What's your pocket pistol history?

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commygun

commygun

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For those of you who have habitually pocket carried I'm curious what your progression of choices has been. I started out with a Jennings J-22, more of a pocket prayer than a pocket pistol but I was young and ignorant at the time. It did get me used to concealed carry though. After that I experimented with a bobbed hammer Charter Bulldog Pug and a Grendel P13 but the Pug was too bulky and the Grendel too unreliable. For a couple of years it was a Davis D-38 derringer. Very reliable and a couple of +P .38 Special hollowpoints seemed like a decent level of protection but it was definitely akward to manipulate compared to a DA revolver or semi-auto. Next up was the AMT .380 DAO Back-Up. This gun was stone reliable, truly pocket sized, easy to shoot, and had 6.380's on tap. I carried it for several years. It was a little heavy in the pocket though so when the NAA .32 Guardian came along I gave it a try for awhile. Then the Kel-Tec P-32 became available and I switched to it. Loved the light weight and carried it for a few years. Finally my current pocket carry, the Ruger LCP, came out and it really seems to be ideal for true everday jeans pocket carry. Small, flat, light, reliable, good quality and decent power. How about you?
 
An 1 5/8" NAA super companion loaded with 2 gn of bullseye, now a NAA .22wmr with a lazerlyte. Allways in my watch pocket.
 
-NAA .22 Mag
-Kel Tec P32

(Bear with me on the order of the next ones)
-AMT Backup 45
-Hi Standard .22 Mag (Derringer)
-38 derringer
-Seecamp 32 (If they wern't designed for the old Gold dots)
-Kahr PM9 (piece of crap AND bad service)
-Assorted J frames

-Subcompact Glocks

The Glocks and J frames are all I'd recommend (I know I forgot a few)
 
The 380's hit like a Stinger from a .22 rifle, which aint much.
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I don't care who you are, that's funny.

I carry a S&W 642 most of the time. That's what I started with and I really like it. Sometimes I carry a Keltec P32. I have picked up a Keltec PF9 and a Taurus TCP to try, but I haven't got to the range with them yet.
 
In the past I have carried a Taurus P-22, Taurus .38, Ruger SP101, kel-tec p32, and Colt .380, and Kahr CWP.
 
24 years of service from my Seecamp LWS32, interupted once for a month long facelift back at the factory a couple years ago. A Walther TPH filled in during the interim.
 
I started with a series of j-frames. For a variety of reasons I no longer own a j-frame.

I went through four Kel-Tecs (P32, two P3ATs, and a P-11). For just one reason (cough, cough, POS), I no longer own any Kel-Tecs, nor will I in the future.

IME, the Kahr PM9 is the only pocket pistol I have owned that is worthy of trust and daily carry. I carried mine daily for 3 1/2 years and shot it weekly.

I still own it, although for the last year and a half or so, I carry it's big brother, the P45. That PM9 is not going anywhere. I still carry it maybe a half-dozen times per year when the situation dictates.
 
I started with a KelTec P3AT but lost interest after a couple hundred rounds and lots of light primer strikes. I traded it for an excellent Kahr MK9 and carried it for a year before I realized that a lighter pistol would be better for pocket carry, which was and remains my primary method. Since I loved the MK9 so much it was natural to trade it in on a new PM9, which I have loved and carried for 2 or 3 years now.

On occassion I also carry a S&W 642 that I bought my wife at the same time I bought my PM9, but for the most part it does bedroom duty.
 
I go with either a Kahr PM9 9mm, a S&W Bodyguard .38sp, an LCP .380, or an NAA Pug .22mag depending upon the size of my pockets and what I am doing at the time.

I've tried a Sig P238 and that's what I really like the best, but mine hasn't proved quite reliable enough. I've also tried the DB380 and it was the least reliable gun I've ever owned.

I prefer to carry my STI Shadow IWB, but I probably carry the Pug the most when I don't have the Shadow on me.
 
I started with an Iver Johnson TP-22, which turned out to be most reliable and accurate with CCI .22 Stingers. Not a bad little gun, very concealable, but sensitive to ammo brand and pocket lint. I liked the Walther PPK looks of the TP-22, so I moved up to a centerfire genuine Walther PPK in .32 ACP, which I still like and carry occasionally, when maximum concealment is important. My usual compact carry piece now is a S&W 642 .38, which is a bit bigger than the other two, but more powerful, and not as sensitive to ammo type, or pocket lint.
 
I've tried small-frame .38 and .357 revolvers and didn't like them, either for carrying or shooting. Then I went to a Kahr PM9. This is far superior (IMO) than the revolvers, but is still a little large for smaller pockets like those of jeans, though it carries unobtrusively in cargo pants. Subcompact belt guns like the Glock 26/27 and S&W M&P compact are also too large, blocky and square for successful pocket carry.
 
I've tried small-frame .38 and .357 revolvers and didn't like them, either for carrying or shooting. Then I went to a Kahr PM9. This is far superior (IMO) than the revolvers, but is still a little large for smaller pockets like those of jeans, though it carries unobtrusively in cargo pants. Subcompact belt guns like the Glock 26/27 and S&W M&P compact are also too large, blocky and square for successful pocket carry.
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People disbelieve me when I state that the glock CAN be CCW'd in Tappered fit Carhartt Jeans,(NOT gangbanger pants!) OR slacks in a pocket holster.

They can.

Try it.
 
I'm with you Nomad. I've occasionally carried a glock 30 all day in a pocket holster, which is considerably larger than a 26/27.
 
1) S&W 642
2) replaced that with a Kahr MK9
3) replaced that with a Kahr PM9
 
Taurus M85 steel w/ CT lasergrip.
S&W 638 Airweight w/CT lasergrip


The Taurus was kind of heavy, but more fun to shooot. I still tote it around in a holster.
I really like the Airweight. I figure the laser helps make up for old eyes and only 5 shots.
 
I started with a kel-tec P11. It worked well but I had a hard time making hits with it and I didn't like how loose the plastic sights were in the slide. I sold this pistol pretty fast.

Then I went to a Taurus PT-140, too big for pocket carry really, ended up selling it.

After that I got a kel-tec P3AT with a crimson trace laser and it was the perfect size but I hated how sensitive the magazine release was. Even if I didn't push it the mags would sometimes pop out when I put some pressure on the front of the bottom plate with my third finger. I ended up selling this one too.

I'm hoping to try a revolver for pocket carry next. I really wish kel-tec would make a P3AT with a heel mag release, that would be the perfect pocket gun for me. I was also looking at a polish P64 pistol.
 
1. 1911, carried SOB
2. SP101-2", SOB, underarm
3. Glock 19, underarm
4. SA P9C, SOB
5. EAA carry comp, SOB
6. S&W M&P340, front pocket carry
7. S&W 640, underarm carry
 
1989, Colt 'New Service', 2 inch, .45 ACP, modified for the Pocket.

1989 to 2009, S & W Model 36, 2 inch, .38 Special, heavily modified for the front Pocket of Levis.

2009 to present, S & W Model 10-6, 3 inch, .38 Special, moderately modified for IWB or front trouser/pants Pocket.


Soon - S & W Model 10-5, 2 inch, heavily modified for the front pocket of most Levi-like Blue Jeans or general Trousers.
 
I'm with you Nomad. I've occasionally carried a glock 30 all day in a pocket holster, which is considerably larger than a 26/27.
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THAT impresses me.

I'm sure it is possible, but it would involve wardrobe changes on my part.
(Not that that should rule it out)
 
People disbelieve me when I state that the glock CAN be CCW'd in Tappered fit Carhartt Jeans,(NOT gangbanger pants!) OR slacks in a pocket holster.

They can.

Try it.
Click to expand...

I have pants that are not particularly easy to draw my LCP out of the pocket. I cannot imagine putting my glock in there.
 
LCP w/ct in an uncle mikes pocket holster. easiest pistol ever carried. loaded down with speer gold dot. totally reliable, no failures yet.
 
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