The Girsan MC14G84 Balances Size with Shootability

Article, Reviews

By Allen Forkner, GunBroker Vice President

When it comes to defensive calibers, most consider the 9mm to be the smallest effective round. While that may have been true in the past, huge advancements in .380 ACP ammunition have eliminated this argument. Today, .380 pistols, like the Girsan MC14G84, have their place in personal protection. This is especially true if loaded with modern defensive ammunition.

In fact, EAA, through its Girsan brand has introduced a new challenger to the title of top .380. And this pistol is a shining example of everything a .380-chambered carry gun should be.

East to Shoot Size

Thanks to Instagram influencers, many envision the EDC community as full of gym rats, former special forces operators and people who never have to ask for help opening the pickle jar.

In reality, concealed carriers are every day, average folks like you, me and your Great-Grandpa Ed. For most of us, racking the slide on a 9mm or handling the felt recoil of a micro-compact is no big deal. But for Ed, either task may be a bit much.

And while 1mm of case length and 30 grains of bullet weight may not seem like a lot between the 9mm and .380, it can have a significant impact on the shootability of a handgun. And the impact goes well beyond basic recoil physics.

That’s where the MC14G84 shines. Instead of stuffing a .380 into the smallest frame possible, Girsan went with a frame size that is still easy to conceal, but has a full grip. It also has a double-stack magazine and an aluminum frame/steel slide construction. All that combines to make this pistol a pussycat to shoot.

Even the most recoil sensitive will find this easier to shoot than most of the .380s on the market, which are predominantly single-stack, short-gripped polymer framed handguns.

Easy to Operate

In addition to its not-too-big, not-too-small dimensions, the Girsan MC14G84 also takes advantage of the .380 ACP’s lower recoil to be able to run lighter springs than a 9mm. Now, this is true of all .380s, but the MC14G84 has discarded the fixed-barrel blowback design of most small .380s. Instead, it uses a short-recoil, falling-block system.

This type of system, usually seen on more powerful handguns, allows the barrel to move with the slide for a short distance, allowing pressures to fall before unlocking the breech. The result is a reduction in felt recoil and report, while still using a lighter spring.

What this means for the end user is that those with reduced grip strength, either from age, size or injury, can still manipulate the slide with ease. In fact, during testing, the author was suffering from a serious bout of golfer’s elbow and operating any semi-auto handgun produced a surge of pain. The Girsan, however, was easy to use and virtually pain free to the elbow.

Outstanding Trigger

The absolute joy of this pistol, however, was the surprise experienced when dry firing the first time. In general, carry guns have somewhat mediocre triggers. While it can be disappointing, it’s a matter of time/cost to make a production trigger anything other than “meh.”

The Girsan MC14G84, however, had a very smooth and consistent double-action trigger pull, with no stacking or creep. The single-action press had some free take up, but once you hit the wall it was crisp and clean. For a pistol that’s chambered in.380 and retails for $381, it was quite remarkable. Kudos to Girsan for taking the time to clean up and smooth out their triggers.

What You Get

For that relatively affordable cost, you get the MC14G84, in either all black or two-tone black over grey. A double-stack magazine that holds 13+1 rounds of .380. Fixed sights, a machined steel barrel, lightweight aluminum frame and an ambidextrous safety. All in all, a great value.

As far as value-minded handguns go, there’s a whole lot to like about the Girsan MC14G84. I has solid construction, it’s easy to operate and very accurate. There are a few things, however, that you do give up to keep the price point where it is. While none are dealbreakers, they do bear pointing out.

The sights, painted three-dots, are not illuminated. And while the rear is drift adjustable, the front is machined as part of the slide, making replacement impossible.

Our other nit to pick is that the pistols only ship with a single magazine. Again, we understand the economics behind keeping this pistol at its price point, but for a carry gun the magazine is the weak point. Simply having one, or even one and a reload, is hard to swallow, so we’d be adding spares to the cart right out of the gate.

On the upside, the MC14G84 shares a similar footprint to the classic Beretta 84, which means there should be ample options for holsters out there. A quick spin around GunBroker found dozens of choices for the Girsan or the Beretta.

If you have a need for a carry gun that’s easy to shoot with lighter recoil, the MC14G84 is a solid choice. You get a ton of gun (figuratively) for the money, and you won’t feel undergunned in any situation that may call for a handgun.