Suggestions for a pocket sized .380

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kdunn

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I'm looking to buy a pocket pistol. Something I can just stick in my pocket for quick runs to the store or taking the dog for a walk. I've got a S&W Shield 9mm, but that's a little large for what I'm wanting.
I'm thinking something around the size of a Ruger LCP, but I want it to have a manual safety, since it's going to be carried primarily in my pocket.
I also don't want to spend more than around $500.
So here are my 4 criteria, small enough to fit in my pocket, lightweight, manual safety, and about $500 or less.
The only gun that comes to mind meeting all of this criteria is the Sig P238 for $519 at academy.

Can anyone else think of any other guns that meet my criteria? I want to consider all options.
 
S&W Bodyguard .380 has a manual safety and a nice set of sights for a pocket gun. Length is less than 6" long and it sells for less than $400.

Kahr makes the CW380, my preferred .380 because it's one of the smallest .380's available, but it doesn't have a safety. You could always just not have a round chambered when carrying. Also, with such small guns, I'd imagine those manual safeties will be uncomfortable and difficult to disengage one handed.
 
An interesting factoid: RIA is supposedly going to start shipping a .380 "Baby Rock" mini 1911 shortly. Might qualify, if you can wait. https://youtu.be/RK_IDzl0vYo


My suggestion:
Pockets have pocket lint.
Pocket lint loves the small crevices in a pistol.
Pistols with excessive pocket lint packed in them are unreliable.
Therefore pocket carry means a pocket holster.
A pocket holster covers the trigger.

Just something to keep in mind, perhaps opening up options you had closed off.
 
I have a .380 Bodyguard. The safety is not difficult to use and I find it unnecessary. The trigger pull is heavy and very long. Being double action only it will not go off without a very deliberate trigger pull.
 
My P238 fills my needs for a pocket pistol quite nicely. It's pretty easy to shoot, fits in a pocket well, and is handy. I keep it in one of those "wallet" holsters.

I'm not a fan of super small ccw's, but when I need something for that niche, the P238 is at the top of the pile.
 
Are you considering the Taurus 380 revolver? If not this thread should go in the Handgun:Autoloaders forum.
 
I've got a Bodyguard .380 and I adore that little monster. It's durable, accurate, has nice sights for its size, and sports a manual safety. It's one of the few guns that I like to install a Techna-Clip on. Chamber a round, flip on the stiff safety, and it rides low enough in my waistband at 4 o'clock that my belt hides most of it.

When I carry my primary pistol, I carry the BG cross draw at about 10 o'clock. I never even know it's there.

It also rides well in a cargo pants pocket.
 
another vote for the bodyguard.

very slim and fits great in a pocket....plenty accurate at SD ranges......and holds 6+1.

if you want something a bit more substantial.....maybe something like a P64 Makarov....a little heftier and a little larger......but packs a more powerful round and is a lot easier to shoot.
 
What I have:

Small .380 with a safety-Colt Mustang and SIG P238

Small .380 without a safety-KelTec P3AT

Would also consider the S&W Bodyguard as another viable choice.
 
My Son just bought a Colt Mustang it's really nice. Although it
might be a little on the pricey side to meet your criteria.

Zeke
 
Sig P 232, it may be a bit long for a pocket depending on how big your pocket is. The advantage is its very slender and has most sharp edges that might catch on a pocket well rounded. Also has the advantage of a larger grip if you have large hands. I bought one recently used in stainless for $550. The pocket holsters that are available should make this easy to conceal and draw. It is sa/da and de-cocker.

All that being said I think my wife's Bersa 380 is as good and cheaper, there is also a Bersa CC model that's smaller yet, both use a de-cocker. It's just my opinion, but a de-cocked pistol with a safety seems like a better choice for a pocket gun.
 
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Go with the tried and true .380 pocket pistols. Ruger LCP (polished version of P3AT), Kel Tec P3AT (lightest & thinnest) or even the NAA Guardian (heavy but solid & small). Everything else are copies, IMO.
 
Use a pocket holster . Its needed. Then forget the safety not needed . I have carried a KelTec P3AT for 9 years in Pocket with a proper pocket holster . Never had one problem .In other words I don't have a glock leg Little safeties can be hard to hit under stress. I want to draw and fire

Remember your brain suppose to be the safety .Not some mechanical device
 
Are you requiring a S/A pistol, such as the Sig 238? Or are you open to DA or DAO models?

If you want a SA model, then the safety lever is, of course, a must. Do you still feel it's a must on the DA/DAO ones?

Most of the smallest .380 pistols (P3-AT, LCP, etc.) don't have one; the S&W Bodyguard is an exception.

It's certainly up to you if you want the manual safety lever. But just let me point out that a lot of nice choices will open up to you if you keep in mind that .38 snub revolvers filled this very role (and continue to) for generations while lacking them, and they did it just fine. The long, deliberate pull necessary to fire them was/is all that was/is needed..
 
My P238 fills my needs for a pocket pistol quite nicely. It's pretty easy to shoot, fits in a pocket well, and is handy. I keep it in one of those "wallet" holsters.

I'm not a fan of super small ccw's, but when I need something for that niche, the P238 is at the top of the pile.
Click to expand...

+1 on this
P238 in desanti nemesis is my EDC
 
So I'm getting a lot of great responses which I really appreciate, so let me expand a little on my original post! The reason I originally wanted a small pocket pistol with a manual safety is I wear "basketball shorts" a lot on the weekends, and don't want to have to change into pants to carry my shield when it won't fit into my pocket. I wanna just be able to drop a pistol in my pocket and go without worrying about changing my shorts to carry my gun.

This being said.... those of you who carry small 380's or 38's without safeties, do you think that carrying in a pocket holster would be able to be drawn reliably (without the holster coming out with the gun) in shorts such as basketball shorts? If so, this would give me a lot more options than just the P238 or the bodyguard to choose from and also open me up to snub nose revolvers and such. Thoughts anyone?
 
"RIA is supposedly going to start shipping a .380 "Baby Rock" mini 1911 shortly."

This "Baby Rock" looks awesome! however I think it would probably be a little large for pocket carry. Browning came out with the 1911-380 not to long ago, and while much smaller than other compact 1911's, its still a little large to shove in a pocket.
 
"After checking out several pocket 380s, settled on stainless Taurus TCP 738 for smooth trigger and last round lock back."

From what I hear the TCP is great gun, functionally. But I hate the look and feel of it.
 
"Use a pocket holster . Its needed."

Why is the pocket holster needed?


"Remember your brain suppose to be the safety .Not some mechanical device"

I agree, the Shield I carry does not have a safety, nor does my XDM. That's not the issue. I was considering just carrying a small 380 with a safety in my pocket without a holster, that is why I wanted a safety. But why do you think a holster is needed?
 
kdunn said:
"RIA is supposedly going to start shipping a .380 "Baby Rock" mini 1911 shortly."

This "Baby Rock" looks awesome! however I think it would probably be a little large for pocket carry. Browning came out with the 1911-380 not to long ago, and while much smaller than other compact 1911's, its still a little large to shove in a pocket.
Click to expand...
Yeah, hard to tell until you can see one in real life. If they shrank a gov't I agree it is probably pushing things. If they shrank a commander....

Either way, I thought it was neat. :)

kdunn said:
"Use a pocket holster . Its needed."

Why is the pocket holster needed?
Click to expand...

I wasn't kidding about pocket lint.

I no longer pocket carry any pistol without a holster. I'll carry some revolvers, but pistols seem to have special junk attracting fields.
 
kdunn

I carry my KelTec P3AT in a DeSantis Nemesis holster when I'm pocket carrying. For one thing without a holster the gun may move around in your pocket and force you to fumble around trying to locate it. It could get stuck in the fabric of the pocket and there's also the chance that you may inadvertently put you finger on the trigger while you're doing this.

With a holster the trigger will be covered and the gun will always be in the right position for you to draw it without any problems or hang-ups. Also the Nemesis holster is made with a sticky-like material on the outside so it keeps it firmly positioned in the pocket and doesn't come out when you draw the gun.
 
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