[ceestand]

Right now I have an FN HPDAc as my primary carry (great gun BTW), which I carry IWB. I'm thinking when it gets cold out IWB carry will be difficult to access quickly. One solution would be to alter my carry style, the other was to carry a pocket gun, not as a substitution, but as a suppliment.

So I started thinking about pocket guns. I have a S&W M36, but for a coat pocket, I feel it's not too big, but too long. With an autoloader, the chamber is on top of, not in front of the grip. So for two guns the same "size", the autoloader will let you keep your hand deeper in the pocket.

Looking for a "pocket gun" with the following features:

Steel frame (or other metal or alloy - polymer gets no love from me)
double action (ideally DA/SA but SAO gets no love)
decocker
380 or better

The Kahr MK9 and CZ RAMI come very close but seem a little big. Am I expecting to find a gun that doesn't exist? I wouldn't mind an off-brand at all.

[megatronrules]

ceestand have you considered a S&W 642 15oz. j-frame 5 shot .38 special+P rated? its light and easy will fit into a coat pocket alo has doa trigger on it AND also unlike an autoloader it can be fried from inside of a coat pocket I'd give it a serious look if I were you hope this helps you out.

[Lone_Gunman]

Rohrbaugh is what you are looking for. The frame is aluminum. Slide is steel. Caliber is 9mm. Price is too high.

If I was you, I wouldn't worry about what the frame is made of. Polymer is fine for a gun you are going to stick in your pocket.

Personally, I would save the money on the Rohrbaugh and just go with the Kel-Tec 380 with a hard chromed slide.

[cratz2]

Well, I don't think you're asking for too much, but it's gonna cost ya!

Really, I'm not a big fan of pocket carryt, but the polymer Kahrs would probably get the most attention from me unless I was ready to buy the Rohrbaugh, which I'm not.

Personally, I feel a bit more comfortable carrying during the cooler months.

[Marshall]

Coat pocket carry cries out for your M36, I would choose that over the baby auto's! Pocket's tend to pick up a lot of crap, the little auto's odd's of failure goes up and their odds of failure is much higher anyway.

[azrael]

Rohrbaugh to high?? A 9mm that is almost the same size as a KT P3AT that costs UNDER a grand and it is to high?? I disagree...:neener:



Rohrbaugh and Kahr is the way to go with the $$$ auto's $400. and above

KT is is right in there with the P-11 or the P3AT $250+

Wheelies??...Coat pocket carry is fine for a snubby

[MrMurphy]

Bersa Thunder .380... DA/SA, eight shots, more accurate than a PPK, $300 and a nice soft shooter. Fairly light.

Or a S&W 642 .38 +P, the covered hammer means no snag coming out of a pocket (and I've had to do this in a hurry it's no BS).

The Bersa will require a bigger pocket than the 642 it's PPK sized.

[joey93turbo]

Bersa Thunder .380's are $300? Where?! I bought mine new a year ago for $229. Has the price really gone up that much?

By the way, GREAT gun.

[lee n. field]

* Steel frame (or other metal or alloy - polymer gets no love from me)
* double action (ideally DA/SA but SAO gets no love)
* decocker
* 380 or better

Makarov too big? It's comparable in size to the Bersa that people are recommending, and meets every one of your requirements.

[horge]

I believe the weight difference tells in favor of
carrying the Bersa Thunder 380 over the Pistolet Mak.
Different strokes.

If you can afford the 'Roar-boar', hehe, go for it. Those
who have, seem pretty impressed with it. That size,
with 9mm power, sh'yeah, I would'na mind having a
Rohrbaugh on me when the S hits the F.

Kel-Tec makes very-carryable pistols, the P3AT in .380 ACP,
and the P11 in 9mm Parabellum. They are said to
sometimes need some work in order to ensure
dependability at al times.

The neat Kahr Micros in 9mm and .40 might be worth
a looking-at, too.

Of all the aforementioned, The Mak and the Bersa have
been the most often lauded as 'fun' to shoot, and if that
brings you to the range more often for practice,
so much the better.



:)
Good luck

[jeff-10]

You can still get Bersa Thunder .380's for 200 or less where I live.

[albanian]

If ever there was a gun that was perfect for coat pocket carry, it was the S&W 642. It can be fired from inside the pocket which is a huge plus in todays world. I have never drawn my gun on anyone but I have covered them with my snubbie once or twice when they didn't know it. I have to say that nothing makes you feel better than being able to cover someone who is giving you the creeps and knowing that with just a pull of the trigger, you can start shooting. With an auto, you have one shot from inside the pocket and then you probably have a pretty nasty jam to clear before you can get back in action. With the snubbie, you can empty the gun without a jam. The 642 is great because it has a smooth snag free shape that lets you pull it out of your pocket without hanging up.

I can't think of a better coat pocket gun than the 642. I think they make one in .357 mag and one in the Titanium frame as well. Those might be of some interest to you also. I like the 642 because it is proven and costs much less than the others. If I could get a Titanium framed S&W snubbie for a few bucks more, I would go that route but not for twice the price like I have seen them go for. A few less ozs is not really worth an extra $300 or so in my book. If I were going to carry it in my pants pocket, it may be worth it to me but I find snubbies too fat to carry in pants pockets.

[Shmackey]

Colt Pocket Nine.

http://gregfeld.com/pics/CP9--Left1.jpg

[ceestand]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm surprised no one showed up to push the RAMI. Some thoughts:

It seems as though the best place to start would be to buy a good pocket holster (I'd get one from the crowd that does the giveaways here every so often), and try carrying the 36 around - see how it goes.

I'll also take another look at the Kahr MK9 and it's cousin, the Colt.

As an AK and SKS owner, I have a responsibility to get a Mak anyway, so that's an option.

Firing from the pocket seems unrealistic to me. Not only would aim be wild, but let's assume no pocket holster (a bad idea), I still wouldn't trust penetration through two sets of clothing.

[Shmackey]

The RAMI's way too big for a pocket. Didn't believe it until I held one.

The Colt is more related to a PM9. The MK9 is heavy. Colt is light. Alloy.

[horge]

Oooops!


I was earlier thinking more along the lines of IWB.
I missed the part about it having to be a pocket gun?
That rules out the Bersa and the Mak for top contention.

Kel-Tec P3AT 380 ACP, fluffed and buffed into reliability
Rohrbaugh 9mm. Don't know zip about the Colt, but
it sure looks pretty.

:)

[Shmackey]

The Colts don't start out looking that pretty; they're good, but not pretty. That one was customized by Scott/McDougall. I sold it a couple of months ago.

[Ala Dan]

Bersa Thunder .380's with Duotone finish are priced at $199 at my
local shop. But you'd better hurry, only three left in stock as of
Saturday 09-11-04.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member