the quality of the larger pistols in their lineup, you can be sure of your purchase if you choose to buy a G42.
Glock boasts that the G42 uses the same internal component as the larger pistols in their lineup; the same striker, short-recoil operated, and locked-breech barrel. Additionally, the trigger used is the same size and shape as the smooth-faced triggers on their Gen4 pistols. If you’ve used a Glock, then this pistol will feel familiar.
The G42 has a white dot front sight and white bracket rear sight for low visibility use. The pistol itself feels solid, like a Glock should, and the grip is a tough textured polymer. The G42 is an excellent EDC 380 pistol that feels like it’s bigger counterparts, just in a more compact package.
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Walther Arms PK380
Type: Semi-Auto
Length: Barrel - 3.66" | Overall - 6.5"
Weight: 19.4 oz
Capacity: 8+1 round
Brand: Walther Arms Inc
On our list of compact 380 pistols, the Walther PK380 is on the larger size in comparison to the others. The design of it is a bit more classic than that of the others, with a manual safety lever on the slide and the paddle-style magazine release.
The Walther PK380 magazine holds 8 rounds, plus 1 one in the chamber. This pistol, like nearly all the others in this category, is designed for ambidextrous shooting, making it a fine option for anyone looking for a 380 pistol.
Another nice feature of the PK380 is the integral accessory rail on the frame of the pistol. This allows for aftermarket accessories, like laser sights and lights. The ability to customize the PK380 with ease puts it ahead of many other options on the market.
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Hi-Point CF380
Type: Semi-Auto
Length: Barrel - 3.5" | Overall - 6.75"
Weight: 29 oz
Capacity: 8+1 round
Brand: Hi-Point
The Hi-Point CF380 is a pistol whose components are 100% American made, but is still offered at an affordable price. The manufacturer at one point in time had a reputation for clunky pistols, but all that has changed in recent years, and the CF380 is an example of that.
Unlike many other 380 pistols on the market, the CF380 has an adjustable rear sight, really letting you dial in your accuracy. What’s more is that while other pistols in this caliber can be picky with ammo, the CF380 is not, and handles everything you can throw at it like a champ.
One of our heavier options on this list, the CF380 weighs in at 29oz, the frame being made from a high-impact polymer. The pistol is covered by Hi-Point’s lifetime warranty, including free lifetime repairs of the weapon.
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Product
Price
Store
MPN
UPC
Hi-Point CF380 380 ACP Standard 3.50" 8+1 Black Black/Chrome Black Polymer Grip
Locked Loaded
and 45 more stores
CF380
752334003805
Hi-Point CF380PI 380 ACP 3.50" 8+1 Country Girl
Locked Loaded
and 12 more stores
CF380PI
752334010001
Hi-Point CF380HSP 380 ACP Home Security Package 3.50" 8+1 Black Black/Chrome Black Polymer Grip
Locked Loaded
and 11 more stores
CF380HSP
752334038050
Hi-Point 380 ACP 3.50" 8+1 LaserLyte Black Polymer Grip
Locked Loaded
and 31 more stores
CF380LLTGM
752334038067
Hi-Point CF380HCT1 380 ACP Standard 3.50" 8+1 Black Black/Chrome Slide Black Polymer Grip
DACK Outdoors
and 40 more stores
CF380HCT1
752334038036
Sig-Sauer P238
Type: Semi-Auto
Length: Barrel - 2.7" | Overall - 5.5"
Weight: 15.2 oz
Capacity: 6+1 round
Brand: Sig-Sauer
A 1911-inspired micro-compact, the Sig Sauer P238 is a sleek looking 380 pistol to say the least. The P238’s design and ergonomic feel allow shooters of all types to feel comfortable when handling it.
The P238 has a manual safety and a single action trigger, the latter of the two being different from all the models we’ve listed up to this point. This in no way makes the Sig Sauer a lesser choice though. The hammer is easy to pull back for just about anyone. This isn’t the only feature that’s friendly for shooters with smaller hands, though.
Many women tend to say that, while other firearms in this caliber can be difficult to handle, the P238 is a breeze to operate, including reloading and managing recoil. The P238 weighs in at 15.2oz, consisting of a polymer grip on an alloy frame, with a steel slide and steel carbon barrel.
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Product
Price
Store
MPN
UPC
Sig Sauer P238 380 California Compliant Pistol
Dirty Bird Industries
and 17 more stores
SG238-380-TSS2-CA
798681617166
USED - Sig Sauer P238 GTO370664
Green Top Sporting Goods
-
000000370664
Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard
Type: Semi-Auto
Length: Barrel - 2.75" | Overall - 5.25"
Weight: 12 oz
Capacity: 6+1 round
Brand: Smith & Wesson
Another fantastic choice for a 380 pistol, we have the Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard. The Bodyguard is an approved backup weapon for police to carry, and for good reason. The Bodyguard is reliable (after break in) and carries the Smith & Wesson quality we’re all so familiar with.
The Bodyguard is offered with a built-in laser sight if you want one, but the option to forgo it is also available. The pistol weighs in at just 12oz with a length of 5.25 inches, putting it right in the middle when it comes to the average sizes of 380 compact pistols.
A safety lever is present on the left side of the weapon, but the pistol has a relatively long, double action trigger pull, so some shooters prefer to remove the lever altogether. All in all, the Bodyguard is a great 380 pistol, and is readily available on the market.
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Kel-Tec P-3AT
Type: Semi-Auto
Length: Barrel - 2.76" | Overall - 5.2"
Weight: 8.3 oz
Capacity: 6+1 round
Brand: Kel-Tec
The Kel-Tec P-3AT has been a long time popular backup pistol for law enforcement officers due to its reliability. In a small form-factor, the P-3AT is easily concealed, making it an ideal everyday carry for shooters with a concealed permit.
Like many of the other pistols on this list, the P-3AT is double action, boasting a 5lb trigger pull on Kel-Tec’s website. Additionally, Kel-Tec advertises this pistol as the lightest of all the 380 pistols available today, and at a mere 7.7oz unloaded, it’s a believable claim.
While the Kel-Tec is light and small, you sacrifice no quality when purchasing this pistol. The frame is polymer with an aluminum insert, and the slide and barrel are made of good old fashioned steel. With the P-3AT, simplicity gives you a reliable firearm, ready to be carried every day.
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Taurus 738 TCP
Action: Double Action Only Semi-Auto
Barrel Length: 2.80"
Weight: 10.2 oz
Capacity: 6+1 round
Brand: Taurus
The Taurus 738 TCP is one of the best value 380 pistols on the market. Often called the most reliable 380 pistol available, the 738 TCP weighs in at just 10.8 ounces unloaded, and is a lightweight workhorse.
At less than an inch wide, and less than four inches tall, the TCP 738 is in every way a compact pistol. These dimensions allow it to fit in nearly any pocket you can think of, making it the ideal conceal carry weapon.
Something that sets the Taurus apart from other pistols in this category is a slide lock. After the last round is fired, the slide locks back, a familiar feature from many larger caliber pistols. In addition to this, the 738 TCP has an incredibly smooth trigger. The pull is long, and the reset of the trigger is noticeable, with tactile and audible feedback.
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Armscor Baby Rock
Type: Semi-Auto
Length: Barrel - 3.75" | Overall - 6.625"
Weight: 23.53 oz
Capacity: 7+1 round
Brand: Armscor|Rock Island Armory
Last but certainly not least on our list, we have the Armscor Baby Rock. Another 1911-inspired 380 pistol, the Baby Rock is a sleek pistol that looks just like a scaled down version of the .45 1911.
The Baby Rock is fitted with low profile sights and a rubber grip over a mostly steel construction. Still considered lightweight, the Baby Rock is one of the heavier options on our list weighing in at 23 ounces unloaded. It’s still small enough to comfortably carry all day, though, and you’d hardly notice it when holstered on your person.
While the weight is higher than that of some of the other options we’ve mentioned, it lends itself to more control over recoil, making for a more enjoyable shooting experience with higher accuracy than some of the lighter pistols on the market.
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Product
Price
Store
MPN
UPC
Rock Island 51912 Baby Rock GI Standard CS 380 ACP 3.75" 7+1 Black Parkerized Black Polymer Grip
Defense Depot
and 17 more stores
51912
4806015519126
Rock Island Armory Baby Rock .45 ACP 3.1" Barrel 10-Rounds
GrabAGun.com
and 5 more stores
51577
4806015515777
Armscor Baby Rock 9mm 3.1" Barrel 10-Rounds
GrabAGun.com
and 6 more stores
56639
4806015566397
ROCK ISLAND Baby Rock 1911 45ACP 3.1" 10rd Pistol - Black w/ G10 Grips
KyGunCo
51577
806015515777
ROCK ISLAND BABY ROCK 3.1 M1911 A2 9MM PSTL G10 GRP
GunZoneDeals
56639
480601556639
ROCK ISLAND 1911-A1 Baby Rock 9mm 3.1" 10rd Pistol - Black / G10 Grips
KyGunCo
56639
806015566397
Conclusion
If you’re looking for something light and easily concealed, a 380 pistol is the way to go. Many of the options available on the market, and on this list, weigh less than 16oz when fully loaded, and are small enough to fit in a pocket comfortably. These pistols can be carried all day without the notice of the added weight. Even though they’re light, they still pack a punch, and any one of the options on this list is still made to a high standard. Consider buying one of these 380 pistols as your next concealed weapon, they won’t let you down.