Gun for a runner/cyclist

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NOLAEMT

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I am thinking of picking up either the Ruger LCP or the Kel-tec p3at as a gun to take running and cycling.

When I was younger I was very active running about 6 miles every day, or cycling about 40. Three years ago I hurt my knee in an accident and haven't been able to do this since. Two weeks ago I finally had surgery to repair the damage to my knee, and the Dr. says that I should be able to start running and biking again in about 4 weeks, when I finish my Physical Therapy. which is good Good news. back in my pre-injury days I had a couple run ins with stray dogs and such. Now that I am into shooting, have a ccw, etc. I would like to get a small auto to carry while running. I have been looking at the ruger and kel tec as they are the lightest and smallest available in .380.


So I guess my question is will the ruger stand up to regular sweat baths with its blue finish or should I go with the hard chrome kel tec? I can get the ruger from buds right now, but I cant find anyone that has a chrome p3at. Should I wait and search for the kel tec locally and at gun shows?

I'm afraid that the Ruger will rust out even with regular oiling etc, just due to the volume of sweat (I'm a sweaty guy, and these 100 degree days in Georgia aren't helping).

so... what do you think?

(P.S. sorry about the long post, I guess I'm a little excited about getting back on the bike, literally and figuratively)
 
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I don't carry it while bicycling, which I do a fair amount of, but I bet my S&W 340PD would be good. Scandium frame and a titanium cylinder. Of course teh guts are steel so adequate lubrication would be a must. A Kahr PM with stainless slide and poly frame might also be a good option.
 
Those are both good guns, but what really drew me to the p3at and lcp is the sub 10 oz weights of both, I dont think even a scandium j-frame can compete with that. they are also much thinner than a revolver, and I was planning on carrying it IWB
 
I do 20 miles a day of cycling with a ruger LCP in my pocket. The blue is wearing off in spots and I have had a little rust on the barrel here and there. A Little oil and steel wool once every six months or so. It always goes bang though. In my opinion a lot of the super compact firearms that are coming out these days are not meant to last a lifetime. LCP included, I'm sure it will last ten years or so, by then I will want something new anyways. We have occasional attacks and have even had some rapes along the bike paths I ride on. My LCP goes everywhere with me.
 
Just remember, just because you have a gun and a stray is chasing you doesn't mean that you have to shoot it. Use discretion.
 
Just remember, just because you have a gun and a stray is chasing you doesn't mean that you have to shoot it. Use discretion.
Click to expand...

Yes it is a little troublesome, there have been some punks yanking people off bikes while they are riding and roughing them up. Not necessarily life threatening. Or maybe it is, yanking somebody off of a moving bike could be pretty damn dangerous. I have considered carrying mace to hose them with if anything happens. Or shove a gun in their faces, I dunno it would be nice if scumbags would not attack people going for a ride in the first place.
 
A tip from the days when I biked a lot.............

A good quality squirtgun loaded with full strength ammonia works like a charm. Even had to use it once on an aggro owner who was totally bent out of shape that his 80 pound alsatian had shifted from attack mode to running away howling. Worked like a charm on the owner, also.

No CCW necessary.


isher
 
I'd say go with which ever one fits you best and you're most accurate with. If it happends to be the blued one... a regular (quick) light polish with some Flitz metal polish (which has a wax like protective coating), or some carnuba paste wax... and a light coat of gun oil should help to keep it in good condition for you.
 
Ratdog68 said:
If it happends to be the blued one... a regular (quick) light polish with some Flitz metal polish (which has a wax like protective coating), or some carnuba paste wax... and a light coat of gun oil should help to keep it in good condition for you.
Click to expand...

I don't know about using a polish for protection, but the carnauba wax seems like an excellent suggestion. And here's another product that seems to be well liked:

http://www.bluewonder.us/BlueWonderArmadillo.html
 
You might also consider the TCP with the stainless slide.
I have one and it's a pretty good shooter and IMO is better than the P-3AT or LCP.
 
i had a friend who was a serious practical rider...back and forth to work everyday...who use to carry a Star PD (one of the first serious affordable sub-compact .45 auto pistols) in a shoulder holster under his hoodie. if i thought i needed something on a bike...the requirements of a runner are different due to weight considerations...i would say something with a stainless slide and polymer frame like a Kahr (i like the CW9). be aware that trying to hit something from a moving bike isn't easy or obvious and you are responsible for every shot you fire

on a more practical level...because you really shouldn't just shoot dogs that chase your bike...is pepper spray. it is usually enough to discourage them from following you and also works of trolls/punks on the side of the bike trail as well if they rush you or try to pull you off your bike...pepper spray is dual purpose in that it works on both. Mace usually requires a lic and doesn't work on dogs as they don't have tear ducts. remember not to spray forward while riding or into the wind.
 
My LCP rusted rather quickly for whatever reason. The blue finish didn't hold up at all. I actually sent it back to Ruger and they completely re-finished it. It's good as new now, but I don't trust it to resist rust like I would a hard-chrome gun.

You can get the LCP in hard-chrome. It's the "TALO edition" HC finish. If you want a .380 pocket pistol that will resist rust the TALO LCP is your best bet for the money.

I ride about 40-60 miles at least 2-3 times a week. I am also looking for a good CCW option for when I ride. Actually, the other day there was a group of thugs smoking grass in the middle of a bike trail which goes through a wooded park area. They could have easily tackled me off my bike if they wanted to. And if they did something like that, there wouldn't have been anyone around to see it.

Some companies like Bontrager make storage bags that sit right on the top-tube of the bike, tucked behind the head-tube/stem so it's still aerodynamic too. Check it out:

http://www.bontrager.com/model/07571

It's marketed for storing snacks or energy bars, but there's no reason a small pistol couldn't fit. Since it's away from your body sweat isn't an issue and it's very accessible considering it's right in front of you, just inches from your handlebars. I'm probably going to get one just for concealed carry. I suggest you do the same!
 
I commute sometimes and carry when I do. I don't wear spandex (believe me, nobody wants to see me in spandex), I wear the cheap Hanes cotton sweat pants. I then wear a Smartcarry holster turned so it is on my strong side and carry my 642. It's not the most comfortable, but it works. Sometimes you just have to be creative.

On a side note, I'm not a big proponent of putting a gun in a bike bag of any sort. Too easy to get separated from your bike and gun.
 
Thanks for all the replies, I appreciate all the help.

I'm sorry if I made it sound like I was looking to shoot dogs just for chasing my bike. Free running dogs are a common occurrence, and mostly just an annoyance.

I had one encounter where a German Shepard looking dog almost pulled me off my moving bike, it had my shoe in its mouth and if it had pulled me over, I don't know what it would have done to me. I love dogs and wouldn't shoot one unless I thought it was going to do me SERIOUS harm.

I wouldn't try to shoot from a moving bike either, with pepper spray or a firearm, as it would generally be much better to ride away at 20 miles per hour than stay and fight. But some places I ride and run happen to be very remote, and it would be nice to have something to carry, just in case.

I'll look into the "talo" edition lcp. and look for a chrome p3at around here.

thanks again!
 
I wear cargo shorts over my biking 'silly shorts' and carry an LCP in an Uncle George wallet holster in one of the pockets. The wallet holster breaks up the outline of the pistol and so far I haven't soaked through the leather to reach the pistol (but I'm not biking in a Georgia summer, either). That said I would have bought the stainless LCP if it had been available when I bought mine.

I also have a pepper spray canister mounted on the handlebars for a non-lethal option to deal with pests.
 
If you are going to try to use the gun, and you might want to practice just in case, You need history, look up the old WWI cavalry manuals, goes in to detail in how to off set your shot so you can hit your target at speed.
 
When I used to ride, there were actually a number of occasions where dogs came out of nowhere and began snarling, showing teeth, nipping at my legs, and the faster I pedaled, the more they kept it up - biting at my shoes and at anything moving, which was ME!

That was before defense sprays.

You might try a large can of Wasp and Hornet Killer which will shoot out to 30 feet with a pretty direct, straight spray (and affordable, too)! I realize the animal lovers would not want to hear this, however, if it is me on my bike, and I may fall, possibly into traffic, or otherwise, and there is a dog obviously out to get me, I consider my life and my limbs more important than some dog which should have been taught earlier on that it is not to chase people on bikes of any kind.

If the dog were big enough and if I was in a rural enough setting (no one around, no houses in sight, etc), I would not hesitate to take one out if everything I tried did not work at keeping the dog from attacking me. Like I say, my life and limb are more important to me than some wild dog whose owner may think it is cute that "killer" scares people on bikes (of any kind).

There ARE leash laws in most places and they are in place for a reason, particularly so this type of thing will NOT HAPPEN AT ALL!:cuss:

Flame-away, that is just my take on the situation.
 
I believe that there is a lanyard made for the Kel Tec that allows you to wear the gun around your neck with a break-away detach. I once shared a plane ride with a chief of detectives who told me that the arrangement is very popular with his detectives.

For four-legged pests I'd carry any of the better chemical deterrents such as the one made by Kimber. For two-legged pests, the Kel.
 
Manco said:
I don't know about using a polish for protection, but the carnauba wax seems like an excellent suggestion. And here's another product that seems to be well liked:

http://www.bluewonder.us/BlueWonderArmadillo.html
Click to expand...
I suggested Flitz because it leaves behind a protective coating, similar to a wax... but like adding a paste wax too. Of course... a coat of "clear" for guns may be a good plan of attack too.
 
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