How much bigger, 9mms vs. Kel-TECs?

[Grump]

The Kel-Tec/NAA Guardian/Seecamp .32 ACPs are so small, they're truly carry anywhere, anytime guns. But I prefer 9mm or maybe even .380 ACP. Saw the tiniest .40 S&W and it's just too chunky.

So, what are the smallest 9mms and .380s out there? Could do a .380 Back-up, but I'm a bit skittish on the quality... How much bigger are the .380s and 9mms compared to the .32 guns, and which work best?

Just not the Glock single-stacks. They're still too thick in the slide for my uses.

 

[PCRCCW]

Well...the smallest gun I would consider for carry in size and caliber is a Kahr PM/MK series. I believe its the smallest 40 made...you have the 9mm choice also. You can pocket carry them anywhere, still have SOME capacity, shoots a formidable round and is big enough to hang on to when you need it.

Shoot well

 

[TIMC]

I carry the Kel-Tec P-11 9mm or the NAA .32 Guardian. Bot h are great little carry guns and very reliable. NAA also makes a nice .380 pistol.

Technical Specifications
Calibers: 9 x 19 mm Luger
Weight unloaded lbs. 14 oz. 400g
Loaded magazine 6oz. 159g
Length 5.6" 142mm
Height 4.3" 109mm
Width 1" 26mm
Barrel Length 3.1" 79mm
Sight radius 4.6" 116mm
Muzzle energy max 400 ftlbs 540J
Capacity 10+1 rounds
Trigger pull 9 lbs 40N


Specifications:

Caliber: .32 ACP
Magazine Capacity: 6+1
Operation: Double Action Only
Material: 17-4 pH stainless steel
Height: 3.3"
Length: 4.4"
Width: 0.85"
Weight: 13.5 ozs. unloaded
Suggested Retail Price: $408.00
Trigger Pull: 13.0 LBS.
Will ship with 2 magazines

 

[New_comer]

You may not have heard of Kel-tecs newest offering: the P-3AT.

A locked breeched 6-rounder the size of its P-32. Now that's really small!

Technical Specifications
Caliber: .380 auto
Weight unloaded: 7.2 oz
Loaded magazine: 2.8 0z
Length: 5.2"
Height: 3.5"
Width: .77"
Sight radius: 3.8"
Muzzle energy max: 250 ft-lbs
Capacity: 6+1
Trigger pull: 5 lbs

 

[mrapathy2000]

smallest .40S&W caliber gun ever made is a double barrel O/U Deringer. would hate to shoot it myself. kel-tec p40 or glock 27 probably second and third. p40 is just the p11 with new slide and barrel.
kel-tecs were returned due to people limp wristing it and causing it to jam. wasnt the guns fault exactly. weight is light.

 

[coldshot03/04]

KT P-3AT if you can find one.

 

[Grump]

To summarize the specs given (THANKS! to all!) , the NAA Guardian is about .85 inch thick, the P-3AT .380 from K-T is .77 wide, the P11 (and other 9mms?) is 1.0, and the Glock series runs 1.2 inches thick.

I forgot, how thick is the Kel-Tec .32? .77 like their .380 model?

In general, pipsqueaks are as small as 3-1/2 x 4-1/2, and regular underpowered handguns (.380 and 9mm) are about in inch longer and sometimes an inch taller...

IIRC, the Bersa Thunders and Walther PPKs are another inch longer and taller. How thin are those two--with or without the fat grips shaved?

 

[WonderNine]

kel-tecs were returned due to people limp wristing it and causing it to jam.

 

[Cthulhu]

KT P-3AT if you can find one

Don't give up looking. P3ATs are more and more available each week. My shop got exactly one upon the shipment date and it was gone immediately. Then they were pretty spotty in numbers for a few weeks. Now we sell several a week and have even managed to keep one on the shelf. Now if only Kel Tec (or their supplier) will get to churn out the spare mags. I've sent 2 back to Kel Tec with problems that are most likely mag related. The guns themselves seem to be much less troublesome than the early P32s we've sold, most likely due to lessons learned on the P-11 and P32. They are impressively accurate for such a light, small gun, even at 25yds. Good anywhere gun, especially if you can't stomach the thought of a carrying .32.