What *You* Want in The Ultimate Pocket Gun

[tactikel]

I love my LCP, I pocket carry it only with a BORAII trigger cover, typically in the phone pocket of my outer garment.
From the ground up I’d want: aluminum frame, a “safe trigger” like Glock, a slightly staggered magazine to hold at least 8 rounds (8+1), grip panels that are textured rubber and are wrap around, true DAO, a large oversized front sight with a white insert, heel magazine release, and last shot hold open.

 

[Tallball]

Reliable

I can shoot it well

Fits my hand well

380acp or bigger

Sights not big enough to snag, but big enough to see

No hammer spurs or anything else that might snag

DAO (or similar)

No safety

Not too heavy

Fits a specific pocket well. I wear just a few kinds of clothing, and if a handgun doesn't fit any of those pockets properly, it's of no use to me.

So far I prefer the LCPII for small pockets, LCR 38 for cargo pockets, and 642 for back pocket.

I honestly can't think of any improvements for these. That's why I carry them... while various other handguns sit around in my safe or have found new homes.

 

[gwpercle]

Just to be in my pocket when I need it ... I don't care what caliber , revolver , semi-auto , S.A. , D.A.
it doesn't matter ... if something is in my pocket I will make it do the job ...it only has to be there .

In 2004 I came into my office , removed my 1911 45 acp and lay it on my desk and went to the kitchen for a cup of morning coffee . While in kitchen , I look up and see armed robber standing six feet away with a 22 automatic pistol in hand , aiming ...and there I stood with nothing in my pocket but car keys ...
I learned that day ...the best self-defense gun is any gun you have on you when things go South !
Gary

 

[Alllen Bundy]

The side-button, high-profile mag release is the dumbest feature ever on a pocket carry gun.

I extended the magazine release button on my P365X. I have been completely unable to release the magazine by pushing the pistol into my body while inside any right side pocket of any clothing that I own. When using a holster, the release button is further moved away from my body by the thickness of the holster.

I don't see any possible way that this button could be accidentally actuated, UNLESS I carried something else that was hard inside the same pocket as the pistol that was between my body and the pistol. Carrying anything beside a pistol and holster inside a pocket does not seem like good practice and I don't carry with anything additional inside my carry pocket.

 

[.455_Hunter]

I extended the magazine release button on my P365X. I have been completely unable to release the magazine by pushing the pistol into my body while inside any right side pocket of any clothing that I own. When using a holster, the release button is further moved away from my body by the thickness of the holster.

I don't see any possible way that this button could be accidentally actuated, UNLESS I carried something else that was hard inside the same pocket as the pistol that was between my body and the pistol. Carrying anything beside a pistol and holster inside a pocket does not seem like good practice and I don't carry with anything additional inside my carry pocket.

People's experiences do vary, along with factors like pants and body tightness. As a left-handed shooter, a side mag release button often loud and proud facing towards the outside. My fundament theory is that positive mag retention for all scenarios is orders of magnitude higher in priority over shaving a half-second of time during a theoretical mag change.

 

[d'zaster]

A Kahr P380 that is as reliable as Glock.
It was the perfect pocket gun IMHO. Great trigger, sights and more accurate than my G42.
But in my experience, completely unreliable. Factory replaced it and the replacement was never reliable enough to cycle more than two mags without FTE or FTF (or failure to lock back on the last round).

 

[JR24]

People's experiences do vary, along with factors like pants and body tightness. As a left-handed shooter, a side mag release button often loud and proud facing towards the outside. My fundament theory is that positive mag retention for all scenarios is orders of magnitude higher in priority over shaving a half-second of time during a theoretical mag change.

Paddle mag releases for everyone!

…

No, really, I wish my non-HK guns had them.

 

[Alllen Bundy]

As a left-handed shooter, a side mag release button often loud and proud facing towards the outside

That is why a side switchable magazine release button, as used on the P365, is useful for a lefty.

My fundament theory is that positive mag retention for all scenarios is orders of magnitude higher in priority over shaving a half-second of time during a theoretical mag change.

I don't see it as an issue of saving time. I need to rotate my P365X in my hand in order to actuate the stock mag release button and that makes me vulnerable to losing control of the pistol. With the extended release button on my P365X (which extended is actually is no higher than many stock mag release buttons) I can actuate the mag release button with my thumb WITHOUT rotating the pistol in my hand, reducing the possibility of a loss of control of the pistol.

But an extended release button may not be of any use to someone with short thumbs who may still need to rotate the pistol in their hand in order to actuate the magazine release button.

I did need to modify the stock Sig holster to accommodate the extended mag release button.

 

[DeepSouth]

Well, I’m a little different, to put it nicely.

I want a 45acp, at least 5 rounds, plastic so it’s light, and a decent trigger.

I carry a KAHR PM45, a little on the large size for sure, but it works.

 

[Mosin77]

I have had side button mag releases get pressed while pocket carrying a pistol without a holster. Maybe pressure of the jeans against the button? I don’t know how but it’s happened. And I think mag changes in a civilian application are very overrated anyway. I’m not saying it couldn’t happen. Maybe the entire local MS13 chapter decides to attend your carjacking? But realistically if the threat can’t be stopped with 7 rounds of good hollowpoints from a pocket pistol, or 11-18 of the same from a bigger carry gun… I’d like to know how many times, ever, an LCP has been reloaded in the middle of a situation. It’s a gun intended to stop an imminent threat, not for a gunfight.

 

[usaral63]

Like Mosin77 I also experienced surprise magazine releases in my P3AT..............solved that problem by shaving down the release button, works but I'd sure prefer a heel release.

Incidentally, I was given that AT by an old friend...kinda well worn and beat up....hand carried it to KT who did a complete rebuild in a couple of hours. Had that gun for over 10 years and have never had an issue on function other than that release.

 

[WrongHanded]

I depressed the mag release on my G42 (and G43), scribed a line by the frame, removed the mag release and shaved it down. It's harder to hit accidentally, but still easy to use intentionally.

 

[SeanSw]

A Kahr P380 that is as reliable as Glock.
It was the perfect pocket gun IMHO. Great trigger, sights and more accurate than my G42.
But in my experience, completely unreliable. Factory replaced it and the replacement was never reliable enough to cycle more than two mags without FTE or FTF (or failure to lock back on the last round).

I had a Kahr cm9 that would have been just about perfect if it wasn't garbage for reliability. If the P380 is the same thing but smaller I completely understand. I did NOT appreciate the factory response to my issues. Their solutions were basically for me to spend 3x as much money on ammunition as I paid for the gun to break it in, return to factory, and break in a 2nd time before they would replace or repair again. Oh yeah, and don't forget that you're on the hook for all shipping expenses. Forget it.

I have been satisfied with my Beretta Pico, though it could use a bit more grip. True DAO, hidden hammer, hinged mag release, and quality construction for a micro pistol. I think a heel release would be better in this case but it's one of the only pistols with these features. My LCR sees a lot of ccw as well, but it's still in another class of carry gun compared to the Pico.

 

[CDW4ME]

I depressed the mag release on my G42 (and G43), scribed a line by the frame, removed the mag release and shaved it down. It's harder to hit accidentally, but still easy to use intentionally.

I reduced the mag catch on my Glock 43, don't want that getting popped accidentally.
For me, pocket gun is "back-up" carried in weak hand front pocket as 2nd option* to a Glock AIWB on belt.
*Option to put hand on it without revealing I'm carrying and/or quick access with weak hand. (If one thinking they glad they don't live in a "bad area" - me either - options valid wherever.)
The Glock 43 is comparatively easy for me to shoot one hand weak hand (compared to a LCP 380 the Glock 43 is easier).

 

[Hangingrock]

For pocket carry I am satisfied with a S&W M640 38Spl.

 

[WrongHanded]

I reduced the mag catch on my Glock 43, don't want that getting popped accidentally.
For me, pocket gun is "back-up" carried in weak hand front pocket as 2nd option* to a Glock AIWB on belt.
*Option to put hand on it without revealing I'm carrying and/or quick access with weak hand. (If one thinking they glad they don't live in a "bad area" - me either - options valid wherever.)
The Glock 43 is comparatively easy for me to shoot one hand weak hand (compared to a LCP 380 the Glock 43 is easier).

Yep, weak side for me too. And for the same reasons. What's on the belt may differ though, depending on location. And some places (inside known buildings), the G43 is all I carry. Like you, I also shoot it quite well non-dominant hand only. At the range I used to go to, I was able to practice controlled pairs, weak hand only from a pocket draw. So I did.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Apparently the point has been missed....

 

[stanley_white]

Apparently the point has been missed....

What constitutes "pocket & deep concealment usage" may differ from person to person.

-Stan

 

[Alllen Bundy]

....I think mag changes in a civilian application are very overrated anyway. I’m not saying it couldn’t happen. Maybe the entire local MS13 chapter decides to attend your carjacking?

I live in Minneapolis, the home of defund the police, and MOSTLY Peaceful protests. There have been incidents caught on video where a gangs of a dozen or more Somali's have swarmed and robbed people in downtown Minneapolis. There are also other Minneapolis gangs to deal with. 31 shots in George Floyd square and only one person hit. I once had to stand up to a teenage gang of about 20 that wanted to beat the crap out of one of the young interns where I was volunteering. It could have been really ugly for me if I hadn't been able to deter them with my junkyard dog demeanor.

All it takes is that someone in a group of protesters calls you a Nazi and the entire group can descend upon you in seconds. These left wing protesters are not reasonable people and cannot be expected to behave in a rational manner.

I rode my bicycle around the devastation the morning after the 1st night of GF rioting. While buildings were still smoking and burning, I overhead these protesters talking like they had done a good thing. It was a very sobering moment for me that made me decide that I needed to carry a firearm and lots of ammunition.



This used to be a mom and pop neighborhood Chinese restaurant. They only got around to tearing it down this April.



They turned Wendy's into a BBQ.



This was a low income apartment building under construction.

But realistically if the threat can’t be stopped with 7 rounds of good hollowpoints from a pocket pistol, or 11-18 of the same from a bigger carry gun… I’d like to know how many times, ever, an LCP has been reloaded in the middle of a situation. It’s a gun intended to stop an imminent threat, not for a gunfight.

Just recently a woman defended herself and children while they were trying to hide in the attic. She shot the intruder 5 times and he still managed for get to his car and drive away. The statistic is that police only hit their target 20% of the time. If it took 5 shots to deter an assailant, I might easily need 25 rounds to put 5 into the target. There have been reports of needing over a dozen rounds to stop an assailant.

Not to mention the possibility of a magazine failure. Swapping a magazine quickly may be your only option.

Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Open carry isn't a good option for me. I'll do whatever I can to hedge my bets.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

I live in Minneapolis, the home of defund the police, and MOSTLY Peaceful protests. There have been incidents caught on video where a gangs of a dozen or more Somali's have swarmed and robbed people in downtown Minneapolis. There are also other Minneapolis gangs to deal with. 31 shots in George Floyd square and only one person hit. I once had to stand up to a teenage gang of about 20 that wanted to beat the crap out of one of the young interns where I was volunteering. It could have been really ugly for me if I hadn't been able to deter them with my junkyard dog demeanor.

All it takes is that someone in a group of protesters calls you a Nazi and the entire group can descend upon you in seconds. These left wing protesters are not reasonable people and cannot be expected to behave in a rational manner.

I rode my bicycle around the devastation the morning after the 1st night of GF rioting. While buildings were still smoking and burning, I overhead these protesters talking like they had done a good thing. It was a very sobering moment for me that made me decide that I needed to carry a firearm and lots of ammunition.

View attachment 1078424

This used to be a mom and pop neighborhood Chinese restaurant. They only got around to tearing it down this April.

View attachment 1078425

They turned Wendy's into a BBQ.

View attachment 1078426

This was a low income apartment building under construction.



Just recently a woman defended herself and children while they were trying to hide in the attic. She shot the intruder 5 times and he still managed for get to his car and drive away. The statistic is that police only hit their target 20% of the time. If it took 5 shots to deter an assailant, I might easily need 25 rounds to put 5 into the target. There have been reports of needing over a dozen rounds to stop an assailant.

Not to mention is the possibility of a magazine failure. Swapping a magazine quickly may be your only option.

Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Open carry isn't a good option for me. I'll do whatever I can to hedge my bets.

Which is why I'm perfectly content in the countryside. Also why I like a good scattergun. Gimme an 870 riot setup, with bead sight and an extended tube of 12ga 2-3/4" 00 buckshot. You send the first handful to meet their Maker, the rest will scatter like dust in the wind.... if they don't... well, you best be fulfilling Scripture... ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

 

[Old Dog]

While I detest pocket carry and rarely practice it, I have only three I've used in this role (since I gave up on the S&W Airweight Js, 442/642). "Ultimate?" No. A handgun is always a compromise. Really, for a pocket carry pistol for me, it's gotta have a manual safety--and be a tiny, lightweight, slim little thing in a reasonably effective caliber. That is all.

 

[C0untZer0]

I'd really like a new cartridge. I want a cartridge that creates about as much recoil as .380+P with a bullet that expands some but penetrates more deeply than .380 hollow points.

 

[Alllen Bundy]

I'd really like a new cartridge. I want a cartridge that creates about as much recoil as .380+P with a bullet that expands some but penetrates more deeply than .380 hollow points.

That could be the 30 Super Carry. Use a relatively light bullet and adjust the powder load and you could have the velocity needed for reliable expansion and less recoil than a 9mm. I wouldn't make quite as large a hole as a 9mm, but for people with weak or arthritic wrists it might be a good choice.

 

[C0untZer0]

That could be the 30 Super Carry.

I think that remains to be seen, whether the recoil can be made to match 380 and especially if it will cycle the guns.

The Hornady 100 gr FTX® Critical Defense® Lite in 9mm is about like a 380 ACP. Hornady claims that it has a 27% reduction in recoil. In gel tests it penetrates 10 inches - like a lot of 380 loads out there. They may fail to cycle duty-sized guns or tightly sprung guns.

I haven't seen info on bullet setback for them or I would load my LCR with them.

 

[C0untZer0]

The Remington R380 and the Rohrbaugh R9