I am a fan of both the .380 ACP cartridge and Ruger guns.
I’ve always had at least one Ruger in my gun cabinet for over 50 years and have been happy with them.
They make good stuff, and their new Security-380 is no exception.
Its easy-to-rack slide and 15+1 capacity make this “smaller cousin” of the Security-9 pistol a great contender for those who carry .380 ACP.
So keep reading as we walk you through this little gun’s specs and features and tell you why we really like it.
Table of Contents
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Ruger Security-380 Review at Glance
Pros
- Lite-Rack slide
- $300-350 street price
- Windage-adjustable blacked-out rear sight with a fiber optic front sight
- No magazine disconnect safety
Cons
- You still must use a tool to remove the loose takedown pin during disassembly
- The gun is pretty big for a .380 ACP
The Bottom Line
The new Ruger Security .380 is marketed toward shooters with reduced hand strength thanks to its very easy-to-rack slide.
The gun’s larger size, sights, grip, and greater magazine capacity, along with its reduced recoil, will ensure popularity with older folks such as myself and others seeking the aforementioned features.
Ruger Security-380 Specs & Features
Specs
- Width: 1.02”
- Length: 6.52”
- Barrel Length: 3.42”
- Height: 4.35”
- Weight: 19.7 oz.
- Capacity: 10/15+1 (two mags included, with loader)
- Action: Double-Action Only, hammer-fired
Features
- Lite-Rack slide with rear “cocking ears” on the slide
- One 15 and one 10-round magazine
- Fiber optic front sight
- Thumb safety
Source: Ruger
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Ruger Security Background
Ruger’s “Security” tag has been used for decades to describe their revolver and semi-auto guns that are built to be no frills but tough as rocks.
It started in 1972 with the introduction of the Security-Six revolver in .357 Magnum. These 6-shot DA revolvers were built around a robust solid frame with no side plate and were marketed to the law enforcement, military and civilian markets.
They were so successful that Ruger brought out further specialized models based on the Security-Six.
The first semi-auto Security-line handgun was the Security 9 pistol, introduced in November 2017. Twenty-two current models of this gun continue the same affordable, rugged, no-frills style started by the original Security revolvers.
Ruger’s new Security 380 is the first of the Security line built for the .380 ACP cartridge.
Although it carries the Security moniker, features like the Lite-Rack slide, higher-capacity magazines, and improved sights have shown up despite the gun still being affordable.
Who Is It For?
I see this pistol being purchased and used by folks who may have arthritic hands that find racking a pistol slide to be painful.
Having a decent touch of arthritis in my own fingers, I appreciated the lack of effort needed to move the slide.
This gun is just about at the top end of the pocket-carry gun list, but it would be doable — although a belt holster would be better.
When you’re back home after carrying it out & about, you can stick a light on the rail and keep it next to your bed.
I can also see this gun being taken on a hiking trip.
Of course, .380 ACP is not the first choice for woods defense, but it sure beats a pointy stick or a rock. It’s lightweight enough that you might forget you have a gun on your belt.
With 26 rounds on board between the two included mags and one in the chamber, you shouldn’t feel undergunned.
Fit & Feel
Since the advent of the polymer wonder-nine pistols, manufacturers have had a lot of practice getting fit & feel right.
By now, most makers have figured out where grip, palm swell, texturing, etc., are concerned. This gun is no exception.
The trigger reach on this gun is just about right, which is good because you can’t adjust the reach by installing a different backstrap.
Also good is the palm swell molded into the polymer grip; it’s just wide enough in the right places to allow for a comfortable grip.
If this pistol were mine, I would no doubt spend some quality time with my soldering iron and the grip.
This gun’s texturing isn’t bad, but it could be more aggressive, in my opinion.
How Does It Shoot?
I shot a couple of different types of factory ammo at my backyard range. I set the targets up at 15 yards and let it fly.
I shot both the Fiocchi Range Dynamics .380 FMJ (provided by Fiocchi) and the Remington Ultimate Defense JHP.
Holding in the center, it hit a bit low, but I was pleased overall with this load.
I shot offhand, about as fast as I could reliably regain the sight picture. The fiber optic front sight really helped. This was one of several targets and was representative of the lot.
Suffice it to say that both the pistol and the ammo displayed plenty of practical accuracy, and I would not hesitate to rely on the gun with either ammo.
What Sets It Apart?
This gun is different from most other semi-autos in that it uses a Lite-Rack slide.
I know this is nothing earth-shattering, as Smith & Wesson did it first with their EZ series. But for a gun to have this feature coupled with its size, capacity, chambering, good sights, and great grip, that is different.
What really sets it apart is its capacity. Most .380s are pocket-size and have a capacity of around 6-10 rounds.
With a whopping 15+1, that is a number that is almost unheard of in the world of .380 pistols.
To Pocket Or Not To Pocket?
We have looked at what sets the Security-380’s features, but is it a pocket gun? As you can see in the pictures, the LCP Max is a much better contender for this unless you have pockets as deep as Bill Gates’.
Most will opt for a standard IWB or OWB holster for the Security-380. With the success that this pistol will undoubtedly become, there will be no shortage of holsters.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
-
25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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By The Numbers
Reliability: 5/5
It worked every time.
Ergonomics: 5/5
It fits my hand very well.
Accuracy: 5/5
Accuracy at 15 yards was excellent.
Customization: 3.5/5
As of now, there are not a lot of extras out there, but that will hopefully change.
Value: 5/5
Even at full MSRP, this is a great buy.
Overall: 5/5
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
-
25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
Copied! Visit Merchant
Final Thoughts
The Security-380 is a lovely budget pistol. For folks who need a bit less recoil than the 9mm or an easier-to-rack slide without sacrificing capacity, this gun should suffice.
For a street price of around $300-350, you get a 15+1 .380 pistol well-sized for concealed carry at only about 20 ounces and an inch wide. Excellent sights, extra mag and loader, and cocking ears on the slide are the finishing touch.
Given its reliability and accuracy, I don’t think you can beat it for what it is.
What do you think of the Security-380? Let us know in the comments below! Interested in other .380 guns? Check out our hands-on article on the Best .380 Pistols!
31 Leave a Reply
Buddy of mine bought one of these recently. We took it to the range and were so impressed by so many things as outlined above in this article. For someone that has trouble racking the slide, this gun will impress you as to how simple and easy it is to rack. Another thing is there is not much more recoil than my 22LR FRS92 Beretta. You can fire as fast as you want to with this very love recoil and smooth trigger. We found this Security 380 to be very accurate with some minor adjustment on the rear site. This gun is so much a winner that I am picking up one for myself this week.
Really liked the gun, although will not feed .380 plated flat nosed loads- same loads work all day long in other frames, except sig's.
If only it was available! I ordered one 6 weeks ago and still waiting. Everybody states OUT OF STOCK! Is Ruger still producing it?
I just got mine. Couldn’t be any happier. It is all true the slide is by far the easiest to rack of all the guns I own. Accuracy is great and carting it all day is so easy, I forget I have it on me at times. Get it you won’t regret it. Good luck!
Am using a Sticky holster for pocket carry for the Security 380. Works! Great capacity with adequate round!
I'm so tired of people repeating the same old lines. If you want a gun with a light trigger pull, then you're a smart tactical shooter. But if you want a gun with a light rack then you must be old or crippled. I guess anyone who uses red dots is old and crippled too. Stop being so ignorant. Anything that makes shooting and defending your life easier is a good thing. Check your egos.
I'm +65 with wife almost there.
Just planning on the future, as our strength & grip slowly fades away.
We got those little Kimber Micro 380s a few years ago, but the grip is so small it hurts our hands, the metal edge digging into us.. easy to rack, but just a tad too small.
Stopped in a gun store yesterday - she racked it easily, and was sold.
Daughter liked it so much - their got them, and I got nothing! Cleaned them out!
Alas... my future is "Reloading". They're much better marksmen than I am.
My pocket carry is a Glock 42. I like it because it's lightweight and small, but still big enough to actually hold. If this new Ruger is roughly the same size, I may go with it!
I will admit that the .380 doesn't have quite the umph of the 9mm but this is the only gun in my arsenal that I can consistently "Double Tap" into the center of the Bullseye at 7yards. The recoil is almost non-existent, I'm back on target as fast as I can pull the trigger. Initially I bought this gun for my girlfriend who does have some trouble racking all of my other pistols but I am having a lot of trouble turning it over, I just really enjoy shooting it too much. It's hella fun dumping 10 rounds into a fist sized target in 5 seconds.
This is the only pistol my wife can rack comfortably, and yet still has manageable recoil and size/weight too. This is a perfect carry gun for females or people with arthritis who have weaker hands. It also doesn't break the bank! Is it a Sig or a Glock? No...but you're also paying half the price of those brands!!
No druthers with .380acp, but it honestly just seems like a cheap(er) rip-off of the S&W Shield EZ with worse ergonomics and less concealability (due to it being a thiccboi). Conbine that with the shorter barrel and I cant see an advantage to this that other guns dont have, but I do see disadvantages that other guns dont.
I've personally never been disappointed with any Ruger I've ever shot, but I've also never been impressed by them. They're a decidedly middling option. Neither the worst nor the best. Myself? I'd spend the extra $75 for a Shield EZ (380 or 9mm) and accept the slightly reduced capacity in exchange for a markedly better firearm.
They measure trigger pull, why not amount to rack the slide so can compare it for those who need it?
That’s somewhat more complicated than trigger pull as the slide configuration plays such a significant role in the perceived effort. Still, I imagine a clever person could design a fixture of some sort to measure the actual force required independent of the effects of serrations, grip area, etc.
Several reviewers of the S&W models featuring the grip safety have experienced or related the experience of others having a problem with getting it depressed enough to allow firing. Not an issue for everyone, but something a potential buyer should check before plunking down the bucks.
Wife's experience with S&W grip safety on EZ was similar. Her high grip, with webbing on hand slipping between beavertail and grip safety started chewing into her hand after emptying several magazines. We walked away from the rental trial, since they don't make a version without a grip safety (which is unfortunate as the EZ slide part was perfect). This looks like a viable choice - although my unsatisfactory experience with an LC9 trigger leaves me wary of another Ruger.
Personally I’d go for the EZ, and in fact directed my older sister to the PC version of that model. Hell, truth be told, if I wanted a .380 this big I would buy the new Beretta Cheetah, but I digress….. The S&W grip safety is NOT for everyone, and cost matters to many. It’s good to have choices, and the Ruger seems like a solid value from a reliable manufacturer.
It’s tiring to keep hearing the same old negative comments from novices regarding the .380
A .380 coupled with ammo from Fort Scott or Buffalo Bore levels the playing field considerably. Is it my first choice… no… but I periodically do carry them (as conditions require). That, matched with proficiency with the weapon, and you’re good to go.
It's hard to take the .380 seriously as a self defense tool. I'm not sure that a knife isn't a better choice. Not a pocket knife. A fighting knife. In my hands it would be a lethal option. I don't know that the .380 is.
Haha. Keep telling yourself that. Make sure you yell at the person coming at you with a 380 to drop it because you have a big knife.
Yep.
Thank you for your comment. No need to rely on the knife as my carry gun is a Taurus Millennium Pro in .45. But the last time I read up on the ballistics of the .380 it was not better than .22LR. If you wouldn't carry a .22 for defensive purposes then why carry a .380?
Oh boy. You should most certainly read up a bit.
.380 acp reaches the depth necessary to shut an attacker down and from the length of battle this gun provides even offers expansion.
Its just as deadly as a .45 ACP
With this Ruger Security 380 I could within 5 seconds fire at lease 10 extremely accurate rounds. This gun is that good.
If you think the 380 is no better than 22lr, then I'm not sure what you've been reading. I'm in my 7th decade, and my hands aren't what they used to be. But with the 380 I'm still very accurate and can shoot for as long as may be necessary. I've used both the S&W EZ and the Ruger Security. I decided on the Ruger because I shot better with it, and it had zero malfunctions. Belittling someone's choice of firearm is senseless. You like the 45 so good for you. But I bet you won't stand in front of me and let me shoot you with my 22lr. And a mobile target is even more reason to use a caliber you can control.
Thank you for your comment but it supposes that I am denigrating someone's choice of firearms. I am not. I question the ballistic benefits. I studied the ballistics about 40 years ago when purchasing my first personal defense gun and saw very little positive difference between. 22lr and .380. As a person posted to me earlier stated that there have been advances in the .380 taking it beyond the .22lr. So I went back and studied those about 3 months ago. I discovered that, yes. The .380 is now better than the .22lr. It is NOT better than .22mag. So, again, the question - if you wouldn't use .22 for self defense then why use .380? It is still a valid question and people get Snyder and hateful is irrelevant to a decent answer. I carry the Taurus Mellinium Pro PT 145 I. 45 acp. Why should I set it aside for the .380? Don't be mad. Just give me an honest answer.
Well... If you are as fast as a .380 round AND as accurate at 7 yds, then I say go for it! I'm not tooting the horn for the .380, I occasionally carry my Khar P90 for convivence, but as they say if you are accurate, a well-placed round wins every time. My normal EDC is a Sig P356 or P360.
Thank you for your comment but your argument supposes that I am as stationary a target as the paper you shoot at on a range. 2 things; first- I am not. I can close that 7 yards in less than 3 seconds and have my enemy cut within the same time frame. Accuracy becomes much more difficult when a man with an obvious blade is bearing down. Second- my carry is a .45. So my go to will be the pistol but not in .380. The last time I read up on the .380 it ballistics were not better than the .22LR. So why would I carry that? Why would anyone? Just carry the .22 and get more ammo. Then make your well placed shot.
For several reasons, 82 years being one of them, I would take any pistol (even in .22 LR) over a knife of any kind in a potentially lethal situation. In my earlier years I had both knife training and knife action, and I still always have a decent knife on my person, but only for utilitarian and/or backup purposes. At this point in my life, when physical ability has declined, a readily accessible firearm offers way more security for me. Others may take a different approach, but I opt for an easy to handle firearm. I still shoot and sometimes carry a 1911, most often carry a Glock 30, and, when greater concealment necessitates, carry in a pocket a Ruger LCP Max.
Nice review Mike. I don't need another. 380, but I'm often asked about easy to rack and light recoiling pistols, so it's nice to hear there's a growing market with S&Wesson E-Z, Walther's CCP, and now Ruger's entry. Impressive capacity with 15+1. The fact that it's hammer fired rather than striker will appeal to the traditional crowd. I have to confess that it took me a bit to get used to striker fired, as I was so use to watching the hammer come back in my periphery.
Great article.
My worthless opinion:
This gun is ugly
I’m always truly amazed by the people who say the .380 is a worthless caliber. I always ask them if they’d like to borrow mine so they could demonstrate on themselves, since it’s worthless and all.
I have the S&W EZ and it’s awesome, except for the capacity, which this Ruger addresses.
Here’s the difference between me and my shooting buddies. I actually shoot and practice with my gun. It’s fun. My buddies put maybe a mag full through their pocket wunder 9’s, set the gun down, shake their hands (to get the feeling back in them), and put it away. I’m still banging away.
This Ruger is definitely on my list.
Thanks
Personally, I think this is just a cheap ripoff of the EZ. The EZ is an all around better gun. The EZ is thinner, looks like it has better ergonomics, and comes better equipped for only $75 more.