Mouse Guns - Backup or Last Defense ?

Of what the OP posted I would choose the P32 as my first choice. That said I did have one rim lock over the last six years when the gun got carried entirely too long with out PM.

My biggest beefs with the P32 are simple. You have to be careful to choose a holster that will protect the magazine release.....I have considered filing that sucker down, as going Boom the second through seventh time is more important to me than a fast magazine change in a belly gun. and second I would really like better sights so that I COULD take a shot at 25 yards if I really needed too, even if such is unlikely and likely hard to justify.

The best sight solution I have seen and tried was a club member's P32 which he had super glued a shotgun red sight like a fire eyes, you know one of those plastic rods that present a dot to the shooter. He claimed to have been carrying it as a back up on and off duty for about a year that way when I shot it. Still with only one aiming point it was less than a stellar shooter but better than trying to build that dark pyramid sight picture of the issue P32.

I understand that someone makes a laser for the P32 but that adds other problems in addition to an on target aiming point.

.32 Short? Not if I had access to a reliable .32ACP, or a reliable .22LR. I might even choose a reliable .25ACP over such.

I don't have enough experience with the .22 LR the OP mentioned but some that have been here a while might remember my championing of the Beretta 21A in .22LR.......and consider what it says that I stepped up to a P32.

.25 ACP? I think they beat not having a gun. I know two I would not mind and have carried. The tinie tiny Bernadelly VP, which I liked because it was so small and flat though honestly I did not trust it with a round in the chamber and practiced a one handed juggling act to rack the slide with the gun cocked on an empty chamber of drawing......never a good thing. The Ortgies while still small was easier to shoot beyond "Western Union" ranges (ie under 3 feet) and had useable sights a little better than the Bernadelli VP (which honestly are better than the sights on the P32 in my book).

Basically I would rate your choices given the OPs choices as :

1. P32
2. P32
3. P32
4. P32

Clear enough?

-kBob

Mouse guns are best suited in a backup/last defense role. The only time I ever carried a mouse gun as a primary defense was during running/workouts. In my area, I am more in danger of a stray dog chasing me while on a jog than getting mugged. So a NAA .22mag fit that bill well.

kBob said:

1. P32
2. P32
3. P32
4. P32

-kBob

Click to expand...

I think I need four of those pocket guns now.

The only one of those I would carry, given the choices you have, is the P32. I can and have carried one in tandem with my 642, though I'm usually carrying something a little bigger and easier to hit with as primary. Sometimes, it's a three-gun day.

I don't see much difference in the Kel Tec, Taurus, or H&R as long as the Taurus is reliable. The Bauer would come in last as. I've owned both the Browning and the Bauer (copy of Browning) . My issue with these is the safety comes off too easy to safely carry in condition one. I got the Browning from a guy who luckily only blew a hole in his pocket (yes he was using a pocket holster).

The biggest problem with the Bauer is that it's not safe to carry chambered. (Same as the Baby Browning). I have one of each, they are little jewels, but not practical.

I've got several NAA mini revolvers, again, outstanding little guns. But, I think under real stress, it's an ergonomic train wreck. To much to do and not enough to hold onto.

For me, last ditch "onion field" insurance, I go with a Seecamp .32. A little heavy, but, a great little gun. Mine is close to 30 years old now. I just got my Seecamp .25 (they just reintroduced them). I may retire the .32. The .25 holds one more round and is not ammo specific. And it sounds like a sewing machine if you really want to hose rounds. Zero recoil.

P-32 - I just bought one, and it's a joy to shoot, much less snappy than my LCP, even with my handloads running around 170ft/lbs.

PT-22. The one I own is crap. Been back to Taurus twice, and is the most disappointing gun I've ever owned from them. Get's through about one mag before a jam. Then there's the problem with rimfire ammo, which is nowhere near as reliable as it was 50 years ago.

H&R in .32S&W, which was the carry caliber of choice for civilians for about 40 years. Nothing wrong with it, just understand it's limitations.

Bauer in .25acp - pretty much the same as the PT, but much more reliable ammo.

1 P-32 Best small 32auto have 4 in house . Wife and daughters and myself. I now carry the PF-9 more
2 Beretta model 20 DA/SA size of a 950. not that oversize 21
3 S&W 32 short 4" barrel clean thru a 2x4 at 20' These guns worked back then will work now
4 Beretta 950 25acp .I replaced Bauer it with. Never trusted safety on Bauer carried empty chamber . Still have in safe bought 1979

Taurus PT-22 Dealer sent mine back 2 times lite strikes 1st return polished feed ramp?
Returned 2nd time same reason lite strikes not fixed Returned polished feed ramp replaced crack grips . Dealer gave me refund I bought a Beretta .

P-32 - I just bought one, and it's a joy to shoot, much less snappy than my LCP, even with my handloads running around 170ft/lbs.

Click to expand...

Use caution in building "Hot" loads with the P-32 - I know of one firearms designer who was experimenting with a P-32 and ended up with a piece of plastic embedded in his cheek. His handload - in his words - was "only a little hotter" than a Cor-Bon.

For the really small SA mouseguns I think of them as "deep concealment", "onion field" weapons carried for "when all else fails" type situations.

The top 2, a Baby Browning .25 ACP and the nickel plated Astra Cub .22 short fall into this category. The much more potent AMT Backup in .380 ACP almost fits into the role as well.

@ Geologist

Like your assortment.

BUT love the Berretta 70S [ I do believe ] in what I would guess is .22 LR ?.

I have owned one since about 1980 and bought it when I read about its use by Mossad to 'remove' the turds that did the attack at the Munich Olympics.

Mine has many thousands of rounds through it with NO issues !.

I have carried it as a BUG often,as well as a woods gun [ BUG for small game ].

I still carry it in condition '1'.but NOT as a primary.

I do know that it was made in .32 and possibly .380 ,but not "needed" one yet.

It is a Beretta 71 alloy frame in .22LR and is very reliable and not ammo finicky.

geologist

I also like your collection and share similar interests, namely the Baby Browning and the Beretta Model 71, though mine is a Model 70S. It too has been incredibly reliable all these years as well as a frequent companion on many a backwoods hike.

I've got a LCP and a TCP, both of which aren't much bigger and fit in the same spaces as what you've got. I recommend a 380 for the role of BUG or GOMG, but I use a 9mm and have an interest in reloading so a .355 bullet is more appealing.

Of the four you've got I'd say obviously choose the most reliable one, only you know which one of those it is.

Assuming equal general reliability...

1) H & R
It's a revolver right? So it's reliable? That's your best bet.
2) Keltec
This pains me, but it's centerfire so it beats the 22lr and since most 25acps don't have good reps so...yeah. You could definitely carry a 380 like a LCP or TCP in the same space.
3) Taurus
I can't ever recommend a 25acp, so the Taurus jumps ahead. Get good CCI ammo or the like and go for it. But seriously, if you're carrying this you can get a LCP or a TCP in the same space or less...
4) Your 25acp.
Again, no 25acp.

I agree to most of your post, but I've heard of too many issues with the AMT.
Also, it is somewhat heavy for pocket carry and is SA only.

Click to expand...

Mine has been very reliable shot clean with ball ammo and shoots to POA (with those miniscule sights) at 5 yards rapid fire.

It is heavy for it's size being all stainless steel and I run it with the slide rails and slide greased to prevent galling.

If I needed to carry it for deep concealment it's be Condition 3 and an Israeli draw (as well as can be done from deep concealment....).

5 rounds (to the head of the BG) of .380 ACP ball beats 6 rounds of .25 ACP ball

I carry one of my 'mouse guns' as a back up (pocket or ankle) most of the time. If I am going somewhere where I have to deep carry I will carry one of three, DB9 (this one works), Sig P290, J Frame, as my go to carry.