>>Last I heard from Eric some weeks back...shipments on the .380s have been pushed back to June-ish because Karl decided to change something like the R9 based slide into one more suited to his liking for the .380. For those of us who waited almost a year for our first R9s...what's another couple/few months if potential bugs or even just looks are being worked out before we buy them...ya know...?...!!!
That said...if anyone were to lock in THE first batch of .380s to leave the shop - it would be Tom...! So if you are serious about the R 380 at FMV, I would suggest sending Tom a deposit ASAP.
About the caliber issue... There is no question in my mind that the R9 is all around "better" (
) =
more powerful pistol to slip into a pocket for personal protection for some people. However...there seems to be a number of folks out there who simply cannot handle this particular gun, and it could be some of these same people will be able to appreciate the size and quality of a Rohrbaugh gun and shoot the .380 well. And with today's .380 defensive ammo choices it is my opinion a well placed close range shot will likely put an end to such an attack. After all...we are not talking about your Father's .380. Actually even that is not fair to say. My Father, a Major General active in WWII, Korea, and part of Viet Nam, carried a Colt 380 (or might have been .32) with ball ammo in a shoulder harness at all times when in harms way...which he was in a lot. Of course he also had a .45 on his side most of that time, but again the smaller Colt was an
all the time gun.
There are a number of other reasons why the R.380 may prove very popular. Besides slight of build or other people who are just not comfortable with the .9mm, there are people who feel a well placed .380 is just as effective or better for them opposed to the 9mm.
Then there are the European and Asian markets where apparently many countries still favor the .380 round. Spooks...! Spooks gotta have a .380 - remember James Bond and his faithful PPK. And we have .380 collectors, of which I am one...and Rohrbaugh groupies who just gotta have anything produced by those guys.
One other thing which as of yet is no more than my own speculation... In theory if the R380 is based somewhat on the R9 design (the R380 prototype was identical to the .9mm), this new gun should be able to manage the effects of the .380 firing cycle better than the 9mm. In other words... The .380 may have more "range gun" potential than the R9, which should please the folks who just can't abide by the makers words in regards to the 9mm to carry a lot...shoot a little.
For today that's all I have to say about the R380. I like to stop by this thread every once in a while just to see what is going on...and in hopes of one day hearing Tom Watkins post to say..."The Rohrbaugh .380s are IN...!"...**sigh**...TW<<
