Most people here are of the opinion that the BT380 is small enough to carry and also accurate enough for a range gun. I have found that to be true also. I have had several and had no problems hitting targets of soda can size out to 25 yds with them. The longer fixed barrel makes it much more accurate than the timy poly frame .380s. Their short sight radius is also not great for range work as well as the triggers which are mostly DA only. The BT380 gives you a choice ov DA or SA trigger, with the SA trigger being the best for range work and accuracy at any range.
What to buy?
I would like something small enough for concealed carry, but accurate enough for target shooting. Am I being unrealistic?
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I second Pancho_Villa, the BT380 feels a lot like a larger pistol and shoots nice.
Mike Parker
Mike Parker
I will check it out. I hunted for years. But the only handgun I have owned in the last 30 years is an old 6 shot 22 revolver.
How expensive is the ammo for the BT380?
I have not bought any .380 in a long time. I buy used guns at gunshows off people and usually can get some ammo off them they have not fired up. Recently got a full box of PMC FMJs off a guy that sold me a Hungarian copy of a Walther PPK. That is another good gun if you can find it. similar to a BT380. The MaKarov in .380 is another. It's a bit thicker. i have one of those. It shoots nice. Works the same as the BT. Has the SA/DA trigger with a dec0cker. Got a hhalf box of FMJs and jHPs mixed when I bought the Makarov a few months back.
I have seen the ammo at gunshows, domestic brands selling for as much as 40 bucks a box which is a rip off. Ammo has been scarce lately, but I have seen some .380 at Wally World for @ 30 bucks, domestic stuff. I saw the Russian Tula Amo at Wally World for @ 15 a box. It is steel case stuff, non reloadable.
I have seen the ammo at gunshows, domestic brands selling for as much as 40 bucks a box which is a rip off. Ammo has been scarce lately, but I have seen some .380 at Wally World for @ 30 bucks, domestic stuff. I saw the Russian Tula Amo at Wally World for @ 15 a box. It is steel case stuff, non reloadable.
Wally World was having .380 in Tula Ammo in brass for &15.00. If you see it now, it's about $20.00 bucks
My deal is I buy one box of 50 Critical Duty hollow points which are costly. But, I hope I never have to use them. Then I buy lots of target ammo which is less. That way I hopefully will be ready if I have to use the good stuff. 
Mike Parker
Mike Parker
I'll also second Pancho on the BT. I have one and find it very accurate for a small pistol. Best sights I've seen on a .380 in a while.
I'm going to chime in with the others. Can't go wrong with a BT380.
I'll jump on Pancho's bandwagon as well. The BT380 is IMHO the perfect EDC gun out there. My practice ammo cost about $15.00 a box, however my EDC ammo cost a small fortune. I use the Xtreme Penetrator ammo by Lehigh Defense, which cost about $25.00 for a box of 20. All the reviews and tests on this ammo have been excellent.
The BT380 is IMHO the perfect EDC gun out there. My practice ammo cost about $15.00 a box, however my EDC ammo cost a small fortune. I use the Xtreme Penetrator ammo by Lehigh Defense, which cost about $25.00 for a box of 20. All the reviews and tests on this ammo have been excellent.Hope you don't mind if I toss my two cents into the pot, I've a Bersa Thunder 380 Plus 15+1 and it's very accurate and easy to carry. The Only and I mean the Only issue I've had with it is the rear adjustable sight blade came off on the range. But it feeds great, no failure's to fire, eject, double feed or stove pipes. It functions wonderfully. Plus the wrap a round grip feels a lot like my Beretta 92SF, just a little shorter. But the de-cocker, mag and slide release are pretty much the same. So my New BT380 is almost like a "Mini Me" 92SF. I would recommend that you put one in your fist before you buy something else.
The gist of all this rambling is, Ya can't go wrong with a BT380. I
The gist of all this rambling is, Ya can't go wrong with a BT380. I
I bought my BT380 first and really like it. I then bought a model 85 Bersa which is basicly like the Plus model only the 85 has a steel frame. Now, I like the 85 better than the BT380 overall.
I reload my own 380 ammo, paying $7.50 a box (50) using fmj bullet. If I reload using my cast bullets that I cast myself, this reduces my cost to $4. a box. My favorite .380 bullet has now become the Lee 95gr Ranch Dog FN. I would be in "hog heaven" if I could get my hands on a Lee .32 75gr Ranch Dog mold.
Chris
I reload my own 380 ammo, paying $7.50 a box (50) using fmj bullet. If I reload using my cast bullets that I cast myself, this reduces my cost to $4. a box. My favorite .380 bullet has now become the Lee 95gr Ranch Dog FN. I would be in "hog heaven" if I could get my hands on a Lee .32 75gr Ranch Dog mold.
Chris
I've been paying 15.00 to 19.00 locally and online. There are some good deals out there. Academy has free shipping over 25.00, LAX ammo has holiday sales. Oh yeah, BT380 is the one.How expensive is the ammo for the BT380?
I'm on that BT380 band wagon as well. Of my two primary carries, the BT380 and 9UC, I actually prefer to carry the BT380 as it is far more concealable, especially during the summer when wearing much lighter clothing and even during the winter, I'm far more prone to carry the 380 when going to church than the 9uc.
I'm right there with you on the UC9 and the BT380, I have added the BP9 into the rotation after It's ran flawless for the last 500 rounds I've put through it.I'm on that BT380 band wagon as well. Of my two primary carries, the BT380 and 9UC, I actually prefer to carry the BT380 as it is far more concealable, especially during the summer when wearing much lighter clothing and even during the winter, I'm far more prone to carry the 380 when going to church than the 9uc.
My 380 concealed carry gets me bullseyes more than my other guns. So, it is more concealable than the regular 380 as it is a tad shorter barrell. You can get them for a good price too.
Here's the thing, and I'm speaking generally and from my experience. YMMV.
A gun the size of the BT380 is going to be what you're looking for if you want something enjoyable to shoot and that's easy to conceal. If you go much bigger, it's probably going to be a decent range gun, but it's going to be more difficult to conceal. If you go much smaller, it will be easier to conceal, but it's not going to be fun to shoot.
There are several pistols around the size of the BT380, but the BT380 is the least expensive and is excellent quality. Walther and Beretta both have pistols in similar sizes and caliber for 1.5-2x the price.
A gun the size of the BT380 is going to be what you're looking for if you want something enjoyable to shoot and that's easy to conceal. If you go much bigger, it's probably going to be a decent range gun, but it's going to be more difficult to conceal. If you go much smaller, it will be easier to conceal, but it's not going to be fun to shoot.
There are several pistols around the size of the BT380, but the BT380 is the least expensive and is excellent quality. Walther and Beretta both have pistols in similar sizes and caliber for 1.5-2x the price.
I own both the BT380 Combat 7 round and 15 round. Love them both. I mostly carry the 15 round and it fits in the pocket of any pants I choose to wear. I also carry it in my waste band as I don't like holsters.
Now if they ever make a Bersa Thunder Combat 9MM in the same exact style as the 380 combat I would buy one instantly.
Now if they ever make a Bersa Thunder Combat 9MM in the same exact style as the 380 combat I would buy one instantly.
Cabela's just had a sale and 380 ACP ammo was under $13 a Box.How expensive is the ammo for the BT380?
1 - 20 of 23 Posts
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