Posted on 10/25/2018 10:11:02 AM PDT by Paul R.
What are FReeper's thoughts on the Ruger LCP .380 vs. the Taurus Spectrum .380 as a trail gun? I am looking for something fairly small and light, with decent punch, but decent quality, to carry in a backpack while hiking, fishing, etc. Budget is limited to around $200. I might spring for a 2nd magazine to keep snakeshot* charges in, the 1st would get hollow points.
I have looked at and briefly handled a Ruger LCP .380: Size, weight, and "feel" are all good for me. Reviews seem to indicate it is very reliable and not ammo picky. The Taurus Spectrum .380 I have not handled, and found far fewer reviews online. OTOH, Taurus has a good rebate goping now, and final price on a Spectrum .380 looks like it will be $20-$25 less than the Ruger.
*9 out of 10 venemous snakes will retreat given a chance (or you simply go around them), but I have run into a couple situations "otherwise":
Copperheads are unfortunately intolerable in areas frequented by people who bring young kids along.
In one case I had a large copperhead simply refuse to let go of my stringer of fish. He got the radical Muslim action (machete to the neck), but I was a bit uncomfortable at that proximity with a poisonous snake that big. (35" is an QUITE large copperhead!)
Then of course there are "poisonous" humans -- I've never run into a situation where I felt I was in danger such that I needed a firearm, but, "stuff" obviously does happen, and my wife really worries aboput me when I go off to some semi-remote spot...
Note that I do not expect to shoot this gun a lot, so issues with heavy usage are not a large concern.
My daughter has a LCP 380. It’s a fun little gun to shoot. The dark pink color would also be good in case you dropped it in the forest.
I have had bad luck with the consistency of Taurus build quality. I would get the Ruger.
get a hi-point Cheap gun.
LCP
He’s looking for a small lightweight gun to carry in a backpack. Hi-Points shoot OK, but lightweight is not one of their features.
get a hi-point Cheap gun.
If you’re out of doors you’ve got a) longer ranges, b) critters other than human, c) a jacket, backpack, etc. to conceal, etc, etc.
I carry my Glock 19 or Glock 17 out of doors. I carry smaller guns in the city or in the summer when I can’t conceal the Glocks.
I don’t know what your proposed use for a “trail gun” would be, but it’s the season when black bears are moving through our area and I carry a 4” S&W 620 in .357, in case one of the dogs aggravates a bear or in the unlikely event that one of them is aggressive.
Incidentally - I used to hate to carry it on my hip, but I got a Milt Sparks holster for it, and now I almost don’t know it’s there. If you had told me before I got it that a holster makes that much difference, I would not have believed you.
I have the lcp and I carry it on the trail, other then adding a rubber grip I find it the perfect compromise between weight and performance.
Any handgun that you like enough to comfortably carry all the time is the right one.
Get the Ruger. Better gun, less problems.
LCP. I have one and it’s a fine pocket-size pistol.
My wife has a ruger LC380. The 17 oz weight, makes it very controllable for a pocket gun.
Save a little longer and get a S+W M+P 9mm.
Yes, the LCP’s color availabilities are good for just that reason! But, as the salesman told me, it is just a trail gun - I could paint part of it myself, even glow-in-the-dark, if desired...
Since I’m a guy, pink is a little bit much, tho’. LOL.
Which reminds me I need to find a fluorescent or glow in the dark “rubber” (soft vinyl) dip for my fishing pliers - I spent 10 minutes finding them in the grass, at night, last time out!!
Ruger is my go to gun.
I have an LCP as well as an LCP II. Never had a problem with either.
I traded a 9mm Ruger for a Taurus .380 because of the weight issue. Best trade I ever made. Good little CCW.
Either one would be fun to shoot and more than adequate to bring down charging rabbits.
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