Viability of *Real* Pocket (And Micro) Handguns in Today’s World

Carry what you are comfortable with. Jeez this gets blown out of proportion. I will say this no one in a fight for there lives would say glad I only had 6 shoots. Maybe I’m wrong.

I'd say small guns definitely have their place. They provide people with false security. And false security apparently is enough to get people do go down a trail or conduct their daily business in and around town.

People cite the low percentage of incidents involved with people who carry... good thing they're low to those who depend on the mouse guns.

Any gun is better than the one you leave at home? Really? If you're not carrying to defend yourself from the most basic of CCW scenarios, what are you carrying for? In a supermarket or other large store, what are you worried about? Me... it's someone who starts shooting up the place for whatever reason which is referred to afterwards as "unthinkable". lol Every mass murder situation in this country is called unthinkable or unimaginable, when mass murder has been going on for as long as humans have been around.

So if you're carrying a mouse gun cause all you plan to run into is some minor situation in which you would never have to pull it out in the first place, based on low statistics, then you are good to go skippy. But good luck if you need a real gun when it is go time.

And really it's no big deal if you carry a mouse gun. Just don't try to act like it is all you need in any situation. lol

There are people on this board that do not carry a firearm at all. How come they don't get the monthly (or more-frequent) thrashing here that those who don't "carry what I say they should" get?

MedWheeler said:

There are people on this board that do not carry a firearm at all. How come they don't get the monthly (or more-frequent) thrashing here that those who don't "carry what I say they should" get?

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Theyve made the decision to be submissive and take what they get or maybe they are truthful with themselves and their assessment of their skills and the added weight will just slow them down when they run? Who knows. They arent in the game here.

They didnt decide to carry a gun, and then go with one of the "worst possible" of the choices in the list. At least from the standpoint of choosing a gun for a gun fight.

Just from personal observations over the years, it seems many people choose the gun thats easiest to carry, since they seem to think the risk of needing it is low, and a more appropriate gun is a PITA to carry.

Ive always looked at it as this, if I need a gun for a gunfight, I need the gun that will give me the best chance to prevail, and is one I know intimately, and shoot well with, and practice with regularly. The risk of needing it may be low, but if and when it pops up, it is what it is, and as bad as if the risk were extreme, and now I REALLY need the best thing I can have, and thats only what I can carry with me.

Some of us plan for the worst, where some are hoping that the odds are going to be in their favor, and they wont need it.

Carrying a full sized gun is not difficult, you just have to want to do it. Ive done it on a daily basis for over 45 years now, and I know how easy it is. So, Im really not the one that has a lot of sympathy for those who say they "cant". Cant is such a negative word, and its prophetic too, if you embrace it.

The last thing you need in a gunfight, is "negative waves" Moriarity. Lose the negative waves.

trackskippy writes:

Theyve made the decision to be submissive and take what they get or maybe they are truthful with themselves and their assessment of their skills and the added weight will just slow them down when they run? Who knows. They arent in the game here.

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This makes no sense in this thread at all. Why are they not under attack for "being submissive" or for not seeking training to improve their "self-assessed skills"? Anyone who can run fast enough to have that skill hindered by carrying a gun can actually learn to handle that gun.

Why do unarmed gun owners get a pass on being "truthful with themselves and their assessments of their skills", but those armed with something you don't approve of don't?

Anyone who has enough knowledge about guns to be even a member here is "in the game", and should be fair game, right?

On top of this thread, it should also be taken to point that, when we gun owners collectively argue that a certain class of firearm has no legitimate purpose and isn't practical, it gets heard by the other side, too. Many gun-control laws have been written with the input of so-called "gun experts."

Those who dont carry a gun arent in the game here. They dont have a gun.

Those who choose what some might say is the wrong gun, are in the game, and get to hear it from those who think they have made a poor choice. And I think its pretty obvious that many do make a poor choice, and not for realistic reasons.

If you actually need a gun, which would you rather have, that pocket pistol, or something a bit more appropriate? We dont get to choose what we get. You get what you get, not what you fantasize about and always win in your head. You might have to fight up close, or you might have to fight across a street, parking lot, supermarket aisle, etc, where "what you have", will have to do. The big question is, do you have what you need to do that?

I dont think that's necessarily true. You might feel better about having the gun, but if you dont have enough gun, and the skills to go with it, it might just get you into more trouble.

It really comes down to carrying the most effective caliber you can conceal and effectively deploy. There are some very good options now like the tiny .380’s and micro 9’s that make the need for a 22/25 unnecessary. We can argue .38 Snub Vs LCP all day but it’s hard for me to picture a situation where someone cannot conceal a Ruger LCP. Minimal yes but a comforting way to live in shorts and flip flops. If you can carry more than by all means carry on.

MedWheeler said:

it should also be taken to point that, when we gun owners collectively argue that a certain class of firearm has no legitimate purpose and isn't practical, it gets heard by the other side, too.

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That ship has sailed. There's a much bigger picture here if you want to get down in the weeds about how gun control advocates think or respond to discussion within the gun-owning community.

Mr. Mosin said:

The thing is though... whether it is a cliche or not... any gun is better than no gun. Whether a single shot derringer, Baby Browning, LCP, Colt SAA, or the latest wonder nine; the very fact that you are carrying *something* automatically improves your chances of survival (probably by a vast amount) over the rest of the unarmed masses.

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You are correct in that it's a cliche. But wrong. By the time you access that .25 or .32 in your pocket, it's probably already too late--it's either hands-on time, or your adversary has the drop on you. You've already experienced a fail in your situational awareness process.

trackskippy said:

You might feel better about having the gun, but if you dont have enough gun, and the skills to go with it, it might just get you into more trouble.

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Bolded emphasis mine.

I'm as hot natured as they come, live on the coast, wear shorts, sandals and T shirts every minute I must wear clothes at all (except when singing in church) and never once thought, "I sure could use something smaller than my LC9s." Rides 95% of it's life in my right front pocket. It is a real pocket gun.

It ain't hard to buy warm climate clothes that will comfortably conceal a 7 - 9 round 9mm handgun.

If I, personally, needed anything smaller this post would quickly become NSFW.

trackskippy said:

If you actually need a gun, which would you rather have, that pocket pistol, or something a bit more appropriate?

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Both. I always have that pocket pistol on me. Something that just isn’t going to happen with the CZ-75 or the P220. So my RM380 or LC9 are both pocketable and appropriate.
I understand that flogging dead horses are a large part of the fun of Internet forums, and I’ve been as guilty as the next guy, but Jovian declarations of “get rid of that sissy nickel-plated pistol and get yourself a Glock” have always seemed particularly pointless.

These days, I always have a 17 on me. I've carried a P220, P226/228, 1911's, and a few others on a daily basis in the past, and never had troubles doing so. If I have a smaller gun along, it's usually as a supplement to the larger gun, not in place of it.

For me, except for maybe an outer pocket in a pair of bibs, pocket carry isn't a viable thing. To slow and awkward to get to. A Smart Carry works much better and is easier to quickly access the gun.

I've had most of the vest pocket guns in my shooting life. Colt, Browning, Seacamp, Bauer, Taurus, Beretta. Won't carry any of them now as every one has failed to: feed, fire, eject, or....hit the eight ring or better at seven yards for me. I can shoot.
My carry guns start at the LCP2 and go up from there.

Hartkopf said:

That's pretty much what I always say. A 22 pocket pistol is like a 30 foot pointed steel rod for stabbing attackers. (but way easier to carry)

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Mr. Mosin said:

The thing is though... whether it is a cliche or not... any gun is better than no gun. Whether a single shot derringer, Baby Browning, LCP, Colt SAA, or the latest wonder nine; the very fact that you are carrying *something* automatically improves your chances of survival (probably by a vast amount) over the rest of the unarmed masses.

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Very simple

Carry as big of a gun as you can, Yet carry a gun… as big as you can. Be proficient in using it, and when using it, you will be proficient.

I have pocket holsters for both my Sig Sauer 365xl and my Sig Sauer P938. Both carry well in pockets.

MedWheeler said:

There are people on this board that do not carry a firearm at all. How come they don't get the monthly (or more-frequent) thrashing here that those who don't "carry what I say they should" get?

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They should post more frequently; I'll encourage them to do better.
They can ignore me, as most do, but at least I tried.

I had a little NAA .22mag revolver for a while. I loved the little thing, but it wouldn't stay together. I shot it alot. Light strikes, then a broke internal part sent it back to NAA...so I traded it in and bought a lcp.


Its funny that so many despise the lcp, it's often my recommendation to someone for their first gun! Ha! Yes it is. My mrs has her own.
$200, small enough for a pocket or purse. Light, reliable, accurate, potent. 7+1 with the extended mag.
Mine outshoots my sons kimber 1911ish .380.
Defensive gun. This description is important.


Viable in today's world? I think so.

TarDevil said:

I'm as hot natured as they come, live on the coast, wear shorts, sandals and T shirts every minute I must wear clothes at all (except when singing in church) and never once thought, "I sure could use something smaller than my LC9s." Rides 95% of it's life in my right front pocket. It is a real pocket gun.

It ain't hard to buy warm climate clothes that will comfortably conceal a 7 - 9 round 9mm handgun.

If I, personally, needed anything smaller this post would quickly become NSFW.

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I live on the Alabama Gulf Coast where it’s hot and humid 10 months out of the year. Unless I am in court, I am in shorts, flip-flops and a golf shirt, year-round. I tote a Jframe in my strong side pocket….I find that shape more, “organic,” if you will, than an auto shape.

I’ve eye-balled the EC9s (I guess an upgraded LC9s?), if for no other reason than the overall size to my 442 is comparable, but I haven’t seriously sought one out to put my hands on one. I just can’t seem to get used to the 365/Hellcat/Shield-Plus/Max size category for pocket carry yet. I kinda draw the line at G19 for serious use, and the 442 is really last-minute bad-breath distance encounters. Otherwise I avoid stupid people and shady places all together.