My personal experience is that your statement would be true of a snubby J-frame revolver. I haven't used the pistols you mentioned but they are smaller and lighter than a J-frame so I have no doubt that they would be a joy to carry in a pocket. You say you are happy with the ballistics and I don't disagree -- but what about the reliability, have you also considered a snubby for similar or better ballistics plus greater reliability?
Will a .380 pocket pistol really solve all my problems?
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commygun
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I pocket carry my LCP all the time regardless of how I'm dressed. I only think about it when i remember it's time to blow the pocket lint out of it.
LeontheProfessional
Member
I wake up in the morning put my P3AT in my pocket and then literally forget that it is there. It works really well in either front or rear pocket carry. For dress pants and when I am going to be sitting down a lot it goes into the rear pocket. The reason for this is that it prints a bit while sitting down.
I already said how i felt about what to do in the OP situation, But id like to add something.
If i was to buy another .380 it definitely would be another Sig P238.
Its a very pocketable gun when you consider you need a holster with any gun, In the end there isn't much difference in size then. Weight is higher admittingly.
I carried mine in my rear pocket cocked and locked and in a holster and sat on it all day and im 6'4" 270lbs, Its one solid gun.
Id like to discuss why a .380 in the pocket is more desirable than a .40 in the waistband? In what situation can you not carry a sub compact in the waistband? Jogging? Something that requires repeated bending over? Speedo's?
Ill admit my P238 was a bit more comfy in my back pocket over my .40 in my waistband, But hardly noticeable at all.
I have yet to find a situation where i had a hard time concealing my subcompact or it made me uncomfortable.
.380
Pro's:
Lite,smaller,pocketable.
Con's:
Smaller caliber isn't as effective----Arguable i know,But most agree.
Harder to shoot with small sights and grip and heavy recoil depending on the gun.
Ammo is more expensive but not so hard to find anymore.
.40 subcompact.
Pro's:
Larger caliber, Cheaper ammo, Easier to shoot in most cases, Higher capacity, Better sights, Better accuracy in some cases, Well known as a bad guy stopper(arguable again).
Con's:
Bigger and heavier, Recoil can be rough in some guns, Only can be carried in waistband.
I know alot of what posted above is arguable and always will be. But i find the trade off's caliber wise aren't worth the smaller and lighter gun.
As ive said ive owned a P238 and i still like the .380 caliber, But as a main weapon the subcompact .40 is a much better route.
If i was to buy another .380 it definitely would be another Sig P238.
Its a very pocketable gun when you consider you need a holster with any gun, In the end there isn't much difference in size then. Weight is higher admittingly.
I carried mine in my rear pocket cocked and locked and in a holster and sat on it all day and im 6'4" 270lbs, Its one solid gun.
Id like to discuss why a .380 in the pocket is more desirable than a .40 in the waistband? In what situation can you not carry a sub compact in the waistband? Jogging? Something that requires repeated bending over? Speedo's?
Ill admit my P238 was a bit more comfy in my back pocket over my .40 in my waistband, But hardly noticeable at all.
I have yet to find a situation where i had a hard time concealing my subcompact or it made me uncomfortable.
.380
Pro's:
Lite,smaller,pocketable.
Con's:
Smaller caliber isn't as effective----Arguable i know,But most agree.
Harder to shoot with small sights and grip and heavy recoil depending on the gun.
Ammo is more expensive but not so hard to find anymore.
.40 subcompact.
Pro's:
Larger caliber, Cheaper ammo, Easier to shoot in most cases, Higher capacity, Better sights, Better accuracy in some cases, Well known as a bad guy stopper(arguable again).
Con's:
Bigger and heavier, Recoil can be rough in some guns, Only can be carried in waistband.
I know alot of what posted above is arguable and always will be. But i find the trade off's caliber wise aren't worth the smaller and lighter gun.
As ive said ive owned a P238 and i still like the .380 caliber, But as a main weapon the subcompact .40 is a much better route.
harmon rabb
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a pocket 380 is MUCH smaller and more pocketable than a j-frame. there is utterly no comparison in pocketability. my j-frame will not fit comfortably in the pocket of most of my pairs of jeans, and will not fit comfortably in the pocket of some of my pairs of shorts. my LCP will fit in anything.
i just don't get the dudes who think a j-frame is so pocketable. it's not. in fact, any pocket that will fit my j-frame will also fit my PF-9 or PT709.. and 8 shots of 9mm+p sure beats 5 shots of .38spl+p
with respect to greater reliability... my LCP has been flawless since day 1, no matter what ammo I have put through it. in an attempt to see if it will fail, i have given it mags of mixed ammo, tried different kinds of jhp's, limpwristed it badly, etc. not one failure yet. i trust it 100%.
as far as ballistics... well, yeah. .38spl+p beats the snot out of .380. can't argue with that. but you do get 2 more rounds with a pocket .380, and can reload the thing faster. also, if you're willing to put some buffalo bore through yours, you can close the ballistic gap considerably.
so, anyway, get out of here with your j-frame love
i have one, a beautiful 442. it sits in my safe. awful trigger, too big for only 5 rounds. probably the least favorite gun i own.harmon rabb
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amen
i'm inclined to think that 7 shots of .380 will sufficiently convince someone to reconsider whatever their prior course of action was. especially the +p hardcast buffalo bore stuff i have loaded in mine.That's odd because my J-frame fits easily in the front pocket of all my jeans, slacks, and shorts. I thought about getting an LCP as they are very cute but my J-frame is small enough for me, YMMV.
I too own a S&W model 37 airweight J frame and it sees safe duty more than street duty simply because it's to fat in my pocket.
And it still is not as light as my Diamondback which weighs a whole 12.3 ounces fully loaded vs a full pound plus of the Smith.
I also own a Colt Mustang PocketLite 380 and will be searching soon for an IWB holster for it.
By the way since the Sig P238 is basically a clone of the Mustang I want all to know who might be possibly contemplating purchasing the Bulldog cell phone style holster that neither the Mustang or Sig will fit this holster due to the size of the spur of those pistols.
And it still is not as light as my Diamondback which weighs a whole 12.3 ounces fully loaded vs a full pound plus of the Smith.
I also own a Colt Mustang PocketLite 380 and will be searching soon for an IWB holster for it.
By the way since the Sig P238 is basically a clone of the Mustang I want all to know who might be possibly contemplating purchasing the Bulldog cell phone style holster that neither the Mustang or Sig will fit this holster due to the size of the spur of those pistols.
Fastcast
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Hmmmmm....Just recently bought a LCP for the wife and it has NOT been 100% reliable.
We have approximately 240 rounds through it now and have had 2 FTE and 2 FTF or not completely go into battery. I replaced the recoil spring with the Wolff 12lb spring at a 130 rounds and have not had anymore FTF but still had a FTE in that last 110 rounds, just shot yesterday.
I'm NOT feeling all the love for the LCP right now and not sure what to think of the little gun. I'm more of a CZ & Beretta guy and every CZ and Beretta pistol I've owned over the years, has been 100% bang, bang, bang, that's why I like them. I'm not really trusting this LCP at all but not sure if 2 FTE in 240 rounds justifies a call to Ruger. The FTF are a known issue with the stock 9lb spring and believe I've solved that problem. It's the FTE's that are really troubling me.......Any thoughts?....Should I call Ruger or put another 200 rounds through it?
So to the OP's question....No the pocket .380 will not solve your problem, if it performs like our LCP has....IMO.....If it's not reliable, there's still a problem!
harmon rabb
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I'd call Ruger. 4 failures in 240 rounds is not acceptable. I must have 500+ rounds through mine, without a single failure.
You could always get rid of it and get the micro desert eagle or tcp. Maybe you'd have better luck with one of those.
You could always get rid of it and get the micro desert eagle or tcp. Maybe you'd have better luck with one of those.
Fastcast
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That's what I was thinking too, call them.....I don't know anything about the DE but NO thanks on the TCP. My brother owns a few Taurus pistols, one being the new 709 Slim and from what I've seen of his Taurus's, they're even less reliable than this LCP.
Both my wife and I have got LCP's as BUGs; and, at times that's all we carry in appendix carry.
Some are almost 100% reliable, others you must tune up extensively. It's a very small firearm with some power depending of the ammo you carry. It is light and much more comfortable to carry than any of the j-frames that we usually also carry as BUGs.
No, it does not solve all your problems, but when I need to grab something for the quick shopping trip, it's usually the LCP.
It's good and an accurate firearm.
Some are almost 100% reliable, others you must tune up extensively. It's a very small firearm with some power depending of the ammo you carry. It is light and much more comfortable to carry than any of the j-frames that we usually also carry as BUGs.
No, it does not solve all your problems, but when I need to grab something for the quick shopping trip, it's usually the LCP.
It's good and an accurate firearm.
NMGonzo
Member
I want an LCP
Any season gun.
Any season gun.
IMTHDUKE
Member
These you pocket carry in a good holster...and you will carry them because their made for it.
If you want smaller yet less bang....
If you want smaller yet less bang....
LeontheProfessional
Member
What is the trigger pull on the Rohrbaugh and Seecamp respectively?
I must say that of all my CC guns the LCP can be carried anytime anywhere with anything. It is my go to summer carry gun. Here in south MS the heat is almost unbearable, even in shorts and a t-shirt, there is no way I'm going to strap my big iron on my soon to be sweaty hip unless I'm going into a known hostile area (like New Orleans ). If you are tired of doing the IWB thing all the time a true pocket gun is what you want.
I'm really getting into pocket carry, I might do it exclusively if I get the pm9 I want.
). If you are tired of doing the IWB thing all the time a true pocket gun is what you want. I'm really getting into pocket carry, I might do it exclusively if I get the pm9 I want.
IMTHDUKE
Member
I don't have the numbers but, the R9 trigger is smooth as silk and consistent. The Seecamp to me is longer and stronger.
LeontheProfessional
Member
I just did some googling on this matter. It seems that the R9 is 7lbs which is perfectly acceptable. The Seecamp is 11.5 lbs which is absolutely outrageous.
http://www.seecamp.com/products.htm
IMTHDUKE
Member
Owning and firing both...I would agree with this. The Seecamp is verrry long but not as hard as a Colt Pocket Nine that I owned and the hard trigger was the reason I sold it. Took it to a gunsmith and he told me nothing he could do to make is better.
It sounds like concealment is your concern. I carry a Taurus M85 .38 2" snubbie in an IWB holster at about the 2 o'clock position. It hides very easily under a T shirt. Many experts claim that the .38 has more stopping power then the .380 even with the new ammo such as the Hornady Self Defense ammo. The snubbie has sufficient stopping power and is easily concealed.
WRGADog
Member
Other options
Kahr PM9 or P380. I have both and they are accurate, reliable, and very easy to conceal.
Kahr PM9 or P380. I have both and they are accurate, reliable, and very easy to conceal.
skers69
Member
My good friend purchased a LCP not long ago and carry's it in a Galco rig in his front pocket ALL the time. I can never tell that he is packing other than he is always packing. I shot it a couple of times. While it shoots very different than my guns...I did find it effective as a CCW gun. I think it will be my next carry gun for the very fact that I can carry it in a truly easy fasion.
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