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I just start teaching LTC classes and discovered there are significant numbers of students are real beginners. They are having trouble shooting my Glock 17 as a loaner gun. I am considering purchasing an easy to shoot 380 for these students as a loaner. I am thinking a compact size (not subcompact) and slightly heavier 380. Any suggestions?

http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/p ... i=GM447578

I have one of these and I love it. it just fits.

Walther PK380

I can suggest one NOT to use, a S&W Bodyguard 380. The trigger pull is so heavy that they will never learn what a real trigger should be.

BCGlocker wrote:I just start teaching LTC classes and discovered there are significant numbers of students are real beginners. They are having trouble shooting my Glock 17 as a loaner gun. I am considering purchasing an easy to shoot 380 for these students as a loaner. I am thinking a compact size (not subcompact) and slightly heavier 380. Any suggestions?

I would suggest starting those folks with a .22 - the S&W M&P .22.

Low recoil, decent trigger, easy slide retraction, and controls and operation very similar to the majority of striker fired pistols out there.

That solution has worked wonders for some folks I've taught.

DA/SA hammer-fired
Larger frame

mayor wrote:http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/p ... i=GM447578

I have one of these and I love it. it just fits.

I occasionally hear some complaints about the Bersa Thunder, but I hear so many more good comments by people who love them it makes me want to run out and buy one. (I just wish the slide safety didn't work "backwards.")

ETA: wow, spare factory magazines look pricey tho. :(

Excaliber wrote:

BCGlocker wrote:I just start teaching LTC classes and discovered there are significant numbers of students are real beginners. They are having trouble shooting my Glock 17 as a loaner gun. I am considering purchasing an easy to shoot 380 for these students as a loaner. I am thinking a compact size (not subcompact) and slightly heavier 380. Any suggestions?

I would suggest starting those folks with a .22 - the S&W M&P .22.

Low recoil, decent trigger, easy slide retraction, and controls and operation very similar to the majority of striker fired pistols out there.

That solution has worked wonders for some folks I've taught.

Can a .22 he used for qualification?

+1 for the Bersa Thunder 380. Great little gun. It's big enough to get a full grip on it and heavy enough to lessen recoil.

Most if the failures (FTF or FTE) I've had I've attributed to ammo, .380s can be finicky.

I've had several over the years and would probably buy one now if I found a deal. I buy one because I really like the gun, but then I start thinking too much...it's so big, it only holds 7 rounds, it's too big for a .380, my LC9S is the same size and it's a 9mm...so I sell it...then I start the process over again

I liked my Bersa as well, either the normal Thunder or the Thunder CC. The factory mags as someone mentioned are pricey though. Got mine for $311 tax and all.

Alao, wouldn't a 9mm glock 19 or similar be a good option? Similar recoil and less pricy ammo.

mojo84 wrote:

Excaliber wrote:

BCGlocker wrote:I just start teaching LTC classes and discovered there are significant numbers of students are real beginners. They are having trouble shooting my Glock 17 as a loaner gun. I am considering purchasing an easy to shoot 380 for these students as a loaner. I am thinking a compact size (not subcompact) and slightly heavier 380. Any suggestions?

I would suggest starting those folks with a .22 - the S&W M&P .22.

Low recoil, decent trigger, easy slide retraction, and controls and operation very similar to the majority of striker fired pistols out there.

That solution has worked wonders for some folks I've taught.

Can a .22 he used for qualification?

No, but once a student is over the initial learning curve of weapon operation, stance, sight alignment, and trigger control, it's pretty easy to introduce a gun with 9mm level recoil and have them do well with it.

It's rather expensive for a loaner gun for LTC classes, but I have a lot of women coming to my LTC and Basic Handgun Skills classes with SIG P238's. They seem to function well, have good sights and since they are locking-breech .380's, the slide is easy to rack.

As Excaliber said, if you are teaching basic handgun classes, you can't beat a .33LR for people who know nothing about guns.

Chas.

My EDC is the Bersa BP9CC. The other day at the range the officer was carrying the .380 version of the same gun. He says he really loves it. I have not used one, but I really love my 9mm. Same frame. Small enough for any size hand. Reasonable price.

But run only quality brass through it. It's picky.

Excaliber wrote:

mojo84 wrote:

Excaliber wrote:

BCGlocker wrote:I just start teaching LTC classes and discovered there are significant numbers of students are real beginners. They are having trouble shooting my Glock 17 as a loaner gun. I am considering purchasing an easy to shoot 380 for these students as a loaner. I am thinking a compact size (not subcompact) and slightly heavier 380. Any suggestions?

I would suggest starting those folks with a .22 - the S&W M&P .22.

Low recoil, decent trigger, easy slide retraction, and controls and operation very similar to the majority of striker fired pistols out there.

That solution has worked wonders for some folks I've taught.

Can a .22 he used for qualification?

No, but once a student is over the initial learning curve of weapon operation, stance, sight alignment, and trigger control, it's pretty easy to introduce a gun with 9mm level recoil and have them do well with it.

I agree. I was just thinking the context of this thread was regarding a loaner for the LTC qualification.

I think the .22 lr can't be beat for teaching a newby how to shoot.