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Masterpiece Arms
https://www.masterpiecearms.com
The MPA Protector Series is the smallest .380 on the market. It weighs 11.7 ounces empty and has a capacity of 5 rounds in the .380 and 6 in the .32 special. The MSRP is $325 for the black oxide and $350 for the one with the polished stainless slide.
The gun is solid steel and both the slide and the frame are CNC machined from steel billet. If you recognize the design, a very similar gun was made under the name Autauga Arms by the original owners of MPA. Since a change in ownership and location in 2008, the 15 year old company known for high quality MAC-10 platform pistols and carbines has built out their operation to make their guns more accesible. This Protector is the latest offering, and it is head and shoulders above the old Autauga guns. They were originally made from polished castings, but they were limitted to the .32 because the castings couldn’t handle the added power of the .380. These machined guns are the first of their kind in .380 and are flawlessly reliable and of extremely high quality.
Each gun comes with a lifetime warranty and it ships with one magazine and both the flat and extended floor plate. More magazines are availalbe from the company at $18.95 At SHOT show the buzz was “premium design at a polymer price.” We hope to get one of these sweet little guns in for a full review soon. They look fantastic.
Your Protector Series.380 is perfect 👍. I will buy one soon.
Thank you
Pete
Your Protector Series is PERFECT CONCEALED CARRY PISTOL!!!
I am going to buy ONE!!!
Thank you for making it.
Take Care
Pete
The Autauga was developed to compete with the Seecamp. Autauga lost and Seecamp won. I suppose this will also be the case with this one.
The Autauga was developed to compete with the Seecamp. Autauga failed and Seecamp won. Same thing here I suppose.
Autauga went out of business and Masterpiece Arms bought what was left of the company. Whatever Autauga and MPA did is to simply make a Seecamp knock-off of .32ACP and .380 versions. I am surprised Seecamp didn’t sue for copyright infringement, but I guess Larry Seecamp is a true gentleman.
Nothing but trouble. I had a jam after out 20 rounds and when I cleared the jam and removed the mag a broken internal part fell out of the gun. Back to the factory with this one!!!
I have posted http://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/masterpiece-arms-mpa-protector-series-smallest-380-in-the-world at reddit.com so my friends can see it as well. I simply used %BLOGTITLE% as the link title in my post,I figured it would be a great way to promote this great post.
Okay ladies and gentlemen from the Nashville,TN. area. There is a gunshop around the 79 mile marker exit of I-24(WEST side) that had about a dozen of those in black,camo,etc a day or so before Christmas. His prices were very good too. I believe he was asking around $265for the basic kit(handgun,one mag,case). This guy had huge airdrop style pallets of AR and AK ammo….cheap…too . I can’t remember the name of the place,but they have several billboards along the interstate.My wife looked at one of the Rugers.
Of course, this is my opinion only. I personally believe that the .380 is one of the better close quarter self-protection, concealed, weapons available. The mass and the velocity are pretty darned good for the round. Personally, I carry the Kel-Tec as many of you obviously do. I am looking forward to taking a look at the Protector primarily due to the size. The .380 is carried so easily without an obvious bulge and makes it easy to carry anywhere. If the Protector is significantly smaller, reliable, and easy to manuever from my pocket, then I may have to purchase one.
My arguement is regarding the laser – for me, they don’t provide me with any benefit and isn’t worth the cost associated with with having one on the weapon. Although an attached flashlight readily shows your position, it takes much less mental effort to aim and shoot. I think overall that an attached flashlight, and the quickness that it enables you, is much better to have as an ancillary device than the laser. My Kel-Tec is laser only. In my opinion, an instant-on flashlight is much cheaper and useful.
I’m certain that I need much more practice; but, the only time that I’ve needed the weapon, my heart was racing so fast and my hand was probably none too steady that I never even saw the little red dot…and, I must admit that I wasn’t really looking for it. I believe that muscle memory proves much better in an emergent situation than trying to find a laser dot and that a mounted flashlight would be more of an asset. I just don’t know if a laser is really useful. Comments?
I appreciate Halberstram’s comment regarding the Protector’s grip. That is probably my only complain with my Kel-Tec. The Kel-Tec just doesn’t fit well into my hand. How does anyone compare the two pistols?
Just my two cents on the laser thing…
I would like to shoot the Protector and would like some more information on reliability. I’m looking forward to hearing from anyone that has substantial experience with this weapon.
Thank you,
I agree with the Kel Tec comments, expecially with their very functional add on accessory “belt clip”. One question I would ask is “what is the ‘trigger pull’ poundage”? That could be deal maker depending on the difference from my Kel Tec.
I want one but they are sold out every where.
You can have them ordered by the dealers in our On Demand system, or have your dealer sign up for the On Demand system. This is the chome top one:
http://www.gunsamerica.com/OnDemand/MasterPieceArms/MPA380S.htm
no great lose…get a bersa thunder 380….one of the best 380’s out there…any ammo cycles…very accurate…affordable….empties on the ground…hot lead down range!!!!!!!
How does this gun rate against the Ruger LCP .380 Thanks! Michael
I own one of these and it has a great grip and is such a small pistol, I sometimes forget it’s in my pocket. I have fired about 350 rounds through mine – mainly Hornady Critical Defense and it has yet to malfunction
Ha. Its not a knockoff of a garbage Autauga. Its a knockoff of a Seecamp. Like someone said, thats not a bad thing. But lets recognize if for what it is.
The Seecamp .380s are expensive and in short supply. For someone who values small size over light weight, this could be the ticket if it runs well.
Don
Yes, it does look similar to a Seacamp. Put a set of laser grips on it and I would buy one.
I would love to try this little guy to see how have it compares to my 32 NAA North American Arms. The stats from my NAA are quite impressive, check them out. The 32NAAs bullet travels at 1200 fps,will go through four layers of denim, mushrooms nicely, and retains 100% of it’s bullet weight. I carry it every where in my front pocket and am confident that it will do it’s job when the time comes. Send me an E-mail and give me your thoughts.
I have to agree with Marty. It is gonna be hard to beat my Kel-Tec .380, especially with the price mark that they have set. I have seen new .40cal Taurus PT140 in the $350 price range.
I don’t know fellas…hard to beat my .380 Kel-tec. It only weighs 8 ounces and is quit accurate at 30 feet. I’ve put hundreds of rounds through it and it has never jammed. I can actually carry it around in my shirt pocket and forget it’s there. I can’t imagine a better small and lightweight carry gun.
I will have to agree that the little Kel-tec is a fine little gun. I shoot about the same that you do at 30, my guess anyway.
I can put 4 or 5 shoots in an area as big as a human head at 30 feet. Still I wonder about the Protector Series. I would to have one to run 50 rounds or so through it to see how well it handled different brands of ammo.
Marty, I concun 100%. I’m sure this is a fine little weapon but I am sold on my Kel-Tec 380. My duty weapon is a 1911 .45 but I never go anywhere without my CCW Kel-Tex with a lazor sight. It’s light, easily concealed and will get the job done for PP.
Hmm… they remind me of the Seacamp, not a bad thing. The only thing I take exception with is the reviewers statement, “flawlessly reliable “. They need a good wringing out before making a statement like that.