I'm a fan of compact-size .380 ACP pistols for use as low-recoil defensive options. These days the 116-year old .380 ACP cartridge is better known for its popularity as a pocket-pistol round, and folks who have shot single-stack, polymer-frame semi-automatics know they can be pretty snappy in the recoil department. But when the .380 ACP is fired from a compact-size pistol, especially those based on 9 mm designs, it's a different story.
Pistols like the Ruger Security-380 and the SCCY CPX-3 are significantly softer shooting than their 9 mm counterparts while providing up-to-date defensive features, including double-stack magazine capacities and optics-ready slides. And even though a compact .380 can't compete with a 9 mm in regards to performance potential, several top-shelf .380 ACP loads are available to get the job done when fired from compact-length pistol barrels.
The .380 ACP-chambered YC380 is based on the 9 mm YC9.
Hi-Point Firearms has been offering itss budget-priced .380 ACP pistol options for quite some time. But this year, the company decided it was time to bring this cartridge into its Yeet Cannon fold with the release of the new striker-fired YC380. Currently available in four different configurations, this evaluation takes a closer look at the YC380 model, which ships with an extended threaded barrel and a set of factory-installed iron sights.
The backstrap features a grip safety and a reversible rubber insert.
The YC380 apple didn't fall all that far from the YC9 tree, that is to say, the YC380 has the same profile and features of the 9 mm version. The key differences include some internal modifications, and alterations to the magazine's configuration to accommodate the shorter cartridge case length and lower operational pressures of the .380 ACP cartridge. The most notable cosmetic difference is the YC380 slide's polished sliver flats with black manufacturer's markings. This makes it easy to identify when seen side-by-side with the YC9, which has an all-black slide with white markings.
The adjustable rear sight assembly can be removed and replaced with and aluminum optics mounting plate.
Like previous Hi-Point pistols, the YC380 is a simple, straight-blowback-operated semi-automatic pistol. This fixed-barrel design relies on the mass of its relatively beefy die-cast zinc alloy slide, as well as the recoil spring, to keep the pistol's action closed long enough for the bullet to clear the barrel before the slide moves backwards to eject the spent cartridge case.
The external controls include a polymer trigger, round-button magazine release and a thumb safety lever.
The beveled slide features front and rear cocking serrations. The Glock-compatible polymer front sight is painted yellow for improved visibility while the fully adjustable rear sight sports two bright orange dots. The rear sight assembly can be removed and replaced with one of two available optics mounting options, including either a RMS/SMS size plate ($30) or a five-slot Picatinny rail ($20), both of which are sold separately.
The barrel is threaded for popular muzzle accessories including compensators and sound suppressors.
The muzzle of the 4.12" barrel extends 0.65” past the slide. This allows the barrel to be threaded at 1/2x28 TPI for muzzle devices like sound suppressors and compensators. A thread protector is provided. Removing the slide from the frame reveals a recoil assembly, situated below the barrel, consisting of a single round-wire spring with a short, polymer guide rod.
The blowback-operated slide is a less expensive die-cast zinc alloy.
The black polymer frame features a 1.6" two-slot accessory rail molded into the dustcover and a trigger guard with a flatted face that can serve as a finger rest. The external controls include a round button magazine release and a swing-down thumb safety lever, both of which are on the left side of the frame. An internal magazine safety prevents the pistol from firing with the magazine removed from the grip. The skeletonized polymer trigger exhibited a relatively heavy trigger pull of 6 lbs., 1 oz. It has a smooth feel throughout the arch of travel, but in this case, it lacked a distinctive break or clearly audible "click" when the trigger reset.
This pistol is easily disassembled for cleaning, but some tools are required.
The grip frame's backstrap is topped with a metallic grip safety lever which operates much like that of an M1911 pistol. The gun must be held in a firm grip to fire. The bottom of the backstrap is fitted with a rubber grip insert that can be reversed to provide a thicker grip profile. The frontstrap has a finger groove and light ridged texturing while the removable polymer grip panels have molded-in texturing with a Hi-Point logo pattern. The one 10-round "bottle neck" magazine that arrived with the pistol is capped off with an oversized polymer baseplate that has a forward lip to serve as a finger rest for those with larger hands.
The 10-round double-stack magazines bottleneck at the top.
For the shooting range evaluation, the YC380 was put through its paces using two factory magazines along with a fairly typical mix of full metal jacket and hollow point .380 ACP loads. The only reliability issue that cropped up in the course of testing was a sticky follower in one of the magazines. It was stuck tight after loading just five rounds. Using a cleaning rod to free it up, the follower snapped back up to the magazine's feeding lips. I loaded and unloaded the magazine two more times. By then, whatever breaking in was needed seemed to be completed. There was one failure to feed within the first 20 rounds, but it was most likely due to that same magazine settling in. After that, the pistol and both magazines operated reliably with all ammunition tested.
This pistol’s 34-oz. weight contributes to a low-recoil shooting experience.
Although these do not qualify as malfunctions, I did notice two things I would change about the particular gun I was sent to work with. It was necessary to lean into the magazine release button more firmly than with other Hi-Point guns I've worked with. The trigger reset itself properly for every shot fired, but it was noticeably weaker than usual when returning to the starting position. Less spring tension for the magazine release and a bit more oomph for the trigger would be a better fit.
This pistol operated reliably with the ammunition tested.
I've found in the course of working with Hi-Point pistols over the years that their accuracy potential does not always line up with their barrel lengths. The YC380 has a 4.12" long barrel, which would usually dictate bench-rested, five-shot group accuracy testing conducted at a distance of 25 yards. But useful defensive accuracy group sizes of 3" to 3.5" may not show up at that distance with these guns.
As I've done in the past, the first shots through the YC380 were fired into a paper target set at 7 yards. These groups hovered around 2" in size. The target was then pushed out to 15 yards. The three groups fired at this distance were 4.39", 4.56" and 4.79" in size. I didn't see any point in pushing the target out any further.
The best single group of 1.63” was fired using the Sig Sauer hollow point load.
Since we don't formally test guns at distances between 7 to 15 yards, the target was rolled back to 7 yards to complete the accuracy testing. The ammunition used included Armscor U.S.A. and Federal American Eagle 95-grain full metal jacket loads, along with a 90-grain V-Crown jacketed hollow point from SIG Sauer. Bullet velocities were measured for 10-shot strings using a Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph. Here are the results:
Hi-Point Firearms' new YC380 helps to fill the often neglected niche of budget-priced compact pistols for folks who are looking for reduced levels of felt recoil. As a member of the updated Yeet Cannon series, this .380 ACP is loaded with sought after features including the threaded barrel, an optics-ready slide and double-stack magazines, to name a few. The gun sent for this evaluation proved to be both soft-shooting and reliable.
Despite the recent updates to their design, Hi-Point pistols are still not typical defensive handguns. They are relatively large and heavy for their class, and they have a look and feel that's all their own. That being said, this model has a suggested retail price of $215, which translates into real-world prices closer to $190. Just how much room for complaints can there be with a model that checks off so many boxes and operates reliably at this low of a price point? In short, Hi-Point continues to be an off-beat gun maker. But it’s a beat you can dance to if you're on a budget.
Hi-Point Firearms YC380 Specifications
Manufacturer: Hi-Point Firearms
Action Type: blowback-operated, semi-automatic, centerfire pistol
Chambering: .380 ACP
Frame: high-impact, black polymer
Slide: die-cast alloy, black powdercoat finish
Barrel: 4.12” steel; six-groove 1:10”LH-twist rifling
Magazine: 10-round detachable box
Sights: adjustable square-notch rear, Glock-pattern yellow-dot front
Trigger: 6-lb., 1-oz. pull
Length: 7.6”
Height: 5.75”
Width: 1.4” (grip)
Weight: 34 ozs. (unloaded)
Accessories: owner’s manual, one magazine, ghost-ring rear sight, trigger lock
MSRP: $215
