Over the years, Gun Tests Magazine has reviewed dozens of concealable pistols chambered in 380 ACP. The smallest of these sidearms are the subcompact handguns, or pocket pistols. The issue is “whose pockets” will these pistols fit into, and we have no real gauge on that. Cargo shorts have big ol’ pockets that can carry handguns of surpassing size, while jeans and khakis can only carry smaller, flatter guns.
For our purposes and definitions, we arbitrarily define pocket guns as those with barrels 3.75 inches or shorter, and they inexactly may be called either compact or subcompact pistols.
Naturally, the pocket pistols that both ride small and shoot big are highly prized, and here are some 380 ACP handguns that our experienced testers believe you’ll like if you want to buy a handgun of this type. Some are current manufacture, and others available on the used market.
GUN TESTS GRADE: B
The LCP II suffered break-in malfunctions that were easily corrected, in fact were self-correcting after firing, it seemed. The pistol is a good choice when the goal is maximum concealment. The LCP II is reliable, reasonably accurate for short-range use, and not difficult to control. Overall Length: 5.02 in. Weight Loaded: 11.65 oz. Barrel Length: 2.75 in. Magazine Capacity: 7.
GUN TESTS GRADE: B+
This is the basic LCP that’s a light handgun. We would have liked better sights, and would pay more for the LCP Custom, which has better sights and trigger. But the stock LCP has appeal to those with limited funds. Weight Loaded: 10.9 oz. Overall Length: 5.2 in. Barrel Length: 2.75 in. Magazine Capacity: 6.
GUN TESTS GRADE: B+
The Ruger LCP Max is reliable, lightweight, and makes a good pocket gun. It isn’t useful much past 10 yards, in our opinion. Across a bedroom or apartment, it will put all the shots into one hole. It is the archetypal “Get Off Me” gun. It suffered in comparison to the Smith & Wesson in combat accuracy, but not by much. A trained shooter is needed to mark the difference. Overall Length: 5.2 in. Weight Loaded: 11.8 oz. Barrel Length: 2.8 in. Capacity: 10 or 12.
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
The Combat Plus is a lightweight, compact pistol well suited for concealed carry. The double-action trigger is smooth, and accuracy is good. It has plenty of capacity, but only one magazine. Reliability and high magazine capacity in a compact package. This pistol is a Best Buy and would be our choice for concealed carry. Overall Length: 6.6 in. Weight Loaded: 24.9 oz. Barrel Length: 3.5 in. Magazine Capacity: 15.
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
As accurate and combat worthy as most any polymer-frame pistol we have tested. We were troubled by a short cycle, but it may have been shooter error.
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
The Bodyguard looks like a miniature Military & Police 9mm more than a purpose-designed pocket gun. It handles more like a big gun as well. We like the manual safety. The pistol is very well thought out. It is our choice between these two if price is not the most important criterion. Overall Length: 5.5 in. Weight Loaded: 11.2 oz. Barrel Length: 2.75 in. Capacity: 10 or 12.
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
We liked the Springfield 911. Unlike the full-size 1911 it mimics, the Springfield is suited to carrying hammer down instead of cocked and locked, an important consideration for pocket carry. We are generally not comfortable with the power level of the 380 ACP; however, loads like the Black Hills Ammunition Honey Badger and the Federal HST make the cartridge much more attractive than the previous choice of ball ammunition or a JHP that underpenetrates. The pistol is a joy to fire and use. It is more than accurate enough for personal defense. Weight Loaded: 15 oz. Overall Length: 5.5 in. Barrel Length: 2.7 in. Magazine Capacity: 6
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
The pistol is old school, no doubt about it. It has the Colt look and feel and is a well-made and reliable handgun. In combat accuracy, the pistol is the best of the four pistols tested. Overall Length: 6.1 in. Weight Loaded: 23.45 oz. Barrel Length: 3.25 in. Magazine Capacity: 7.
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GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
The Bersa came out of the box firing, without coughing on any of the loads we fed it. The pistol turned in the best combat groups. There is no light rail, and left-hand use is possible, but not the best. Overall Length, 6.6 n. Overall Height, 4.7 in. Maximum Width, 1.3 in. Weight Loaded, 24.1 oz. Barrel Length, 3.5 in. Magazine, 8-Rd Detachable Box. Slide Retraction Effort, 14.0 lbs. Trigger Pull Weight Single Action, 5.5 lbs. Trigger Pull Weight Double Action, 10.0 lbs.
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
The Glock offered flawless reliability and a bit of power in a compact package. This pistol is the best for pocket carry and would serve as well as most 380 ACP pistols in home defense. It is a workmanlike design. Overall Length: 5.94 in. Overall Height: 4.13 in. Maximum Width: 1.0 in. Weight Loaded: 13.8 oz. Barrel Length: 3.25 in. Magazine: 6-round detachable box.
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HONORABLE MENTIONS, BIGGER CHOICES
Walther PP 380 Auto Model 4796027, $983
GUN TESTS GRADE: B-
The 380 Auto PP offers more ballistic performance with slightly more recoil. It has a very heavy DA trigger, tiny sights, great accuracy, and a longer beavertail.
Walther PD380 505080 380 ACP, $445 (Oct-Nov 2025)
GUN TESTS GRADE: B-
Reliable and accurate enough, if not the most accurate here. Has adjustable sights and holds one more round than the others. We did not like the safety, and the absence of a slide lock made handling more difficult.
Rock Island Armory LI380 56798 380 ACP, $250 (Oct-Nov 2025)
GUN TESTS GRADE: C
In many ways, a clone of the Bersa. The slide is more angular, and the trigger action is actually smoother. Has a light rail and is reliable with defense ammo, but it didn’t like one FMJ. The sights needed more definition.
Rock Island Armory Baby Rock 51912 380 ACP, $350 (June-July 2025)
GUN TESTS GRADE: C
It wasn’t surprising that changing a single specification, the trigger action, resulted in such inferior performance. The Baby Rock is reliable, and we are certain intrinsic accuracy is still good, but practical accuracy is poor.
EAA GIRSAN MC 14T 380 AUTO, $387 (February 2025)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
The Girsan knock-off of the Beretta 86 is unusual due to the tip-up barrel, which makes loading and firing the gun easy, especially for those who find racking the slide difficult to manage. The Girsan MC 14T is an unusual pistol that allows easy loading without having to rack the slide. This would be a good choice for those shooters lacking hand strength to rack a slide. Accuracy was great. Overall Length: 7.6 in. Weight Loaded: 26.6 oz. Barrel Length: 4.5 in. Magazine Capacity: 13.
GLOCK G28 380 AUTO, $515 (February 2025)
GUN TESTS GRADE: B+
There’s nothing innovative about this Gen3 Glock, but it is reliable. Recoil was soft, and the pistol was accurate. If you are a Glock fan, the G28 might be your choice for a double-stack 380 Auto, but there are less costly options, in our opinion. Overall Length: 6.5 in. Weight Loaded: 24.1 oz. Barrel Length: 3.4 in. Magazine Capacity: 10.
S&W M&P 380 Shield EZ 180023 380 ACP, $384 (May 2024)
GUN TESTS GRADE: B
Originally tested in the August 2018 issue, we said then that the EZ was “EZ-ily among the most useful and attractive 380 ACP pistols we have tested” and gave it an A grade. In the July 2022 issue, we gave it an A- and said, it was a “good choice for home defense for those who cannot handle a larger chambering. As a carry gun, it isn’t smaller than some 9mm Luger handguns, but it is much easier to fire well. The demerit is for its power and terminal ballistics, and it is not a small gap.” The half-grade markdown was for the chambering, not the gun, which was compared to other EZ models chambered in 30 Super Carry and 9mm Luger. If you want a 380 ACP, this Shield is an EZ choice to make. Overall Length, 6.75 in. Weight Loaded, 1.35 lbs. Barrel Length, 3.675 in. Magazines, two 8-round.
Ruger Security 380 Lite Rack 03839 380 ACP, $296 (May 2024)
GUN TESTS GRADE: B
The Security 380 was indeed easy to rack, requiring less than 11 pounds of pressure to operate. Recoil was smooth and, very subjectively, the lightest of the three pistols tested here. Sights were easy to see and fast to pick up. As expected, that forward-hinged thumb safety was a bit more difficult to use than the 1911-style units to which we are accustomed, contributing to the slowest average times in the speed drills. It shot best with the Hornady Critical Defense ammo, with groups averaging under 2 inches. The Armscor ammo created a few problems in not wanting to go into battery, not only with the Ruger, but the others as well. Visual inspection shows that there is a serious taper crimp on that ammo that caught just a little when we cycled the action by hand. There were no malfunctions as the Security 380 was being fired. Overall Length: 6.5 in. Weight Loaded: 1.3 lbs. Barrel Length: 3.42 in. Magazine Capacity: 10 or 15.
CZ 83 380 ACP, $330 (January 2022)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
This is a perennial winner in our 380 wrap-ups. Long out of production, this specific model is absolutely worth looking for at gun shows, pawn shops, and on line, but be prepared to pay more for one in tiptop condition. In our test, it did not suffer any type of stoppage. It was reliable, well made, and perhaps even overbuilt. Overall Length: 6.8 in. Weight Loaded: 32.0 oz. Barrel Length: 3.8 in. Magazine Capacity: 12.
Tisas Fatih B380 F380B 380 ACP, $434 (January 2022)
GUN TESTS GRADE: B
The lowest-graded pistol was also the personal favorite of most of the raters. The Fatih is an attractive pistol with good fit and finish and good accuracy. Reliability was marred by a single short cycle. It also fired high, which isn’t easy to fix. Overall Length: 6.88 in. Weight Loaded: 26.3 oz. Barrel Length: 3.83 in. Magazine Capacity: 13.
I have a Kahr CW380, Reminton RM380 And Colt Mustang XSP in.380.
By far the Colt based on the 1911 model outshines them all.
I own a Sig P230 which I have not used much though it is a nice shooter. I currently carry a Springfield 642-2 with Federal 38 Special Hollow Point Nicad ammunition. I am 78 years old and in “pretty good” shape. How would you rate this handgun and would you suggest replacing the Springfield with it?
Thank You