Ruger Security-380 Review: Ruger’s Soft-Shooting Carry Gun

Images by the author

The Ruger Security moniker has been around for a long time. It started in 1972 when Ruger introduced a mid-sized-frame, six-shot DA .357 Magnum revolver to compete with similar wheelguns made by Colt and Smith and Wesson. As per Ruger’s business model, it was designed with the everyday shooter in mind, but its main purpose was to attract the attention of agencies seeking a duty revolver.

The Security Six (and later Service Six and Speed Six) guns were solid, no-frills guns that came in 2.75-, 3-, 4-, and 6-inch barrel lengths. They were made both in blued steel and stainless steel. The Security Six had an adjustable rear sight. All variations were made in .357 Magnum, with .38 Special as an “added attraction.”

The Security name was laid to rest after Ruger stopped production of these revolvers because of the introduction of the GP100 in 1988. The name was resurrected in 2017 with the advent of the Security 9 pistol. Made to the same no-frills standard as the revolvers, this pistol was priced so that beginning shooters or folks on a budget could get a reliable defensive handgun in 9mm. The gun sold well… well enough that they just recently brought out a similarly constructed semi-auto in .380 ACP… the Security-380.

Specifications & Features

Here you go, from the Security-380 web page…

Model Number: 3839
Capacity: 15+1
Overall Length: 6.52″
Barrel Length: 3.42″
Barrel Material: Alloy Steel
Barrel Finish: Black Oxide
Magazines: One 15 Round and One 10 Round
Front Sight: Fiber Optic
Rear Sight: Drift Adjustable
Weight: 19.7 oz.
Grip Frame: High-Performance, Glass-Filled Nylon
Slide Material: Through-Hardened Alloy Steel
Slide Finish: Black Oxide
Slide Width: 1.02″
Height: 4.35″
Grooves: 6, 1:10 RH twist
Suggested Retail: $389.00

– Lite Rack™ system includes refined slide serrations, pronounced cocking ears, and a lighter recoil spring, allowing for easy slide manipulation. Combined with low-recoiling .380 ammunition, it is the ideal pistol for training and practice.

– Compact for easy concealment, yet holds a full-sized magazine accommodating 10 or 15 rounds. Fits comfortably in the hand to better distribute recoil during practice.

– Lightweight slide features a drift-adjustable steel rear sight with a vertical edge and a bright, fiber optic front sight for improved visibility.

– Utilizes Ruger’s safe, reliable, and proven Secure Action™ fire-control system that combines a protected internal hammer with a bladed-safety trigger. The trigger has a short, smooth pull, clean break, and positive reset.

– Safety features include integrated trigger safety; external manual safety; neutrally balanced sear with significant engagement and strong spring tension; and hammer catch to help prevent the hammer from contacting the firing pin unless the trigger is pulled.

– Rugged construction with through-hardened alloy steel slide; one-piece, precision-machined fire control chassis; and textured high-performance, glass-filled nylon grip frame with accessory rail.

– Safe, easy takedown with no special tools or trigger pull required.

Photos

A three-slot rail adds to versatility

A nice fiber-optic front and a serrated U-notch rear sight help.

Note the hammer slot. This gun is DAO with a hammer. You just don’t see it.

At The Range

I am blessed to have my review ammo provided by Black Hills, so I grabbed a couple of boxes and headed to my backyard range.

I set some targets up at 10 yards… a compromise between 7 and 15… and did some shooting. As I said, there were no malfunctions, and the gun performed flawlessly.

Here are a couple of representative targets:

The JHP load… 957 fps, 7.9 standard deviation

And, the HoneyBadger… 60-grain machined copper bullet at 1167 fps, 11.7 standard deviation:

I find that, typically, Black Hills uber-velocity HoneyBadger (no typo) loads to be accurate in whatever caliber I shoot… usually moreso than the “normal” loads. A quick loosening of the rear sight set screw and a bump or two to the left would fix these groups’ center.

Observations…

The gun was easy to shoot. I know that is a pretty generic statement… “easy” how?

First, it stays put in your hand. One of the earmarks of the Security-9 was its grip texturing. It plants itself in your hand and doesn’t move much, if any. The 380 version does the same. Ergonomically, it’s a vast improvement over Ruger’s earlier small-9mm-effort, the LC9. I owned at least one of those, and the first thing I did (after proving functionality) was to take a soldering iron to the grip, to stipple it.

I even remember buying some stair tread tape to cut and place on the grip to “rough it up” for a firm grip. That factory grip was, to me, slicker than snot on a glass doorknob… the gun literally jumped in my hand. Ruger learned its lesson and started providing a rougher texture that keeps the gun planted in your palm, and the Security-380 is a good example of this.

Another great feature that needs to be replicated more often is the EZ-Rack slide. This gun has both a lighter recoil spring and “ears” at the rear of the slide to allow a decent grip. The older I get, the more my hands show signs of the old “Uncle Arthur”-itis, and I appreciate the lack of effort needed to chamber a round.

The sights need a shout-out here, too. That fiber-optic front just nestles into the U-notch rear without effort. These are very visible and usable sights.

Another plus is that the gun was very controllable and exhibited perfect reliability. This is one pistol that could reside in a pocket holster and come out swinging when needed without concerns about its ability to do so. Its 15-round magazine, with the extended baseplate, allows an all-finger grip. That also aids controllability.

I also took my S&W Bodyguard 2.0 out of the safe to compare it with the Ruger, since it is one of the hottest-selling .380s on the market right now. (I didn’t take any pictures… I was just curious.)

In terms of comparing it to The Bodyguard, they are different animals. The Ruger is the larger of the two, slightly wider, with a different feel. I like the Bodyguard because I can get my hand around it easily, and it fits me very well. Its 12-round magazine allows a solid grip without causing a carry problem due to an overly-long grip.

The Ruger feels slightly “chunkier” in my hand, with a wider grip, and the texturing is in sections rather than the S&W’s universal stippling. The Bodyguard may be too slim for some with larger hands, and that’s where the Ruger would fit right in.

In terms of pointability, both guns performed very well. The fiber optic sight on the Ruger stands out; the S&W’s night sight is more visible in dim light, but I’ve always been a fiber optic fan, so it’s a wash there.

As always, you will choose whichever gun fits you and your carry style. There are many decent .380s on the market today, and these two are good options.

Summing Up

I just said it… There are many good .380s out there. This Ruger will sell very well, I predict, because it is reliable, has decent capacity, is easy to shoot and control, and is a Ruger. Do not underestimate the power of the brand. Ruger guns are known for their ruggedness and value, and are backed by some of the best customer service in the industry.

Is it perfect? Nope, nothing is. One thing I don’t like is its takedown. It uses a removable pin that could get lost, plus you need a case rim or screwdriver to pop it loose. I’m not a fan of separate takedown pins… that’s just me.

Its $389 MSRP will translate into fewer dollars at the store or on the online seller… This gun is truly a good value. Considering that you get a 15-round magazine with it and can purchase more if desired, it becomes a very good buy. The Security-380 can become a security blanket for you.

Links To Items Used In This Review