still looking for pocket cc..how about FEG's or other options in 380?

[Safety First]

Looked at a Kel-tec P3at today..the finish was so bad it just plain turned me off and I thought that would be my first choice,now I think I want to consider other possiblities if there are any? One of the Mod's mentioned a Feg SMC 380 for pocket carry. As always any ideas would be appreciated and yes I would love a Colt Pocketlite,but the price is a bit steep for me now....So Please chime in if you have any good suggestions..

 

[P95Carry]

Can't comment on FEG tho I do have 9mm version .... but, tho P3-AT is hardly well finished .. have one on order .... simply cos it is so compact for cal ...... if it misbehaves when I get it .... it will go back but hopefully it'll perform!

It's what I need when clothing light and carry needed for pocket.

 

[Jeff White]

Safety First,
Have you looked at snub nosed revolvers? I have a S&W Model 36 in my pocket right now. Much better terminal ballisitics with .38 special then .380 too. There are all kinds of bargains out there in used .38 snubbies. You'd be surprised what your dollar will buy when shopping for that type of weapon.

Jeff

 

[denfoote]

Does it have to be a 9mm kurz??? If not, I would heartily suggest Pistolet Makarova!!! (9mm Makarov)

I think you can find one that is in your price range. In fact, there is one in my dealer's case even as we speak!! It's a Bulgarian for about $250.

www.mandallshooting.com
www.makarov.com

Give them a call or e-mail them!! Ask for Wilson or Howard.

Dr. Bloss over at makarov.com might know where you can find one also.

 

[Rob96]

If you want a .380, Bersa is hard to beat. That is one of the pistols I really regret trading away.

 

[tiberius]

I would heartily suggest Pistolet Makarova!!!

For a "pocket pistol"? Might as well suggest a "Buntline Special".

Seriously, for a true pocket pistol, as opposed to a "pocketable" pistol, you should really reconsider the P-3AT. Sure it looks rough, but it works nice and if its in your pocket, you can't see the ugly finish.

 

[obiwan1]

It really depends on your body. I have no trouble carrying a P-11 or Chiefs Special (the revolver, not the auto) in a front pocket holster. One caveat: No tight pants. Dockers or sport/dress slacks work fine. It used to be my preferred carry during business day. Suit jackets do come off, but not pants pockets.

 

[Erich]

I owned an SMC-380

I think it's a fine gun for the money. It's considerably smaller than a Mak, which I've never been able to see as a pocket pistol.

Like most blowbacks, the SMC was capable of being pretty accurate. The sights were not especially great, but were completely serviceable. My E.German Mak had a much better trigger than my SMC. The SMC's trigger face was grooved, too - an absurd thing for a combat trigger with a reasonably heavy pull.

SMCs come in two flavors: alloy-framed and steel-framed. I know because I ordered mine thinking it would be alloy-framed (as everything I'd read about it indicated), and was shocked to receive a 21-ounce all-steel gun. (Kinda drags the pocket down more than I was looking for.) The finish also varies: some alloy-framed SMCs have a decently-blued slide. My all-steel one was parkerized all around; not unattractive, but I'd rather have the blue.

Despite the weight and the low-powered cartridge, the SMC recoiled a fair amount - it is, after all, a blowback. (I would think the locked breech Kel-Tec might prove superior here, if you can get a sufficient hold on its teensy gripframe.) They Hungarians were intelligent enough to long ago add the improved tang that S&W is just now adding to their PPK/S-Americans, so "Walther bite" was not a problem for me.

That said, I'm surprised to hear that the appearance of the finish of a pocket pistol is causing you to change your mind about it. I have yet to hear of an instance where finish made a bit of difference in a pocket gun's performance, but you certainly have the right to make up your own mind as to what you consider to be important. That said, I've noticed that Kel-Tec guns generally look pretty rough (they're at the low end of the market, and they're not prettied up), but some are worse than others. Perhaps you might shop around for one that suits you.

You're just not going to find a pretty pocket gun for cheap, though.

 

[tiberius]

Yeah, I can carry a j-frame in my pants pocket - docker style, but a MAK is just shaped wrong for quick pesentation even if you can squeeze it in there. YMMV, I suppose.

Good gun for IWB, though.

 

[PCRCCW]

The SMC model of FEG is a good choice. The Makarov/Bersa/etc are all larger than this gun and while some may offer improved sights, triggers etc...none are more dependable than the little FEG's. They are small enough for great pocket carry and with a good pocket holster would suit you perfectly. The negatives are the sights are small and the DA trigger pull SUCKS! But for the money, you wont find a smaller and more reliable gun...................
Shoot well

 

[Keith]

You may recall that on the other thread I mentioned that over the years I had gone through a whole series of pocket guns and was never really satisfied until I found the Mustang.
The SMC .380 was one of those guns. It was a "satisfactory" piece in that at least it was reliable, but if I didn't hold it just right I'd get a nasty hammer bite. And of course, it's blowback and the recoil is so snappy that it's hard to get quick and accurate follow-up shots.

Still, it's small enough to qualify as a true pocket gun and it is reliable!

It's a good gun, but the Mustang (particularly the Pockelite) is a better gun. They're overpriced, but in the long term I don't think you'll reget paying that extra money.

Keith

 

[denfoote]

Pocket Mak

For a "pocket pistol"? Might as well suggest a "Buntline Special".

Call me weird, but the Mak fits my pocket just fine!!

I must be a space alien or something!!!

 

[tbeb]

Get yourself an older Smith and Wesson model 37 or model 38. These are .38 special snubbies and their empty weight is 12 1/2 and 14 1/2 ounces respectfully. The 37 has an exposed hammer and the 38 has a shrouded hammer. I've seen nice ones for $250.

For $150. you can get an older style Charter Arms Undercover .38 in excellent condition. Empty weight is 16 ounces and size is same as above Smith & Wesson's. I carry one of these in my front pants pocket in a Mika pocket holster.

 

[PCRCCW]

Call me weird, **YOURE WIERD!**

but the Mak fits my pocket just fine!! **Somethings wrong**

I must be a space alien or something!!! **Thats it, Thats it!!!!!!! I was gonna say that!

Shoot well

 

[Safety First]

First, THANKS to all who took time to respond, there was some food for thought in all the comments.... let me mention this in addition to my original thread...I am really wanting a Bersa 380 in nickel for right now and a pocket pistol a little later... My local dealer (and about 5 others in the area) can not get one from there distributor, for some reason Bersa is not shipping those now and no one seems to know why...maybe the plant is closed for vacation or they are re-tooling to make changes on the 380?? I want to buy from a dealer to avoid the shipping and FFL charges as my dealer will sell it to me for $239.00 and throw in a second mag...so if I buy on line my price will go well above that. While I want that one for my wife and yes I know the thread is about a pocket pistol, I simply and trying to research and determine what pocket rocket will work best for me when the time comes a little later, maybe just a few months...My thoughts on the really poor finish on the P3at were that if the factory could'nt do any better on what you see when your looking at the gun on the surface,how much worse is the workmanship on the inside of the gun? Since I am by no means an expert on guns,even when I look inside of the gun I don't know if the functioning parts are precision work or junk? Oh well, this is a little on the long side,sorry.. As for wheel guns,are'nt they tooooo wide for pocket carry????

 

[denfoote]

denfooteus of Borg

My secret is out!!! You will all be assimilated!!!!!
Expect a visit from the mother ship!!!
The Bersa, by all accounts (I have not had occaison to handle or purchase one) is a fine pistol!! I already have a PPK/S and a Makarov in 9mm kurz, so I am in no great hurry to aquire another .380. You may just have to wait for them to become available!! My pocket pistol is the Kahr MK9 Elite, the cost of which is greater than your budget will allow, but it is a true pocket pistol chambered in 9mm Parabellum that is designed for +P+ rounds loaded to 1300fps!! You might want to save yur sheckles and buy it!!!

 

[DDGator]

The P-3AT is a fine piece. It is my 3rd Kel-Tec that was perfect out of the box. Don't dismiss the best .380 for pocket carry on the market! You can carry a P-3AT and a spare mag and hardly notice it. See some of the discussion on www.ktog.org.

Wheel guns are not too big for pocket carry by any means. When I am not carrying my P-3AT, I carry a S&W 442 (airweight) in my front pocket.

Both are carried in one of my K&D Holsters: www.kdholsters.com

 

[mini14jac]

I just picked up a P3AT, and it is hard to beat for a pocket pistol.
I found recoil to be similar to a Airweight S&W.
My hand was still sore 2 days later after firing 60 rounds, but it is accurate, reliable, and incredibly tiny.

When they start making them in hard chrome, it will be a better looking gun, but for pocket carry, I don't mind the ugly blue.
I carried my P32 for over a year, with no rust, and the finish didn't seem to wear. (Before I had it chromed.)

I was going to get my son a Bersa, but my dealer said they are back ordered.
I wonder if the factory is busy churning out .45 Bersas?
Those are cool pistols too.

One dealer here said that the city police just now authorized back up guns. (They were not allowed before. Go figure.)
So, the PD had just taken delivery of 30 Bersa .380s.
This dealer had a blue one in stock, but it was $249. The other dealer sells the blue one for $189.
I'll wait.

 

[Dave R]

I bought a FEG .380 as my first carry gun. Mine is a model APK MK II, but FEG plays games with numbering and the same gun might be the SMC now. Who knows?

Anyway, zero complaints on this handgun. Very accurate. Very reliable. I like the PPK manual of arms, too. Load mag, rack slide with safety already on (safe direction) and you have hammer down, firing pin blocked, safety on, with a round in the chamber. Very safe. Safety snicks off easy for that first crunchy DA shot.

OK, a coupla complaints. The DA trigger is nasty. The SA trigger is nice, though. And its all-steel, which is great for recoil absorption but not so good for carry.

If I had it to do over again, I'd get a Bersa. And I still may, after the P-3AT.

 

[David4516]

I too can recomend the Makarov. I've been carrying one for about 6 months now, and have been very pleased with it...

 

[Ky Larry]

The best .380, IMHO, is the CZ-83. It might be a tad large for your needs but it's a great little gun. Shoot well and often.

 

[Trebor]

I own both a Makarov and a HK P7M8 (among others) and the fact that I choose to carry the Mak over the squeeze-cocker should tell you something about how highly I prize that little commie gun. The Mak is rugged, reliable, accurate and inexpensive. The only downside is the standard sights suck and the 9x18 round is closer to a .380 than a 9X19.

If you are considering the Bersa, you can get a new Bulgie Mak from SOG for about $100 less. That's a lot of practice ammo or a good holster, right there.

 

[chaim]

Here's another vote for a J-frame (or Taurus equivelent) or Bersa. I don't live in a carry state so I don't have the advantage of everyday carry but I do pop mine in my pocket when I'm at home quite often. Comfortable enough, conceals well enough, and I'm quite confident in either. Both are quite reliable. The Taurus is reasonably accurate, the Bersa is very good. However, a steel framed Taurus (or Smith) or alloy framed Bersa are about as big and heavy as you can go and still put in your pocket very effectively.

 

[makdaddy03]

Russian Makarov 380acp. Can not be beat!!! This is the most reliable handgun that I have ever laid my hands on. Around 3000 and something rounds fired and not one hiccup. No Kidding!!