Who doesn’t love mouse guns, weapons so tiny they offer the deepest concealment possible? These little weapons are ideal for everyday carry, making them a popular choice for shooters of all stripes, and the Seecamp LWS 380 is one of the smallest there is.
This article reviews Seecamp’s 380 caliber pocket weapon to determine it’s worth the money, so keep reading if that’s right up your alley!
Table of Contents
Specifications
- Caliber: .380 ACP
- Capacity: 6 rounds
- Magazine(s): 1
- Dimensions: 4.25″ (overall)
- Weight: 13.5 ounces (with rounds)
- Frame: Stainless Steel
Seecamp LWS 380 – Overview
The LWS 380 is among a line of double-action, flush hammer-fired, fixed barrel semi-automatic handguns produced by L.W. Seecamp, a family-owned firearm manufacturer established in the ’70s. The LWS line is available in two chambers: .32 and .380 ACP. A third chamber, the .25, used to be available but has been discontinued. All three pistols are the same size.
Larry Seecamp, the current company President and co-founder, designed the LWS 380 pistol line with his deceased father, fashioning a weapon with hand-fitted internal components and which incorporates high-quality materials into the build (more below).
Seecamp weapons are rigorously tested after production and manufactured using assembly line automation and manual craftsmanship. Also, the company provides a lifetime warranty for all its firearms.
Size, Frame, Slide, Capacity, and Magazine
If you’re on the market for a small .380 semi-automatic handgun suitable for concealed carry, you’re in luck: the LWS is tiny. This small compact handgun weighs 13.5 ounces (fully loaded). It has an overall length of 4.25-inches, a 2.1-inch barrel length, and stands 3.25-inches tall, making it an awesome choice for practical defensive shooting.
The LWS .380 pistol sports a stainless steel frame and slide, making it incredibly durable and a little weightier than the average pocket gun. However, the downside to Seecamp’s use of this material for the slide is it’s slick, so your hands may occasionally slip when you try to rack it. When you add the slide’s stiff springs to the mix, you get an unpleasant experience.
Also, L.W. Seecamp manufacturers its weapon without sights, and because of the omission the gun has been described as having an “instinctive point and shoot” interface and being snag-less. I talk about this gun’s accuracy in a section below, but if you want the spoiler here it is: the trade off of aim for ergonomics means you might not always hit your target.
This pistol has a six-round magazine and comes bundled with one magazine. Seecamp’s weapons only take specific ammunition, mainly hollow points (e.g. Speer Gold Dot), meaning you can’t feed this gun FMJ rounds (for example) without making some modifications. Therefore, stick to the recommended ammo to get the best bang for your buck.
One of the coolest features of this mouse gun is its magazine safety. If the magazine isn’t in place, you won’t be able to fire the LWS 380 or retract the slide. This goes without saying, but don’t try firing the weapon when it’s in this state, as you risk damaging the trigger.
Trigger, Shooting, Accuracy
Similar to a revolver, expect to do some heavy lifting with your trigger finger: this tiny gun requires a longer trigger pull for each shot. Seecamp frames the longer pull as a safety feature, claiming it secures the LWS 380 against accidental firing. I think I see it, as the heavy trigger pull means a longer travel distance till you reach the breakpoint.
Let’s talk about shooting this little guy: firearms in the conceal-carried category are notorious for having a lot of recoil when you shoot them, and Seecamp’s LWS 380 isn’t any different. Unfortunately, shooters with larger hands may struggle to get a good grip on the LWS, as this tiny gun among tiny guns is prone to moving when fired.
As mentioned earlier, this firearm doesn’t come with a front or rear sight, so there’s no sight picture to speak of. Therefore, it’s not the most accurate of concealable pistols. With that said, my time at the range with the Seecamp LWS 380 wasn’t too much of a drag.
Aside from the California Edition of this gun (which was modified to have trigger blocking that complies with the gun safety regulations of the State of California), the LWS 380 doesn’t have manual safety.
Reliability and Aftermarket
I don’t think Seecamp intended this weapon to be used at the shooting range. Obviously, the lack of sights makes that case, but even if it had them this gun wouldn’t be fun to shoot. As such, I’d wager they made it to be carried for self-defense, especially given you’re more likely to hit your target if it’s a short distance away.
Also, as long as you stick to using the correct bullets, this weapon should fire them off without any issue. For example, I didn’t experience jamming or other malfunctions during my time at the range, despite firing off a couple of rounds. You can even take advantage of the LWS’s rapid-fire capability.
Seecamp is a small company, so, unlike other weapons manufacturers, their products don’t come with a lot of aftermarket support like extra, longer magazines or lasers. Since the LWS 380 is excellent for concealment carrying, you’re best off grabbing a pocket holster that facilitates that.
Some features to consider in holsters include the holster shouldn’t print and should remain in your pocket when you draw your weapon.
Final Thoughts
Seecamp’s LWS is a small pistol ideal for pocket carry and other deep concealments. It’s lightweight, yet built with sturdy materials like stainless steel that make it very sturdy. This weapon is picky, so you can’t feed it just about any ammo type you can get your hands on, but it shoots without issue if you use the right kind.
Therefore, if you’re looking for a small weapon for self-defense , the LWS is worth checking out.