.380 Mini-Revolver Model 3801BB

[MOONDAWG]

Has anyone seen one of these beasts yet?

Taurus 2011 What's New Catalog

At 5 shots in a 15.5 oz. package it must be made on M-85's vs. M-905 frame.

So why bring it out it a dedicated .380 format?

Why not just market the M-905 for 9mm AND .380?

Any comments?

[kubelkampf]

Have not seen one....don't care if I ever do. I am always amazed and put off by the ever present "need" to re-invent the wheel. Innovation is good, by definition - keep blowing out the cobwebs, so to speak. However, this is not real innovation at all. In terms of cartridges and guns, there really is very little in the way of true innovation - mostly just re-hashing that which was already done a long time ago. A .380 revolver.....let alone a 9 x 19 one ? Another 15 oz. pistol (of any type)? Not interested. I'll stick with my good 'ole .38 Special, thank you very much.

[M3Stuart]

Here is my .02;

I've owned both steel and alloy snubs and didn't like either one. Steel snubs feel unbalanced in my hand, are hard to aim and hit with due to my $%#^ shooting skill and their short sight radius. Alloy snubs IMHO don't have enough heft to handle the recoil of the .38 AND have all the probs of the steel snubs. This one looks considerably smaller than the 905 (or 85) and have the (hopefully greater) reliability of a revolver in the easier-to-handle .380 caliber.

If you read the reviews of the new breed of .380s - LCPs, bodyguard .380, DIA, etc - you'll find that some of them have ejection and other issues for SOME people (by no means 'most people').

Sooooo, I think they're on the right track here - sort of.

I'm curious anyway - I wonder if the '3801' designation means it has a 1" barrel - which would make the whole gun really small - maybe 5" in total length. It would fill the gap between the NAA mini-revolvers and the 85/905. I'd like to see the technical spec sheet on it and I would volunteer to be a 'tester' for it. However, if it's just an 85 that shoots .380, then I'd probably agree with the comment above because the only advantage would be to have a revolver with less kick than a .38. ....and the 905 already gives you that...and there's the moonclip issue which some people complain about.

[Buckeye!]

I'm no 380 fan....not by a long shot...but..(always a but) The 380 should function wonderfully out of a short barreled light weight snubbie,,,alot of high tech bullets out there produced for the 380 velocities and perform out of short barrels...
I'm a BIG 38 special fan ....but velocities vary alot with the 38 Special...most velocities published are out of 6 inch barrels , and if you step it up a notch ...with 38 +P out of a 12- 15 oz snubbie ...ouch..and a quick follow up shot is hard thing to accomplish...

My self I carry a 22 oz. 357 mag Charter Mag Pug with 38 special +P ammo , its ported and is a "D" frame ..it is alot easier to control than a 13 to 16 oz snubbie

The 380 snubbie should be a success . If people truly do there home work on the round / gun combination..


Charter is coming out with a 9mm/ 380 in a 12 oz snubbie this late summer...should be a blast...

[texastaurusguy]

To each his own.....I get paranoid when I'm carrying only my Ruger LCP, it just doesn't seem like a lot of punch for some reason. I mean, it's better than nothing of course....but if I'm carrying a revolver, and I want light, I'll carry my Ruger LCR at 13.5 ounces, thank you very much.

[harley 1986]

Not a fan of the 380, I am a revolver fan and enjoy all my revolvers.
I have a Taurus 905 and it is a very nice BUG.
Taurus International Manufacturing Inc
Good control, lots of personal defense ammo to choose from .. mine is in the black finish the new ones are stainless.
If you can, I would say move to the 905 9MM and then your ammo is common. THis works well for me since my primary carry is usually a PT709 or PT11

[whodog]

Has anyone seen one of these beasts yet?

Taurus 2011 What's New Catalog

At 5 shots in a 15.5 oz. package it must be made on M-85's vs. M-905 frame.

So why bring it out it a dedicated .380 format?

Why not just market the M-905 for 9mm AND .380?

Any comments?

The 905 frame is 22.2 oz., so it's a smaller gun than that.

The .380 bullet slides too far in the 905 cylinder for it to be struck, I believe. I just tried putting one in my 905 and it goes way into the cylinder. And I wouldn't even try shooting w/ those flimsy stellar clips to hold the .380 bullet in place... Have no idea how charter arms is gonna handle both calibers....

[RandyP]

If memory serves none have been manufactured and it is more just a concept firearm for Taurus?

[whodog]

Just rumors... vapour ware...

[MOONDAWG]

....Have no idea how charter arms is gonna handle both calibers....

The Charter Arms CARR (Charter Arms Rimless Revolver) does not use moonclips.

It has a patented extractor star that holds rimless brass in place similar to S&W's 9mm M-547 did.