pocket pistol recommendations?

[harmon rabb]

the great state of Florida finally saw fit to issue me my CWP, so now I need a carry gun. I own a bunch of guns, but nothing I can pocket carry.

I'm thinking of:

1. Ruger LCP. My father carries one, but the problem is that I've fired his. It has stovepiped on me a couple times and I really hate firing it. Too snappy. That's not particularly good, as I'd like to spend some time practicing with my carry gun.

or

2. Micro Desert Eagle. The reviews seem good and I've played with them in the gun store. They seem like quality pieces, but I've never had the opportunity to fire one.

Any other recommendations? I'm not attached to a particular round, but I don't want to go wimpier than 380.

 

[oneounceload]

NAA Guardian is heavier, (therefore not as snappy). The new Kahr 380 appears to be well made.

Look here for other ideas:

http://mouseguns.com/PocketAutoComparison.pdf

 

[MCgunner]

If you're afraid of the recoil, you're probably limp wristing it. Get a J frame and live happy. Or, get the NAA Guardian or bigger pockets and a PPK or Bersa, all steel, heavy. The LCP is an excellent little gun, but small, light guns demand a tight shooting grip.

 

[WRGADog]

My constant companion in my front pocket

is either my Kahr PM9, Kahr P380, or S&W 340PD. Favorite is the PM9.

 

[Guillermo]

Kaht PM9 is barely larger than the guadian 380. Lighter and more firepower.

 

[jocko]

Have to give my vote to the Kahr PM9.....

 

[harmon rabb]

If you're afraid of the recoil, you're probably limp wristing it. Get a J frame and live happy. Or, get the NAA Guardian or bigger pockets and a PPK or Bersa, all steel, heavy. The LCP is an excellent little gun, but small, light guns demand a tight shooting grip.

I doubt I'm limp wristing it, but hey, who knows. Anyway, I want something flat. Revolvers aren't flat, so they're out.

Also, no point in a Bersa for me. I have a cz-82, which isn't much bigger than a Bersa (I assume you mean Thunder 380) and holds way more rounds that are more powerful to boot.

 

[kragluver]

The Bersa is a great pistol, but for roughly the same size, you might also consider a Makarov or a P-64 in 9x18 Mak.

 

[chihuahuatn]

Ruger LCP, Kahr P380 (if you can find them) or Seecamp .32 or .380........all 3 top performers

 

[jk2008]

I've been very pleased with my Kel-Tec P3AT. It fires every time--it has never mis-fed or stove-piped. It is so light that I forget that I have it in my pocket.

If you can find them--and the dealer isn't in a gouging kind of mood--you can pick them up at a fairly low price ($270-$300).

One of the gun magazines I get (I think it was Guns Magazine or American Handgunner) did a comparison of 4 or 5 pocket-sized .380s this month. You might want to see what they have to say about.

 

[Dr_2_B]

Don't know where you stand on a number of issues. If you're happy with the 380, the Ruger seems to be the best bet.

If you're willing to step up to the 9 - and I would recommend that - the Kahr pm9 or the Kel-tec pf9 are pretty good options

 

[jame]

Mine may be a small bore, but it's always with me, and practice is REALLY cheap:

I carry a classy little Beretta 21A Bobcat stroked with CCI's Stingers.

 

[makarovnik]

I really like the new Magnum Research. It appears to be really well made.

I personally carry a P32.

 

[welldoya]

Sig just came out with the P238 which is about the size of the LCP. I held one at the last gunshow. It's really nice but a couple hundred $ more than the LCP.

 

[armchairQB]

In 380 I am a fan of the NAA Guardian or Seecamp. However I mostly carry the boring 38 Special in a steel framed revolver.

 

[John Wayne]

Rented the Kahrs (PM9 and PM40).

Rented the Kel Tec (PF9).

Bought the P3AT.

Encountered issues with all of them. Traded the P3AT in on a S&W 442 J frame. It's not my favorite to shoot, but it carries easily and it goes bang every time.

 

[musicman]

The R9 is pricey but sweeet

 

[kanook]

I have to shoot the "whimpy" keltek in a 32 with the 10rd mag. the 380 is to small for my hand and hard to hold without a roll of stick tape on it. 3 shots of controlled 32 is better than only one of 380. If your father shootes the Ruger with no problems and when you shoot it, it has problems. Guess what?

 

[2 Samuel 22]

I too am looking for a small flat .380 to supplement my larger primary sidearm.

I had a hard chromed Kel-Tec P3AT for about a year and didn't care for the quality and questioned it's reliability.

I am looking hard at the Seecamp LWS380 but don't want to pay the scalper prices. I may pick up an LWS32 to hold me over until they open up the waitlist for a .380 from the factory.

I handled an LCP for the first time last night and it reminded me a lot of the P3AT but with better build quality. However, I have read a number of reports of rust so if am going to spend the additional $170+ for NP3, I may as well just buy a Seecamp.

I have also handled the Micro Desert Eagle a few times. While the looks are love it/hate it, I appreciate it's uniqueness. The one thing I do not like about it is the trigger. It is quite heavy and the tension seems to build up to a vague stop, right before the trigger breaks. Not smooth like my J-Frame. The trigger face is also textured with vertical lines, like the target trigger on the Glocks. While bearable on a 5lb short trigger reset, I can forsee this as being painful on the nearly 10lb long trigger pull of the MDE during range trips. I have also read that there is pronounced trigger bite/kickback.

I have also checked out the NAA Guardian .380 but it seems to be hit or miss on whether you get one that works well. I have not looked at the Sig P238 and have been unable to find a Kahr P380 for comparison. There's a gun show this weekend so maybe I'll find a fairly priced Seecamp.

 

[harmon rabb]

I have to shoot the "whimpy" keltek in a 32 with the 10rd mag. the 380 is to small for my hand and hard to hold without a roll of stick tape on it. 3 shots of controlled 32 is better than only one of 380. If your father shootes the Ruger with no problems and when you shoot it, it has problems. Guess what?

my father's LCP has stovepiped on him as well he carries a glock 30 if he's going to a ****tier part of town. (i like his glock 30 every time i fire it and am considering purchasing one as a winter carry gun)

 

[2 Samuel 22]

The Glock 30 is a great gun. The SF option is helpful for those who don't have bear-sized hands. I sold mine because it didn't fit right. This was before the SF was released so I may eventually go back to it. Does anyone have a range report on the Sig P238 or Kahr P380?

 

[harmon rabb]

i'd love to see a range report, and i'll look for the mag comparing all the pocket carry guns. i really did like how the micro desert eagle felt in my hand though. then again, the sig 238 is gorgeous.

about the glock 30, i agree with you, samuel. it's pretty light and compact for a .45.

 

[benderx4]

Tried to pocket carry a NAA Guardian 380, Kahr PM9, Walther PPK and Rohrbaugh R9 and they were all still a bit big and heavy. (Never cared for the KelTec) Traded them all.

Nowadays, I carry a Seecamp LWS32 in my pocket everyday and swear by it. (Someday I'll find a LWS380 at MSRP.)

 

[camper]

Carried a NAA Guardian 380 and LCP. Now it is primarily the Khar P380, just can't beat the quality, ease of operation, light recoil, and light weight of the P380. Oh, did I mention the great trigger!

 

[.455_Hunter]

I have a NAA Guardian .32 ACP and have been very happy with it. It fills a great role between my NAA Mini Revolver and my larger service caliber compact guns like the S&W Mod 60, SA 3" 1911, Makarov or Bersa Compact 9mm Pro. The relatively heavy DAO operation with a real hammer makes it very safe to carry. I would always be concerned about that random chapstick tube would end-up in the wrong pocket and work it way into the trigger guard of one of the "no safety" striker fired guns, like the Kahrs, even with a protective pocket holster.