"Just Add An Extended Mag or Grip Extension to your..."

[Phydeaux642]

"...pocket gun and it will feel a lot better in your hand."

Of course it will, but I still don't get this logic. The reason I buy a small pocket pistol is so I can carry it in my pocket. If I start adding stuff to it, it's not going to fit in my pocket any longer. I have a Kel-tec P32 and I'm getting ready to pick up a Sig P238. I will not add anything to either of them. I am pretty darn accurate at seven yards with the P32 and I suspect I will be the same with the Sig. Leave a pocket gun a pocket gun. However, YMMV.

Flame suit on.

 

[shooter1]

That's what I've been saying for years! If I want a bigger handle, it'll have a bigger gun attached to it-------------!
str1

 

[Mad Magyar]

The reason I buy a small pocket pistol is so I can carry it in my pocket. If I start adding stuff to it, it's not going to fit in my pocket any longer.

I've said the same thing about pocket holsters!

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

Some of my pockets are big enough for the extension, some aren't. I practice both ways.

 

[Ichiro]

Well said.

(1) I tried pocket carry with my SP-101 when I first bought it. When that didn't work, I bought an IWB holster for it.

(2) And then I bought a 642 and an old model 60 because I wanted to pocket carry. After awhile, I realized that I absolutely hated shooting both of these guns, and the small grips were the reason. I could have slapped on some Hogues and had much nicer-shooting guns, but that would mean belt carry for me.

(3) Since I already had an SP-101 with a belt holster, I sold the J-frames and gave up on pocket carry altogether.

(4) Then, since I had resigned myself to belt carry anyway, I bought an XD subcompact that holds 13+1 for the same weight as the SP-101 rig. So the SP-101 will be sold at some point.

 

[230therapy]

Perhaps it's just better to learn to shoot. Adapt yourself to the gun, not the gun to you. If you take this attitude, you will find that you will focus on the fundamentals. Focusing upon the fundamentals, regardless of gun, will make you a better shooter...no matter which gun you happen to have at the time. You will also find over time those tiny nuances that improve your accuracy or speed by just a wee bit. After awhile, all those little changes accumulate and suddenly you can shoot REALLY fast and accurately.

Finally, these are little carry guns. They're meant to be hidden and carried everyday. If you need a full grip, carry a gun on the belt with a full grip. Otherwise...carry...on.

 

[bigfatdave]

Nothing wrong with leaving a mouse-gun stock.
There is also nothing wrong with carrying a higher-capacity reload, though, assuming you can get one that feeds reliably and doesn't throw off your shooting.

I have a Walther PPS that takes three mag sizes, I carry it with the flush-fit mag (6x) and have a full-size mag (8x) for a reload ... I realized that my crappy target shooting was with the larger magazines recently, I've actually learned to shoot with a two-finger grip better than I can with a three-finger grip.
The same phenomenon happens with my KelTec p32, when I load up the 10-round mag, shots seem to hit lower than they do with the stock 7x mag.

Long story short ... learn to shoot what you can comfortably carry, and remember to practice with any extra crap you might add to the basic carry configuration.

 

[nwilliams]

In all honesty I'd rather have a firmer grip on the gun and sacrifice a smidgen of concealment if it means my accuracy and control of the gun is improved. The extra half inch or so added by having a magazine finger extension really doesn't add that much to the overall size of the gun.

Of course I'm very picky when it comes to grips, I like a full grip. I can tolerate a pocket gun if it has a finger extension, otherwise I'm not interested. When I held the LCP with the standard magazine inserted I didn't like it, when I held it with the finger extension magazine I did. I also really didn't notice a significant gain in size with the extended mag, either way it felt small and very concealable.

The one thing I really can't understand is why people use full size Glock mags in compact Glock models, they even make a sleeve that goes over the mag to fill in the gap. That to me makes no sense at all, why buy a compact Glock if you are going to make the grip the same size as the full size model, never understood it.

 

[mustang_steve]

I'm there with bigfatdave, I've gotten so used to not using my pinky, whenever I'm shooting larger pistols my pinky will want to tuck itself under. In this case it means the tip of my pinky is now resting on the front of the grip, as there is no end of grip there to rest it anymore.

Magazine extensions just make me less accurate.

I'm of the school that if you buy a subcompact, you should shoot it like a subcompact....instead of "converting" it into something it's not.

 

[Magic_Man]

The one thing I really can't understand is why people use full size Glock mags in compact Glock models, they even make a sleeve that goes over the mag to fill in the gap. That to me makes no sense at all, why buy a compact Glock if you are going to make the grip the same size as the full size model, never understood it.

I have a couple of those sleeves for my fullsize M&P mags (Sold my fullsize M&P & got the compact M&P). However, I have the compact mag in it when I am carrying & carry the fullsize mag as the spare.

 

[Ron James]

Carry your mouse gun , ever how you want, don't worry about the peanut gallery. :banghead: If you don't like gadgets and gimcrack on your guns, don't put in on. If you like the small curved grip extensions on your PPK/P-32/Guardian, then that's great I think these light rails and laser rails on the big guns are dumb, BUT, since I don't use them it's not my worry Every one should march to their own drummer

 

[makarovnik]

My Kel-Tec with a finger extension is still small enough and it shoots better now.

 

[shooter1]

IMO the size of the grip is the largest factor in concealability. So for me it follows that if I enlarge the grip on my P3AT, now it's the same size as the grip on my PF9. At that point, there is no advantage to carrying the smaller pistol and a lot of disadvantages. I don't consider a pistol the size of a PF9 to be a pocket pistol. At least not in my pockets. To each his own.
str1

 

[ByAnyMeans]

I figure the situation at the time will dictate what I use at the time.

I have a P3AT and Glock 26. Both are kept with standard magazines and a plus one on the P3AT and a g19 for the Glock. When I conceal either one of them It has the standard magazine but when the Glock is on the nightstand it gets the fifteen rounder or if I can conceal it. I also carry the P3AT when I'm on the couch at home and the extra round mag goes in because why not, extra round and control when no need to worry about a bulge in the pocket.

This allows me to do most of my defensive shooting with the Glock and easily switch to the P3AT for a mag or two at the range while with only two guns.

 

[DasFriek]

I only see those extensions good at the range,not in my pocket or holster.
Heck im trying to find smaller mags for my PPS9 in the 6 round count as they ship only with the 7 round mag.Its not a big difference but i bought it to be small and i want it small as it can be....But having to Pay $50 for a smaller mag in a gun thats meant for concealment is a dirty move on Walther/S&W's part imo.