[hometheaterman]

So comparing these two pistols which is the best to get for a pistol to pocket carry? The advantage to the LCP is that it's a .380 where as the Baby Browning is only a .25 auto. Yet at the same time the Browning is smaller in size. So which do you like and why? For the same price, which would be the better bet?

[stchman]

.25ACP, just get a .22LR pistol. I would definitely get the LCP.

[dreamer56]

The design of the Browning makes it not the safest pocket gun to carry with one in the chamber - personally, if I carried that gun then it would mean to use it I would have to rack and then shoot - so two hands required - not so great. I would want something that is easier to call on -

Parts are at a premium as well - while I like "old" guns it is difficult to find parts with reasonable prices on them.

You choose - just my opinions. :)

[hometheaterman]

So what about the design makes it not safe to carry with a round chambered?

[Odd Job]

The design of the Browning makes it not the safest pocket gun to carry with one in the chamber - personally, if I carried that gun then it would mean to use it I would have to rack and then shoot - so two hands required - not so great. I would want something that is easier to call on

Agree on that. I carried a Baby Browning at one time, but that was only because at the time it was all I could afford and it needed to be concealed. I would pick it over a .22, but not a .380

[stchman]

According to wikipedia the .22LR actually has more energy than a .25ACP.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.25_ACP
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.22LR

Now wikipedia is not the end all of ammunition ballistics, but here are the findings.

Also price, a box of 50 .25ACP is around $15 while a box of 500 of .22LR is about the same price or maybe a little more.

[wally]

According to wikipedia the .22LR actually has more energy than a .25ACP.


These are not the numbers you will get from a 2" barrel. JMB invented the .25ACP because even he could not get the .22LR to be reliable is such a small pistol.

But IMHO unless its just to collect and shoot occasionally, it is no contest: get the .380ACP LCP instead.

[wyocarp]

Is this a real question of which is better? Is anyone seriously going to suggest the baby over the LCP?

[chicharrones]

+1 for the LCP.

[Bill B.]

According to wikipedia the .22LR actually has more energy than a .25ACP.


Rimfire shells also fail to fire more often than center fire shells. The .380 wins regardless of what the platform is that it is fired from.

[MolleMan]

LCP has way more options available for it but a .25 would be the last thing i carried for self defense.

[Maia007]

The Baby Browning and the Colt Pocket .25 and similar steel frame autos were, in their day, the smallest (by far) and easiest to conceal when concealment really mattered. I carried a BB from time to time and still have it.

The small steel .25's haven't lost anything they ever offered.

Back in the day, the smaller .32's and .380's were larger and much heavier than the .25's. The Browning 1910 (slightly larger in size than the LCP) was among the smallest and thinnest, but it weighed around 20 oz vs. 11-12 oz for the Baby.

But these days, with the LCP and similar polymer frame autos in .32 and .380, the size-weight gap has very nearly closed. The LCP and others are in the 10-13 oz range offer the a much more powerful cartridge for a modest size increase over the steel .25's.

Most people can shoot the LCP adequately enough for short range...at least as well as they could should a .25.

[MICHAEL T]

Well I have the 25 but don't carry it any more . The KelTec in 32 or 380 put a end to the need for a small 25 like the Browning for carry. I would choose a KelTec I don't like the Ruger copy. I know its prettier . Who cares it in you pocket. my KelTec are all around a 1000 rounds and have yet to have a problem In either the 32's or the 380.

[Diggers]

hometheaterman,

The LCP dude, comon!! :) I've the LCP and I like it quite a bit. The idea that the .380 has power near a .38 now with modern ammo really puts a .25 out of the running.

BTW how small do you want a gun to be? :what: I admit I have big hands but even so the LCP is really small. So theres no problem carring it anywhere.

BUT whats better than small is light, its only 9 oz which makes it reall nice in a pocket.

Forget the .25, its out classed by the .380

[harmon rabb]

Is this even a question? .25acp vs. .380acp? Big difference in ballistics. .380 all the way.

[REPOMAN]

.380 LCP... I pocket carry mine w/shorts and ankle carry w/ pants and after a few days gettin used to it... I forgot it was there..... FWIW I highly recommend it....

[PX15]

FWIW:

At one time (1966) I carried a 25cal. Galesi pistol for self defense.

Of course I was young and stupid at the time, and didn't know squat about "ballistics" and such, and anyway there simply were NO larger caliber, CONCEALABLE options (that I was aware of) at the time, and even if there were, I wouldn't have been able to afford them.. (The Galesi was $35.00 new).

Now I'm old and stupid, but not so stupid as to be carrying a 25cal "anything" for personal defense.

There are a myriad of excellent 32 and 380 cal. options now, and the only reason I could see for owning a Baby Browning is as a collector who wishes to have an example of a very nice, classic 25cal. pistol.

My wife and I have 2 LWS32's, one LWS380, and more recently I have gained a tremendous appreciation for the Ruger LCP. We have purchased three in the past few months, and each one has been absolutely reliable and surprising accurate right out of the little white cardboard box they came in.

You can add the excellent Crimson Trace Laser to the LCP for around $150.00, and the pistols can generally be had for around $275.00-$300.00.

IF I were in the market for a small cc firearm for my Son, or Granddaughter I wouldn't even slow down at the 25cal. market.. I'd get them a Ruger LCP in a heartbeat.

The Baby Browning is a classic.. But IMHO it should be relegated to "collector" status, and unless there was absolutely no alternative I'd leave the fine little Browning at home.

Just personal opinion, no offense to Baby Browning lovers... Or heck, 25cal. lovers in general.

Best Wishes,

Jesse

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a73/Laserlips/100_1970.jpg

[MATTHEW QUIGLEY]

This is an apples to oranges comparison. The only thing worth comparing a .25 to is .22 lr. And I feel that a .22 lr with hypervelocity ammo wins that debate. It just so happens that the gun I regret not buying the most is a .25 Baby Browning. The guy was going to let me have it for 30 bucks and wouldn't give him more the $25 for it.

[briang2ad]

But the difference between $25 and $30 back in the day was like the difference between $250 and $300 today - approximately. My dad bought the week's groceries for $5 for 5 folks.

I passed up a VERY nice ASTRA Cub recently and ended up with a Kahr. Its amazing what happens to "wants and needs."

[KIX]

Personally..... I couldn't do either (after firing them).

I'm in the market for something for "summer" wear. A friend picked up the LCP..... WAY TOO TOY LIKE!!!! I hate DAO guns anyway (so I am a bit biased there).

In that family, I like the Taurus a bit better as action stays open after the last shot.

I am in the .380 market though, and am looking at the Bersa Thunder series..... really nice and they feel a bit more like guns.

[valorius]

LCP. It's not even close.

Here's a pic of mine:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b343/m21sniper/Spoons/91d17c2a.jpg

It's no toy.

By the way, the Taurus user reviews i read were nightmarish. That is (or at least was when introduced) a pistol with LOTS of problems.

[1KPerDay]

I have an FN pocket 25 (not exactly the baby browning but close) and it's heavier and thicker through the grip than the LCP. It's a bit shorter through the grip frame, but that's about it. The FN is a "fun gun"; my kids love to shoot it. The LCP is no toy. Of the two, it is definitely the one to choose for any serious purpose.

[PX15]

KIX:

Respectfully, (and this is an old thread I know) I'm curious as to why you are biased against a DA firearm for pocket carry?

I ask this because I'm precisely of the opposite opinion, and think a DA or DAO is the ONLY "best" choice for pocket carry.

I believe that anything you have to do in a crisis involving potential use of deadly force (your cc choice), other than to pull the trigger is defeating the purpose of a concealed carry gun anyway.

For example, I love the "looks" of the Sig P238 (Colt Mustang clone)... It's a "purty" little thang', but it's SA.... No cocked and locked gun in my back pocket, thank you very much. And if a person chose to carry a SA firearm such as the very nice Sig P238 NOT cocked and locked, then it would require the firearm be cocked before it was transformed from a small, not so effective hammer, to a potentially deadly self defense weapon.

I am fortunate in that I have many cc choices.. The one I have found residing in a rear pocket holster most of the time is indeed my Ruger LCP, which you say is too "toy-like" for your tastes..

It's "toy-like" because it's mostly plastic and very light... Very light is a good thing for a weapon you might chose to carry on your person all day long.

Secondly, and again I say this in the spirit of conversin', not confrontin', that I'm pretty willing to bet if you would give one a try, shooting a target from self defense distance, you might be surprised at it's performance.

My $800 Seecamp LWS380, (which in my opinion is a fine, top quality, all stainless steel pistol) has taken a back seat for most daily carry, not because it's not a fine choice, but because I have a Crimson Trace laser on my Ruger LCP..

Anytime I have the choice of having my concealed carry choice equipped with a quality laser (such as the CT), or not equipped with a quality laser, I'll take the laser equipped gun every time..

It may not help in an "up close and quick" confrontation, but it won't hurt.

You can buy an LCP for less than $300, put another $150 into a CT laser and I can tell you, IMHO, you have a very, very, good self defense choice.

And, being double action, you won't find yourself having to cock the hammer, or move a safety around, and better yet the heavier DA trigger pull will keep you from shooting yourself in the butt, leg, family jewels, etc. when withdrawing it for your defense.

Again, just personal opinion, no offense to you.

Best Wishes,

Jesse

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a73/Laserlips/100_2114.jpg