Black Majik
Member
The Kahr PM9 is SIGNIFICANTLY smaller than the XD Subcompact.
Recommendation for small carry gun
- Thread starter Jackthelad
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Tom Servo
Member
Yeah, they really hurt if you throw 'em and hit your attacker in the head
My wife and I picked up a pair of trade in P32's when the P3AT's came out. Both run fine and we only use FMJ in them. We do shoot them quite often because the long trigger pull takes getting used to. The one I received had a complete fluff and buff, wifes was box stock. Both work well and disappear very easily. We both use belt clips.
The smallest & lightest 9mm presently on the market is the Rohrbaugh R9/R9S ...hightech said:
... here's how the dimensions stack up against the Kel-Tec:
Weight: R9=12.8oz / P11=14oz
Length: R9=5.2" / P11=5.6"
Height: R9=3.7" / P11=4.3"
Width: R9=0.812" / P11=1.0"
... and here's how it compares to a J-frame ...
sm
member
Another vote for a Revolver.
OLDER Smith J Frame frame or Colt Dick Special.
Any left over monies for ammo, holsters, lessons and training always...
OLDER Smith J Frame frame or Colt Dick Special.
Any left over monies for ammo, holsters, lessons and training always...
armoredman
Member
Cz 2075 RAMI - great pistol!
280PLUS
Member
I also have a P32 which conceals better than the 332. I carry the 332 most of the time because: A. Its a revolver and B. it packs a much bigger wallop.
I carry the P32 when I'm in lightweight dressy pants because it doesnt drag my pocket down, but I feel a bit underpowered with it. I haven't tried the .380 version. The 332 also conceals pretty well in dockers.
I carry the P32 when I'm in lightweight dressy pants because it doesnt drag my pocket down, but I feel a bit underpowered with it. I haven't tried the .380 version. The 332 also conceals pretty well in dockers.
I have a...
...Rami, too, and I love it. .40S&W, a good looking and good shooting
hunk of gun. But when I want "small", such as "tee shirt and shorts"
concealment, I carry a Walther PPK, .380acp.
The PPK is as thin as any "real" pistol out there, and without the "spur"
magazine, it can slip into your waistband, and disappear.
Six rounds of Federal Hydrashok in the magazine, one in the tube, and a
spare mag with six rounds in a pouch on the belt, and all of it completely
concealed by a tee shirt, with NO bulges.
My PPK is an Interarms Stainless Steel model, because Texas summers
do tend to cause sweat.
I love my RAMI, but my PPK will always be my "light" gun.
...Rami, too, and I love it. .40S&W, a good looking and good shooting
hunk of gun. But when I want "small", such as "tee shirt and shorts"
concealment, I carry a Walther PPK, .380acp.
The PPK is as thin as any "real" pistol out there, and without the "spur"
magazine, it can slip into your waistband, and disappear.
Six rounds of Federal Hydrashok in the magazine, one in the tube, and a
spare mag with six rounds in a pouch on the belt, and all of it completely
concealed by a tee shirt, with NO bulges.
My PPK is an Interarms Stainless Steel model, because Texas summers
do tend to cause sweat.
I love my RAMI, but my PPK will always be my "light" gun.
Highland Ranger
Member
The Rohrbaugh is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship . . . . but not cheap ($900+?) and it's a 9mm.
When space isn't an issue, the 357 & J-Frame combination can't be beat at less than $500 new. The Ruger equvalent sp-101 is also nice but I believe a tad larger.
However if the size advantage means the difference between carrying and not carrying . . . . . . then get the Rohrbaugh!
Without starting the caliber wars, anything less than a 9mm is only better than having nothing at all. I'd steer clear.
When space isn't an issue, the 357 & J-Frame combination can't be beat at less than $500 new. The Ruger equvalent sp-101 is also nice but I believe a tad larger.
However if the size advantage means the difference between carrying and not carrying . . . . . . then get the Rohrbaugh!
Without starting the caliber wars, anything less than a 9mm is only better than having nothing at all. I'd steer clear.
Seecamp .32
I currently have a Seecamp .32 with a R.J. Hedley pocket holster. It carries well in jeans, slacks, or anything with a pocket. I has perfomed reliably with Winchester Silvertips, Cor-bon, and Speer Gold Dots, even though Seecamp only guarantees it to cycle with the Silvertips. Quality and craftsmanship are top notch. There may be better choices, but this one is definitely a good choice. Good Luck!
I currently have a Seecamp .32 with a R.J. Hedley pocket holster. It carries well in jeans, slacks, or anything with a pocket. I has perfomed reliably with Winchester Silvertips, Cor-bon, and Speer Gold Dots, even though Seecamp only guarantees it to cycle with the Silvertips. Quality and craftsmanship are top notch. There may be better choices, but this one is definitely a good choice. Good Luck!
To JACKTHELAD
I live in Texas and have tried carrying many small guns. My favorite seems to be the Kel-Tec P3AT. The Kel-Tec P11 was a little too big for me to carry in any type of clothing. If I've read your post correctly, you're looking to carry a gun about the same size as the Kel-Tec right?. The Beretta Tomcat etc... are nice but I personally always had problems with Berettas. I also tried the NAA guardian, but the trigger pull is too tight for repeated range firing. The Seecamp is a nice gun but very expensive. I never had any problems with the P3AT. I have fed it just about every type of 380 offered out there, and it works great. There's not many guns out there with a low price and high quality, but the Kel-Tec is one of them. The prices are starting to rise because people are realizing that it is a quality pocket pistol. The only thing I recommend is that you get the finger extension for the magazine and that you polish the barrel and feed ramp with a dremel tool to make it really slippery. Also, keep the gun clean!! Small guns do not like dirt. I don't care how much you spend on it. Keep it moist and clean always. For my P3AT, the more I shoot it, the better it performs. Really...
I live in Texas and have tried carrying many small guns. My favorite seems to be the Kel-Tec P3AT. The Kel-Tec P11 was a little too big for me to carry in any type of clothing. If I've read your post correctly, you're looking to carry a gun about the same size as the Kel-Tec right?. The Beretta Tomcat etc... are nice but I personally always had problems with Berettas. I also tried the NAA guardian, but the trigger pull is too tight for repeated range firing. The Seecamp is a nice gun but very expensive. I never had any problems with the P3AT. I have fed it just about every type of 380 offered out there, and it works great. There's not many guns out there with a low price and high quality, but the Kel-Tec is one of them. The prices are starting to rise because people are realizing that it is a quality pocket pistol. The only thing I recommend is that you get the finger extension for the magazine and that you polish the barrel and feed ramp with a dremel tool to make it really slippery. Also, keep the gun clean!! Small guns do not like dirt. I don't care how much you spend on it. Keep it moist and clean always. For my P3AT, the more I shoot it, the better it performs. Really...
SpookyPistolero
Member
What Garyk/nm said.
The Taurus 85 is a great little revolver. My dad and sister both carry them, and both have lots of options as to what they want to carry. I've never seen either of them have a problem, the sights, ergonomics and fit/finish are all good, and especially since they are so cheap. Get one, get a backup, get a billion rounds of ammo to practice until youve got leather hands.
The kel-tecs, like the p-32 and p3-at are decent little carry guns. Concealable, but so is a letter opener. Pretty underpowered and hard to shoot with accurately under stress. Step-mom has carried one of each, at different times, for years. Reliable despite pocket fuzz buildup, most of the time. Clean it every three days at least if you go that route. P3-AT has some really snappy recoil that is not at all comftorable if you plan on practicing much.
If you go the walther-style .380 road, I'd definitely go with the sig 232. Step-mom also has one of these and its without a doubt the most comfortable 380 auto Ive ever fired. Much much better than the walther, in terms of accuracy, ergonomics, fit/finish and reliability.
My humbly submitted 2 cents.
Good luck with the decision!
-Spooky
The Taurus 85 is a great little revolver. My dad and sister both carry them, and both have lots of options as to what they want to carry. I've never seen either of them have a problem, the sights, ergonomics and fit/finish are all good, and especially since they are so cheap. Get one, get a backup, get a billion rounds of ammo to practice until youve got leather hands.
The kel-tecs, like the p-32 and p3-at are decent little carry guns. Concealable, but so is a letter opener. Pretty underpowered and hard to shoot with accurately under stress. Step-mom has carried one of each, at different times, for years. Reliable despite pocket fuzz buildup, most of the time. Clean it every three days at least if you go that route. P3-AT has some really snappy recoil that is not at all comftorable if you plan on practicing much.
If you go the walther-style .380 road, I'd definitely go with the sig 232. Step-mom also has one of these and its without a doubt the most comfortable 380 auto Ive ever fired. Much much better than the walther, in terms of accuracy, ergonomics, fit/finish and reliability.
My humbly submitted 2 cents.
Good luck with the decision!
-Spooky
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RON in PA
Member
For ease of carry (drop it in your pants pocket or better yet in a pocket holster) and reasonable power (esp. with the Speer 135 gr. +P load) you can't beat the Smith 642.
Jackthelad
Member
Well, I stopped on my way home last night and picked up a Smith and Wesson model 37 Airweight .38 spl +P. WOW! What a comfortable, light gun. You all made some sense and opened my eyes to those little revolvers. What a nice gun. Now I can't wait to shoot it!
cidirkona
Member
Congrats!
Now practice, practice practice!!
-Colin
Now practice, practice practice!!
-Colin
Got the RAMI, a KelTec P-11 and a P3AT for just the reasons you mentioned. The $600 certainly gives some flexability.
Preacherman
Member
Good choice! Welcome to the ranks of the wheel gunners!
Wilson 17&26
Member
For $600 you can buy the 6.6oz P-32 above, 7.2oz P-3AT below plus additional magazines and pinkie extension with money left over. However, if you’re not prepared to keep them clean, oiled and greased after each range session or 50 rounds, best keep looking. I have several of each that function flawlessly.
crashresidue
Member
Cheers,
Guess I'm gonna' "light off" everybody on the forum, but I've carried an NAA .22 Mag, five shot - for YEARS. It's my "pocket gun", my "suicide gun" and the "last defense" gun for me and my family!
It's "light, friendly, and available" - I don't have to take it off "safe" and then cock it - I just have to cock it - it's probably as accruate as all the above mentioned guns - at the 5 - 15 foot range. Anything longer "ranged" is just "wishin'!"
The "fall-back gun" is just that - it's the weapon that you use in that last desperate act!
The .22 Mag is the most dispised round available - to the police - why? - because it's the most destructive "small arm round" available. It's been known to penetrate Kevlar, where most pistol rounds have failed.
And before someone jumps on the "suicide gun" statement - well, you've never listened to a friend burn to death in a helicopter crash - I have - twice, and it's NOT gonna' happen to me! The body may burn, but I ain't gonna' be there!
I'd rather die: violently and alone - "than watch her, watch me, die one day at a time". Author: unknown.
Just my .02 $
Gentle winds,
Russ
Guess I'm gonna' "light off" everybody on the forum, but I've carried an NAA .22 Mag, five shot - for YEARS. It's my "pocket gun", my "suicide gun" and the "last defense" gun for me and my family!
It's "light, friendly, and available" - I don't have to take it off "safe" and then cock it - I just have to cock it - it's probably as accruate as all the above mentioned guns - at the 5 - 15 foot range. Anything longer "ranged" is just "wishin'!"
The "fall-back gun" is just that - it's the weapon that you use in that last desperate act!
The .22 Mag is the most dispised round available - to the police - why? - because it's the most destructive "small arm round" available. It's been known to penetrate Kevlar, where most pistol rounds have failed.
And before someone jumps on the "suicide gun" statement - well, you've never listened to a friend burn to death in a helicopter crash - I have - twice, and it's NOT gonna' happen to me! The body may burn, but I ain't gonna' be there!
I'd rather die: violently and alone - "than watch her, watch me, die one day at a time". Author: unknown.
Just my .02 $
Gentle winds,
Russ
SapperLeader
Member
I was going to put in my recommendations for a 600 dollar budget small gun package, but since you already went with a j-frame I will give some other accessory suggestions.
Get a good holster as soon as you can. The desantis holsters work okay, but getting a decent pocket holster makes a wonderful difference in carry comfort. I have one from pocket concealment systems for my j-frame and one from Azrael for my p32 and love both.
Crimson Trace Grips are awesome on j-frames. With the laser grips I go from making hits at 3-7 feet out to 15-21 feet. I love them and highly recommend them.
Speed strips for discrete carry are rather nice. I like the quick reload of speed loaders but hate the bulge in my pocket. The speed strips lay flat and allow me to have 10 rounds of .38 special goodness at my disposal.
Congrats on the new revolver, it will soon become a favorite companion and you wonder how you went so long without a j-frame
Get a good holster as soon as you can. The desantis holsters work okay, but getting a decent pocket holster makes a wonderful difference in carry comfort. I have one from pocket concealment systems for my j-frame and one from Azrael for my p32 and love both.
Crimson Trace Grips are awesome on j-frames. With the laser grips I go from making hits at 3-7 feet out to 15-21 feet. I love them and highly recommend them.
Speed strips for discrete carry are rather nice. I like the quick reload of speed loaders but hate the bulge in my pocket. The speed strips lay flat and allow me to have 10 rounds of .38 special goodness at my disposal.
Congrats on the new revolver, it will soon become a favorite companion and you wonder how you went so long without a j-frame
Jackthelad
Member
Great suggestions on the accessories, and I still have enough left for the Crimson Trace which I want to pick up over the weekend. Well, that NAA .22 is awfully tempting as well. I may have to ask Momma if I can "borrow" a check from the checkbook this weekend.
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