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

[Rexster]

After doing some force-on-force training, I became much less comfortable with pocket carry for my only gun. Once a fight starts, one tends to bend at the waist, for a variety of reasons, and that complicates access to the pocketed weapon.

I had noticed this much earlier, when crouched behind cover, at work on police patrol, and became uncomfortable because my pants were crushing my backup snubby against my leg. Yet, I didn't really make the weapon-access connection right away, because at work, my primary handgun is in the open, on my hip.

To be clear, I do still use pocket carry. When walking through a particularly bad area, I can have my hand already on the grip of a pocketed weapon, which solves the access problem, though of course, make sure the pants will allow the weapon to be drawn, if one is bent at the waist. This is easier with spur-less-hammer snubbies than most autopistols, particularly striker-fired autopistols. Autopistol users just need to makes sure the opening of the pocket is big enough.

My pocketable weapons are Ruger SP101 snubbies, S&W J-frame .38 snubbies, and a Seecamp LWS-32. I virtually never carry one of these by itself, in a pocket. If one is pocketed, another weapon will be available that is not pocketed. Some folks roll their eyes when they learn I virtually always carry two handguns, and say something about one gun being enough for a fight. Well, one gun usually is plenty enough for a fight, but a guy has to be able to deploy that gun. Multiple guns increases the odds of one gun being accessible.

 

[combatantr2]

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

> Really depends where you point it.

 

[mugsie]

FWIW - I carry either a S&W 642 revolver in a pocket holster and a Ruger LCP. I find myself carrying the Ruger more and more. It conceals better, is lighter and I can even forget about it being there. I'm what they call in the business as skinny deprived, so the pocket carry works best for me. Besides, the way I figure it, both of these are belly guns. If I'm pulling my gun out, the BG is a foot or so away and I'm emptying the entire magazine into him. If he falls, fine, if not, then I'll deal with it, but at least I'll be dealing with it while he's carrying a whole lot of lead inside. Anyonw who thinks the larger pistols give better accuracy, more stopping power etc better think again. This is not a hollywood 25 yards away super accurate no recoil gun fight - this is a quick, close and life or death struggle. So, I find the fact that with the smaller calibers, I can carry 100% (or thereabouts) of the time and not have to worry about leaving it at home for one reason or the other. Go with what you can carry comfortably and most of the time, you won't regret it ever. (every head of someone defending themselves and saying afterwards "I wish I had a larger caliber"?)

 

[PX15]

mugsie:

I'm with you...

I have 5 snubby's (3 Colts/2 Smiths) and NONE of them, while very good revolvers, conceal as easily as my LCP (or LWS380)..

I carry daily in a rear pocket (wallet style) holster... Just what works best for me.

If I am ever confronted by a bg I can reach in one back pocket to give him/her/them my wallet (which by the way would have very little cash in it), or I can reach into my other back pocket and offer them a look at my LCP (or Seecamp)...

Just depends on how I judge the situation to be.

Having a CT Laser on the LCP might not help, but it won't hurt either..

I love snubby's, but as long as a revolver has a cylinder it's gonna be more difficult to conceal than the extremely light and thin Ruger LCP.

Just personal opinion, no offense to anyone.

Best Wishes,

Jesse

 

[Holgersen]

I used to think that pocket carry would solve all of my problems and then I found out how annoying pocket carry was. I couldn't stand it flopping around in my pocket and the holsters made it look like I was carry a small paper back book in my pocket. I only pocket carry in winter if I have a big coat on, which is usually never because I live in North Carolina and where I am it's just not that cold in the winter.

I solved all of my problems by getting a sub compact 9mm. The PM9 to be exact. In a IWB holster I can where pretty much the lightest thinnist t-shirt I have and it's still completely concealed. I can basically wear anything I want and it's totally concealed and I have my pockets free for my cell phone, keys, pens, change, money, knife and all that other crap that I also hate in my pockets.

The point is you don't have to pocket carry to wear anything you want and still carry a gun. Of course if you're like some people on this forum you should be able to conceal a full size 1911 in a wife beater

 

[Hawthorne2k]

I've pocket-carried a Kel-Tec P3AT practically every day for the last two years, but I think I'm going to give my Sccy CPX-1 (a Kel-Tec PF9 clone) another try. I can easily pocket-carry it in my work khakis, and it gives me a little ooomph behind every shot.

As for pocket carrying with jeans, I just can't see how it would work. If I'm wearing jeans, I switch to IWB carry and an untucked t-shirt.

 

[BADUNAME37]

.380 with a Robert Mika pocket holster, and even with tight jeans, I am good to go! With my LCP, I can actually hit basketball-size rocks nearly every shot at 100 yards!

Of course, I realize I will not be taking any shots like that in a defense situation, but I do feel proficient with the gun! Also, with the load I have, it is quite formidable.

 

[Steve 48]

Any gun is better than a rock in your pocket!!!

 

[TexasBill]

I used to carry a Walther PPK in the back pocket of my jeans. Stuck an top-opening notebook in front of it and nobody ever noticed.

Don't have any use for the itty-bitty guns but do carry a Walther PK380 or Beretta 84FS Cheetah in rotation with a couple of S&W J-frames and feel adequately armed with any of them. Nothing against the LCP, Kel-Tec or SIG P238, just don't think they're right for me.

 

[PX15]

Inspector:


My wife (senior citizen) can hit volleyball sized rocks at 200 yards with her LCP, and in calm wind I (another senior citizen) can hit baseball sized rocks at 300 yards with my CT Laser equipped LCP. (In bright sunlight).

Well, actually I might be stretching the truth just a tad, but I will say that our LCP's ARE the most accurate mouseguns, at self defense distance, that we've ever owned..

Best Wishes,

Jesse

P.S. No offense to you.. Just messin' with you.

 

[BHP FAN]

yes.

 

[TonyT]

I opted for a Kahr PM-9 in a Mikva pocket hilster. works well for me.

 

[Cards81fan]

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?

First, I am surprised how many people went off-topic in this thread and commented on the effectiveness of the round. The OP was asking about pistols and their carry, not the caliber.

Secondly, I must say your statement is very true, in my experience. I have a LCP for the exact same reasons you outlined. I use a Uncle Mikes IWB black nylon #10 holster 100% of the time I carry.

If I wear slacks, I pocket carry no problem (I can draw and remove the holster in with my thumb in one swift movement). The loose fit slack are somewhat "bloused" at the pockets and easily conceal the pistol. It is not consipcuous at all.

If I wear jeans, I clip the holster on my waistband; my shirt is always untucked with jeans. I am often out wrestling with nephews, etc.. and could not comfortably carry the XD40 or the Glock 26 doing much of the physical activity with them. The LCP however remains unobtrusive.

With the purchase of the .380, I never have to worry about a pistol being too bulky to fit IWB in business casual dress or limit my physical activity. I can always grab the LCP, and usually do.

As an aside, I would highly recommend the Taurus TCP, even over the LCP I myself carry. For reasons, search about the TCP within my prior posts on this forum.

 

[Confederate]

A small revolver would be a better pick in my view. My own choice would be a .357 S&W 66 or a Ruger Speed-Six.

I knew a fellow who was approached a few years ago by two men, one with a gun. He managed to get out his .380 when they were distracted and began firing at both.

He was stunned when they turned around and took off. Both were hit several times, but though they were seriously injured, neither showed any signs of being hit.

The shooter initially thought he had missed both men.

So no, I don't think a .380 will solve anything.

 

[Fastcast]

A small revolver would be a better pick in my view. My own choice would be a .357 S&W 66 or a Ruger Speed-Six.

I knew a fellow who was approached a few years ago by two men, one with a gun. He managed to get out his .380 when they were distracted and began firing at both.

He was stunned when they turned around and took off. Both were hit several times, but though they were seriously injured, neither showed any signs of being hit.

The shooter initially thought he had missed both men.

So no, I don't think a .380 will solve anything.

LOL ..... Sure seems to me it solved his problem......The same thing could have just as well happened with .38 or 9mm or any handgun caliber. There's a video on Youtube of a store clerk shooting a scumbag 3 times with a .40, who was holding the place up and he still continued running out the door and disappeared off the video, even after being shot 3 times with .40

99.9% of the time you pull any caliber and start shooting back, the yellow belly, POS will run like hell.

 

[BADUNAME37]

That I would have to see to believe, No offense intended!

You just aim about 10" to 12" over the rock (basketball-size) and fire away! I might possibly be able to shoot a video of me doing it, however then people might say "it was staged, I still don't believe it!"

I took a shot or two and was a bit low, then I immediately knew just where to hold to hit it. I'm shooting Meister hard lead 62g Round Nose with quite a bit of ooomph behind it! I found out by accident that the load I put together is really quite accurate!

 

[BADUNAME37]

First, I am surprised how many people went off-topic in this thread and commented on the effectiveness of the round. The OP was asking about pistols and their carry, not the caliber.

Secondly, I must say your statement is very true, in my experience. I have a LCP for the exact same reasons you outlined. I use a Uncle Mikes IWB black nylon #10 holster 100% of the time I carry.

If I wear slacks, I pocket carry no problem (I can draw and remove the holster in with my thumb in one swift movement). The loose fit slack are somewhat "bloused" at the pockets and easily conceal the pistol. It is not consipcuous at all.

If I wear jeans, I clip the holster on my waistband; my shirt is always untucked with jeans. I am often out wrestling with nephews, etc.. and could not comfortably carry the XD40 or the Glock 26 doing much of the physical activity with them. The LCP however remains unobtrusive.

With the purchase of the .380, I never have to worry about a pistol being too bulky to fit IWB in business casual dress or limit my physical activity. I can always grab the LCP, and usually do.

As an aside, I would highly recommend the Taurus TCP, even over the LCP I myself carry. For reasons, search about the TCP within my prior posts on this forum.

I second that, it is pretty much as you described! Mine has a Crimson Trace Laser on it which fits perfectly!

I agree, I put it in my Robert Mika Holster and even with tight pants, unless someone knows what they are staring at, they would not have a clue!

Who walks around staring at your front pant pocket, unless they are looking to slash your pocket and steal your wallet!

 

[jeepmor]

I like my Ruger LCP, but I carry my 45 more often, on my hip. As stated by Rexster, reaching into one's pocket is difficult when it's go time or the arses and elbows retreat. But the 380 is just what my wife likes as she's averse to carrying her 9mm. So at least I got something going there.

 

[BADUNAME37]

Inspector:


My wife (senior citizen) can hit volleyball sized rocks at 200 yards with her LCP, and in calm wind I (another senior citizen) can hit baseball sized rocks at 300 yards with my CT Laser equipped LCP. (In bright sunlight).

Well, actually I might be stretching the truth just a tad, but I will say that our LCP's ARE the most accurate mouseguns, at self defense distance, that we've ever owned..

Best Wishes,

Jesse

P.S. No offense to you.. Just messin' with you.

That's OK, I know what I can do - besides - what good is a .380 at 100 yards?

I was actually surprising myself, as well as my dad who was with me. Each time I was hitting the rock, my father was saying "well, you hit the guy that time, again, again, again, again!" Even my father was impressed as, although I have shot it over about 500 rounds (without one jam, misfire, etc), all of that shooting was inside my barn our out back into either an 8x8 beam or into a dead tree trunk and no more than about 25 feet.

 

[Cards81fan]

This is partially off-topic, but if that guy on YouTube can hit at 230 yards with a Glock 23, I would not be surprised if a good shooter can hit with an LCP at 100.

Not saying Inspector can or cannot, but just that a good shooter who understands his weapon and conditions can make some surprising shots.

Me, I'm good to keep one on paper at 25 but then again, I do nearly all my practice at 7 yards or less, most at 5 yards. I work more with different guns in different positions with different holds (weak hand, offhand, prone, kneeling, etc..) as that type of Close Quarters Training is more intensively applicable to my likely use of a firearm.

 

[pvthouse]

Personally I carry a g21 all day, every day owb at 3 or 4 o'clock depending on the jeans I'm wearing. I was entertaining the idea of a pocket sized 380 up untill yesterday when I got to shoot my friends new pistol. My main problem was the difficulty drawing from a pocket when in a sound tactical stance (slightly crouched, knees bent) and by the time I got the dang thing out I could have easily empied my mag with the 45. Another issue is my big hands. Then there is next to no ammo availible in my area for that caliber. The power/critical need for shot placent has already been touched on so I won't go there. Bottom line I can conceal a full size 45 with no problem at all and I really can't justify carrying something that feels like a toy while in a real word life or death situation. But hey everyone is different so if it works then do it up. Just my opinion fwiw

 

[smince]

Yes, except for "Where can I get ammo for this thing????"

 

[searcher451]

It will if you never need it -- or any other handgun --in defense of your life or that of your family's. Far better options exist. I say that as someone who owns more than a few .380 handguns and who has used them for concealed carry purposes on more than a few occasions.

And then, yes, there is the matter of having enough ammo to adequately practice with your new-found pistol, regardless of what caliber you select. As we've all seen, .380 is in mighty short supply these days, sad to say.

 

[larryh1108]

For pocket pistols I have the Ruger LCP and the Kahr PM9. The PM9 is double the gun the LCP is but it is also a bigger load. FOr me, the perfect pocket carry is the wallet holster. It is easily accessible from the rear pocket and looks and feels just like a wallet. If you are caught by surprise and are told to give up your wallet, that is the ideal scenario! These don't work well with jeans as the pockets are tighter and smaller and hinder the draw but for the loose fitting trousers and/or cargo type pants the wallet holster is as good as it gets.

 

[easyg]

The .380 is still a 9 mm round. With FMJ ammo, it will give more than satisfactory penetration to be lethal.

Saying that a .380 is a 9mm is like saying a .38 Special is a .357 magnum.

Sure they share the same approximate bullet diameter, but the .380 is simply not as effective as the 9mm when it comes to quickly stopping human aggressors.