Rock Island Armory's "Baby Rock" M 1911 380 review
- Thread starter joepistol
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joepistol
Well-Known Fanatic
I have a "Brazilian Beretta".. it's actually a Taurus model 58..
12 + 1 . (?) 380.. very similar ( a copy ? clone ?) of the Beretta mod. 84
Just as the Taurus Mod 92 & 99 were very close to the Beretta model 92, so is the Taurus 58.
Don't believe it's made anymore, I bought mine a long time ago..( before 1987) my 1st .380
Just as my with my Taurus 92, it will feed & fire any ammo, is extremely reliable & is reasonably accurate.
12 + 1 . (?) 380.. very similar ( a copy ? clone ?) of the Beretta mod. 84
Just as the Taurus Mod 92 & 99 were very close to the Beretta model 92, so is the Taurus 58.
Don't believe it's made anymore, I bought mine a long time ago..( before 1987) my 1st .380
Just as my with my Taurus 92, it will feed & fire any ammo, is extremely reliable & is reasonably accurate.
rmc51
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rmc51
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- Joined
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JP:
I did remember something about that and I went back and found this,
The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - .380 wanted in size x-large
The Leading Online Forum for firearms Enthusiasts
thefiringline.com
Quote:
Some of those older Beretta 380s are close to service pistol size with a locked breach. After Taurus bought the Beretta factory in Brazil, they made them for a while too. Some Spanish makers, Star and Llama I think, made near service size pistols kind of similar to the 1911. You may be able to find a good price as most buyers now will say, "why get the 380 when I can get a 9mm the same size." Hi-Point may make a new one that fits what you are looking for; ugly but affordable and functional. Target sights could be fitted to any of these to make a range gun.
I think that Taurus finished off some leftover Beretta's and put their name on then???
joepistol
Well-Known Fanatic
I read that Smith & Wesson & Beretta did a joint venture, made a factory in Brazil to manufacture their firearms for South America. Both S&W & Beretta products were made there for a number of years, until the factory was sold by what became Taurus. Since the equipment was set up to produce the S&W & Beretta product line, the new company continued to produce the same firearms..with slight changes.
Those new clones ? copies ? were given the Taurus label & different model #'s.
I purchased a Taurus 92 , & the 85S, and a several of their revolvers, a snub nose 38 (mod.85 ) a .357 Mod.66 ? and a 44 spec. Mod 441 . eventually sold all the revolvers, as they were replaced with S&W models, mostly for the S&W's better triggers. Had I known my current gunsmith back in the 80's, I would've probably kept them & had trigger jobs done on them. I never had any issues with those early models I purchased. All worked flawlessly , but triggers were stiff / heavier than I like.
Those new clones ? copies ? were given the Taurus label & different model #'s.
I purchased a Taurus 92 , & the 85S, and a several of their revolvers, a snub nose 38 (mod.85 ) a .357 Mod.66 ? and a 44 spec. Mod 441 . eventually sold all the revolvers, as they were replaced with S&W models, mostly for the S&W's better triggers. Had I known my current gunsmith back in the 80's, I would've probably kept them & had trigger jobs done on them. I never had any issues with those early models I purchased. All worked flawlessly , but triggers were stiff / heavier than I like.
dennishoddy
Moderator
I recently bought an Sig P-938 which is a baby 1911 complete with thumb safety steel slide but a polymer frame.
Pretty pricy little 9mm, but great trigger and 100% reliable.
I've carried a Kel-Tec P3AT from the first year they came out as a deep concealed firearm, just dropped into the right front pocket with the spare mag dropped into the other. Extremely light but the trigger is horrendous and the recoil is brisk.
I didn't like the 938 in the pocket for a couple of reasons. It was a little heavy and it printed. I had a pocket holster for the P3AT and tried it today in my cargo shorts that I pretty much live in these days. Quit using it for the Kel-tec as it gripped the gun too tightly and was hard to get out of the pocket.
BUT! It's perfect for the Sig. The pistol is slightly oversized for the holster, which now makes it come out easily and doesn't print. Totally comfortable to carry now.
My new EDC.
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joepistol
Well-Known Fanatic
I looked at the 938 when it came out...wanted to love it, as it did remind me of a miniature 1911, but the grip frame felt much too short for my lg.-xtra lg. sized hand. Thought it might work / feel better w/ an extended mag. Didn't.
My brother in law had a 938 several years ago. It had nice G10 grip panels on it. It looked great. Unfortunately, it had a 9 lb+ trigger pull that never improved. It was one of 3 or 4 that I had shot. All the others had reasonable (but not great or even nice) triggers. Those four or five 938s were enough to convince me that I would never need a miniature 1911 for any serious work…ie self protection. My Brownings are just for fun, range guns. For the most part, nothing I "carry" has an external/manual safety. All striker fired, DA/SA hammer fired or a revolver.
I'm sure I could ingrain the safety into my training. I do shoot 1911s competitively, with great success and no mishandling of the safeties. But for EDC, it will be an older Sig, a Glock (27/26) or for the past 2.5 years, my original Hellcat.
I'm sure I could ingrain the safety into my training. I do shoot 1911s competitively, with great success and no mishandling of the safeties. But for EDC, it will be an older Sig, a Glock (27/26) or for the past 2.5 years, my original Hellcat.
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I've always liked those! I'd like the single stack. Love the nickel Browning but then I really like any nickel gun.
joepistol
Well-Known Fanatic
I found it strange that of the 4 .380's I own, 3 are no longer made..or sold by the manufacturer.
The baby Rock is still made, the Taurus 58S Sig Sauer 232, and the CZ-83 are no longer being made..
The baby Rock is still made, the Taurus 58S Sig Sauer 232, and the CZ-83 are no longer being made..
dennishoddy
Moderator
You really wouldn't like the P3-AT then! LOL. I have medium sized hands that can get three good fingers and a partial fourth on the grip, so It's good for me vs two fingers on the Kel-Tec.
joepistol
Well-Known Fanatic
I can get my whole hand on all of my .380's, the CZ-83 is like a brick, which is probably why it's the most comfortable to shoot...The Taurus is nice to shoot as well., as it's the same size / shape as a Beretta 84. The Sig 232 is smaller, but shaped to fit my hand well, & the back strap has a more pronounced curve beneath the slide, so I don't get slide bite, like I do with a friend's Walther PPK. The Sig also has an curved plastic extension on the front of the mag that's perfect for my pinkie.
joepistol
Well-Known Fanatic
If anyone's interested in a Browning 1911 in 380, a CDNN Sports ad had them priced for < $600 .. & yes, I was tempted.
It's very hard for me to ignore (resist ? ) a sale ad on a pistol that I've considered purchasing
they have evenone model @ $499.00
www.cdnnsports.com
It's very hard for me to ignore (resist ? ) a sale ad on a pistol that I've considered purchasing
they have evenone model @ $499.00
Premium Firearms | Rifles, Shotguns & Handguns
Handguns, rifles and shotguns at the best prices in the USA. Serving shooters since 1984 - We are your best shot at savings!
www.cdnnsports.com
That's where I bought my second one. $649, I think. Tricolor, no rail and night sights.If anyone's interested in a Browning 1911 in 380, a CDNN Sports ad had them priced for < $600 .. & yes, I was tempted.
It's very hard for me to ignore (resist ? ) a sale ad on a pistol that I've considered purchasing
they have evenone model @ $499.00
Premium Firearms | Rifles, Shotguns & Handguns
Handguns, rifles and shotguns at the best prices in the USA. Serving shooters since 1984 - We are your best shot at savings!
Attachments
380's are nice to shoot but are not useful for defence. Better to shoot yourself. Get a 9MM for defence! BTW, I am an ex cop!
Whatever. The more I learn about "used to be" cops, the less I like them.
A380 is better by far than nothing. I believe a fair share of folks have met their demise or at least stopped what they were doing when hit by one.
As mentioned by me before, my 380s are range toys. But, with a 4 1/4" barrel, you are getting all there is to give from most 380 rd. And, it's not like bad guys haven't been put down or at least stopped, by 22, 25, 32 and 380 cartridges before! Trolls...sheesh!
joepistol
Well-Known Fanatic
I watched as some local LEO's used my club's range to"qualify", or meet their required shooting for the yr. ? qtr. ? whatever.
I was not at all impressed by the shooting skill exhibited by them. I recall thinking.."if I was carrying a gun, I'd want to shoot a lot better than that..
even if it wasn't a required part of my job."
When I worked in a prison, the CO's had to qualify every so often to be able to do prisoner transports. Most the CO's liked to do transport duty, as it was how they usually got overtime pay. The CO's carried Glock 40' as their duty sidearm, and those CO's that spent their time in the observation towers had Mini 14's as their duty rifles.
I was not at all impressed by the shooting skill exhibited by them. I recall thinking.."if I was carrying a gun, I'd want to shoot a lot better than that..
even if it wasn't a required part of my job."
When I worked in a prison, the CO's had to qualify every so often to be able to do prisoner transports. Most the CO's liked to do transport duty, as it was how they usually got overtime pay. The CO's carried Glock 40' as their duty sidearm, and those CO's that spent their time in the observation towers had Mini 14's as their duty rifles.
