Will a .380 pocket pistol really solve all my problems?

[kd7nqb]

Ok first this is NOT a thread about is a .380 a "man stopper" or anything of that nature there are plenty of those threads. I have decided that I am ok with the ballistics of the .380acp

Currently I carry a full size M&P in .40s&w, I generally carry it an IWB holster. The holster is a comp-tac mtac and is comfortable but I have to be careful about the shirts I wear as concealment garments as the gun is big and requires more effort than I think a CCW rig should.

So I am looking at either the Ruger LCP or P3AT I have shot both and there both good guns. I have myself believing that once I get one of these pocket miracles I can toss it in a pocket holster and never have to worry about how I dress again.

How true is this statement?

Also I have considered a smaller "belt size" gun such as a sub-compact glock but I think that if I am going to be forced to carry on the belt than I should just stick with my M&P.

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

The best thing I ever did for my CC habits/dress-code was buy a Kel-tec PF-9. I do not consider it to be pocket-carry-size. I'm not the best one for answering the question you posed (I don't own a .380), but I'm just throwing in my $0.02. With newer 9mm guns as small as they are (PM9, PF-9, Rohrbaugh R9, etc.), I felt it was not in my best interest to drop down to the .380. The smaller caliber requires better shot placement and tiny guns do not handle as well as slightly larger ones, in my hands. I carry the PF-9 in an MTAC, IWB at 4 o'clock. If I need deep concealment, I go with an ankle rig or I will tuck my shirt over the holster or use a chest-band. For those times when I cannot possibly afford to be made, the .380 might be the better option - pocket draw is often ideal; ankle draw is one of the worst and the other draws are "good".

I wish I could give better insight, but I really think this is a personal question... How deeply do you want or need to conceal? How proficient are you with a tiny gun, like P3AT-size?

However, to answer your REAL question... No, the .380 does not have the man-stopping, knock-down power of the 40 S&W

 

[killchain]

As my Dad has said about his LCP...

"You may wonder if you want to stash that .45 when you go somewhere. I have my pistol ALL THE TIME."

I used to conceal a Taurus PT145 Pro, and I finally broke down and bought a Kel-Tec for "deep concealed carry." Best thing I've done for self defense.

I bought a P-3AT, and I cannot tell you how much easier it is to carry. Right front pocket, every day, all day.

 

[GojuBrian]

The .380 is not for me, but lots of folks feel comfortable carrying that only. I do carry my lcr with 38+p's in my front pocket alot though.

The pocket .380's are suited for carry, but not for self defense. Better than a big stick though.

 

[mnrivrat]

I pocket carried a Kel-Tec P3 AT for a year and then switched to a 13oz J-frame size revolver 5 or 6 years ago. Nothing carries easier then the little P3AT , but one can pocket carry other guns.

It is the pocket carry that is the key to not having to dress in any special way, and if I am dressed, I am carrying. I carry with the gun in a pocket holster, and when getting dressed it goes into my front pocket just like my wallet goes into my back pocket, and the other stuff into the opposite front pocket (carry only the gun in the choosen pocket)

 

[harmon rabb]

So I am looking at either the Ruger LCP or P3AT I have shot both and there both good guns. I have myself believing that once I get one of these pocket miracles I can toss it in a pocket holster and never have to worry about how I dress again.

How true is this statement?

well, if you're comfortable relying on a .380, your statement is 100% true. if you can fit a cell phone or wallet in your pocket, you can fit a LCP in there -- and the LCP will probably be lighter

 

[larryh1108]

The pocket .380's are suited for carry, but not for self defense.

Huh? Then why carry at all?

 

[heeler]

I carry my Diamondback 380 every where I go,barring those places where a gun is not legal.
I put mine mostly in a leather RKBA pocket holster when I am wearing shorts and drop it off in the cargo pocket.
You would be hard pressed to even know I had a pistol on me.
When ever I wear jeans or dress slacks I place the pistol in a very small and unobtrussive Bulldog cell phone style holster and just clip it on my belt.
This holster fits practically all the new wave small 380's.
In fact I walked past several police officers just this past Friday who were milling about in a small nearby store and not one even gave it a glance.
It just appears to be another electronic gizmo on someone's side.
With this pistol and carry set up I dress just as I always have instead of the other way around.

 

[bikerdoc]

How true is this statement?

Very true, When I need to it is a good option. Just practice shot placement.

 

[Oyeboten]

It will solve every problem a .380 of it's configuration and condition and ammunition can solve.


That is a certainty.

 

[PX15]

dk7nqb:

Well, here's my opinion as to whether or not a 380cal. pistol will really solve all your (carry?) problems.

Yes, and no.

I live in S.E. Ga, where in the summer, it's hotter and more humid than in the 7 depths of hell.. So obviously, cc is an iffy proposition because of the extreme weather, which dictates a very light wardrobe.

I have an LCP (w/CT Laser).

I have found that in MOST of my pants I can carry Ruger's little pocket rocket in my back pocket in a Hedley holster and I'm good to go. The LCP is thin and light, and easy to carry concealed under most conditions.

The ONLY times I cannot carry the LCP comfortably concealed is when I'm wearing a pair of jeans or trousers with shallow back pockets.. At those times the LCP is still reasonably well concealed, but if someone is standing directly behind you (say, at a line at the store) the very top of the LCP "could" be identified as a firearm by someone looking "down" at it from above, or if you are sitting at a table in a chair with no solid back the top of the LCP "could" be identified as a firearm.

I keep saying "could" be identified as opposed to "would" be identified because top of the black LCP could as easily be identified as a tool or something else rather than a firearm..

I believe most average folks simply do not understand that a firearm can be small enough to be carried in a pocket (back or front) and pay it little to no attention.

A also have a Seecamp LWS380 which is even smaller than the small LCP and I"ve yet to find a situation where I cannot carry it concealed.

So for those times I'm wearing jeans with a shallow back pocket the LWS380 makes the trip.

For those who say the LWS380 is too costly I would suggest an alternative, a very good alternative in fact, is the Seecamp LWS32. I believe the LWS32 runs around $400, but it's the best of the best, absolute top quality and a fine cc choice..

My wife has her own LWS32 and loves it.

I think the addition of a Crimson Trace Laser to the LCP (@ roughly $164) is a good move. The CT Laser makes the LCP even more accurate, and adds a dimension to any self defense equation the Seecamp cannot offer.

IF CT made a Laser for the Seecamp, I'd have one.

IMO the Ruger LCP is a fine cc choice, and I've yet to hear of anyone volunteering to be shot by a "puny" 380cal. round to determine it's effects on human tissue.

Get an LCP, load it up with quality self defense rounds, stick it in your pocket and forget about it.

Buy jeans with deep pockets..

Just personal opinion, no offense to those who disagree.


Best Wishes,

jesse

 

[huntsman]

How true is this statement?

very true too and I'm a recent convert to the pocket pistol craze.

 

[DeepSouth]

I have myself believing that once I get one of these pocket miracles I can toss it in a pocket holster and never have to worry about how I dress again.

You may wonder if you want to stash that .45 when you go somewhere. I have my pistol ALL THE TIME

I toss my PM45 in my pocket and forget about it all the time, no matter how I'm dressed. I don't mind it at all, sure it fills the pocket up but I've never had anyone notice it that I know of, sure it is 18oz's but Iit doesn't bother me at all. I know other people that would be unconvertible with a NAA Mini in their pocket.

It's all in your head.

 

[easyg]

So I am looking at either the Ruger LCP or P3AT I have shot both and there both good guns. I have myself believing that once I get one of these pocket miracles I can toss it in a pocket holster and never have to worry about how I dress again.

How true is this statement?

Well, yes and no....

Yes, you can pocket carry the LCP or the P3AT, but that does not mean that you will never have to worry about how you dress.
Some pants have more "gun friendly" pockets than others.
And in some pants it will be more difficult to draw the weapon.
And in some pants the pistol will print more than in others.

Also I have considered a smaller "belt size" gun such as a sub-compact glock but I think that if I am going to be forced to carry on the belt than I should just stick with my M&P.

Belt carry does offer some advantages...
A good belt will help distribute the gun's weight better.
You generally have a wider range of holster selection.
You almost will always have a quicker draw from a belt holster than from a pocket.
And belt carry frees up your pockets for other items you might want to carry (pocket-knife, wallet, cell phone, car keys, coin change, pepper-spray, smokes, lighter, etc....).

I have to disagree about sticking to your M&P....
A full sized pistol is not as comfortable to carry as a smaller more compact pistol, even when both are carried on the belt.
You might be surprised at how much more comfortable a subcompact on the belt is compared to a full-sized pistol on the belt.

My Glock 27 is less bothersome in a holster on my belt than my S&W Airweight 637 is in a holster carried inside my front pocket.


Good luck,
Easy

 

[Guns and more]

My new favorite is the Sig P-238. Fun to shoot, reliable, low recoil, and a great pocket pistol.
It solved my problem. Now finding a pocket holster that I like is another matter. It has to cover the safety, look good, and stay put.

 

[docsleepy]

Taurus TCP738 (.380): pocket holster, front pocket. Works even in dress (thin) slacks. Wonderful. Looks like a wallet. Regular wallet in back pocket.

When wearing jeans, the 5-shot snubbie (s&w revolver, no hammer) goes in a pocket holster, into right right pocket. But the little Taurus is thinner, smaller.

I reload for both so I have plenty of practice rounds, and I keep some commercial to use for carry, if that is a concern.

The taurus has been flawless. Just amazing. Accuracy with it is better than with the 2" snubbie. (For me). Revolver wasn't well concealed with the dress jeans; tcp738 solved that.

 

[Sixgun101]

I have a saying: A .22 in the hand beats a .357 in the car.

I guess you can say I have done it all in the CCW arena. I have carried for 20 years, everything from a Ruger GP-100 or a full size 1911, down through the J-frames to the Kel-tec.

I have carried a P-32 for a few years, those times when I couldn't carry something bigger, like my K-40. I got the P-32 when they were "new" and "hot", long before they made a .380 that size.

My career (until recently) had me in and out of people's houses all day. Lots of squatting and sitting on the floor repairing things. During work hours, I carried in a F.A.G. bag for a quite a while. It kinda went with my line of work, and I could carry some decent sized artillery in there. They have drawbacks, some of which I found out were quite unacceptable after a while.

Re-evaluating my threat environment brought me to the conclusion that during the work day I was in Very Low threat, as my clientele were all high end and I traveled in the good neighborhoods. During those times, I dropped down to the .32. Most often, I had a full size in the truck. As soon as practical, I would switch to a larger platform in a belt slide or paddle, strong side at 4, with an open button down for cover. This was my not-at-work, back-home-in-the-so-so-burbs mode.

As for the Kel-tec... I found a novel way to carry it that I will now share with you. There were a certain brand of khakis that I took a liking to. These particular pants have the hidden stretch panels at the belt line. There is a "loop" in the front pocket that acts as a slack area for the stretch waist. A kel-tec with the belt clip on the left side slips right in and clips into that loop of pocket fabric and it just hangs there, right in the top of your pocket. The keys and change sit in the bottom, and there is no conflict with access to either. It also does not print in the pleated khakis, and only slightly in the flat-fronts.

A tip for jeans carry: Again with the lefthanded clip, clip the pistol on your belt, and put the nose of it into your watch pocket. Insta-holster! Pull out your t-shirt and let it cover your belt. I have never been "made" this way.

A tip for the clip: get a piece of 3/8" heat shrink tubing and slip it over the clip, then shrink to fit. Adds friction to the clip (but not too much) and keeps your pocket or belt healthy.

 

[sidheshooter]

My new favorite is the Sig P-238. Fun to shoot, reliable, low recoil, and a great pocket pistol.
It solved my problem. Now finding a pocket holster that I like is another matter. It has to cover the safety, look good, and stay put.

Another Sig P238 fan here, as above. It hasn't solved all my problems (for example, I'm still losing all my hair, my back hurts sometimes, and I don't own a '63 corvette) but it is definitely my go-to security blanket.

Guns and more, I've found a good partner in fellow THR guy Stephen's economical leather pocket rig at http://www.rkbaholsters.com/

It's stable In my pockets, at least, and is molded to cover the safety in the on position. Breaks up the outline pretty well, too, since only the inside surface is boned to fit the gun.

FWIW.

 

[DasFriek]

I have a saying also "A subcompact .40 in the waist is better than a .380 in a pocket".

Ive owned a Sig P238 and loved it, But i would never carry it as a main gun. It was a back up only.

I then went threw a phase where i sold all but one ccw guns i were testing and picked the full sized 1911 to be my year round "all the time" carry gun.
No explanation needed why i did.

BUT spring and summer hit Ohio and i started having issues carrying that large of a gun in light clothing. Boy was i in a pickle.
I couldn't buy a .380 as i don't trust it as a main gun, The same goes for 9mm actually also. But thats just my hang up.
I wanted a gun that made me feel that if i had to use it would stop a BG in his tracks.
My solution? SpringField Armory XD subcompact .40
Its close to half the weight of my all steel 1911 and just a tad over 1/2 as small.
I prefer waistband carry anyhow and the gun is wearable 24 hours at a time without it causing any discomfort.

My issue wasn't if the .380 was effective, It was is it effective enough?
It will do the job yes, But id trade some size and weight for peace of mind.

My point is that even tho your full sized gun is giving you issues like mine did me, That waistband carry with a subcompact is still a Big improvement.

Go with a Kahr PM40 if you can afford it and there isn't much size difference over it and many .380's.
I tried to do this with the .45 round as its my round of choice but there was no chance of buying anything small enough that was under $1000
If the day i bought my XD40 had the store had a G29 in 10mm i would have purchased that instead.

 

[CDW4ME]

The Ruger LCP and P3AT are both easy to pocket carry.
Only a problem in the thinnest of dress pants (which I hate anyway); in most pants, they are easy to "forget" about.
I'm not thrilled about being armed with "only" a 380, but due to certain circumstances, the 380 is often pulling solo defensive duty.

 

[harmon rabb]

Go with a Kahr PM40 if you can afford it and there isn't much size difference over it and many .380's.

the PM40 is too big for most pockets, although it would be very comfortable to carry IWB due to its low weight and thinness.

 

[ejfalvo]

For me it was all about comfort - or I wouldn't carry as much as I should. I have a KT P-11 with the belt clip I carried for quite a while. It was fine for the winters. Last year I bought an LCP and haven't looked back. I keep it loaded with Speer Gold Dot and either use a Blackhawk pocket or IWB holster. It disappears in my pocket or under a shirt.

 

[MisterMike]

The two pistols you've mentioned are excellent choices, but I went for a different .380. After messing around with "compact" guns, I now almost carry a Sig P238 in a Bullard pocket holster:

Though the Sig is a little bigger than the two guns you're considering, it's still very compact and, most notably, very thin. I've found that I can pretty much always conceal it comfortably in any jeans, trousers, or shorts in my wardrobe. However, the tighter the pants, the more it tends toward printing.

Generally speaking, I've found that pleated pants with fairly deep front pockets work the best. The pleats tend to provide a bit of extra material and pretty much completely hide the fact that there's anything in my pocket. Shallower pockets tend to make me feel as though the grip might be spotted, but in reality that's not an issue; the grip's never peeked out.

One thing I've noted in a couple of pairs of cargo-style pants/shorts is that the bottoms of the front pockets are extremely low. When I wear those pants there tends to be a bit of a pendulum effect, with the pistol swinging back and forth. Those pants are loose enough that it's not evident that there's a hunk of metal in my pocket, but it's a disconcerting feeling. I bought a tuckable IWB to wear with in these circumstances, but I truthfully haven't used it. I just got used to the feeling.

One thing I do like about pocket carry is the notion that you can casually slip your hand into your pocket if you feel that circumstances dictate a heightened state of readiness. I believe that the potential to draw quickly is about as good as you can get with any concealed setup.

As for a subcompact Glock, I can add this: before getting the Sig, I generally carried a Glock 26 in a tuckable IWB holster. It's a reasonable CC option, but pocket carrying the Sig is far easier and much more comfortable. Only you can make the decision as to whether the ballistics and quality of the pistols you're considering offset the greater power and, in my view, reliability of something like a subcompact Glock. However, looking at it strictly from the viewpoint of comfort and convenience, it's not a close call.

 

[skoro]

It'll definitley solve most of 'em...

I have a three gun carry rotation:

S&W 642
KelTec PF-9
KelTec P3AT

Any fits in a pocket and is easy to conceal under almost any circumstances.

 

[jon_in_wv]

An M&P compact is a world small for carry than a full size M&P and gives up very little in the way of shoot ability. The smaller 380s like the LCP are a great option for when you absolutely can't carry one on your belt and really need to conceal well. I currently carry and M&P 9C on my belt 99% of the time and a Ruger LCP in my pocket for the rare times I can't do IWB carry.