Pocket Pistol as primary carry.

[BillD]

Anything that goes bang is better than fingernails.

However, there are small pocket pistols in self defense worthy calibers.

The .38 spl +P is a good one and there are very small 9mm pistols.

The bad part is the smaller ones are harder to shoot well. They have a lot less weight and sight radius than full size handguns.

The key is practice, although, they aren't that much fun to practice with either.

 

[darinb]

Pocket carrying is very convenient. I found myself carrying it when out by myself alot. When with family though i prefer my main carry gun which is a Ruger Speed six.

 

[Colt556]

Frequently carry a SIG 230 with HydraShoks in an IWB holster with a spare mag in left pocket. Never felt under armed. I prefer my LW Commander in .38 Super or .45 but sometimes it is just easier to carry the Sig. Any weapon you carry and use competently is better than nothing.

 

[Prometheus]

given what the hit rate is in self-defense/LE shootings (i read 17%), maybe you should feel undergunned. add a second or third attacker and you could be in serious trouble. or a wooden box.

just sayin'.

+1 Some DOJ studies show 12% hit rates.... mix that in with, what is normally, a firearm that is harder to score hits with under normal conditions and it's a recipe for disaster. Even with a 20% hit ratio you're only scoring one round out of your snubbie or keltec/LCP.

Don't get lazy and lulled into a false sense of security because it's "easy".

Pocket guns are for NPE's (non permissive environments) or BUGs.

 

[JHAWK1980]

Not sure if anyone has suggested but I'm looking for one of those 400 corbon amt back-ups. That's a bad little round. .45 necked down to a .40. Can't find one though

 

[JoshuaW]

Not sure if anyone has suggested but I'm looking for one of those 400 corbon amt back-ups. That's a bad little round. .45 necked down to a .40. Can't find one though

AMT .45ACP BACKUP No Reserve New-In-Box NEW MFG. : Semi-auto at GunBroker.com Do I win? Might not be the one you were specifically thinking of, but it was just the first of many listings.

 

[yaganation]

love my lcp.

 

[redsuperduty]

I really like my Smith airweight 38spcl+P. The pockets on my levi's are small and usually full, here lately I have been carrying it with a leather belt slide holster, an untucked t shirt hides it perfectly.

 

[tbhausen]

Just got a P380... I find it much easier to shoot well than many other pocket pistols because the trigger and sights are so good. Gonna add a CTC laser and pocket holster, then I'll never leave it home

 

[JHAWK1980]

AMT .45ACP BACKUP No Reserve New-In-Box NEW MFG. : Semi-auto at GunBroker.com Do I win? Might not be the one you were specifically thinking of, but it was just the first of many listings.

Seen that. I think BGF has one used I want to say 295-395 range. But I would like to try the 400 corbon. Wonder if they make a conversion kit for the G30?

 

[BillD]

I really like my Smith airweight 38spcl+P. The pockets on my levi's are small and usually full, here lately I have been carrying it with a leather belt slide holster, an untucked t shirt hides it perfectly.

I've been known to go down the line of jeans in stores (usually Rural King but sometimes Penney's) and see which jeans or shorts have pockets big enough to hold my Airweight and holster.
Wrangler carpenter jeans work for me. The pistol and pocket holster will tuck away in the back pocket of those.
If you want to carry a gun in your pocket, you may have to change your wardrobe.
If I was going to carry on the belt in a holster, I'd carry a bigger gun.

 

[wahlspyder]

AMT Back-up

AMT .45ACP BACKUP No Reserve New-In-Box NEW MFG. : Semi-auto at GunBroker.com Do I win? Might not be the one you were specifically thinking of, but it was just the first of many listings.

Love my AMT 45 - is my favorite winter carry - reasonably accurate if you practice with it - hides under my sweatshirt in appendix carry - BUT it is heavy and same number of rounds as a revolver (but packs a mean punch)

 

[rwstahlh]

I carry a North American Arms Guardian 32 in my front pocket most of the time.

 

[Mike H]

I also carry a NAA Guardian .32 ACP with 2 mags full of Winchester Western Silvertips. Cooler weather I carry a Glock 22 .40S&W with Federal Hydra-shoks

 

[Prometheus]

Just curious to how many people on here carry a pocket pistol as their primary carry? I purchased a Ruger LCP last month and I find myself sticking it in my pocket and heading out the door more times then not.

Take a look at how many people who carry a pocket pistol and feel "it's all I need" later post "I'm carrying a fullsize handgun today because (one man is loose in XYZ area) and think of the (non existant) logic there.

There actual threat level for the day has NOT increased but they "feel" like it has, so they acknowledge the inferiority of their standard choice and 'up arm'.

The sad part is when XYZ is caught, they will go right back to their inferior choice because they 'feel' safer, even though they aren't.

Logic, it's not just for Vulcans and the Founding Fathers.

You never know when some random nut is going to start shooting... even if you are just out farming iLn Lowell on you own property
.

 

[ihateiraq]

ive seen the error of my ways. im now wearing armor and carrying a machine gun.

 

[RichardR]

True Prometheus but a lot of folks simply cannot carry a full-size/duty gun around with them all of the time, so IMHO it's better to have something, even a little "mouse gun", rather than nothing at all to defend themselves with.

For example in the summer months (t-shirt/shorts weather) I will often just toss a little ultra-lite J-frame .38spl snub in my pocket, granted it wouldn't be my first choice to take into combat, but at least it gives me the capability of using deadly force if (God forbid) it should ever be required.

 

[BillD]

Take a look at how many people who carry a pocket pistol and feel "it's all I need" later post "I'm carrying a fullsize handgun today because (one man is loose in XYZ area) and think of the (non existant) logic there.

There actual threat level for the day has NOT increased but they "feel" like it has, so they acknowledge the inferiority of their standard choice and 'up arm'.

The sad part is when XYZ is caught, they will go right back to their inferior choice because they 'feel' safer, even though they aren't.

Logic, it's not just for Vulcans and the Founding Fathers.

You never know when some random nut is going to start shooting... even if you are just out farming iLn Lowell on you own property
.

And when some guy opens fire on you from 150 yds out, what are ya gonna do? Look down at that miserable excuse for a rifle you have on your belt?
You are not prepared unless you have at least an M4 hidden under your duster.

I don't walk out of the house without full body armor and at least 3 firearms, one being a shorty M4 with collapsible stock. You can carry that almost anywhere, if you wear a camo poncho for a cover garment.

 

[Disposable Heart]

I am glad this got bumped!

I dont like the idea of a "pocket carry" gun as a primary carry. BUT, I do believe a compact, CONTROLLABLE small gun is adequate for defense and if necessary, offense against an active shooter.

I carry my Taurus 85, older model (fullish grip), plenty of speed strips with good ol' FBI loads. I try to have a good, fullsized grip with a caliber I can control with a darn good ammo that has adequate penetration and proven track record. An SP101 in my mind fills a role like this, but with MILD .357 (like my 1100 FPS SWCHP .357 lead load I make).

I have read articles by folks like Gabe Suarez and such that tout carry a fullsize gun because YOU and only YOU are going to run afoul of the AK toting nutjob. If you dont carry a G17 filled with DPX, you up shart creek. Not all of us can carry a fullsized pistol, true. I would prefer something larger, but due to size constraints, that is not possible. I would imagine a guy like Suarez dressed up to look like he was retaking Fallujah everyday. I am not going to say it is alarmism to sell mindset or training, but statistically it is so far out of reach for the average person to run afoul of in their daily life. BUT, carry is important.

The gun on your person is better than a gun in glovebox, true. Its things like small .380s or .32s (or god forbid, .25s) that I would not rely upon for constant, everyday, primary carry.

 

[Prometheus]

True Prometheus but a lot of folks simply [STRIKE]cannot[/STRIKE] won't carry a full-size/duty gun around with them all of the time, so IMHO it's better to have something, even a little "mouse gun", rather than nothing at all to defend themselves with.

Fixed. Since I already covered not being able to carry larger due to non permissive enviroments. Your next post reenforces the choice you make and improper use of the word cannot.

For example in the summer months (t-shirt/shorts weather) I will often just toss a little ultra-lite J-frame .38spl snub in my pocket, granted it wouldn't be my first choice to take into combat, but at least it gives me the capability of using deadly force if (God forbid) it should ever be required.

t-shirt and shorts do not alter my carry weapon. I still carry a fullsize 4" XD, be it concealed or occasionally openly, generally shorts means sandals and it looks absurd (IMO) to open carry in sandals . Buy a good belt and holster and you can easy CC a 4" handgun in shorts and tshirt.

Not all of us [STRIKE]can[/STRIKE] want to carry a fullsized pistol, true. I would prefer something larger, but due to size constraints, that is not possible.

Not possible because you work or are traveling in a NPE where discovery means termination/jail time or because you don't want it to be possible?

The gun on your person is better than a gun in glovebox, true. Its things like small .380s or .32s (or god forbid, .25s) that I would not rely upon for constant, everyday, primary carry.

I agree, in general, but I tend to stay away from traditional one liners

I don't walk out of the house without full body armor and at least 3 firearms, one being a shorty M4 with collapsible stock. You can carry that almost anywhere, if you wear a camo poncho for a cover garment.

Why the need for a cover garment? OC is legal in Indiana

In the end it comes down to doing what makes you FEEL good, because logic has no place in the discussion of what may save your life and is realistic to acheive and follow thru with.