Pocket Carry Question

[KYamateur]

I have decided to get a pocket gun. I normally shoot 1911 pistols and have an ankle holster for a Glock 26 and M&P Shield. However, often times I do not carry because it isn't practical to wear the ankle holster all of the time, and I do not IWB carry because I work 60 hours a week with my shirt tucked in. I have decided to get a small pistol that I can tuck into my front pocket for times when nothing else works. The pistols I have looked at are a Ruger LCP, Keltec P3AT, Taurus TCP, and NAA Guardian all in 380. However, I am also considering a Guardian in 32 ACP. So far my thoughts are that the LCP may be out because it only comes in a blued slide and this gun will not be babied. I also don't want anything with terribly snappy recoil. I am actually leaning toward the NAA Guardian in 32 ACP. Does anyone have any experience with the Guardian or any thoughts on my choices. Kahr 380s are out due to price for intended use and Sig 238 is out due to single action. I am not comfortable with single action in my pocket. I know the 32 ACP is a bit weaker than 380, but if I can shoot it more comfortably I may choose it anyways. I don't own a 380 but have had a few people tell me they hate shooting the tiny guns in 380.

 

[bozzman3]

The Guardian feels like a lead weight,I went with the Seecamp

 

[KYamateur]

Was the seecamp in 32 acp or 380?

 

[rcmodel]

I have had a blued Kel-Tec P3AT in .380 for 8 years.
I carry it in a homemade pocket holster in a hip pocket.

I keep wiped with R.I.G. every time it come home.
And I keep it waxed with Johnsons Paste Floor Wax every month or three, depending on how sweaty the weather is.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=4110525&postcount=7

It looks almost as good today as it did when I bought it.

Proper care & wipe-downs after carry is far more important then what you start out with it finished with.

rc

 

[KYamateur]

I wipe down with oil and I have always thought that that would just take the paste wax right off. Do you degrease your gun before applying?

 

[KYamateur]

THe guns I can get locally are a KeltecP3AT used for 225, the Guardian 32 ACP new for $330, and the Taurus TCP 380 used with 2 boxes of shells for $200. The guardian is about 5 oz heavier than the other two. I looked at a seecamp in 32 but my friend that sells guns told me they were ammo picky if you didn't use the ones that were reccomended, and locally I can't find any of the reccomended rounds for the seecamp.

 

[Fiv3r]

I carry an LCP in my back pocket pretty much every day. It gets a wipedown when I think of it, usually once a week or so when I make sure there is no lint accumulating in the action or trigger. It's a bit scratched but doesn't have any rust, and I've been carrying it for 2.5 years.


Snappy? Yes. Accurate? Enough for a pistol of this type. It's what I carry when I can't carry something bigger.

 

[Hunter125]

The TCP is actually a pretty decent pistol. I got one and hated it for a while, was about to get rid of it, then I started buying quality ammo for it instead of the junk Tula ammo I was buying. Now it's starting to grow on me more and more. Best trigger of the bunch, slide lockback on last round, not a bad pistol. Give it some serious consideration before you buy.

 

[Karate]

if you like 1911 style pistols look at the Sig 238 in 380 or now the 938 in 9mm

 

[YZ]

Not to argue with anyone's choice of a gun (or a wife for that matter), a single action pocket semi-auto requires more skill and discipline to handle safely in a hurry.

 

[easyg]

I can recommend the Ruger LCP with absolutely no reservations whatsoever.
It's a fantastic pocket pistol.
And no, it's not that snappy.
And you will carry it everywhere!

 

[Vonderek]

I have a .32 Guardian and while it's obviously heavier than the polymer pistols in its class I don't notice it as being overly weighty while carrying it. However, mine needed a lot of work to get to run reliably and is picky about what ammo it likes. I use a Hedley back pocket holster (works fine in front pocket too.) Here's a link:
http://hedleyholsters.com/guardian.html

 

[KYamateur]

Single action is out for me. I like them in a full size but not for my pocket.

 

[hardluk1]

The TCP will have the best trigger of them all and with a slide hold open. The last to series, a C and D model seem to be as trouble free as any pistol can ask for. We have 2 of them in the family and both have been 100% reliable with any brass ammo tried. Around 850 rounds thru each one. My 5-2 100lb daughter carry's one as her daily carry and my wife has one as part of her cc pistols. I will buy one more hoping I get to keep it. LGS prices run from 180buck for the FS model to 270 for the black SS model.

 

[joe88xj]

my lcp in 380 has less snap than the larger bersa .380 i used to own.

 

[Hurryin' Hoosier]

Believe it or not, my favorite gun for pocket carry is my Polish Radom P64 "CZAK". Hornady Critical Defense 9X18 Makarov JHPs. Hard-chromed. Marschal grips. Robert Mika pocket holster. Every bit as "pocketable" as my S&W 642 was.

 

[beatledog7]

I had the same decision to make. I went with a TCP because it has a decent trigger, a lock-back slide, and a very good company rep for CS.

So far it's doing just fine as long as I feed it well. It chokes on steel-cased ammo. I pocket carry it an Uncle Mikes, or ankle carry it in a Blackhawk.

 

[rockhopper46038]

With some reservations, I think you might want to consider the S&W Bodyguard .380 as well. You need be aware of some of the issues the early guns had (all correctable) and as with any carry gun you'll need to prove its reliability to yourself, but I've had several "problem" guns come into my hands at very good prices that I've been able to resolved into extremely reliable pocket pistols. The sights are much better than the "gutter and pip" sight found on most pocket pistols, the ergos are better than most, the accuracy is very good (probably because of the sights) - good enough to keep on a bowling pin at 10 yards. The trigger is very, very long and kind of heavy, but its consistent and for a pocket gun I don't consider that a negative. But I acknowledge there are plenty of bad threads out there on the gun, and I can't say they aren't warranted - just that the pistol, when fixed, makes for a very nice pocket carry BUG.

 

[RTR_RTR]

I'd consider the LCP pretty damn snappy. Not enough to not carry it, but plenty enough to be unpleasant practicing with

 

[wickedsprint]

Ive pocket carried a PF9 and a G27 with baggier shorts. I just recently acquired a Sig 938 SAS that feels pretty nice.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

A few years ago I looked at both the Seecamp .32 and the Guardian .32 as a pocket pistol and chose the Seecamp, which I carry daily in my pocket in an excellent leather front pocket holster from Ryan Grizzle (see - http://www.rgrizzleleather.com/pocket-holsters-and-specialty-holsters.html).

I live in FL and I don't like things in my front pockets, especially on hot summer days when I'm all sweaty, but the Seecamp/Grizzle holster has worked very well for me.

I purchased a buddy's Kel-Tec P-32 prior to the Seecamp but didn't like it because it was too big to quickly draw from my pocket. I've never had that issue with the Seecamp .32.

When shopping for a .32 pocket pistol I was lucky to have a local gunshop with both the Seecamp and the Guardian in stock and I was able to try both out and put them in my pocket. I was leaning toward the Guardian because it has sights (rudimentary at best) and the Seecamp does not. But the fit, finish and weight of the Seecamp won me over. I have no regrets with my choice.

In regard to ammo and the Seecamp - it was originally designed to shoot only the Winchester Silvertip JHP cartridge but it fires virtually any modern JHP cartridge. That being said, FMJ Round Nose ammo will not fit in the magazine - so you must be careful not to buy FMJ RN. You can, however, use FMJ Flat Point ammo, such as Winchester's Q4255 (which I use for defense ammo):

Good luck!

 

[Fryerpower]

So far I have seen two posts about people having trouble with TCPs and now liking them as long as they feed them good ammo. To those posters, what is the last letter of your serial number? I have a "D" series gun and it eats and spits everything, including steel cased Tula ammo. (As of this writing in September of 2013 the "D" series is the latest revision.)

Consider buying yourself an all black TCP for $199 + $20 for a second magazine. Carry it, shoot it, clean it, and wipe it down every day. It is a tool. Us it until you wear it out.

Oh, and I like the fact that it does NOT have a magazine disconnect.

Jim

 

[X-Rap]

It is a rarity for me to not have a P3AT in my pocket, it's not the end all but unless you are passing a metal detector no one knows its there and I hardly notice the weight.
I have a Guardian in 32NAA and it's weight is quite noticeable compared to the KelTec.

 

[YZ]

Considering the .32, there is a famous historic precedent. And I don't mean to step on anyone's toes.

In 1916 Gregory Rasputin was shot in the head close range from a semi-automatic "pocket" Savage Model 1907 in .32 ACP. He kept running until he was tackled, beaten, and drowned to death.

Larger caliber compact semi-autos were uncommon in Russia at the time. They are widely available in the US today.

 

[tommy.duncan]

They might be a little unpopular, but, I pocket carry my PPK. I like the slide safety. I am kind of partial to the area covered by the muzzle when concealed (I want my junk safe). I like the firing pin cover and the decocking lever. I usually carry full size, but, this is my "go to" lil' buddy.
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