[ArchAngelCD]

If you were to buy a small handgun in a small caliber which would it be?

Please don't get into the already been beaten to death "GET A BIG BORE AND MAKE A BIG HOLE" discussion. This is going to be a fun gun and maybe a BUG to a BUG on very rare occasions, but mostly for play. Remember, small caliber.

[Black Majik]

Kahr PM40.

Pocket gun with a BIG punch. :)

[Nomad, 2nd]

$200 -$220 Keltec

Is my chosen 'Nongun'

For fun... Walther PP/PPK

Real BUG .357 snubby

Edited to add: I have carried a Derringer... No accuracy
I have carried a NAA .22 MAG... hard to cock one handed...
I DO NOT recomend a rimfire for defense.

[ArchAngelCD]

Well that didn't take long!! I should have known better. :rolleyes:

Nomad,
I didn't ask about a "Real BUG", the .357 isn't a small caliber and I didn't say it was going to be a SD gun!!! Did you even read my post?

Black Majik,
You're kidding about the PM40, right? How does the .40 S&W quilify as a small caliber? Did you even read my post?

[aaronrkelly]

I own both.....choose the NAA if you plan on shooting it even a little.

The NAA actually functions damn well.

My Cobra .22lr has function well but it take two fingers to pull the trigger, they have a 20lb trigger pull.

I do occasionally get it out to polish it, makes me feel like a pimp.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/aaronrkelly/All%20Guns/cobraderringer.jpg

[ArchAngelCD]

aaronrkelly,
I know what you mean about the trigger pull on the Cobra. I was at a local shop today and they had a .25 Auto that looked just like the one you have. I was surprised how heavy that little thing was.

So, the NAA Mini is a good shooter? Cool...

[Ala Dan]

KEL-TEC P3AT .380 ACP

[CajunBass]

Nomad,
I didn't ask about a "Real BUG", the .357 isn't a small caliber and I didn't say it was going to be a SD gun!!! Did you even read my post?

Black Majik,
You're kidding about the PM40, right? How does the .40 S&W quilify as a small caliber? Did you even read my post?

Read your post? Why should we actually read your post. Don't you know that you don't know what you're talking about and we know MUCH better what you really want than you do. :rolleyes:

I don't care for really small guns, but I would think the little mini 22 revolvers would be fun. Slow, but fun. If you're going with one of those, you might as well get the 22LR.

I guess the smallest I've ever shot would be the Bersa Firestorm 22, but it's probably bigger than what you're thinking of.

[MikeJackmin]

Derringers are fun - just something about them appeals to me.

A surplus Walther .32 PP is nice, as is a ruger single six, especially in .32 mag. Any break-top revolver. Any pistol with a shoulder stock, even an airgun.

[sean m]

A NAA minimag convertible would be a nice fun gun. The ability to shoot both 22 LR & Magnums makes it more versatile than the others on your list. The grip is a bit larger than the LR version.

[longboard]

I like my Jet Fire in .25 auto just because..................
It is very small but a well built pistol, I can carry it cocked and locked and it is accurate at close range. 15 feet for tin cans.
Hey it's fun to shoot.
Longboard

[sfhogman]

Bearcat!

[slow944]

I have a NAA Blackwidow in 22mag that I carry at times, but most of the time I've got the KT P3AT in the pocket.

[Red Tornado]

Handle a Tomcat. It will (probably)feel much better and allow you to play longer than the ones you have listed.
RT

[Sistema1927]

I am having a hard time understanding what "just for fun" means for you. To me, none of the choices offered in the poll would qualify as "fun" guns, I see them as last ditch, bad breath distance, defensive weapons.

When I think of "fun" I think of guns like the Ruger Bearcat, or Mark I, etc., something for informal plinking, not a belly gun.

[Black Majik]

Well that didn't take long!! I should have known better.

Nomad,
I didn't ask about a "Real BUG", the .357 isn't a small caliber and I didn't say it was going to be a SD gun!!! Did you even read my post?

Black Majik,
You're kidding about the PM40, right? How does the .40 S&W quilify as a small caliber? Did you even read my post?

My apologies. I did read your question but put your title mostly into consideration. A small gun that would be really fun would be a pocket rocket with a nice wallop. Though, I still thought .40 S&W was still a small caliber.

My suggestion would be a NAA .Black Widow..

[Nomad, 2nd]

ArchAngelCD:

Did you even read MINE!?

I gave you 2 other choices... the Kel Tec, AND I stated if I were just going for fun the Walther.

PLEASE EXCUSE me for giving you a through answer...

I will attempt to refrain from doing so in the future. As I do not know of a feature which allows me to totally ignore someone's post please forgive me if I slip up and answer one of your questions in the future.

[DMK]

My dad picked up a tiny little Jennings 22LR automatic a few years ago for like $80. I'll be darned if the thing isn't 100% reliable. He takes it to the range all the time.

I've since convinced him to buy a Keltec P32 for a CCW, but the little Jennings is a great play toy. It's kind of fun to shoot such a small gun and see what you can hit with it. It's probably not a bad practice piece for the Keltec either, even if it does sound like a firecracker. :)

I own a Taurus 94 ten shot 22LR snubbie. It's the same size as a J-frame. I love shooting it and consider it a practice piece for my S&W 642 when I'm not just plinking. Still, I have more fun with the Jennings when my dad comes along.

[boomer1911a1]

If you can still find one, an old S&W 422 compact. I can't remember the correct model number, but it was okay.

[Marshall]

I voted.

Other.

[Loanshark]

If it's just for fun, it's hard to pass up the .22lr. Nothing is cheaper to shoot= more fun. If you ever see the need to defend yourself with it I'd look for a 9mm that will fit in your pocket. Kel-tec pf9 or kahr pm9 maybe. 9mm is cheaper to shoot than .32 or .380, and has more punch to boot.

[foghornl]

I have tried several of the "mouse guns", and a beyond muzzle contact distance, the bad guy would stand a much larger chance of getting hit if I threw the gun at him...

That being said, the smallest shootin iron I have been able to use effectively is a 4" (or so) barrel Ruger Bearcat SA revolver. Lotza fun, too.

[GunNut]

While not very practical for CCW purposes, the NAA Mini in .22lr is a fun little gun and a great conversation piece.

[3rdpig]

KT P32. The P3AT might be a better BUG, but it's not fun to shoot unless you get some reduced recoil loads. The P32 on the other hand is a pussycat and quite accurate for it's size.

My second choice would be the Walther P22. A neat little gun to shoot, but it might be slightly too big for a BUG.

[defiant73a]

Bearcat

[Clipper]

...Phoenix HP-22. Small, cheap, accurate. Lotsa fun...

[Eightball]

Some kinda PP/PPK or Makarov (or ripoffs thereof) would seem to fit the bill perfectly....that, and I've personally had an itrch for one in a while. And lemme tell you, .380 is a lot easier to find than .25 Auto and .32 Auto, at least where I come from!

Or, if you prefer, why not just some small .22 revo?

If you want really small, like tip-up-barrel small, then I'd still suggest .380>.32>.22LR>.25 (.25 just seems....kinda worthless, IMO).

Whatever you get, post pics!

[jad0110]

If you were to buy a small handgun in a small caliber which would it be?

This is going to be a fun gun and maybe a BUG to a BUG on very rare occasions, but mostly for play. Remember, small caliber.


Honestly, I'd stick to something chambered in 22LR. Do you have any 22LR handguns currently?

22LRs are especially fun for me because they offer hours of fun, shooting pleasure for little $$$. As you probably know, a 550 round Federal Bulk Pack box at Wallie World sells for less than $10. Though bangin' away with 357s Mags is fun, factory 357 ammo in my area averages about a quarter a pop. That adds up REAL quick ... buzzkiller :fire: (the aforementioned bulk pack works out to less than 2 cents per round).

A BUG for a BUG? In that case, I'd suggest looking at the NAA minis. Either that or a Beretta Bobcat. I wouldn't want to carry anything larger than either as a BUG BUG :p .

If you don't think you are going to CCW it, that opens up a TON of other possibilities (assuming that you don't already have some of the following), all available in 22LR. S&W 617 or 317, Taurus 970 Tracker, Ruger Mk Is, IIs, IIIs, the Browning Buck Mark, Colt Diamondback, S&W 22/32 Kit gun, Ruger Single Six, and my personal favorite, the S&W K-22 Masterpiece.

BTW, the 40 S&W is small, compared to say ... the 16" guns of an Iowa Class Battleship!

[CountGlockula]

Other: Glock model 26 9mm.

[The Amigo]

Kel Tec p3 in .380 why:
1.good price
2.small and lightweight
3.accurate enough
4.lifetime warranty
5.powerfull enough for a mouse gun
6.american made

[jimC2]

Ruger SP101's in 32mag are fun to shoot and if I can knock over the steel targets at 25 yards at the local range I wouldn't want to be at the wrong end of it. Not much kick at all so second shots are easy and fast. Very accurate. Single Six's are fun also for single action fans. Either one is great for those friends that don't like to shoot my 45's. Yes, I have friends that don't really like guns but will try anyway if I show them how using a 22 or 32.

[10-Ring]

In a little gun, I would go w/ the Beretta Jetfire

[wooderson]

I'd move up to a Bond Arms derringer rather than Cobra. The Bonds seem pricy for a derringer, but they seem well worth the money.

[Green Lantern]

Ah, shoot! I don't know if I screwed up by voting "other" or not!

See, Dad once had a NAA "Black Widow" mini-revolver in .22MAG. But it also had a .22LR cylinder. I think it was the first "real" handgun I fired! :cool:

I LOVE my P3AT as a CCW gun, and as a backup as well, but I don't know if it's really a "fun gun" for me, to spend all afternoon plinking with...

[Geronimo45]

One of the all-steel .32s - Walther PP or CZ 70 or similar. The .32's got more kick than you'd think - not enough to hurt you, but enough to let you notice it. Snappy-ish, maybe 9mm-esque recoil - as opposed to the shoving of a .45.
One of the old .25 autos - Browning or Colt. Neat little guns. And, if you believe some gunwriter's jabber, you can always use the .25 to clear your sinuses. :evil:

[SolaScriptura139]

I picked "other" because I really like my new Walther P-22. I just fired 280 rounds through it today. No malfunctions of any kind, and so far just as accurate as my XD-9 was.

[DMK]

From this thread, I think the definitions of the words "little" and "fun" are highly subjective. :)

[cheygriz]

The Walther .22 LR TPH!

[BigFatKen]

I have the revolver and I can't hit jack with it. Believe it or not the 5 oz loaded. device recoils up in my hand too much. I could not hit with the front sight and now that it fell off, it does perform no worse. It is my backup, backup and I use CCI 40gr mini-mags. If my Glock fails and I run my 5 shot S &W dry, it could be used as a "big fist" blow. Any contact to someone's neck would also blow all the gases into the wound.

I still would guess that if a person could shoot it right, it would group better that a 20 # trigger anything else.

[Hemicuda]

I have the NAA mini "Black Widow" model... SWEET little unit, fun to shoot, and when I HAPPEN to be needing a CCW piece, and all I have to wear is my sexy speedo, i can still hide it in a Thunderwear thong, LOL... (I'm joking, guys)

But you CAN conceal it where nothing else will hide, and it comes with .22 LR and .22 WMR cylinders...

[elprofeloco]

KelTec (P3AT or a 9mm).

[Diamondback]

The problem with the little guns that you have listed, is that they are very difficult to shoot accurately, and sometimes even to hit the target with inside of 10 yards. I have no truck with small arms....I just have difficulty believing you would have much fun with something that you can't hit the broad side if a barn with. I know you are familiar with the challenges of shooting a 2" snub accurately.......take that further and you will get a sense of how inaccurate those little pistols you have listed can be ! My advice is to get a nice 4" barrel .22 revolver...and then have some real fun !

- regards

[lamazza]

Browning Buckmark .22
A fun gun to shoot with a 15 round mag. derringer doesn't sound like fun , having to reload every 2 shots.

[MCgunner]

NAA mini .22LR and it's more than just for fun. It could save your life by just being there. I shot a possum off my porch with mine the other night, one of many incidents where I've used it successfully against unwanted pests because it was there when I needed it. I've taken rabbits with mine to 15-20 yards and made a head shot on a feral dog once at 25 yards. Don't tell ME I can't hit past ten yards with it. :rolleyes: It ain't a bullseye gun, but it possesses useful accuracy. I could hardly shoot it before I put the "holster grip" on it, though. That really helps. Of course, I like to shoot a 12" blind flange we have hanging at the 100 yard range with my 2" .38, so I guess I'm odd for what I consider fun. :D No, I don't hit it every time, couple out of a cylinder full, but I know the gun will do it, just up to me to get the sight alignment right. That's the fun I get out of it, the challenge.

I've got an HP.22 also, but it's not nearly as portable as the little NAA, thing goes everywhere with me. And, for a .22, I'll take a revolver if I want function, thanks. I had a Beretta Jet Fire that wouldn't feed for squat and misfired about 3 out of four rounds, worthless POS. The NAA is an infinitely higher quality gun and more reliable being a revolver. The little HP22 actually is fairly reliable, something I couldn't say about that POS Jet Fire. That little NAA, though, is built like a little Rolex, awesome quality, fit, and finish. It's a real conversation piece as well as being handy and fun to play with and shoot. Do get the holster grip if you get the standard .22 like mine, though.

[ArchAngelCD]

Well, I went with "Other", I bought a Kel-Tec P32 today.

I already have a S&W Model 22A so I didn't need another .22. The Derringer is nice but from what I'm reading here, it's not a "fun gun" to shoot because of the heavy trigger and limited rounds.

I thank you all for your imput. :)

[swgunner]

walther p22 chep gun, fun plinking, cheap ammo whats not to like?

[FotoTomas]

The Beretta .22Short Minx is my favorite "small" tin can killer.

The Walther P22 is my favorite .22lr tin can killer.

The Ruger .22/45 is my favorite .22 in general but it is not "small" in stature as opposed to small in caliber.

Many years ago I had a High Standard Derringer that was fitted in a wallet sleave. The idea of two rounds only of .22 NEVER apealed to me as a defensive option.

The little mini revolvers are a fun bunch of bullet launchers. Hard in my case to shoot well. I had one of the original Freedom Arms minirevolvers and lament its sale. :(

[MCgunner]

I was tempted by a P32 at a recent gun show for $199, but I held off. I'd really rather have the P3AT in .380. I've got a .380, though, and there was this Taurus M66 3" revolver calling my name.

They also had this cheap little side-by-side Cobra (I think) .45 Colt/.410 derringer I thought about in the fun gun category. It was cheap, but I got to thinkin' it'd probably get loose like the Davis cheap POS derringers do and the what if of getting a hot load in it for my Ruger scared me off, LOL. In fact, I don't think I'd wanna fire my "light" .45 Colt load in that thing, 8.3 grains Unique 255 grain cast flat point. That would probably frag that little POS and if not would hurt my hand with that little birds head grip it had. So, I passed on that thing. But, I'm always lookin' for such "fun guns". :D I reload, but rim fires sure have an advantage in ammo cost and no need to spend time at the reloading press for fun guns. I'm thinkin' a NAA mini master in .22/.22 mag would be really fun. Actually, I've been thinking this for since that gun came out, but never got one. The time might be getting near that I need to go ahead and get me a mini master.:D Ain't got a lot else I want right now and it sure sounds like a fun shooter and easier to shoot than my little pocket NAA. There's just something about those little mini revolvers, such little jewels and so compact and a go anywhere size. Besides, I have a .22 mag rifle now, so I need to get a handgun that can handle .22 mag. Need, I know, I know, my wife defines the word all the time for me. :rolleyes:

The little KT P32 is a neat, neat small, portable, go anywhere little gun and would be a fun plinker. I just ain't enamored by .32ACP as a caliber. Can't knock the gun, though and KT really backs up their stuff with a lifetime warranty. I have a P11 that is my main carry.

[doubleh]

Got to go with the Walther P22. It's small, light, cheap to shoot, reasonably priced, and fun to shoot. Also it's one of the few plastic guns that's not uglier than home made soap.

[StrikeEagle]

I voted for the little .22 Short mini revolver. Adorable little jewels. That thing caught my eye 30+ years ago as the Rocky Mountain brand.

But I could just as well have gone 'Other'... meaning the .25 Baby Browning. Cute as can be... fun to handle, fun to load, fun to look at, fun to shoot. I even reload for it, and that's fun too. :)

I understand exactly what you mean by your question... I love little guns. Just as trinkets and artifacts, not as 'useful tools'.

[dhoomonyou]

something in 22lr

Ruger Mark 2
S & W 317 kit gun
Walther P22

[doc2rn]

KT P32 +1

[warriorsociologist]

:)

My "little fun gun" is my Glock 19...though, I have been thinking of getting an Advantage Arms .22LR slide for it.

[doc2rn]

KT P32 +1

[doc2rn]

KT P32 +1:scrutiny:

[Stoney]

Forget all that new stuff, give me a 1908 Colt Vest pocket as my little gun:) . A Baby Browning can be fun to. :cool:

[CWQnee]

My idea of a fun gun is my NAA "Black Widow" with both the .22 WMR and .22 LR cylinders. The fun is seeing how well you can put some lead on the target at longer ranges, let's say at 15+ yards. Just a fun gun to own, talk about, and best of all to shoot.

Chuck

[Juna]

I vote for Kel-Tec P32 or P3AT. The disadvantage of the P32, IMO, is the ammo price. Around here, .380ACP is quite a bit cheaper than .32ACP. The advantages include larger capacity (7+1 or 10+1 vs 6+1), lighter recoil, slide lock back, and more accessories available. The power out of the two guns seems pretty similar to me with FMJ based on what I've read on here and other web sites. I'm really torn between these two myself.

[tinygnat219]

Get yourself a .32 H&R revolver. Good little guns...

[c1ogden]

Since 3 of the 5 choices are .22s you are thinking like me -- cheap to shoot and power isn't a requirement for a "fun" gun. I'd take a J frame Smith .22 or a PPK type pocket pistol in .22. I have both and the kids love them!

[crebralfix]

1) Beretta Model 21 in 22 LR
2) Ruger Single Six in 22 LR
3) Ruger Bearcat

The Beretta M21 is really, really fun!

[Janos Dracwlya]

I have two such guns. My favorite, and my "Other" choice, would be a Beretta Model 21A in .22LR. Mine is stainless and has proven to be very reliable, with the few malfunctions being usually handled with a second pull of the trigger.

I also have a NAA Mini in .22LR. It's a lot of fun with .22 Aguila ammunition, but not so much fun with full-power .22LR, unless I have the folding grip on it. However, I have to ask him (http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d185/Dracwlya/Edward2.jpg) for permission when I want to take it out and shoot it.

[geekWithA.45]

Walther P22
Walther TPH, 22lr

[Bongo45]

I like the 21A as well.

[billp]

Once sw gets 22A working (http://www.prosefights.org/msd/wildhorsemesa/wildhorsemesa.htm#sandw), of course.

[ArchAngelCD]

I already own a 22A and it's a good one. It's a Special Run put out for Acusports. It's on the 2 tone frame with a 7" Fluted Bull Barrel and it has a green Fiber Optic front sight.

I'm very happy with the KT P-32. I started a new thread for the range report. The ammo is slightly higher than the .380 ammo online. It's a lot higher in local stores. I bought some FMJ practice stuff online for $9.77 a box and have some on order for $7.95 a box.