Would you feel comfortable with a pocket .380?
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I carry a kahr pm9, I considered getting a .380 because they are slightly smaller, but I couldnt bring myself to get one. I kno if placed correctly its very effective, however with all the training in the world, I just dont know how id react in a bad situation. I want something that even if misplaced I still have a fighting chance. I know a lot of people will say that the 9mm is too small, but I feel very comfortable carring it. Its all up to the person who is carring. I say get what fits you best. I would feel safer with a 22short, than carring nothing at all.
woad_yurt
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Would I feel comfortable with a pocket .380? Yup. I have a P3AT, not an LCP, but I don't feel at all vulnerable, considering that that gun is so small & convenient that I have it with me 24/7. I think a .380 is a plenty sufficient "get away from me" caliber. I go with FMJ as a .380 is no cannon and I want the most penetration I can get from it.
I carry a LCP and or a 38 or two
I shoot Hydra shoks 110 gr. low recoil in my older 38 and Speer Gold Dot 135gr. +p in my newer 38 but plan on trying Rem. golden sabers 102 gr and Hydra shok 95 gr. in my LCP
The .380 will get about 10 inches of penitration with the federal or Remington and will expand to .500 to .600 dia.
I shoot Hydra shoks 110 gr. low recoil in my older 38 and Speer Gold Dot 135gr. +p in my newer 38 but plan on trying Rem. golden sabers 102 gr and Hydra shok 95 gr. in my LCP
The .380 will get about 10 inches of penitration with the federal or Remington and will expand to .500 to .600 dia.
joeq
Member
I'll take my S&W 442 with Buffalo Bore 158 gr LSWCHP+P any day. You have a 158 grain bullet over 1000 fps out of a 2" barrel. You have a bigger bullet than a 380 moving at a darn good speed. If I can carry something bigger I do, But I don't feel out gunned carrying my J-frame with some stout ammunition. I shoot it very well and I know it will function when I need it. Not to mention it conceals easier and more comfortably than any pistol I have.
Harvey
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I guess that's why they call it a pocket gun. And don't tell me that six rounds of .380 +P doesn't hurt.
If you can shove a .45 in your pocket, by all means, go right ahead.
If you can shove a .45 in your pocket, by all means, go right ahead.
harmon rabb
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i have a LCP and a j-frame. i wonder why people think the j-frame is such a good pocket gun. it won't fit in the pocket of any jeans that i own. the LCP will fit in anything, of course.
i don't like carrying something as small as the LCP, far prefer my G27, but damn is the thing comfy in your pocket. in some situations, i just take it for comfort and ease of concealability.
it also has a MUCH better trigger than my j-frame... and 7 shots vs. 5.
i don't like carrying something as small as the LCP, far prefer my G27, but damn is the thing comfy in your pocket. in some situations, i just take it for comfort and ease of concealability.
it also has a MUCH better trigger than my j-frame... and 7 shots vs. 5.
rskent
Member
Right now, I carry a 642 with hydra shocks daily. I am looking at getting a LCP for those times when my little snubby is just a little too fat to conceal easily.
Most of the time the 642 is fine, but every now and then… A 380 in your pocket is a lot better than a 45 in your truck. Carry what you can. It may not stop
a bus, but it will help get you out of a bad spot.
Regards
Steve
Most of the time the 642 is fine, but every now and then… A 380 in your pocket is a lot better than a 45 in your truck. Carry what you can. It may not stop
a bus, but it will help get you out of a bad spot.
Regards
Steve
joeq
Member
I don't carry my J-Frame in my pocket ever. I carry it with a clipdraw inside my waistband. It completely disappears with jeans and an untucked t-shirt. That happens to be what I wear almost everyday. I'll take my five shots of 38+P over 380 any day. I have nothing against the 380, I just like a 38+P revolver a lot more. Each to their own I suppose.
I currently pocket carry an LCP. It is by far the easiest piece to carry I have ever owned. In my pocket it is like carrying a thick wallet. It has opened up doors for me which I did not have before owning it. I find myself carrying much more often since purchasing it.
orionengnr
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No.
I have owned and carried a number of j-frames, and currently own an LCP. I no longer own a j-frame and do not carry a .380.
A Kahr PM9 is the bare minimum for me, and even that is a rare occurrence. More often, my Kahr P45 or a 3" (or larger) 1911.
I have owned and carried a number of j-frames, and currently own an LCP. I no longer own a j-frame and do not carry a .380.
A Kahr PM9 is the bare minimum for me, and even that is a rare occurrence. More often, my Kahr P45 or a 3" (or larger) 1911.
WardenWolf
member
I went with military pistols chambered in 9x18 Makarov instead. Yeah, it's almost the same round as the .380, but can be loaded a little hotter, and the pistols chambered in it are battle-proven. But between a bulky revolver and an LCP or similar, I'd definitely choose the LCP. The cylinder width of a revolver definitely has an effect on comfortable carry.
harmon rabb
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honestly, there is no excuse to not carry everywhere, no matter what you're wearing, if you own one of the pocket 380's.
dogngun
Member
I Carry a .32 auto in the summer - with ball ammo.
For the .380 I'd use a good JHP if the gun fed them reliably - 100% reliably, but ball ammo otherwise.
mark
For the .380 I'd use a good JHP if the gun fed them reliably - 100% reliably, but ball ammo otherwise.
mark
I have two LCP's and a S&W 637
I am currently looking to buy a couple pair of cargo pants with big pockets. This might make carrying the J-frame possible but up until now it hasn't been. The LCP fits easily into the pokets of my jeans or dress pants. While the 380 is less powerful it does give you two extra rounds. Mine works well with just about anything. My carry round is Hydra shocks or Fiocchi with the XTP bullet.
I am currently looking to buy a couple pair of cargo pants with big pockets. This might make carrying the J-frame possible but up until now it hasn't been. The LCP fits easily into the pokets of my jeans or dress pants. While the 380 is less powerful it does give you two extra rounds. Mine works well with just about anything. My carry round is Hydra shocks or Fiocchi with the XTP bullet.
Loyalist Dave
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In My Humble Opinion...
The .380 is the best "little round" you can carry concealed for a situation where you demonstrate, "Look I did bring a gun to this fight". It will greatly help your escape and that of anybody with you. As the lone firearm carried, not as the loading for a backup gun, it is NOT a round to use if you were going after an assailant, as in a law enforcement role (exception being perhaps a Corbon loading).
The .38+P in a revolver is concealable, though not as well as the smaller .380, but it often outperforms the smallest .380 pistols, even when comparing the snubbies to the smallest .380 pistols.
Folks fail to consider what does one do if the main, or "strong" arm, or the "shootin' hand" is busy in the fight or damaged. I like small revolvers because in the "weak" hand there is no worry about too soft a grip on recoil causing a failure to cycle, or clearing a jamb needing both hands.
My 9mm revolver outperforms most .38 +P rounds from a snubbie, surpasses all .380 rounds, and works well in either hand, or if only one hand is available.
LD
The .380 is the best "little round" you can carry concealed for a situation where you demonstrate, "Look I did bring a gun to this fight". It will greatly help your escape and that of anybody with you. As the lone firearm carried, not as the loading for a backup gun, it is NOT a round to use if you were going after an assailant, as in a law enforcement role (exception being perhaps a Corbon loading).
The .38+P in a revolver is concealable, though not as well as the smaller .380, but it often outperforms the smallest .380 pistols, even when comparing the snubbies to the smallest .380 pistols.
Folks fail to consider what does one do if the main, or "strong" arm, or the "shootin' hand" is busy in the fight or damaged. I like small revolvers because in the "weak" hand there is no worry about too soft a grip on recoil causing a failure to cycle, or clearing a jamb needing both hands.
My 9mm revolver outperforms most .38 +P rounds from a snubbie, surpasses all .380 rounds, and works well in either hand, or if only one hand is available.
LD
I chose the 642 with the 135gr option. That's actually pretty close to one of the things I do carry, my personal carry choices are a 642 with laser grips and 125gr; a Makarov; and a Polish P64 that's chambered for Makarov. I've considered getting a .380 but the Combloc autofeeders in 9X18 Mak are as reliable as a revolver and come equipped with manual safeties. Plus, Makarov and .38 Spl are much more readily available and less expensive than .380.
MedWheeler
Member
Depends on my carry method, which is almost always I/OWB, For that, the gun need not be all that small; I carry either a Bersa Thunder or a Kel-Tec PF-9 that way, and carried a Charter Arms Undercover that way as well.
The "keychain" guns come in handy for pocket-carry, but I'm not pushed to carry that way that often, and I don't own such a gun (except maybe my Phoenix HP-22A, which is a fun shooter, but remarkably heavy!)
The "keychain" guns come in handy for pocket-carry, but I'm not pushed to carry that way that often, and I don't own such a gun (except maybe my Phoenix HP-22A, which is a fun shooter, but remarkably heavy!)
sidheshooter
Member
Like some others here, I am of the opinion that, in terms of defensive effectiveness, the micro .380s are a hell of a lot closer to a full size service weapon than they are to "nothing at all".
Even better, in terms of carry comfort, the micro .380s are a lot closer to nothing at all, than to a full size duty weapon. From a cost to benefit analysis viewpoint, they make a lot of sense; to the point that there is no real excuse for carrying nothing if legally permitted to carry at all.
Yeah, I'd prefer my commander if I knew trouble was coming, but not as much as I'd prefer a pump 12, etc. etc..
For my very low risk lifestyle, I'm ok with my Sig P238 and a few spare mags stuffed with that Fiocchi xtp round. That little sig, with its short trigger and nightsights, has replaced my trusty 1976 36-1, even though the remington 158 +P from the 3 inch tube is a much better round. A .380 is not ideal, but it is an ideal edc, IMHO.
Other opinions are welcome to vary; each person has to weigh the issues for themselves, of course.
Even better, in terms of carry comfort, the micro .380s are a lot closer to nothing at all, than to a full size duty weapon. From a cost to benefit analysis viewpoint, they make a lot of sense; to the point that there is no real excuse for carrying nothing if legally permitted to carry at all.
Yeah, I'd prefer my commander if I knew trouble was coming, but not as much as I'd prefer a pump 12, etc. etc..
For my very low risk lifestyle, I'm ok with my Sig P238 and a few spare mags stuffed with that Fiocchi xtp round. That little sig, with its short trigger and nightsights, has replaced my trusty 1976 36-1, even though the remington 158 +P from the 3 inch tube is a much better round. A .380 is not ideal, but it is an ideal edc, IMHO.
Other opinions are welcome to vary; each person has to weigh the issues for themselves, of course.
harmon rabb
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this is exactly why everyone should own one. i far prefer to carry my g27, but sometimes, it would be pretty darn inconvenient, so i take the LCP. 7 rounds of .380 sure beats the **** out of being unarmed.
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