.380 ACP is associated with the polymer pocket pistol. But if you are looking at .380 as a lower recoil alternative to 9mm, going to such a small and lightweight gun can work against you. Thankfully, compact metal-framed .380s like the new Taurus Model 58 are an antidote for those who want a light-kicking .380 in a shootable package.
Taurus 58 Quick Specs:
- Caliber: .380 ACP
- Capacity: 15+1
- Barrel Length: 4.0 inches
- Overall Length: 7.2 inches
- Width: 1.6 inches
- Weight: 29.6 oz. unloaded
- Frame: Aluminum
- Slide: Alloy Steel
The Taurus 58 takes its cues from the excellent, but discontinued, Beretta 84 Cheetah. The 58 is a blowback-operated pistol with a fixed 4-inch barrel and an aluminum frame. It uses a double-stack 15-round magazine, similar to the original, although you get two extra rounds.
The slide is made of alloy steel, and the pistol comes with conventional slide serrations, a blackened dovetailed rear sight, and a fixed front post. The lightweight frame is either brushed to a matching stainless finish or black anodized. It wears a pair of Taurus hard plastic grips with aggressive checkering. To the joy of left-handed shooters, the Taurus 58 comes with an ambidextrous decocker/safety. The slide release is geared toward right-hand thumb.
Like the old Cheetah, the Taurus 58 is a double-action/single-action hammer-fired pistol that can be fired simply by pressing the trigger, with subsequent shots made lighter as the hammer is automatically recocked by the slide. But Taurus goes a step further by giving us a decocker as well as a safety. Pushing the decocker down drops the hammer safely, while pushing it up acts as a manual safety so the pistol can be carried with the hammer back.
The Taurus 58 is now shipping and has an MSRP of $604.99.
