Dr. Bruce Eimer wrote on Jul 10^th, 2010 at 6:18pm:

If it's anything like the Colt's pistol it seems to be copying, its safety detent is pretty firm and secure. (I have no experience with the SIG P238, so I don't know for sure.)
Other than that, Bruce, I agree with you. I, too, am not comfortable carrying a cocked-and-locked, single action semi-auto in my pocket. Even in a good holster, there are too many factors which could result in an accidentally-pushed-to-"off" safety lever, for my comfort.
To that, I must add that I do not believe that a Colt's-style grip safety really makes any difference at all. It merely blocks trigger movement, and not very securely at that. The grip safety of 1911 pistols is, I believe, not to be relied upon. Worse, it can even keep you from making a critical shot with a slightly injured hand. I think that it's all bad, and nothing good.

Like the old commercial says.... "STOP! You're both right!"

After years of carrying 1911's and 1911 variants, I too, am very comfortable carrying cocked 'n' locked.... but not in my pocket.  Because of my comfort with the 1911 frame, I bought a Colt Mustang .380 some years back.  I primarily carry it as a BUG in a Backwoods IWB.

I have not shot a Sig 238, but after handling one several times at gun shows, it has the same 1911-type feel and pointabilty. Had the Sig been avialable back then, I would have given it very serious consideration. I am very fond of the quality of the Sig P220 I've owned for well over 10 years.

To the good Doctor's point: after some time and practice, my confidence in carrying a "hot" 1911 style pistol is pretty solid.

Nice !   

tpd223 wrote on Jul 13^th, 2010 at 4:55am:




tpd:

Respectfully, I would suggest that "getting into the Bersa sized guns", no matter the caliber, is simply not going to hack it, for me, as to ease of concealment, and to a lesser degree the weight issue.

I have a very good Firestorm FS22.. (Same identical pistol as the Bersa Thunder 380, but in 22cal) and there is no way I can carry that FS22 even remotely as easily or comfortable as I can my LCP or LWS380..  Just no way.

As for reliability in a small 380cal. platform?

Well, my LWS380 has been 100% reliable up to this point, and all THREE of my Ruger LCP's have been also.

I'm sure any of my 380's, as with any firearm of any caliber, if you shoot enough rounds through it sooner or later either the pistol will burp, or the ammo you are shooting will cause it to burp..  Hey, it's made by man, you just know it's gonna fail sooner or later..  Even then the problem is "generally" traceable to defective ammo, not the actual firearm.

I agree with you 100% that the "wound ballistics" between the 380 round and the 9MM round, in comparison, are not small.

In fact, the 9MM round is my personal favorite, and I have 7-8 9MM pistols I run 9MM thru on a pretty regular basis... 

But if you think the difference in "wound ballistics" between the 380cal. round and that of the 9MM round is awesome, you "ain't" seen nothing until you compare the "wound ballistics" of the 380 round you have in your back pocket, to the ZERO "wound ballistics" of that favorite 9MM pistol you had to leave at the house because it was too heavy, or too large for reasonable conceal carry on any given occasion..

WHEN I can get away with carrying one of my 9's concealed, that's what I have on me in a FIST iwb holster...  But as I've mentioned before, I live in S.E.Ga. where the summer heat/humidity is not just bad, it's unbelievable... 

During the summer months HERE you would be hard pressed to cc ANY firearm other than a tiny mousegun, and I worry less about the potential lack of "wound ballistics" in the LCP/LWS380 might cause than I worry about the potential "wound ballistics" that might occur to MY body because I was unarmed when the party started and I had to leave home without my P2000sk because it was simply too darn hot for me to bring it along..

Absolutely no offense intended to you by my comments..   I'm a senior citizen and I have found over my 4+ decades of legal concealed carry what works for me, and so I'm well pleased with my choices, even tho they might be absolutely the wrong choices for the next person.

I will say that I am more and more pleased every day in the performance, and ease of concealment offered by the relatively inexpensive Ruger LCP..

My LWS380 will always be the standard for me in quality and desirability in a small concealed carry pistol choice, but it's hard to ignore the fact that my three LCP's, combined, cost less than my Seecamp. 

The good thing is that we all have "choices", and what I might chose  in my self defense cc firearm has absolutely no bearing on what choice you might make.

Best Wishes to you,

Jesse

P.S. IF I were looking for better "wound ballistics" I wouldn't be cc any of my 9MM pistols anyway..  I'd be "toting" my S&W CS45 loaded with 185gr.DoubleTap Gold Dot jhp's.. smoking along @ 1225fps... 

Simon Templar wrote on Jul 14^th, 2010 at 2:27am:


For sure... As BigMickey stated elsewhere, even a lowly .22 to the eye or mouth is gonna put a real hurt on the BG.

Shadowman...

If it works for you, carry on. A Seecamp .380 in the pocket is a formidable little guardian. A CS9 is a great gun. A Sig P232 is certainly a viable self defense handgun. Eminently shootable. Works of fine jewelry. All good lifesaving tools   

/Bruce

I definitely agree. I have two and they both have been flawless. Love them. Good things they are.

/Bruce