Mouse guns...Love ‘em or hate ‘em?

whatnickname · Jan 2, 2020

Not really sure what might constitute a “Mouse” gun but for me anyway, I put the very small, 22 and 25 caliber handguns in this category. Some of these, like the Baby Browning and the Colt Vest Pocket are true firearms icons. Find one of these in mint condition and you better get ready to pay a premium.

Then there is the newer stuff like the very well made, but very small, revolvers from Freedom Arms and the inexpensive small derringers from companies like Davis. Back in the 50s and 60s there were some firearms legends that really threw these under the bus as impractical and of little real value to “anyone” and yet this end of the industry seems to have flourished. Some of these just flat scare the begeebers out of me. A family member once gifted me a Freedom Arms revolver in 22LR with all of a 1” barrel. I have large hands and very quickly determined that I could very easily shoot myself in trying to fire that revolver. Had another friend that was fond of carrying a derringer in his front pocket until he hit the door frame of his truck with the hammer of that derringer and it fired in his pocket. Would like to hear from those that carry these types of handguns and why you defer to these as opposed to some of the larger pocket handguns in heavier calibers.

Hartkopf · Jan 2, 2020

I hate pocket pistols but one in the hand is better than the 45 in the glove box. They can be great if nothing else is possible but my frame allows me to carry the biggest gun Glock makes so I have very little use for a pocket gun.

jeepnik · Jan 2, 2020

Always great to have options. One gun does not fit all situations.

mrmike7189 · Jan 2, 2020

I had one of those 25 acp berettas in the 90's............today I carry a 380acp, so I guess I still like pocket mouse guns !

Fyrstyk · Jan 2, 2020

I sometimes carry a AMT .380 Back-up, or a High Standard .22 Mag derringer. As a previous poster said, Better than no gun at all.

jar · Jan 2, 2020

Zaydok Allen · Jan 2, 2020

I'm large, and my hands are large and boney. So mouse guns really do nothing for me.

I find older ones interesting from a historical standpoint, but that's it.

bannockburn · Jan 2, 2020

I have a true Mouse Gun, a Baby Browning, but bought more as a collectible than anything I would actually carry. I did have a couple of Beretta Jetfires and I did carry them every now and then but my primary gun was usually a S&W J frame .38 Special.

Nowadays my idea of a usable Mouse Gun would be my KelTec P3AT. Same caliber but a little bigger in size would be my Colt Mustang and my SIG P238.

unclenunzie · Jan 2, 2020

I like pocket pistols for their form as well as function. Here is a Seecamp 32 and a couple of 25s. Truth is though when I carry a pocket pistol it is mostly an LCP II.

Fiv3r · Jan 2, 2020

I carry a .22 magnum NAA Blackwidow every single day. I usually carry it because I flat out forget I have it on my person. Now, most of the time I carry a slim Shield IWB. There are days, though, where I simply cannot carry anything larger. 5 rounds or .22 magnum are better than nothing. New Years eve we were out in the downtown area trying to find a place to grab a quick cocktail around the 8 o'clock hour. Due to my dress, there wasn't much more I could carry than the little .22 magnum. I didn't expect trouble. I didn't find trouble. But I kinda liked having my grip on that little gremlin as we walked. Perfectly safe to carry 5 up. The hammer rests in milled notch and I carry it in a soft grippy pocket slip to keep it from sliding around. I think it would take less than a second to draw and thumb back the hammer for a hip fire.

Often times I have my .45 Shield on me. Sometimes I have to scale it down to a pocket pistol like a BG380 or LCP II, but I always have that little Blackwidow on me.

WestKentucky · Jan 2, 2020

I like them just because they are fun. I don’t carry them anymore, but I own several. I moved and didn’t transfer my carry permit in time. BUT, I wouldn’t carry anything smaller than an i-frame revolver or a keltec p32.

Dibbs · Jan 2, 2020

Neither love them nor hate them. Just respect them for what they are.
They bring the game to a lot of women, and folks who don't want to, or can't carry heavy.
For all the way people blather about "Mouse Guns", they all must be mice, then,
because I don't see any of them standing in the way of one.

MedWheeler · Jan 2, 2020

Love 'em.

I consider a mousegun to be any gun with a barrel less than three inches in length, a height of less than about four inches, and is chambered in .32ACP/7.65mm or lower a caliber.

Mine include three Taurus PT guns (two in .25 and one in .22LR), a Jennings J22, a Phoenix HP22A, a Kel-Tec P32, a NAA Mini in .22LR (1.125" bbl), a Bauer 25, a Beretta 21A Bobcat, and my newest acquisition, a Beretta 950B Jetfire.

I like them for ease of carry (the whole "first rule" thing), and the fun of shooting something small. I also enjoy the miniaturized engineering that goes into them. Some of them seem downright jewel-like in build quality.

bannockburn · Jan 2, 2020

MedWheeler

I like them for ease of carry (the whole "first rule" thing), and the fun of shooting something small. I also enjoy the miniaturized engineering that goes into them. Some of them seem downright jewel-like in build quality.

That's what always fascinated me about guns like the Astra Cub, the Walther TPH, and the Baby Browning. How they could design and then manufacture a gun that small and get it to work, has been a source of amazement to me!

JFrame · Jan 2, 2020

MedWheeler said:
Love 'em.

I consider a mousegun to be any gun with a barrel less than three inches in length, a height of less than about four inches, and is chambered in .32ACP/7.65mm or lower a caliber.

Mine include three Taurus PT guns (two in .25 and one in .22LR), a Jennings J22, a Phoenix HP22A, a Kel-Tec P32, a NAA Mini in .22LR (1.125" bbl), a Bauer 25, a Beretta 21A Bobcat, and my newest acquisition, a Beretta 950B Jetfire.

I like them for ease of carry (the whole "first rule" thing), and the fun of shooting something small. I also enjoy the miniaturized engineering that goes into them. Some of them seem downright jewel-like in build quality.

Sir -- in your post, I believe you've distilled the essence of why I like and enjoy them also.

.

Koroner · Jan 2, 2020

Love my Seecamp .32, but mine don't have bling purple grips like Unclenunzie.

I have a custom holster for my Beretta that is square shaped. Is it a calculator? A phone? Surprise surprise.

Once a buzzworm crawled into my trailer and the 21A with birdshot was just the ticket, neat and clean.

SwampWolf · Jan 2, 2020

They (cheese eaters) occupy an undeniable niche. I tote one instead of something having more authority (survivability) more times than I'd like to admit. When I'm in a sketchy neighborhood in terms of criminal activity, the SIG Model 227 goes along for the ride.
When I'm in the friendly confines of the local Wal Mart at my low-crime, small town demographic, the little Ruger LCP or LCR rides comfortably concealed in a pocket. The very kind of place and circumstance many multiple shootings occur...

OneFreeTexan · Jan 2, 2020

Grendel P-10,, a little ten shot, 380. Fits my pocket perfectly,, I have more than one,, however, I practice a lot with them..... And after White Settlement I am re-appraising how I carry it...

94045 · Jan 3, 2020

.22 RF - None that qualify as mouse guns.
.25 ACP - 1908 Colt Vest Pocket (Inherited from Great Uncle who retired from the RR)
.32 ACP - Keltec P32 bought from a friend who was going through hard times.
.380 ACP - LCP Gen 2 bought new for $159.99 after the LCP II came out.

I base Mouse Gun on size instead of caliber. I carry the P32 w/ S&B FMJ and the LCP w/ XTP on occasion when it's to difficult to carry a belt gun.

Tallball · Jan 3, 2020

LCPII: it rides in my pocket when circumstances don't allow something larger. I shoot it well and it will get the job done if necessary.

LCPII And Spyderco

Tallball
Jan 30, 2019

silvermane_1 · Jan 3, 2020

Mouse guns have there uses, and can be "potent" with certain cals. i.e. 25NAA/32 NAA/22 Mag, and proper shot placement is effective with any gun.

AZAndy · Jan 3, 2020

I have a Colt Vest Pocket and a P32. They come into play when I do my little "how many guns can I carry today?" game. They add two to the count without even really trying.

375supermag · Jan 3, 2020

Hi...
Never really ever had much interest in "mouse guns"...
I have pretty large hands and small guns just kind of get lost in my meat hooks and are difficult for me to use.
The smallest auto loader I own is a Nickle Combat Commander in .45ACP. It us my backup carry gun. Usual carry gun is a full size Springfield be Armory 1911 in .45SCP.
Smallest caliber handgun is a .22/22Mag SA revolver by Kimel Industries, a copy of the Heritage revolvers.
Never owned a .32 or .380cal handgun. I have considered getting a revolver in .327Mag but have never seen one in a configuration I liked.

JERRY · Jan 3, 2020

I prefer the Milford made Seecamp as my pockets aren't that big and when I sit I don't want a big lump sitting on top of my leg. If your waist band is 4" or more than your inseam you can get away with it.

mavracer · Jan 3, 2020

I like guns duh.
I have a Colt vest pocket that's mostly a heirloom safe queen and a Beretta Bobcat thats a mostly fun toy I have carried both but really hard to justify carrying them when I have a LCP.

Mouse guns...Love ‘em or hate ‘em?

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