Candidates for the best REAL pocket gun.

[LarryC]

Sure I will hear some arguments, but I carried a 45 for several years ('round 20) in a IWB holster (near middle of back). It worked well until got long in the tooth, and back issues caused problems when I carried it for long. So I carried a 38 Spl Derringer for a couple of years. Now I am carrying a Kimber Solo (9mm), it is about the same size as most small .380's but has a lot more stopping power.

Not to step on anyone's toes, but I have too much information from Law Enforcement friends to carry a .25. An incident in my city happened a few years ago that resulted in the victim being jailed overnight. He was shot in the back of the head 2 or 3 times, (can't remember). Cops came, took him to the hospital, the ER removed the bullets with tweezers and applied bandages, then released him. He then stated he was going to kill the SOx that shot him. The cop had to put him in jail overnight to cool off!

The second time I heard about a .25 shooting was in Lafayette a few years ago, The officer and I were discussing calibers and he related an incident that had occurred on his watch, again the victim was shot in the head. The victim then proceeded to beat the assailant bad enough he was hospitalized for several days. The victim had the slugs removed in the hospital ER and was released immediately.

I doubt 99.9% of us will ever have to utilize a firearm in self defense, hope and pray I don't. But if I have to defend someone (or myself) I certainly want something that will incapacitate the BG before harm come to an innocent person.

 

[TheFireArmorer]

Usually, I'll throw a Deagle .50 in my JNCO's

 

[GunsNstuff]

I don't know that it's the best gun, but the Kel Tec P32/P3AT is hard to beat as far as concealability in the semi auto variety. Light weight, ugly & cheap so who cares about holster wear, & available extended magazines that gives a full grip if needed. I carried one at work for years and no one knew I had it on me. Today they only know because I told them after finding out that half of the people I work with were carrying basically the same gun. Two other guys carried the Ruger version. I had no idea they were armed.

 

[ModernGunner]

As a follow up (and response to a couple responses to my earlier post), it should be noted that I'm personally not a fan of 'pocket guns'. I usually have other stuff in my pockets, like money, LOL. By MY (and perhaps only my) understand, the idea of a 'pocket gun' is that the gun 'disappears'. That no one, not even the most scrupulous, experienced observer, would see the gun under ANY circumstances.

One member noted that some candidate guns are 'almost' as small. 'Almost' doesn't cut it, IMO. Even a .10" bigger is still bigger. And likely heavier, which is where many 'pocket guns' fall down. The 'tells' are the giveaways. If anyone has worn, say cargo shorts with a pocket gun in the cargo pocket, they know what I'm referring to. Just watch how they walk. 'Mission failed'.

MOST 'pocket guns' won't fit in the footprint / profile of a standard size men's bifold or trifold wallet, including thickness. So, if someone has a TCP or something in a wallet holster, anyone experienced with firearms knows it's not a wallet, it's a holster with a gun in it. OR the guy has a huge wad of $100 bills bulging his wallet, which tends to attract the "I want that money!" crowd, LOL. Either way, it gets noticed, which negates the objective.

As noted earlier, sure, you CAN buy pants with pockets big enough to house a 6.5" barrel S&W 500 Mag., LOL. But that doesn't make that S&W a 'pocket gun', LOL!

JMO, but I view 'pocket guns' as a 'last ditch' gun, not a 'fighting gun', anyway. Ya reach for it when the bad guy has ya on the ground and already used up all the ammo (and spare mags / speedloaders) in your primary gun. We used to call 'em 'bellyguns'. When it's all ya have left. Again, that's just MY opinion.

That said, guns like the Boberg (even the .45), the AMT .45 Backup, the Kel-Tecs, SCCY's, etc. are simply too large and / or heavy for 'true pocket guns' for the definition *I* have of 'em. The knowledgeable observer will notice a piece of hardware that large and heavy, which defeats the point of a pocket gun, that no one can detect it.

If the point is 'mostly hidden' from the 'casual' or 'unknowledgeable' observer, then for ME, there's better options than carrying a small 'last ditch' gun in a dedicated pocket. With a bit of forethought and one can 'hide' even large guns (full size autos and revolvers) from the vast majority of folks out there. This is where those who 'dress around the gun' have a tremendous advantage over those who do not. Personal preference, of course.

It's not so much a matter of what ya carry, it's how ya carry it, and carry yourself.

Once again, MY opinion based on MY experiences and observations. YMMV.

 

[cbseniour]

Ruger LCs striker fired, small accurate for a small gun, 7 round mags, good trigger comes with or without an external safety.

 

[t-squared]

Speaking of pocket guns....Ruger LCP FDE .380acp 3732

That's a crazy good price for a new LCP...

 

[tbhausen]

I don't know how the math works out, but they make a lot more mess in suicides. The .25 often doesn't exit the skull even on a temple to temple shot and I've never seen an under the chin shot exit. We've seen under the chin shots fail to penetrate to the brain and fail to incapacitate the person. The .32 doesn't always exit, but generally does if temple to temple and routinely fractures the skull if under the chin. The skin may hold it together, but its in pieces when the autopsy is done. The .380 is a fairly popular suicide gun for some reason, and the one I've seen the most of. I've never seen a temple shot that didn't come out the other side. I've seen some under the chin shots that stayed in or were stuck in the skull but visible, but generally there is some noticeable defect in the skull where the bullet at least hit it.

Ewwwww... Gnarly!

 

[EricG]

Remedy: Take your pants to a dry cleaner and have them modify your carry pocket. Thats what I do.

 

[Psode27]

For me, its my LCP. Put on talon rubber grips and made it much more fun to shoot. A S&W 642 is my next scheduled handgun purchase though. Small, simple, and not a. 380! . I really like the SIG 938 too, but that's a ton of money for a pistol with a "pocket" role. I'd have to get a killer deal to justify it. Debated about the new LC9S too. I really wanted to like the LC9 but hated the trigger.

 

[mxxkffg]

I could pocket my LCR easily if I chose to do so, it and it hands down the best snubby on the market today. Better trigger thanks to the cam trigger system, better recoil control thanks to the grips, and reasonable sight set up. I can shoot it as accurately at 15y as I can a full size Glock (although not as fast).

This +1

 

[Cemetery-man]

For me, its my LCP. Put on talon rubber grips and made it much more fun to shoot. A S&W 642 is my next scheduled handgun purchase though. Small, simple, and not a. 380! . I really like the SIG 938 too, but that's a ton of money for a pistol with a "pocket" role. I'd have to get a killer deal to justify it. Debated about the new LC9S too. I really wanted to like the LC9 but hated the trigger.

The P938, though it does work as a good pocket pistol, is GREAT when it comes to IWB carry! I never cared for IWB carry until I got a P938 then that all changed. It's design makes it nearly invisible with any holster and very comfortable at the same time. I am very sensitive to anything tucked in between me and my pants but I have found that with the P938 in a streamlined holster, I can't hardly tell it's there.

It's also nice to know that you can simply switch it to your pocket or ankle if you need deep concealment.

 

[bluehdflhrs]

My Sig 238 fits in my pocket just fine.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

.

 

[88E30M50]

I'll add another vote for the P938.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

 

[ashby koss]

I think even though there are small/micro 9mm now. I think they are trying to match or replace the small revolvers (take your pick) . In 357 mag I don’t think that’s ever going To be done. In 38spcl... I think 9mm trumps 38spcl.

 

[walleyepw]

S&W .380 Bodyguard in a sticky holster when wearing pants or jeans and want to pocket carry. When walking the mighty ferocious american staffordshire terrier, around the small town neighborhood, I mostly carry the P32 in a pocket holster while wearing nylon shorts.
I have a 22lr NAA revolver, but it is difficult to handle and fire repeatedly.

 

[Expat]

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Come on GFGT, if you are going to necropost, at least say something

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

Come on GFGT, if you are going to necropost, at least say something

Just trying to make a point.

 

[Expat]

Just trying to make a point.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

Actually, I had two tabs open and went to reply on a thread on the other tab and accidentally put it here instead. Oops!