Would like advice choosing a pocket pistol.

[WRGADog]

My recommendation

Beretta Nano. I carry mine daily and love the gun. I also have a Kahr PM9, which is a great pocket pistol, but it doesn't fit the $500 budget. I find the Nano fits my hand better than the PM9, and I am more accurate with the Nano. I also have a Kahr P380 that is a dream to carry because of size and weight, but I much prefer 9mm to 380.

 

[MrDig]

CZ 83 the Surplus Versions are great 380's and the price is easy on the old wallet too. Usually around 250 after shipping and transfer fees.

 

[bbuddtec]

lc9/pf9, lookin myself...

 

[Soldiernurse]

Love the 5 lb trigger pull on my PF-9 & IMO recoil very tolerable. Inexpensive & excellent pocket carry in 9 mm.

 

[mingansr]

+1 with byrd666 and bannockburn's reasons for Sig P238

i've shot and just love the Sig P238 also. since it's an SAO trigger, having the manual safety would make it more 'comfortable' to carry in pocket with round in chamber, IMO. a mini 1911, in .380. nice, but pricey too.

if cost is an issue, the S&W Bodyguard .380 would be my next choice. friend has one and it's well made, like the Sig, and accurate as heck for a DAO trigger.

but i'm holding off for the SA XDS, for Slim, single stack when it comes out in .40sw (just 45acp now). not really gonna be for pocket, but since i have an XD 40, muscle memory will be the same with the XDS. i want nothing but SAO, so the grip safety and the USA Trigger (Ultra Safe ..?.) combine to give me peace of mind when i'm locked and loaded, since there is no manual safety on the xd line. if that XDS is too big for pocket, it's gonna go in an ankle holster. as a single stack weapon, the small mag capacity is still about what .380's have, and well, the knock down power is tons better. if i for some reason don't like the XDS, slim chance of that, no pun intended, i'll opt for the P238. cuz it is one sweet shootin pistola.

 

[Sergei Mosin]

My wife wants a pocket gun because she doesn't care for my service pistols. Just too big for her. So we went looking for something more her size. She picked up a Ruger LC9 and put it down almost as quickly - her distaste for the plastic frame and the useless safety was evident. Then she spotted a SIG P238 - and it was love at first sight. Metal frame, 1911-style controls, nice single-action trigger, good sights, natural pointer, just the right size. Next paycheck, she's getting one.

Then I handled the little SIG. And even though I like my service pistols, now I sort of want one too...

 

[Morrell]

+ 1 for the LC9. Love mine! A trigger as smooth as silk and recoil as soft as a baby sneeze

 

[Demitrios]

Guys, you've all been a great help and thank you for all of your advice.

I just bought a brand new Taurus TCP 738 with a Crimson Trace Laser from Buds Gun shop for $176.68 after tax.

When I saw that price my eyes nearly bugged out of my head and I picked it up quick, fast and in a hurry.

Again you've all been great and thank you all for your help.

 

[Bone2bWild]

I was just in the same boat till I picked up a used Kahr CW9. They let me shoot some so I tried 3 including a PF9, a Kahr PM9, and my CW9. I first settled on 9mm and wanted a dual duty CCW and HD gun. I thought the CW9 gave the best compromise for me and I shot it best. Don't worry about long triggers, there is a technique called staging the trigger that eliminates most of any complaints you'd have. And with the long trigger it's safer to CC, so I wanted that feature plus no safety to worry about, is it on is it off? The manual says a 200 round breakin period, now I bought used and it looked lightly used. I ran 100 rds through last nite with FMJ &JHP without a single hiccup. I'm still working on my form and got better as I shot more, but I have to say for $400 used I'm highly satisfied!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[el Godfather]

Dont know if someone has mentioned this already, but I would suggest SigP250 sub compact.

 

[Lee D]

.380? Sig 238
9mm? Walther PPS with the flush mounting mag

 

[jj1962hemi]

I don't have a CC permit, but was considering a small Glock (w/be my first). I rented a 26 (9mm), a 27 (40 S&W), both double-stacked magazines, and a 36 (45ACP single stack). I liked all three. Gen 3s in Model 26 and 27 are available at Bud's for $499 new. None kicked too harshly for me, although my hands and body mass are above average. My trouble was: the lower capacity Model 36 (in honkin' 45ACP!) had a better grip for me, and less kick than the 40S&W (less "sharp"). If it was just on size and comfort, I'd spring for the Model 36. I haven't tried a Kahr yet and I like the parts availability for Glocks. I also like the fact that I can run 9MM and 357Sig through a Model 27. Decisions, decisions!

 

[Pukindog12]

In my limited CCW experience I have found that the CW9 is perfect for me for T-shirt weather as far as subcompacts go. It is almost identical in size to as well as being 7+1 like the PF9 (got one of them also), can get a full grip (no dangling pinky), is built well with good ergonomics, no safety, and has a VERY SMOOTH DAO trigger. On a good day I can keep the shots in a three inch group at ten yards. Other days typically about 4 inches. I got it with an extra mag for $360. I don't think I could be happier about a CCW piece.

Granted, all the above may change if I ever get to shoot a Walther PPS.

 

[19&41]

Demitrios, congratulations on your new purchase. Be sure to keep us posted on how the pistol handles for you. It can also benefit others who are looking for a pistol with similar qualities.

 

[bluethunder1962]

It is a little heavy but I love my Walther PPK/s. I have two more one the way. I carry it in my pocket and 45 on my belt.

 

[Agsalaska]

Agree with the PPK. I dont know if it has been topped. At least for a 380.

 

[Gary A]

The CZ83 is a superb pistol but at almost 29 ounces with an empty magazine, it is NOT a pocket pistol. It is a beauty, though.

 

[cluznar]

Try a NAA small .22 mag 5 shot, I carry one and trust it.

 

[rob i]

I don't post here very often at all, but wanted to chime in. I have an affinity for pocket pistols and I have to echo jahwarrior's recommendation of a baby browning or PSA variant.

I have an original FN and 2 recent production Stainless PSA's. They are extremely well made, very reliable from my experiences, and insanely pocketable. They are oddly accurate for such a little pistol and have much less recoil than say a ruger lcp. I know as I have an lcp as well.

But if you don't want to consider anything less than a .380, I would suggest a Sig P238. It's small enough to fit in the pocket, and is a MUCH softer shooter than the lcp. It's my favorite .380 at the moment.

 

[Gary A]

I can second the comments from rob i regarding the PSA Baby Brownings. I used to have a PSP (predecessor) and just last weekend visited PSA 's booth at the NRA show in St. Louis. The PSAs are jewels and I remember my earlier version as being a very nice shooter.

That said, a viable option, to me, that splits the difference between the .25 acp and the harder to shoot LCP/P3AT, is the Kel-Tec P32 in .32acp. Inexpensive, reliable, easy to shoot.

 

[Trad Archer]

Sig Sauer p238. My wifw has one and she has sent at least 2,000 rounds through it. The first couple hundred resulted in some issues, but now, it runs beautifully with no issues at all.

 

[TrailWolf]

I am a Glock guy through and through, but the brand new S&W M&P Shield looks pretty great if its not too big for you...

If I didnt own a Glock 26 already I'd take a hard look at it.

 

[rob i]

trailwolf- the new shield does look nice, but it doesn't seem very pocketable.

trad archer- My p238 required two trips to sig for stove pipe issues in the first 500 rounds. Seems to run like a champ now.

Gary- thanks for the back up. I am obsessed by their guns. I bought both of my stainless ones directly through their company president, Lenn Kristal, and have my sights set on at least one or two more!!!!

for those that don't know about PSP / PSA, they are the licensed manufacturers of the baby browning pistol. They actually sell the same pistol in Europe under the FN name. They are identical in fit and finish to the original's, and perhaps even nicer due to the advances made in machining over the years. They only make this gun, but produce about 18 different variations of it. Mine are 303 stainless cut from billet.

 

[MachIVshooter]

On the Baby Brownings and clones;

Really cool little guns, and they are small. But only being chambered in .25 ACP and still weighing more than the micro .380's, they're not a very appealing choice in today's market. I have a Bauer, and I enjoy it. But I don't carry it. I carry my P3AT. With it's light weight and textured exterior, it will stay properly oriented in my jean pockets. The Bauer will not; They become inverted in short order, thus requiring a pocket holster that actually makes them bulkier to carry than a P3AT/LCP/etc. The Baby Brownings will also bite your hand web if you're not careful; They're so small that it is very easy to creep up on them. The back of the slide is slightly rounded on the under side, but it still doesn't feel good when it rakes your skin.

My P32 (same size as P3AT) and Bauer .25:



As well, the short recoil system used in the P3 and similar pocket .380's keeps the felt recoil quite low for such tiny, light weight guns. My first gen P3 weighs a scant 10.1 ounces fully loaded, but is more pleasant to fire than any blowback .32 I've ever shot.

 

[climbnjump]

I am a Glock guy through and through, but the brand new S&W M&P Shield looks pretty great if its not too big for you...

The Shield is pushing the size limit for pocket pistols for most folks, although it might work fine in cargo pants pockets. The barrel is about .60" longer than a PM9 and the Shield is about .40" taller (due to the extra round) when both are using their flush-fitting mags.

As far as thickness, the Shield is a titch thicker, but only about on the order of .05" or so depending on where you measure. Empty, the Shield weighs 4 oz more than the PM9, so loaded the difference would be that plus the extra round in the mag.

Beyond the size, though, the biggest difference between these two is in the triggers - they are completely different. Trigger pull length and especially reset are much shorter on the Shield, while pull weight isn't much different between the two. The reset on the Shield is also audible and very positive unlike on the FS M&P pistols at the current time. (The lack of a positive and audible trigger reset has been a complaint of the FS line. I've seen rumors - maybe only wishful hoping - that the Shield trigger will be moved into the FS M&P line. Time will tell on that one.)