Smallest, most concealable gun powerful enough for defense...

[ParChaser]

I do not own either yet but I have been doing the research you are inquiring about and found that a Firestar .40 or .45 is the size I am looking for and really inexpensive. Hell I will buy both if I find the right deal or someone who has them both. They are both heavy for their size because of the all steel construction but that is not my concern. They ar ebuilt like tanks! I just like their size and they are tanks and if it shoots like ???? I am not out that much money. I am starting with the Firestar .40 imported by Interarms. Here is a .45 http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976652918.htm
If I can find it in 10mm I will jump on that one.

 

[Erich]

The Rohrbaugh R9s is the smallest gun that I consider powerful enough to carry for self-defense.

 

[Iron bottom]

I like a Colt Dective Special over a S&W. Reason being the Smith will advance the cylinder and not cock the hammer if the trigger is not allowed to reset fully. A good gunsmith can fix this, but it will cost you some. The Colt does not do this.

 

[TC-TX]

Small, Powerful, Hi Capacity, Rock Solid & Concealable

Now I need a semi-auto that I can take with me...
So please steer me toward a small, but powerful enough pistol for CCW.

Taurus PT145... Meets ALL of your requirements AND it is less than $300.00 out the door...

PLUS it is a BLAST to shoot!

Good Luck and Enjoy!

 

[thales]

*


I have a 9mm Firestar. It's small but heavy; not difficult to shoot well in the context of CCW. It is a bit too heavy for me for pocket carry, but it is well built overall.

They don't import them anymore, and parts availability is likely to be spotty. If you're going to carry one, better buy or duplicate some of the more failure prone parts, especially the extractor and spring.


*

 

[brasskeeper]

I am a big guy and I have carried a glock model #27 40 S&W in my front pocket with no problems. I have also carried a Keltec 380 which is so light I have forgotten it was in my pocket several times.

 

[Jeff Timm]

My solution, yeah, I'm a big guy too, has been the .38 Bodyguard Smith and Wesson, shrouded hammer in a pocket holster. I have an older revolver and I don't use +P rounds in it. I have been using 125 gr Nyclads, which are no longer made, so I'm switching to 110 gr Winchester Silver tips, which are standard pressure rounds. I practice with 130 gr Winchester White box .38 Special full metal jacket, because of price and slightly greater recoil.

I'm working with a new Kahr 9094N http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=130950

It will take awhile before I'm as confident with the Kahr as I am with the S&W. The 9mm has almost 50% more power, and has 7 rounds fully loaded.

Geoff
Who needs more practice, practice and practice.

 

[IndianaDean]

Another vote for the Kimber Ultra Carry .45.

 

[realmswalker]

I own a .45 warthog, well made and works well. It holds ten of .45. It would make a very nice compact carry gun, looks nice also.

 

[The_Shootist]

NAA .380 Guardian?

I'm curious about this one - is it terribly unpleasant to practice with? Seems like a practical pocket pistol with respect to size and calibre, and seems to be well made.

 

[1 old 0311]

Hi Shootist,

With my .380 Guardian I can fire 4-6 mags before I notice the 'hand sting.' What I usually do is shoot the first 4-5 mags then put on my PAST Shooting Glove. With the glove you can shoot all day. Get a Guardian you will love it.

Kevin

 

[pest3125]

If you set a standard that the weapon must be able to meet a minimum standard of penetration (ie. 9" into balistic gelatin such as set by the border patrol) you would not want to go with anything less than a 9mm. yep .380's and .32's need not apply.... (here we go with the hornets nest)



That's not true - 380ACP with FMJ can easily exceed 9" of penetration in (bare) ballistic gelatin. Some 380 ACP JHP loads can also meet 9" . See the table at the following links:

http://hunting.about.com/od/guns/l/aast9mmv380a.htm

http://www.firearmstactical.com/ammo_data/380acp.htm

 

[Mudboy]

(edit)
Rohrbaugh R9- the cream of the crop in this market niche, light enough to carry, decent capacity, handmade quality, and expensive ($900 +/-)
(edit)

W

+1 on the Rorhbaugh. It cost me a P239 and a G27, but filled a niche that neither could; it's a true pocket gun, superbly built, firing a useable caliber each and every time that I pull the (smooth) trigger. Get your hands on one and you'll see what I mean.

 

[meef]

Taurus PT145... Meets ALL of your requirements AND it is less than $300.00 out the door... PLUS it is a BLAST to shoot!

Couldn't agree more.

There are a lot of folks here missing out on the concealed carry bargain of the decade.

 

[mndfusion]

In reply to thread title... I have to report...Kel-Tec handguns.

 

[harrydog]

I don't think that you should completely dismiss the .380 and .32 as self defense weapons. Obviously 9mm is a more effective round and obviously there are others more effective than 9mm.
But if it's ultra deep concealment that you want, I think a gun like the Seecamp LWS 32 or LWS 380 makes a great choice. They're very small and disappear in your pocket. Sure, I'd like to have a .45 on me when if a threat arises, (or a shotgun or AR15 for that matter) but the fact is, I can't always carry one of those.
My Rohrbaugh R9 is very concealable and I can carry it most of the time. But a Seecamp is even smaller (and of very high quality) and there are times when I need something as small as possible if I'm going to carry at all. Squeezing off several quick rounds of .32 at very close range is going to be effective, in my opinion. Heck, I'd rather be carrying a .22 than nothing at all.
All I'm trying to point out is, you should also look into a Seecamp since you did say, "smallest, most concealable".

 

[HerrWolfe]

Walther PPK/S .380 in Don Hume pocket holster. Yes, the .380 is enough if it makes the difference between carrying and not.

 

[sturmruger]

I think the .32 is probably the smalles caliber I would carry. I have carried a .22 before, but really didn't have a lot of confidence in it.

 

[fiVe]

Another vote for the 642. IMHO, it is the best carry piece.

 

[orionengnr]

Kahr PM9 or PM40--small, light, pocket capable. I have a PM9 and will probably add a PM40 when I find one for the right price.

Warthog--looked at it, tried it for pocket-fit. Being a 10-round double-stack 45, it is wide. It is also heavy when empty--add 10 rounds of 45 (or 10+1) and I hope you have a belt and suspenders.

J-frames--I have a 340 and like it. Usually carry it with Gold Dot 135gr "snubby load" JHPs instead of 357s.

Glock 26/27--I want one, but it falls into the same category as the Warthog for me--not a true pocket carry.

Rohrbaugh--maybe someday, but the non +p rating in a 900 pistol is inexcusable.

 

[mnrivrat]

OK - WOW , a lot of guns to look at isn't there ?

Mentioned at least once in a previous post is the new Kel-Tec single stack in 9mm. Personaly I want to check that one out. I have looked at the P-11 and do not consider it a good choice for a pocket gun for me.

I presently carry a Kel-Tec in .380 and I often forget it's in my pocket . That's a good thing as far as I'm concerned. J-frame airweights might be OK but they are in fact thicker than the Kel-Tec . I'm not sure that is a big deal, but going to the steel frame J-frames is a weight consideration for pocket carry - for me.

Love to try one of the $900 + guns but my budget doesn't allow that.

Good luck and have fun with it, I have found that fitting the right carry gun to your lifestyle is important . For me, pocket carry is the only way that fits.

 

[p35]

I have a S&W CS9 that I bought mainly b/c it was too good a deal to resist, and I'm starting to think it's the ultimate carry gun- small, easy to hide, 8+1 rounds of 9mm. Never tried a Kahr, so I won't knock them, but look at the CS9.

BTW, I used to have a Firestar- great design, good gun, way too heavy for its size with the solid steel frame. Rumor is that the firing pins are weak and hard to find replacements for. Mine showed "primer wipe" on fired cases, and I got rid of it before the pin actaully broke.

 

[bigmike45]

Couldn't agree more.

There are a lot of folks here missing out on the concealed carry bargain of the decade.

AMEN Brothers,

Mines been flawless for over 3000 rounds and I carry it in my front right pocket in every pair of pants I wear. It is also the BUG when I primary carry one of my 1911's.



and accurate enough for this long tall Texan. Here is 21 rounds at 15 yards freehand.

 

[Zen21Tao]

You want pocket power?

AMT Backup .45 ACP
(about the size of a Khar .40. Plus being a single stack it doesn't print bad. And, if you can find one, they tend to costs less than $350.)

 

[AStone]

Another vote for the 642. IMHO, it is the best carry piece.

Now, I'm not surprised that our friend fiVe would say that. (See below for why.)

In fact, I agree.

I own a Kahr K9. Haven't owned the P9; read enough bad critiques about it before I bought one to dissuade me, thankfully, so bought the K9 instead.

The K9 is a great pistol. I love it. It fits me. I can shoot it well. I wear it in my High Noon Topless OWB holster in my studio every day. It's there right now.

But for concealed carry outside my studio (once I'm qualified to do so, which I haven't had the time to qualify for yet), I'll carry my 642.

Doesn't shoot as well or as easily as my K9. It's not a 'fun' gun to shoot, IMO.

But loaded with +P, as a belly gun at 5 - 7 yds, I'll trust it. And, it's very small, very concealable, very light. And with proper shot placement, it will do nicely, thank you very much. (Meaning you've got to do your part, too. Practice, practice, practice ... or as we say over in the shotgun forum, BA-UU-R.)

I'm a small guy. It fits me. I can put it in my vest pocket or even my pants pocket. I'll be able to grab it without putting on my OWB holster (even though the latter STAYS on my belt regardless of whether my K9 is in it or not).

Since you said you would explore all recommendations, I recommend that you surf over and read some of what's written in the thread called "the 642 club" (hosted by fiVe). Maybe even post your question there. I think you'll find a LOT of folks who like that little mule as an SD CCW weapon.

Best of luck in your search. Please let us know what you decide.

Nem

<subliminal message> 642 ... 642 ... 642...</subliminal message>