Built for the crowd that can easily handle higher calibers but choose not to. Faster target acquisition. Faster multi round hits. Easier recoil. Less chance of over penetration. An all around great pistol.
The beautiful thing about this gun is the light recoil in a compact gun that can be carried. Is it the size of many 9 mm micros? no. However, that price comes with the ability to be a home defense gun, and also a concealed carry gun for those with diminished grip strength. It weighs about 19 ounces which is only 1 or 2 ounces heavier than your best micro 9s. it’s also is not that much bigger, like I said, just big enough that it can flex into home defense or conceal carry. The slightly increase size paired with a slightly reduced recoil matters a whole lot. Good job Ruger. The light rack is just the whip cream or icing on the top.
There are literally no advantages to having a gun recoil. I don't shame anyone for choosing a light recoiling gun. Recoil is combat ineffective. Makes no sense to choose a gun that kicks into you unnecessarily and makes the gun harder to control when options to have a smoother shooting, more accurate, faster target acquiring gun exist. I'm convinced this ruger security 380 can be a valid competition gun. For $300 you can shoot just as good as anyone with a $1200 handgun.
@@smokingcrab2290 agree makes no sense having a gun with more recoil. Shot placement with speed matter. Increased recoil makes that job much harder. Security-380 makes the job pleasant.
@@hard-to-handle it’s not just cool, it’s Awesome, flat shooting and accurate with almost 0 recoil. Plus it has excellent capacity for 380. I think it actually has the highest capacity available with factory magazines. Plus, it’s just large enough to be comfortable or conceal carry and home defense roles. The added rail allows for weapon lights of all kinds.
Bought one to put a light on and keep in the night stand for home defense, didn't expect a great gun honestly for $300.00. Boy was i wrong. Took it to the range a few days after I got it to test it out/sight it in, no adjustments were needed and I absolutely fell in love with it. Most hand guns I've ever bought I expected to really like and didn't, disappointment is very common when purchasing hand guns I have found. But the this Ruger 380... Wow. My 9mm now is geared up and in the night stand instead and the 380 has become my daily carry gun and I couldn't be much happier with it. There is just something about it that makes me comfortable and confident should I need it in a self defense role in a carry situation than I ever had with my 9mm. Currently I have fired about 600 rounds through with 1 single jam which may have been user error. I had gloves on and may have had a bit of pressure on the slide with my thumb, not 100% sure, but I think that is what caused it. The only thing about this gun I dislike is the magazine clips themselves, they do seem to be made pretty cheaply, but overall they aren't terrible, just don't drop one on concreate like I did. As for the gun, at a $300.00 price point, I don't think it can be beat for the amount of gun you get per dollar. It's a great gun and I'd recommend it to anyone. My wife liked it so much she got one too with the titanium gold barrel and chamber cover, I really like the looks of that.
It’s also a nightstand safe(in quick access safe) gun for me, very accurate very reliable and almost no recoil. Shooting it is a joy that will leave a smile on your face, due to how wonderfully easy it is to put rounds in the A-zone Wonderful gun. The only not so wonderful thing is the 380 ACP ammo prices. Still due to how utterly accurate it is, I trust it it with my life. The amazing thing about this is, the safety is also utterly reliable, due to the fact that you can’t flip it on with your thumb during recoil, due to the fact that it actuates the other way then most safeties. You have to break grip in order to put it on, it goes off very quickly by thumbing it down, nice and positive unmistakable click that’s easy to actuate. Also, like the video poster says, I have small hands as well, this gun fits nicely and fills out the hand just enough, nearly perfect, shocking actually. The grip is wonderful, including the addition of texturing. It’s just a well-thought-out gun that gives you $500 value for $300. If you’re on the fence about it, get off the fence and buy it, this is not a regret type gun. There is one thing to note, you may have to take it to your local gun shop and have the sights straightened out, for me that was an extra $35. Not a big deal. the key is to ask the person doing it to make sure that the metal showing on either side of the sights is as equal as possible if you have equal an amount of bare metal on either side of the sights you should be good to go. However, do not let this deter you, high value for very little money. Now, on the concealed carry side, it’s not really a concealed carry piece as it’s a compact gun, however, if you had to, you can make it flex into that role, it’s just small enough to do it, would be really comfortable or good at it? No, but again due to accuracy, and the fact that you could do it in a pinch, another reason why I like it.
@@TADDs101 I have a Taurus GX4 and has been great I have around 700 rds through it not one malfunction I paid $299 if that's your price range it's good bang for the buck.
Got the Secuity 380, about 3 months ago, I am an older guy with weakened wrists, so the light rack system was my reason to buy it. Really enjoy shooting it and have put a lot of the herters and blazzer CCI through it with no faults. Enjoyed your video and I am now a new subscriber
What most reviewers of this gun fail to explain properly is that this is a locked breech design as opposed to the more common straight blowback of most other .380s. The locked breech design dramatically reduces perceived recoil and lessens the force needed to pull back the slide. In many blowback designs such as the Beretta 80 series, the Walther PP series and the Bersa Thunder for example, the recoil of a .380, while manageable, can still be quite snappy. Also, the fact that it's not a micro pocket pistol allows these benefits to maximized.
This was a very good review. You covered the important info well. I do like the 380 round from the respected manufacturers. The 380 is perfectly efficient as a defensive round. The Ruger Security 380 seems like a great pistol for cc, not too heavy, adequate capacity, low recoil, and it’s pretty. I am now a subscriber of your channel. Good stuff.
After carrying six guns professionally for 32 of my 33 years with the agency, "reset" is not an issue. I believe that the idea that the slide release is only a slide stop came about when Glock came on the scene. Seems that, compared to many other semi-autos, the glock's slide stop / slide release is quite small.
I carry a Ruger LCP II with Underwood XD rounds in my pocket 24/7. No other self-defense rounds is adequate for the .380 ACP in parts of the country that get cold (requiring outer garment wearing). This combination is quite sufficient for self-defense at close range when another pistol is not readily available/concealable. This Ruger Security seems to be a great conceal carry for many older people and others that no longer have or do not have the hand strength to rack a heavier round. Nice weapon Ruger!
Nice review and shooting. These Lite Rack S&W and Ruger 380's are a huge help for folks with carpel tunnel, arthritis, any kind of hand strength issues. Another Utuber said his store even sold one to a guy with 2 fingers.I know an older guy that has had his wrist joint fused, as it was worn out! I bet the market for these is huge. The doublestack Ruger with 15 rounds and no redundant grip safety is a huge winner IMHO. The singlestack 8 round S&W may have started this current size and ease of use, trend though. Those Ruger LCP 380s are so tiny, (like all micros), I bet most folks have a hard time hitting targets, unless they practice regularly. They love the ease of carry, but what good is it, if you can barely hit a barn door with it? I also saw in other tests of ammo the 380s with a 3/4" to 1" longer barrels picked up 100 Feet per second in speed! The tiny 2.8" barrel is costing folks speed and penetration in those tiny micros. I believe their only about 1000fps advertised speed and most were down in the high 800s to low 900's when checked in the field. The gel tests also have shown this as well. I think its a decent self defense round out of a 3.5" or longer barrel, and the right brand of ammo is chosen imho. The Bersa Thunder Plus 15+1 kinda owned this size of 380 pistols for many years by itself. Looks like those days are over 😀
You covered the positive and I will tell some of the negatives. First this is not designed with lefties in mind. the mag released can not be switched nor the safety. The trigger felt pretty gritty but after about 1000 dry fires it has smoothed up nicely. I am going to be 86 in three months so I have some problems with the recoil but if I take a couple of tylenols before shooting my pain is ok, sort of. The skin on my trigger finger gets pinched when firing but that may be just me. With gloves should not be a problem. The mags have a cheap spacer evidently so they can use the same with the 9mm without the spacer. Overall it is a good pistol for the price. Unless you are lefthanded. I think Ruger could have done even better with just al little bit of additional attention.
It's an excellent item. Fiocchi 95 FMJ gave me trouble. All other ammo had no issues. I called Fiocchi, great service, they said their Italian made ammo has slightly different specs. I found this item to be accurate with, great sights, little recoil, lightweight easy to IWB.
Good review. Thanks for an accurate explanation of the thumb safety, you would be surprised how many RU-vid reviewers don't understand the design of the thumb safety and they think it's a quirk. Thanks for sharing...
I just picked one of these up recently, put a few rounds through it, seems to be a nice gun. I currently carry the bigger brother to this model, the security-9, which I've been very happy with. Because of that is why I picked up the 380 as well.
OK Dave, I appreciate your take on his weapon. Its obvious that you came into the video somewhat biased, mainly about the cartridge itself, but also somewhat biased against the current offerings of "compact / sub-compact" .380's. I am glad that in the end, you expressed that you were impressed with the firearm, and that it performed well. I have always had passion for .380 since my first Colt Govt .380 in the early 80's. I currently have 2 Bersa's (thunder & fire storm), 1 RIA (baby rock), 1 Ruger (LCP Max) & 2 Beretta's (84 & 85) all in .380 and I am anxiously waiting for this Security 380 to show up locally. Thank you for this evaluation!
Try the Underwood solid copper and Precision One HP's they will change your mind about the round. In real world scenarios where someone used a 380 for SD it was only a 3% difference, no matter the caliber all the way up to and including 44mag, in actual stopping the threat no matter how many rounds fired. Also trauma surgeons will tell you flat out its a devastating round.
I have a Ruger Security 380. I love it. My wife loves Bersa 380s because of first shot double action. She has 2 Bersa Handguns, CC and Thunder. She is nervous of striker fire handguns. Our 380acp Defense Ammo is Lehigh Xtreme 68gr. 14 - 15 inch Ballistics. Ammo runs great. No malfunctions. Equal to 115 gr 9mm Ammo. I mostly carry S&W Shield Plus 9mm. Because of G9, Lehigh, Underwood ammo I bought and trust. I will carry 380acp without thinking twice.
Everyone worry’s about trigger pull, as personal protection I doubt if I’ll notice the trigger in a high stress response. Might be great for training , but again in high stress you are going to make a 10 pound pull feel like butter
Just picked this up for my lady. Good shooting gun. My only issue is the mags. Baseplates are very loose and seem cheaply made. Other than that the thing runs and at 7 to 10 yards is pretty accurate
I experienced some issues during a proper break in period. They smoothed out after 400 rounds. Happy with mine. Don't shoot a few mags and call it quits with this one. Keep shooting.
I want one. I have never understood why Glock does not manufacture and sell their larger 380 in America. I think it would sell. This will suit me fine.
I loved everything about the 380ez, except for the grip safety, and the magazines. The had a bad habit of stovepiping on the last round in the mag. Just hated the way the grip safety felt in my hand.
I like the idea of a larger than pocket size .380. I don't see me buying one but the idea of losing some ballistics in return for lower recoil and improved shootability can have some merits. My wife has a Bersa Thunder and it is a pleasure to shoot despite being blowback design. If we could just close the price gap between 9x19 and .380 ammo...
The PRICE gap between the 9mm and 380 is ridiculous. Even so, I just don't get these crazy prices of all calibers over a relatively short period of time. I don't think there is enough competition.... Several brands are actually manufactured by the same company or under a common holding company. Although Remington was on the ropes ( I don't see how given prices) but it has been aquired by Vista Outdoor which owns Cci and Federal in addition to Remington. Price de-escalation and improvent in public opinion and therefore heathier gun related businesses might be better served by less constant sky is falling associated with gun ownership and negative politics and more by comprehensively emphasizing guns as a sport, recreation, hobby, and training, as complimentary with self defence purposes.
My current EDC is a micro 9 (Taurus GX4) and I hope I can keep it that way for some time to come. But I'm 3 months away from turning 70, and I'm having some issues with my hands: achy/stiff fingers and wrist pain and numbness. I can rack the slide on a 9, felt recoil isn't a concern, but manipulating the slide feels stiff, which could be an issue clearing malfunctions. So I started thinking about a .380 auto and Ruger is kind of a go-to for me. That's why I'm checking out the Security-380 videos. Yours is an encouraging review. Looks like a good shooter. And that Lite Rack might be what I need if these wrist issues continue to be a problem.
Recovering from shoulder surgery...I can't run the slide on my G23 ...but I can on the ruger ...picked one up so I'm armed with something.. its really grown on me ..I dig it
I just went to my local shop yesterday and took a look at one. I currently have a SW EZ 380 - no manual safety, but like you I do not enjoy the grip safety on it, plus the single stack grip feels too thin for me. If my range has one to try out, I definitely will. Good review.
@@richardswann5300 well, get this. I tried that and a Glock 42 at the range. I’d never shot a Glock before but I was consistently more accurate with it. And it felt really good. So I bought one. Go figure.
Galloway Precision makes an optics mount plate which slides right in the rear sight cutout and the screw in front of the sight is for securing the rear sight and allowing you to drift the rear sight if needed OR replacing and securing the optics plate.
With 380 so expensive these days, I don't see the point. My 380's rarely make an appearance at the range these days. The price of 9MM is no where near what it use to be but it's still cheaper that 380 ASP
I ended up buying on of these Ruger security 380s. My 1st 380! Its also the least expensive pistol I have ever bought at $279.99. I'm sure its not the best trigger but for an entry level, pistol I'm sure its usable. (I'm waiting on mine to arrive) Having a wider larger frame and longer barrel should be a huge help to newer shooters and junior shooters. Elderly, small, weaker folks, junior shooters, people with arthritis, carpel tunnel issues, wrist, elbow, shoulder surgery victims etc will all benefit from Rugers Lite rack and S&W's 380 easy rack. The wider grip and longer frame should help keep anybody on target with almost no muzzle rise. Maybe someone will make aftermarket triggers for these someday if the gun is popular enough. I'm not a Facebooker, but I subbed, I always "like" everything I watch as well. Hope it helps.
I think the 380 round performs better out of the longer barrel as opposed to the 2.75” barrels so common in the pocket carry guns. If you can get expansion and penetration out of the projectile then the round is adequate for civilian PD. I have to laugh every time a reviewer says this lite-rack model was designed for the physically impaired. There are a bunch of regular shooters out there that could enjoy the Security 380 feature even if they aren’t physically impaired. Personally I always thought that was a pathetic marketing strategy. On PD rounds…you might be amazed at how Federal HSTs would perform out of that model. I use them in my LCP Max and they cycle just fine. Regrettably my LCP Max isn’t +P rated because I’m rather fond of the Buffalo Bore 380 offerings. Great review.
I would like to comment that 380 is a very good caliber for summertime use because almost everyone is wearing just a lite shirt or t-shirt and penetration would not be a problem, now in the colder season a 9mm or above is fine to use because of the many layers of clothing that people wear. calibers are just like the clothes you wear! you go to the beach and wear a bathing suit and flip flops, you go to a party and you dress up nice. heavy calibers in summer could put you at risk of over-penetration and that is not good. be safe and shoot straight. PS, also remember that shot placement is Paramount in a self-defense scenario.
Thanks for a good review. I recently bought one of these for myself. I really enjoyed shooting my wife's .380 EZ, but I'm also not a fan of the palm safety. After watching a couple of other videos on it, I wanted to try it out. I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet, but it's good to know it ran well for you.
My only gripe is why didn't Ruger make this optics ready!? Hopefully they will with a later version, because this one is selling like hot cakes! Other than that, It checks off many of the other bells and whistles. And FYI a .380 will kill you just as fast as a .308. So, why act as if its not good enough for daily carry?
I don't get the obsession of some about .380 being too weak, and that 9mm or larger is what one needs to carry. Since 90% of all civilian self-defense uses of a gun involve NO shots being fired, just having ANY gun puts one way ahead, and .380 will be quite sufficient for 99% of all situations where shots do need to be fired.
so, sounds like it's a really good choice for it's target audience (my wife and I both have arthritis/hand-strength issues, so could be a good choice; have a friend with recoil sensitivity, so also a good choice there)
I don't know if I'd pick one up. I have a Walther PPS M2 in 9mm that holds 9 rounds. And it's probably smaller than this gun, and probably shoots about as well. 15 rounds does make it tempting, in a way. Though you'd probably never need 15 rounds in a shooting situation
Why I went with this gun. I got the arthritis in my hands the S&W shield or Ewslizer didn't work well for me with the grip safety This one has the right feel I can rack it control it, with .380 and 32 ammo selection is important
I've honestly never had a bad Ruger. I've got a tiny little EC9s single stack that shoots great, but the only time I carry it is in my shirt pocket when I'm in the house. If I set foot outside, I'll always have my 4" aluminum frame 1911 45 on me. I just simply don't feel safe with a 9mm.I know that the younger generation thinks that the 9mm is the be all of handgun cartridges and the 45 is old and outdated, but the truth is that the 9mm was introduced in 1902 while the 45 acp was introduced in, yep you guessed it, 1911.I have math dyslexia ( yep that's a real thing) and even I know that 1902 is older than 1911. After watching hundreds of self defense shootings caught on security cameras, the average number of rounds fired were 3 and most of the time the bad guy was still able to get up and run, even if only a short distance. The 357,40 s&w and the 45 acp are the best one shot stop calibers according to the statistics. An easy shooting 380 like yours will be almost as effective as a 9mm because with some practice, you'll be able to make a head shot. That's one and done. Great video. 👍
You need to do some actual research on real SD shootings where it shows the 380 only had a 3% difference in stopping the threat all the way up to and including 44mag. 380 is no joke if you use the right ammo. Underwood solid Cooper will do what other calibers will do......stop the threat. Trauma surgeons all say it is a devastating round. I'll take that as a round that is serious!
Just picked one up, beautiful firearm. Hope to get to the range this week. Only 1 problem....cannot find 15rd extra magazines anywhere. Tried every possible location and site I know, but no one has any stock.
Just trying to be helpful…, When showing the gun, don’t hold it in front of a dark jacket. Hold it off to the side and don’t wave it around. Good content!
It looks like it would slot right into a Security-9 Compact holster. If so that's a smart move on Ruger's part. I could swear it uses the exact same lower as the S-9C, as well as the same 10 and 15 round 9MM magazine bodies. Do they seem a bit long for 380 cartridges?
You just need to open up the Kydex in front of the front sight because the fiber optic sight is a little longer. Other than that it locks right into a S9C holster.
I am looking to get myself this Firearm, I have been watching all the reviews I can. I like to wait at least a year before I buy just to see if all the bugs are worked out.
The .380 ACP may not be your cup of tea, but no one is volunteering to get shot by one. Shot placement may be more important with less powerful cartridges, but anyone who hasn't started to relocate rapidly after the first round goes off has a death wish. Especially if you have ten or fifteen chances to ruin somebody's day. It's a nifty little offering for those with limited hand strength or recoil sensitivity.
We were really excited to shoot the gun but when we took it out the first time it kept jamming up on us. The guy at the range oiled it up a bit and suggested it may just need a breaking in period. Any suggestions? I believe it's a good gun and I'm hoping it just needs to be broken in. My father is 70 and this gun seems very ideal for him at his age.
When I first got mine I took it completely apart and oiled up everything and ran the slide about 100 times and then oiled again. What type of ammo are you using?
any update? when i got mine i had a bunch of white lube all caked up on the inside of the slide from the factory, i cleaned all that off and put my hopps lube on it, and when i went to the range it ran through 50 rounds of ball ammo perfectly, and 20 rounds of hornady black xtp just fine.
Looking for one to use as a range toy. I have a Max and PPK , both are no fun to shoot for fun. Now that I am reloading, want something a little bigger.
Ordered one last night (Gunbroker).... Looking forward to it. Wife uses my Security 9 now. So I get it back!! :) Yet, I think she will like the .380. She's had surgery on her hand/wrist before... so this will ease that up a bit. Enjoyed the video!
I had one malfunction with failure to extract but I blame the ammo bc it was 10 year old cheap .380. Other than that, mine has been 100% reliable with 200 rounds thru it
I did a video of the same pistol two days ago and it seems I can shoot it better one handed than two but I’m also use to full size so I need to change my grip and loved the vid
I'll stick with my lcp2 it's perfect for close self defense inside 5-6yards with the xstream defense x- shape rounds work great for . 380 fits in light shorts just fine. Kinda important here in Florida
The LCP-MAX slots nicely between the II and the Security in this caliber. That gives the Ruger buyer three options in .380ACP (four if you include the original LCP series guns.) Respectable.
Why not an easy slide for everyone? As long as the piece cycles, what is wrong with that? Ruger must have achieved something through superior engineering. Even though I sold my LCP II, I might buy another 380.
Looking at this. Thanks for vid. I already have good options, but have osteoarthritis in my dominant hand. Carpel tunnel in the left. It sucks getting old. 😢
@@RubyRidgeWaco It does seem to fill a bit of an odd niche. It has the light rack for weaker hands, but it's also noticeably fatter than its contemporaries since it's built on the Security-9 Compact frame. I suspect it'll be popular for folks with bigger paws, or those suffering from arthritis that makes it difficult to grip the narrow frames that have become so popular with the microcompact craze. I also suspect Ruger is just trying to find a purpose for the Security-9 Compact manufacturing line and parts bins since the Max-9 is pretty much taking over that role, making the S9C a bit redundant.
Nice honest reveiw. I'm gonna wait for a model w/out a damn safety. They can get you killed. And he is right about the slide stop. With a lower powered spring to make it a "Lite slide" you should sling shot it cause that extra smigen of travel ensures it goes into battery. Sling shot all your guns and make it a habit.
If you aren’t familiar with Ruger thumb safeties, they are actually very well designed, as mentioned in the video. The way they pivot makes the difficult to engage from a ready position so it is almost impossible to accidentally engage it however it swipes off very easily. The lever itself is small so if you just leave it off you will never know it’s there.
@@barrygagnon8629 Not sure what you are referring to but, since it doesn't have an ambidextrous safety, I am not interested. Not for left handed folks, sorry.
@@cold_shooter nothing to be sorry about, if you are left handed and want a safety this probably isn’t for you. A lot of people don’t understand the Ruger safety design much like they don’t know that the slide locks are not designed to be a slide release. I was just explaining the safety to the guy who said having one was a deal breaker.
