Pictures by the writer
The Ruger Safety moniker has been round for a very long time. It began in 1972 when Ruger launched a mid-sized-frame, six-shot DA .357 Magnum revolver to compete with comparable wheelguns made by Colt and Smith and Wesson. As per Ruger’s enterprise mannequin, it was designed with the on a regular basis shooter in thoughts, however its fundamental function was to draw the eye of businesses looking for an obligation revolver.
The Safety Six (and later Service Six and Pace Six) weapons have been stable, no-frills weapons that got here in 2.75-, 3-, 4-, and 6-inch barrel lengths. They have been made each in blued metal and stainless-steel. The Safety Six had an adjustable rear sight. All variations have been made in .357 Magnum, with .38 Particular as an “added attraction.”
The Safety identify was laid to relaxation after Ruger stopped manufacturing of those revolvers due to the introduction of the GP100 in 1988. The identify was resurrected in 2017 with the appearance of the Safety 9 pistol. Made to the identical no-frills customary because the revolvers, this pistol was priced in order that starting shooters or of us on a price range may get a dependable defensive handgun in 9mm. The gun bought properly… properly sufficient that they simply just lately introduced out a equally constructed semi-auto in .380 ACP… the Safety-380.
Specs & Options
Right here you go, from the Safety-380 net web page…
Mannequin Quantity: 3839
Capability: 15+1
General Size: 6.52″
Barrel Size: 3.42″
Barrel Materials: Alloy Metal
Barrel End: Black Oxide
Magazines: One 15 Spherical and One 10 Spherical
Entrance Sight: Fiber Optic
Rear Sight: Drift Adjustable
Weight: 19.7 oz.
Grip Body: Excessive-Efficiency, Glass-Stuffed Nylon
Slide Materials: By-Hardened Alloy Metal
Slide End: Black Oxide
Slide Width: 1.02″
Peak: 4.35″
Grooves: 6, 1:10 RH twist
Instructed Retail: $389.00
– Lite Rack™ system consists of refined slide serrations, pronounced cocking ears, and a lighter recoil spring, permitting for straightforward slide manipulation. Mixed with low-recoiling .380 ammunition, it’s the very best pistol for coaching and follow.
– Compact for straightforward concealment, but holds a full-sized journal accommodating 10 or 15 rounds. Suits comfortably within the hand to higher distribute recoil throughout follow.
– Light-weight slide contains a drift-adjustable metal rear sight with a vertical edge and a brilliant, fiber optic entrance sight for improved visibility.
– Makes use of Ruger’s protected, dependable, and confirmed Safe Motion™ fire-control system that mixes a protected inside hammer with a bladed-safety set off. The set off has a brief, easy pull, clear break, and constructive reset.
– Security options embrace built-in set off security; exterior guide security; neutrally balanced sear with vital engagement and robust spring stress; and hammer catch to assist forestall the hammer from contacting the firing pin except the set off is pulled.
– Rugged development with through-hardened alloy metal slide; one-piece, precision-machined fireplace management chassis; and textured high-performance, glass-filled nylon grip body with accent rail.
– Protected, simple takedown with no particular instruments or set off pull required.
Images
A 3-slot rail provides to versatility
A pleasant fiber-optic entrance and a serrated U-notch rear sight assist.
Word the hammer slot. This gun is DAO with a hammer. You simply don’t see it.
At The Vary
I’m blessed to have my assessment ammo supplied by Black Hills, so I grabbed a few containers and headed to my yard vary.
I set some targets up at 10 yards… a compromise between 7 and 15… and did some taking pictures. As I stated, there have been no malfunctions, and the gun carried out flawlessly.
Listed below are a few consultant targets:
The JHP load… 957 fps, 7.9 customary deviation
And, the HoneyBadger… 60-grain machined copper bullet at 1167 fps, 11.7 customary deviation:
I discover that, sometimes, Black Hills uber-velocity HoneyBadger (no typo) masses to be correct in no matter caliber I shoot… normally moreso than the “regular” masses. A fast loosening of the rear sight set screw and a bump or two to the left would repair these teams’ middle.
Observations…
The gun was simple to shoot. I do know that may be a fairly generic assertion… “simple” how?
First, it stays put in your hand. One of many earmarks of the Safety-9 was its grip texturing. It vegetation itself in your hand and doesn’t transfer a lot, if any. The 380 model does the identical. Ergonomically, it’s an unlimited enchancment over Ruger’s earlier small-9mm-effort, the LC9. I owned not less than a type of, and the very first thing I did (after proving performance) was to take a soldering iron to the grip, to stipple it.
I even bear in mind shopping for some stair tread tape to chop and place on the grip to “tough it up” for a agency grip. That manufacturing facility grip was, to me, slicker than snot on a glass doorknob… the gun actually jumped in my hand. Ruger discovered its lesson and began offering a rougher texture that retains the gun planted in your palm, and the Safety-380 is an efficient instance of this.
One other nice function that must be replicated extra usually is the EZ-Rack slide. This gun has each a lighter recoil spring and “ears” on the rear of the slide to permit an honest grip. The older I get, the extra my arms present indicators of the outdated “Uncle Arthur”-itis, and I admire the dearth of effort wanted to chamber a spherical.
The sights want a shout-out right here, too. That fiber-optic entrance simply nestles into the U-notch rear with out effort. These are very seen and usable sights.
One other plus is that the gun was very controllable and exhibited good reliability. That is one pistol that might reside in a pocket holster and are available out swinging when wanted with out issues about its skill to take action. Its 15-round journal, with the prolonged baseplate, permits an all-finger grip. That additionally aids controllability.
I additionally took my S&W Bodyguard 2.0 out of the protected to check it with the Ruger, because it is without doubt one of the hottest-selling .380s in the marketplace proper now. (I didn’t take any footage… I used to be simply curious.)
By way of evaluating it to The Bodyguard, they’re totally different animals. The Ruger is the bigger of the 2, barely wider, with a distinct really feel. I just like the Bodyguard as a result of I can get my hand round it simply, and it suits me very properly. Its 12-round journal permits a stable grip with out inflicting a carry drawback as a consequence of an overly-long grip.
The Ruger feels barely “chunkier” in my hand, with a wider grip, and the texturing is in sections reasonably than the S&W’s common stippling. The Bodyguard could also be too slim for some with bigger arms, and that’s the place the Ruger would match proper in.
By way of pointability, each weapons carried out very properly. The fiber optic sight on the Ruger stands out; the S&W’s evening sight is extra seen in dim mild, however I’ve at all times been a fiber optic fan, so it’s a wash there.
As at all times, you’ll select whichever gun suits you and your carry model. There are lots of respectable .380s in the marketplace at present, and these two are good choices.
Summing Up
I simply stated it… There are lots of good .380s on the market. This Ruger will promote very properly, I predict, as a result of it’s dependable, has respectable capability, is simple to shoot and management, and is a Ruger. Don’t underestimate the facility of the model. Ruger weapons are identified for his or her ruggedness and worth, and are backed by among the finest customer support within the business.
Is it good? Nope, nothing is. One factor I don’t like is its takedown. It makes use of a detachable pin that might get misplaced, plus you want a case rim or screwdriver to pop it unfastened. I’m not a fan of separate takedown pins… that’s simply me.
Its $389 MSRP will translate into fewer {dollars} on the retailer or on the web vendor… This gun is actually worth. Contemplating that you simply get a 15-round journal with it and can buy extra if desired, it turns into an excellent purchase. The Safety-380 can grow to be a safety blanket for you.
Hyperlinks To Objects Used In This Evaluation
Athlon Rangecraft Velocity Professional Radar Chronograph, $500
Bear Creek Arsenal Paper Goal, 25 Pack, $10
Birchwood Casey Stuffed Taking pictures Luggage, $40
Birchwood Casey Eze-Scorer 8 Inch Bull’s-Eye Goal, 26 Targets, $9
Black Hills Ammunition
Caldwell E-Max Low-Profile Listening to Protectors, $33
Caldwell Final Goal Stand, $33
GPS Medium Vary Bag, $150
UpLULA common pistol journal loader, $35
Wheeler Set off Pull Gauge, $88
