Talk A Noob Through Concealed Carry 380s

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dranrab

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I have been around guns all my life and even carried a Beretta M9 as a duty weapon when I served with the Coast Guard for 20 years. I have never carried concealed. I am interested in getting started. I know what class and caliber of gun I want to start with, I just don't know what specific one or how to carry it.

I just got back from a gun show where I held everything from the tine Ruger LCP class guns on up to larger Glock 43 sized guns. The class I find most appealing is the class that lies in between those two. The Glock 42, Ruger LC9S and Colt Mustangs. I know I don't want to go any larger than that class. I could be talked into the smaller LCP class. I know I want a semi-auto rather than a revolver.

So sell me a specific Glock 42 class pistol or talk me out of that and into a specific LCP class pistol. Since this is a fairly broad subject, for the sake of staying on task, please don't try to talk me into anything else. I simply am not interested. Stone cold reliability is the most important factor. How important are sights on a point and shoot short range concealment gun? From an ergonomic standpoint, the LC9, G42 and Mustangs feel great. The LCPs less so. What else is important to you?

Then tell me how I should carry the pistol. FWIW I am 5'11" 175 and don't wear baggy clothes. I am completely ignorant on concealed carry. Give me the 101 class and make some recommendations please.

Thanks.
 
There really is no secret to concealed carry. No special handshake. It will be like carrying the M9 on duty but covered with a shirt, jacket, in a pocket etc.

As far as what you have plenty of options based on what you like. And you already have a solid idea on your first firearm. I am not a fan of Glocks and never have been. I just don't see anything all that special about them, especially for the high price tag compared to their competitors. I had a Glock 42 for about a week before selling it. I liked it but not enough to keep it.

Sights are important. I have fired small guns that use "trench" style sights and always wished I had real ones. Even if you aren't shooting very far, you can build habits between your small pistols to your large ones if they use similar sights. The stock Ruger LCP uses trench sights but the Ruger LCP Custom has real sights with an improved (red) trigger that you might like.
 
Are you wanting something for pocket carry, or something to conceal under a garment of some sort (like a vest or jacket)?
 
Andy, that's what I haven't yet figured out and where I was hoping I could get some guidance. I wear shorts and T shirts 70% of the time I am out and about.
 
If your tee-shirt is untucked, an inside-the-waist holster would work for anything you mentioned. Don't overlook the Sig P238-- it's the same general size as a Mustang, and comes with tritium sights for those after-dark excursions. Any of the guns you're looking at would work for pocket carry too, depending on the size of the pocket. Draw is usually faster from hip-carry, though, unless you always have your hands in your pockets. My favorite pocket carries are the LCP and the bigger brother of the P238, the P938 (9mm).
 
1478048556766.jpg I do not claim to be an expert on anything.
If you are set a .380.....i suggest a small one. They are easy to conceal any way you choose. Iwb (my favorite). Pocket. Purse. Sneaky Pete. Etc. Etc.
I have settled on the LCP. It is small and reliable. ( mine has sights not a trench ) it is liter bottle accurate at 10 yds.
Another thought is that an everyday carry gun gets beat up fast. Mine is only 2 yrs old but it looks 20. Don't buy something for its beauty. You can't carry everywhere. You gotta stash it in console or glove box when visiting school or government building. In and out of holsters and frequently practicing will peel the new right off.
If you are getting a larger gun anyway, I would then suggest a larger caliber.
 
Well I own 2 Colt Mustangs 1st edition . Carried IWB and pocket carry. Then went KelTec P3AT . Now days went to KelTec PF-9 IWB or pocket. That 9mm pushes that 380 size bullet a lot faster than when 380. Pistol about same size and weight as those old Mustangs. Even has sights. I am over a 1000 trouble free rounds with the PF-9
 
If your tee-shirt is untucked, an inside-the-waist holster would work for anything you mentioned. Don't overlook the Sig P238-- it's the same general size as a Mustang, and comes with tritium sights for those after-dark excursions. Any of the guns you're looking at would work for pocket carry too, depending on the size of the pocket. Draw is usually faster from hip-carry, though, unless you always have your hands in your pockets. My favorite pocket carries are the LCP and the bigger brother of the P238, the P938 (9mm).

Give me some ideas on a good inside the pants holster. I do like the Sig P238. I got to alternate holding the Sig and the Mustang side by side. I liked them both.
 
View attachment 226803 I do not claim to be an expert on anything.
If you are set a .380.....i suggest a small one. They are easy to conceal any way you choose. Iwb (my favorite). Pocket. Purse. Sneaky Pete. Etc. Etc.
I have settled on the LCP. It is small and reliable. ( mine has sights not a trench ) it is liter bottle accurate at 10 yds.
Another thought is that an everyday carry gun gets beat up fast. Mine is only 2 yrs old but it looks 20. Don't buy something for its beauty. You can't carry everywhere. You gotta stash it in console or glove box when visiting school or government building. In and out of holsters and frequently practicing will peel the new right off.
If you are getting a larger gun anyway, I would then suggest a larger caliber.

I am definitely a function over fashion type person. Is that an extended magazine on your LCP?
 
My advice would be to go to a range that rents guns and shoot several models that you have mentioned. Small carry guns are especially subjective on ergo's, perceived recoil, and feel.

If you can't, or do not wish to take that advice you will likely go through several guns before you find one that you like. I went through 3 before I finally found one that fit me (LC9s).


As for actually carrying, pocket versus belt, that's something you're going to have to decide for yourself. It's a personal preference and you will no doubt hear many opinions on this. I do not pocket carry for two reasons: my jeans don't accommodate carrying that way and I have other things in my pockets. IWB is much more comfortable IMHO.
 
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There are really two classes of .380 in my mind. Very small ones like the LCP and larger ones like the Glock 42, Bersa and venerable Walther. The real small ones are good at concealing but their small size comes with a cost. Minimal sights, high recoil and generally really unpleasant to shoot which means they tend not to get practiced with. I put 50 rounds through my LCP twice and sold it. A little more size tends to civilize them quite a bit. You can shoot a couple of hundred rounds through a Glock 42 with no problem. If you go small I would take a good look at the LCP 2. I have not seen one in the plastic yet but the videos on Youtube are making it look like a very good shooter. Very accurate in the tests I've seen.
 
My advice would be to go to a range that rents guns and shoot several models that you have mentioned. Small carry guns are especially subjective on ergo's, perceived recoil, and feel.

If you can't, or do not wish to take that advice you will likely go through several guns before you find one that you like. I went through 3 before I finally one that fit me (LC9s).


As for actually carrying, pocket versus belt, that's something you're going to have to decide for yourself. It's a personal preference and you will no doubt hear many opinions on this. I do not pocket carry for two reasons: my jeans don't accommodate carrying that way and I have other things in my pockets. IWB is much more comfortable IMHO.
If you are going belt carry I'd go a little larger because the size difference isn't going to matter on a belt. Its pocket carry where size is pretty much everything.
 
I am definitely a function over fashion type person. Is that an extended magazine on your LCP?
It is the extended magazine. It makes for a nice sized grip and holds 7rds. I also have a techno clip installed. It allows me to feel more secure when I clip the little lcp inside my bibs when bow hunting, or in a inside vest pocket, or inside the waistband of my sweats in the evening around the house.
 
I have a P3AT; the LCP is a copy of it. The nice thing about them is that they are so small and light - because they fire from a locked breech. In pocket holster, I can carry it concealed in even the very lightest of clothing. In fact, it will fit in the pocket of a large-pocketed button-down shirt. I can hit a paper plate with it virtually every shot at seven yards, which is good enough for SD, imho. But it beats my hands up and is not fun to shoot.

On the other side of the spectrum, I also own a Beretta 84, a CZ83, a Colt Government model, and a commercial Russian Makarov, all in 380. With any of them I can hit a paper plate virtually every time at 15 yards. And I could do it all day long; they don't bother my hand at all because they are larger and heavier than the LCP class of pistols.

So it's a trade-off. You can easily carry a P3AT or an LCP in the very lightest of clothing, anytime and anywhere. It will do the job against one or two close-range attackers. Or you can carry something which has better felt recoil. better accuracy, and larger capacity, but is much more annoying to CC.

It's basically a compromise.
 
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I have a P3AT; the LCP is a copy of it. The nice thing about them is that they are so small and light - because they fire from a locked breech. In pocket holster, I can carry it concealed in even the very lightest of clothing. In fact, it will fit in the pocket of a large-pocketed button-down shirt. I can hit a paper plate with it virtually every shot at seven yards, which is good enough for SD, imho. But it beats my hands up and is not fun to shoot.

On the other side of the spectrum, I also own a Beretta 84, a CZ83, a Colt Government model, and a commercial Russian Makarov, all in 380. With any of them I can hit a paper plate virtually every time at 15 yards. And I could do it all day long; they don't bother my hand at all because they are larger and heavier than the LCP class of pistols.

So it's a trade-off. You can easily carry a P3AT or an LCP in the very lightest of clothing, anytime and anywhere. It will do the job against one or two close-range attackers. Or you can carry something which has better felt recoil. better accuracy, and larger capacity, but is much more annoying to CC.

It's basically a compromise.

You and one or two others have mentioned that the smallest of the pocket pistols are uncomfortable to shoot. In a self-defense situation that's obviously a non factor. But since I'll be entering a totally unfamiliar type of shooting, I'll want to practice to improve my proficiency. That's why I am leaning more toward the G42 size. I think I'll shoot it more. Most of the pockets on my pants won't accommodate that size gun, so I guess I'll need some sort of holster I know nothing about. Can some of you point me to what you are using?
 
I would suggest that try a kydex iwb holster with a nice stiff belt. They are light, inexpensive, and can be custom made for virtually any pistol. I like the retention and the easy reholster of kydex. This is important for an iwb so you aren't like a dog chasing his tail trying to reholster your pistol after a trip into the post office.
 
Don't get too hung up on the mouse gun sizes. A larger gun can conceal quite nicely if the holster is canted correctly and worn with a holster belt. I'd look more toward a gun that you would shoot well. Walther PPS, SW Shield, XDs, Glock 43, LC9, are all thin and light, but shoot well. Honestly though, I carry a Walther P99 (slightly bigger than a Glock 19) in a TT Gunleather IWB on a Galco belt and if I have a shirt out, even just a t-shirt, it's invisible. I carry it between 2:00 and 3:00 with a decent cant.
 
I had a Glock 42 and while I never had a single malfunction out of it (it worked) but drawing it was a bit rough because it was so small. Couldn't get used to it and traded it.

I'd steer you more towards a Walther PPS, a G43, a G26, a G19, a Kahr PM-9 or a S&W Shield in 9mm. This isn't the 1990's anymore, not much reason to be stuck with a .380 because of pistol size. They make the same size pistols now in 9mm.

Just saying. :Shrug
 
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"Then tell me how I should carry the pistol. FWIW I am 5'11" 175 and don't wear baggy clothes. I am completely ignorant on concealed carry. Give me the 101 class and make some recommendations please."

At 5'11", 175 lbs. you can conceal carry a full size handgun you want to. It is just a matter of selecting the proper clothing, holster, belt and mental attitude.

I am the same height as you and weigh about 50 lbs. more (sadly). However I can conceal carry a full size Beretta 92FS or a 1911 in a iwb holster without very much trouble . It is a matter of buying pants 2" larger in the waist, careful selection of the holster (Sparks EX Companion for the Beretta) and a good belt. With it being winter the butt of the gun hides easily under a sweater or hoodie sweatshirt.

Many folks don't hesitate to spend a lot of money on their gun and adding accessories such as custom grips and changing the sights. Yet when it comes to buying a holster they buy a inexpensive one and then complain about it not being comfortable, poor retention or being difficult to draw.

The guyfromohio comments are right on. Choose the gun you shoot well and then look at how to carry and conceal it. There are a lot of carry options.
 
As someone else mentioned a good holster makes all the difference.

This was my normal warmer months carry rig that I've recently started to carry mostly full time (LC9s w/ spare mag), mainly because it's just so much more comfortable than switching to my full size in the cold months.

It's pretty much invisible even in very light clothing but this is more "medium" cover.








 
I carried a LCP in a wallet holster for a while, but it made my thigh sweat.

I find a full-frame double-stack 9mm in a IWB Supertuck to be very comfortable. I'm 5'9", 180 lbs. I just don't think worrying about gun size is nearly as imperative as most new-carriers think it is. I carry a S&W 5904 most of the time. So... I guess I'm old-school.

I went through the "gun size for carry" thing in the early days. ...Just trying to save you some time and expense.

My LCP hasn't been touched in years.

IMG_7743.JPG
 
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I carried a LCP in a wallet holster for a while, but it made my thigh sweat.

I find a full-frame double-stack 9mm in a IWB Supertuck to be very comfortable. I'm 5'9", 180 lbs. I just don't think worrying about gun size is nearly as imperative as most new-carriers think it is. I carry a S&W 5904 most of the time. So... I guess I'm old-school.

I went through the "gun size for carry" thing in the early days. ...Just trying to save you some time and expense.

My LCP hasn't been touched in years.

View attachment 226814





And I think most who talk about carrying a full size gun IWB comfortably are simply full of themselves. But hey, everyone's got opinions.

The most comfortable way to carry a duty sized gun is OWB, which I have done on occasion when I'm wearing a meaty jacket for the duration. My full size gun is a 4.5" 18 +1 double stack which I have a single clip IWB holster that conceals better than anything out there. But it is not really comfortable unless you're mostly on your feet. There's not a IWB holster in the world that would make that gun completely comfortable. I had a CB holster and sent it back for a refund. It was way bulky and even more uncomfortable, and less concealable.

Smaller guns are without a doubt more comfortable to carry and easier to conceal. And for the yahoo that's going to mention it's not supposed to be comfortable but comforting, that's what extra mags are for.
 
^^^
Well we disagree.

I carry just like what you see above, as a routine, even on extended driving trips, and do not experience any discomfort at all. In the Summer I'm wearing a standard button-up shirt. No problems. The only time I carry OWB is on the farm, and it's a revolver so it's easy to pop in some rat-shot for the occasional Copperhead, and in that situation I prefer to keep the barrel-length at 3 inches or shorter to make it more comfortable to sit in a tractor seat.
 
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