What's your pocket pistol

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JCooperfan1911 said:
S&W 442 Centennial Model .38 Special.

My rational is that if you can’t do it with 5 .38s, you need to learn how to shoot or it’s frankly just your time. Small revolvers are always more reliable than small autos. A contact shot with the muzzle pressed against the attacker will jam an automatic, not so with the wheelgun. Also the revolver can fire a wider variety of loads and bullet profiles. Snake shot will blind an attacker and can be used for four legged and no legged vermin, and is my choice carry load for the first two rounds. If that isn’t enough, three DEWC loads are up last.
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LOL. I did carry a Centennial model----about 30 years ago when it was the newest and best thing out there. Hard to master. Terrible sights Very slow follow-up shots. Very slow reloads. Uncomfortable to shoot (hence, not shot very much). Not very accurate (for me) at 25 yards. I do not subscribe to the theory that it's my time if 5 don't solve the problem. The contact shot worry is largely a training issue-don't jam the gun into your opponent. Mere contact won't tie up the gun. Finally, I wouldn't dream of carrying snake shot in a self-defense firearm. [ETA: I have had revolvers jam up on me, so I don't buy the reliability part, either.]

 
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JCooperfan1911 said:
S&W 442 Centennial Model .38 Special.

My rational is that if you can’t do it with 5 .38s, you need to learn how to shoot or it’s frankly just your time. Small revolvers are always more reliable than small autos. A contact shot with the muzzle pressed against the attacker will jam an automatic, not so with the wheelgun. Also the revolver can fire a wider variety of loads and bullet profiles. Snake shot will blind an attacker and can be used for four legged and no legged vermin, and is my choice carry load for the first two rounds. If that isn’t enough, three DEWC loads are up last.
Click to expand...

I will not bet my life on just 5 rounds and I am (conservatively) a better than average shooter; "just my time" will happen after many more than 5 rounds.

Not to try to convince you to change anything (God forbid), but there are people that do not quit after being shot 5 times, two examples:
https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/v...deputy-soaks-up-12-rounds-before-hes-stopped/

 
CDW4ME said:
I will not bet my life on just 5 rounds and I am (conservatively) a better than average shooter; "just my time" will happen after many more than 5 rounds.

Not to try to convince you to change anything (God forbid), but there are people that do not quit after being shot 5 times, two examples:
https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/v...deputy-soaks-up-12-rounds-before-hes-stopped/

Click to expand...

Hard to put a number on how many shots will be needed and at what point a person is supposed to just give up and accept the consequences.
It's also hard to speculate on how much is too much, but I don't worry about that part until I'm closer to 30 rounds. If I ever have to defend myself or my family, it's gonna suck. Period. If I fail, it's gonna make the suck worse.
Knowing I failed because I ran out of ammo and my family is paying the price for that lazy/arrogant/naive attitude seems like it would suck the most.
 
Lcp II, lc9, G19 in that order. Yes I’ve pocket carried a Glock 19 in my “special” shorts w huge pockets.
 
CDW4ME said:
I will not bet my life on just 5 rounds and I am (conservatively) a better than average shooter; "just my time" will happen after many more than 5 rounds.

Not to try to convince you to change anything (God forbid), but there are people that do not quit after being shot 5 times, two examples:
https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/v...deputy-soaks-up-12-rounds-before-hes-stopped/

Click to expand...



The appropriate answer to this is "Mozambique Technique". If you can not faithfully executive such with your carry piece at seven paces cold; it is my suggestion to change.
 
MedWheeler said:
Ruger LCP-MAX, gradually easing past a Kel-Tec P32 ( the latter of which I've been carrying for ten years now.).
Click to expand...

How would you rate the difference in the relative size of the two?

Do you find the difference to be notable? Does it still fit all pockets the K-T did?
 
Speedo66 writes:

(about the LCP MAX compared to the Kel-Tec P32)

How would you rate the difference in the relative size of the two?

Do you find the difference to be notable? Does it still fit all pockets the K-T did?
Click to expand...

The P32 is miniscule compared to the MAX. With the Ruger's stock magazine, and the KT's optional one (ten rounds, which I have), the only advantage the Ruger offers is in ballistics. The MAX gave me a hard time at first fitting in the DeSantis Nemesis ("Superfly", if you include the side flap that can be attached to further reduce printing) without drawing the holster from the pocket, but it's loosened up some now. It does not fit well in the holster Ruger included with it.

I have a couple of pairs of jeans (all I typically wear) that don't show the MAX at all, even with the holster's side-flap removed, but I have at least one pair that would require the flap.

Incidentally, I went half the day today with the MAX in a front pocket, backing up my Taurus G2C, before I noticed that I had the 12-round in place in it. Didn't cause any issues. Still, the P32 is ludicrously easy to carry and I'm thinking it might not get replaced by the Ruger as easily as I thought.
 
Beretta Pico 380 or Kahr CM9 9mm, depending on the pants and the situation. I find my P365 a bit large for pocket carry most of the time.
 
unclenunzie said:
Does that pistol have an ambi safety?
Click to expand...
No, doesn't have an Ambi safety. I don't know if anyone offers it as an add on or not. The only thing that's been done is throwing the plastic trigger in the trash and having the aluminum one installed.

EDIT... An Ambi or right side mounted safety IS available and runs about $30, depending on finish.
I find that interesting even if I'm not interested in installing one.
 
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Mr. Mosin said:
The appropriate answer to this is "Mozambique Technique". If you can not faithfully executive such with your carry piece at seven paces cold; it is my suggestion to change.
Click to expand...

Woo hoo! I got unsolicited advice from John Wick.
Convenient to anticipate that you will be able to effect a head shot while trying to not get shot yourself.
Head shots with a pocket gun at "seven paces cold" see it in ̶J̶o̶h̶n̶ ̶W̶i̶c̶k̶ ̶4̶ Mr. Mosin Mozambiques Them ... Vol 1.
 
CDW4ME said:
Woo hoo! I got unsolicited advice from John Wick.
Convenient to anticipate that you will be able to effect a head shot while trying to not get shot yourself.
Head shots with a pocket gun at "seven paces cold" see it in ̶J̶o̶h̶n̶ ̶W̶i̶c̶k̶ ̶4̶ Mr. Mosin Mozambiques Them ... Vol 1.
Click to expand...

Quite frankly, if several shots to CoM doesn't effectively incapacitate/stop an incoming threat, you should commence to aiming a bit higher. That, and no one said you *had* to employ such a technique- you could sit in a circle and sing Kumbaya and wait for daisies to grow while the threat bleeds out from you emptying your weapon into his innards...

Refer to the church shooting where Mr. Jack Wilson effectively and immediately put down the threat via one shot to the cranium.
 
MedWheeler said:
Speedo66 writes:

(about the LCP MAX compared to the Kel-Tec P32)



The P32 is miniscule compared to the MAX. With the Ruger's stock magazine, and the KT's optional one (ten rounds, which I have), the only advantage the Ruger offers is in ballistics. The MAX gave me a hard time at first fitting in the DeSantis Nemesis ("Superfly", if you include the side flap that can be attached to further reduce printing) without drawing the holster from the pocket, but it's loosened up some now. It does not fit well in the holster Ruger included with it.

I have a couple of pairs of jeans (all I typically wear) that don't show the MAX at all, even with the holster's side-flap removed, but I have at least one pair that would require the flap.

Incidentally, I went half the day today with the MAX in a front pocket, backing up my Taurus G2C, before I noticed that I had the 12-round in place in it. Didn't cause any issues. Still, the P32 is ludicrously easy to carry and I'm thinking it might not get replaced by the Ruger as easily as I thought.
Click to expand...
Thanks, that’s exactly the info I was interested in!

I pocket carry a 1’st gen LCP, which I believe is similar in size, if not exactly the same, as the P32. Based on your info, I guess I’ll be keeping it.

While it would be nice to have extra rounds, the small size is paramount to me.
 
JCooperfan1911 said:
S&W 442 Centennial Model .38 Special.

My rational is that if you can’t do it with 5 .38s, you need to learn how to shoot or it’s frankly just your time. Small revolvers are always more reliable than small autos. A contact shot with the muzzle pressed against the attacker will jam an automatic, not so with the wheelgun. Also the revolver can fire a wider variety of loads and bullet profiles. Snake shot will blind an attacker and can be used for four legged and no legged vermin, and is my choice carry load for the first two rounds. If that isn’t enough, three DEWC loads are up last.
Click to expand...


Oh it's not my time. It's the other guys' time.

Also, not all pistols are pushed out of battery with pressure on the muzzle. The Barrels on my Beretta Cheetah and Bobcat are fixed during firing. They will fire and cycle.
 
Five may well suffice--but five may not do the trick..

Having my pistol pushed out of battery is very, very low on my ratings of risk.

I would never consider using snake shot.
 
Glock 42.

It is kind of funny when I first got it I was like it's a little too big for my front pocket and as a IWB gun it feels great but I can carry a 19 no problem so it just sat in the safe.

Then one day I stuck into my the carhartt cargo pants I wear for work and it was perfect. Later I also found that it was ideal when wearing shorts in the summer.
 
unclenunzie said:
Does that pistol have an ambi safety?
Click to expand...

The springfield 911 does come with ambi safety...and night sights, otherwise it's pretty much a copy of the sig. I did have to send mine back to the factory to fix ftf issues. Happy with it now.
 
Bolson said:
The springfield 911 does come with ambi safety...and night sights, otherwise it's pretty much a copy of the sig. I did have to send mine back to the factory to fix ftf issues. Happy with it now.
Click to expand...
My Sig also came with night sights, but the front one was dead out of the box. They sent me a new one though. They're all copied from the Colt Mustang, which itself was copied from something I dont remember for certain. @bannockburn has one of the Mustangs IIRC? Probably knows what it was copied from too.
 
Howland937
They're all copied from the Colt Mustang, which itself was copied from something I dont remember for certain.
Click to expand...

I think they were all copies of the Star Model D .380. When they could no longer be imported because of not having enough points under the provisions of the GCA68, they were brought in as parts that were assembled here in the U.S. as the F.I. (Firearms International), Industries Model D. At some point in time Colt teamed up with Star to make the Colt Pony, essentially a rebranded Star Model D. Not many were produced as the partnership didn't last all that long. Later Iver Johnson, who obtained the manufacturing rights for the Star Model D, also offered their version of the diminutive .380.
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This being the Autoloader part of the THR forums, and keeping this relevant for the normal range of pockets, my pocket pistol would be the Seecamp LWS-32. I have more than one of them. I do usually carry something larger, and actually rarely use pocket carry for defensive carry purposes.

I have, on occasion, dropped a Glock G19, into a cargo pocket. This has been more a matter of short-distance transport, than defensive carry.

If the discussion is expanded to revolving pistols, well, historically, I have carried several S&W J-Frames, and Ruger SP101 snubs, inside pockets.
 
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