[Great Scot]

What makes a mousegun a mousegun? Caliber? Size? Both? I recently read an article on the Beretta 70s in 22lr and it struck me that even though it is a compact .22, it is reliable, easy to hit with and the Mossad has shown that it's effective. Harldy seems like it should be considered a mousegun, yet most people would brand it as one. I'm sure this inonsistency can be applied to other guns. Thoughts?

[Madcap_Magician]

I think it has to do with truly miniscule size combined with small caliber.

[mrt949]

Is that a mouse in your pocket or are you glad to SEE ME.:neener:

[mljdeckard]

It's easy to spot the new guys, isn't it? :)

I think it's a combination of size and caliber. I've never imagined a .22 target pistol as a mousegun.

As for effectiveness, if it's something I feel confident doing with a .22, I would probably feel better doing it with a knife. You would need to be just as close, and you could feasibly do it with less noise.

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

New? The OP joined 2 years before you mljdeckard :P

[mljdeckard]

Post count.

[Zerodefect]

To me its the point where the guns small size has reduced its effectiveness to the point where its barely acceptable. The point where it may save my life in a standard robbery mugging with idiot thug type criminals and most CCW senerios, but deosn't stand a chance in a real gunfight against a worthy opponent.

Extreme small, and compromised performance. Guns that still have all the performance of a compact or fullsize, are usually bigger and not mouseguns.

A P3AT and LCP are mouse guns. A snub nose or Glock 26 or 3" 1911 are not.

If I were to battle myself, one of me with a LCP and the other me with a Glock 23, the me with the LCP is toast.

Battle of me with a Glock 26 and a Glock 23 or SW M&P revolver.....its a toss up. Not mouse guns.

[oneounceload]

Here is a good site that shows "mouseguns":

http://www.mouseguns.com/PocketAutoComparison.pdf

IMO, the Seecamp LWS380 is the best from a size to power ratio is concerned

[KyJim]

I think of mouseguns as being small in size without regard to caliber.

[Blakenzy]

Any gun that wouldn't be overkill if used on a mouse, or any gun that may be used by a mouse. Hence the requirement for small bore and frame size.

Refer to "what caliber for mice?" threads.

[David E]

The term was originally coined to describe the super small .25's and .22's, in that their stopping power limit was a large mouse.

[hso]

Great contribution, oneounceload.

Mousegun should be a function of caliber smaller than .32 with small size being a factor as well. Obviously a .32 Colt Hammerless Pocket Auto isn't a mouse gun while the little .25 Colt Vest Pocket pistol of the same era would be. By the same token a .22 lr Colt Diamondback wouldn't be a mousegun in spite of the small caliber while an NAA "Blackwidow" would.

[Fumbler]

"Mouse gun" is a loose term. Most people think of it as a small pocket gun (P3AT, Seacamp).

I think of them as anything smaller than a small pocket gun.
There's a full size, then compact, then sub compact (baby Glocks and Kahr PM9, etc) then a true pocket gun (Kel-Tec P3AT, LCP, etc), then I consider anything smaller a mouse gun (NAA mini revolvers, etc)

That's all regardless of caliber.

[Fat Boy]

I always thought it was what Mickey carried in those Disney cartoons....

Thanks folks, I'll be here all week; don't forget to tip your wait staff!

[Vern Humphrey]

the Mossad has shown that it's effective.
For assassinations, not for defensive use.

[CoRoMo]

http://www.littlegun.be/derringer/derringer%20bond%20arms%20texas%20.45lc%20.410-01.jpg

[Deltaboy]

I would not call a 2 shot Bonds arms a mouse gun in 45 long colt.

[David E]

I would not call a 2 shot Bonds arms a mouse gun in 45 long colt.

Nor would I call it a serious choice for a main defense gun.

[mrt949]

My MOUSE GUN is a SEECAMP 32. BERETTA 21A 22LR.or SMITH WESSON M@P C .40 SW.I have big pockets.

[ezypikns]

Squeek. Squeek.

[Mad Magyar]

In my mind, I've always thought it was .380 and below, small enough to ease into a front pocket...:)

[Isaac's Grandpa]

My mouse gun is a Beretta Minx in .22 short. Can't hit squat with it, but it makes an impressive ammount of noise.

[jackstinson]

Sorry....I have way too many "mouseguns" to try and list them all.
Ain't no mice left alive around my place!

[PX15]

FWIW:

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a73/Laserlips/100_6811_01.jpg


Jesse

[Big_John1961]

I think of mousegun as being defined as size more than caliber. Something like a Seecamp fits the bill perfectly.

[Big_John1961]

And, to that end, the ultimate mousegun...

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/5745/seecamplws325696edited1.jpg (http://img523.imageshack.us/i/seecamplws325696edited1.jpg/)

[oneounceload]

In my mind, I've always thought it was .380 and below, small enough to ease into a front pocket.

A Rohrbaugh in 9mm WILL fit in your front pocket.........

http://www.rohrbaughfirearms.com/product/prod_set.html

[christcorp]

If when I hold it; if I can't wrap all 4 fingers around the grips; and at least 1 finger (Pinkie) hangs off the bottom; then it's a mouse gun. At least that's my definition.

[Dogbite]

Your normal "mouse gun" aka "poodle shooter" is a very small pocket gun in a small caliber.
22, 25, 32, 380, etc. I don't think of a 9mm, or larger, even if it is small, as a mouse gun because it fits the power floor min of 38/9mm.

[Dogbite]

Seecamp, ultimate mouse gun? Yeah, I wouldn't argue that.

[The Lone Haranguer]

A tiny, pocket sized gun, chambered for a caliber typically found in "pocket pistols." This is generally considered to be up to and including .380 ACP. Small pocketable guns chambered for service cartridges (9mm Luger and up, e.g., Kahr PM9, Rohrbaugh) are not "mouseguns" IMO. Neither are larger holster guns chambered for .380, e.g., the Beretta "Cheetahs." Both the small size and caliber have to be present.

[dagger dog]

In days of old
when men were bold
the S&W NO 1
was the ultimate hide out gun
the 22 short was for defense
not sport
all is fair in war they say
except for the size
of the lead you spray!

[mrt949]

I have owned all the KEL-TEC'S .P11 P 32. P3AT. PF9.great guns for the money.But I up graded and have a SEECAMP 32.:D