Pocket auto with full grip?

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Twitch

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Hi Everyone,

Are there any short barrel, slim, lightweight handguns that allow three fingers on the grip? My last outing with the Glock 26 left me wondering if I should start carrying a .380 with a better grip. The recoil made rapid firing difficult and groupings were poor.

All the current .380s seem to have the two finger grip with pinky hanging off. Bersa Thunder CC .380 looks nice, but a little too heavy and long at 6". The S&W Bodyguard would be perfect if the grip was just a tad longer. Does anyone have any experiences with the Kahr CT380?

Thanks for any input.
 
Not very big. I tend to wear relaxed fit jeans, so the pockets aren't terribly big. I guess I should settle on something for IWB carry if I continue looking for a full grip, short barrel handgun.
 
Well the LCP carries exceedingly well in a pocket... but it's not a full grip. Most people consider the Glock 26 to be about the max for pocket carry. If you absolutely must have 3 fingers on the gun, yeah, belt carry is probably the way to go.
 
Twitch

Most of the full size grip .380 autos like the SIG P232 (18.5 oz.), Walther PPK/s (21 oz.), Bersa Thunder (20 oz.), or the discontinued Colt Government .380 (21.75 oz.), will share many of the same characteristics (7 round mag capacity and 6" to 6.5" OAL). By your requirements all of these guns would be too heavy and/or too long. Typically though, this is the trade-off with wanting to have a full size grip. Sometimes with the smaller grip autos like the SIG P238, with an extended 7 round mag, could give your hand the added grip length that you're looking for in a pocket size auto.
 
R51 and some baggy pants (it fits only the criteria he specifies; short, slim, lightweight, full grip. Nothing there about quality/reliability)

TCB
 
I can pocket carry a G42 with extended mags but I'm 6' 3" and have pretty big pockets. Beretta is just releasing the Pico which has a grip extension mag that supposedly gives a full grip and it's a very small pistol - thinnest out there now.

I'll have my Pico (already have my Wife's G42) on Friday and I'll be at the range Saturday and let folks know how it goes. But that's my design is to make my Pico a pocket/BUG. We'll see.

VooDoo
 
I pocket carry the P938. The .380 version is the P238, if that's the caliber you're looking for. With an extended magazine I can keep 3 fingers on the grip while still pocket carrying it.
 
Not very big. I tend to wear relaxed fit jeans, so the pockets aren't terribly big. I guess I should settle on something for IWB carry if I continue looking for a full grip, short barrel handgun.
Click to expand...

Yep.
 
I don't particularly like them but lots of guns have grip extensions available that sit on the bottom of the magazine. That opens up your world of choices a lot but I don't know of any 3 finger pocket guns.
 
I've never been able to get the hang of pocket carry. I think I have freakishly large thighs (lots of running, backpacking, and heavy squats) you might want to look into something like the LC9 or the M&P Shield
 
I have several pocket guns and currently carry a DB9 most times. Occasionally I carry a PF9 or a Bodyguard. Even with the grip extensions they are not really a full grip but I have gotten used to them and I am accurate with them. Recoil on the DB9 is negligible and I can easily shoot 3-4 mags without any issues. My hands are like yours, medium sized I would say.
 
I suppose the issue depends somewhat on the size of the "pocket". The Colt M1903/1908 hammerless pistols were marketed by the company as "pocket pistols", as was the Model 1849 percussion revolver before them. The smaller guns were called "vest pocket pistols" in a day when men actually wore vests.

Even today, though, a gun of that general size will fit easily in a topcoat pocket or even in a jacket pocket, though it will bulge too much in a jacket.

Jim
 
Pants Pocket carry is almost impossible unless you have chicken legs which i dont so summer is all IWB for me. I carry a bodyguard 380 in my jacket pocket this time of year. In 380, I dont see the need for a full grip. Your pinky isnt going to provide that much more control. Learn to shoot and control recoil with just mostly your index and middle fingers holding the gun and the transition between compact and fullsize pistols is more seamless. I can shoot a glock 29 just fine quickly without my pinky on the grip and shoot the glock 20 just as well using the same grip. Sure if I'm going for pure speed I'll concentrate on a full grip for recoil control but it is not needed if you practice with the compact guns. Checkout hikock45 on youtube. He primarily shoots with only a two finger grip on compacts because of the size of his hand. He has big hands and he hates pinky extensions. He can consistently hit an 80yd gong with just about any pistol from the LCP on up.
 
Thanks for the responses folks! I got some good information and will apply it to my next purchase.
 
The SR9c... maybe not a "pocket" pistol per say, but has the ability to be concealable or nearly fullsize depending on what magazine you have in the pistol. I mean, depends on the size of the pocket... I pocket carry a fullsize... in my zip up fleece jacket... so I guess that's cheating
 
I typically pocket carry my Makarov when I decide to carry it. Easier to draw from my pocket then my Shield too. :)
 
judgedelta said:
H & K made a P7 M8 squeeze-cocker 9mm. Very compact with full grip. Pricey...
Click to expand...
I often pocket carry a gun that most consider to large for pocket carry, a 3" Ruger SP101, and even I can't imagine the size of the pocket needed to pocket carry a P7M8. Don't get me wrong, the P7 series pistols are fantastic service size pistols, but to large for pocket carry. A P7K3 might work but not a P7M8. Not for most people anyway.
 
FWIW I own a P7M8 and I do not consider it a pocket pistol in any way.
My carry (IWB) is a 3914, which is smaller than the M8 in every dimension. What about the out of manufacture CS9 - do they have a grip you can get 3 fingers on?
 
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moojpg2 said:
Pants Pocket carry is almost impossible unless you have chicken legs ...
Click to expand...
Not really. I'm 275 pounds or so and I pocket carry all the time with either my Glock 42 or my Ruger LC9s. The trick is the pockets and the "cargo" type pants and big man's jeans I favor quite often are ideal. I'd guess a pair of spandex something-or-others might be a bit of a problem, but I just don't have that particular worry with my size and wardrobe.
 
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