[harleysilo]

Hi folks. I looked through all the threads didn't see an exact match.

I recently got my GFL (Georgia Firearms License). Applied on a Monday, it was in my mailbox on Friday. Unbelievable. Anyways....

I'm looking for a CCW handgun. I wear business slacks day in and day out to work. I wear shorts 9 months out of the year on the weekends. I want a gun that I can slip into a front pocket holster easily.

Now I'm considering the following...

Beretta Tomcat
Kel-tec 32 or p3-at
backorder and pricetag on the Seacamps too much at the moment.

I've shot a Kahr .40 and although it is small, it's not small enough.

I'm not considering purchasing a .22 or .25, as in my squirrel hunting days i've seen how ineffective they can be.

I'd like to hear others opinions on the guns listed, as well as general discussion about small BUG's for CCW.

 

[Northwoods]

What about the new Ruger LCP? They are tiny! .380, 7 shot and I've been told dependable.

If anyone has experience with the Ruger I'd like to hear.

Also, I use a Beretta mod. 84. I like it alot. The mod 86 (?) has a single stack and is narrower if the 84 is too wide.

 

[cbw]

The Ruger LCP does have some excellent reviews! I'd like to hear more form someone who has one. They are small and very smooth on the outside form what I have seen in pictures.

 

[matt g]

Have you seen the Para Warthog or maybe the Taurus Judge? Both are very small pistols that run large caliber rounds.

 

[Northwoods]

I saw a Taurus Judge last weekend. I looked huge to me.

That might have been because it was surrounded by small pistols though......

 

[Northwoods]

It did look like it would be fun though.....

 

[Mark F]

I carry a KEL TEC P3AT, .380ACP 6+1. It hides nicely and it's light weight. It's also the same size as Ruger's LCP .380. These are GREAT Pocket Carry guns!

Here is my P3AT in its Pocket Holster...

 

[freefall]

I have a NAA Guardian .380 that is my "pretty much everywhere" gun. I made a pocket holster for it, slip it in my back pocket and it looks like a wallet. It's all steel, a tad heavy for what it is. Tried a friends Kel-Tec .380 a couple weeks ago, the trigger was nicer than mine, much lighter weight piece, mine feels like a better quality item. Should for twice the price. Been meaning to get the lovely Mrs. Freefall a Ruger LCP, she feels her Officers ACP is too big and heavy for steady carry, but have been hearing disquieting murmurs about its reliability. Kel-Tecs have been working for several years, Thinking about selling my NAA and getting two of them. Wanna buy it? Such of a deal I'll make you...

 

[Northwoods]

Mark F,

How does it shoot? Is it easy to control? Some of the smaller guns are kinda' hard to control for those of us with huge paws.

Does it function well (no jams, failure to feed)?

I like the pocket holster.

 

[harleysilo]

I carry a KEL TEC P3AT, .380ACP 6+1. It hides nicely and it's light weight. It's also the same size as Ruger's LCP .380. These are GREAT Pocket Carry guns!

Here is my P3AT in its Pocket Holster...

Is that the standard magazine? Looks like there is possibly more
Room to grip than the beretta or NAA.

 

[BillM]

I've had a KelTec P32 for years. 100% reliable with Winchester Silvertips or Speer
Gold-dots, and a natural point shooter in my hands. If I were going to get a
different gun it would probably be a P3AT. Either will disappear in slacks/shorts
pockets in a decent pocket holster.

 

[Mark F]

Mark F,

How does it shoot? Is it easy to control? Some of the smaller guns are kinda' hard to control for those of us with huge paws.

Does it function well (no jams, failure to feed)?

I like the pocket holster.

Northwoods,

It shoots quite well, but it does have a bit of a sting from the recoil. The pistol is so light weight that even target loads have a little bite to them. But it's no big deal, you get used to it quickly. I haven't had any problems with FTE or FTF with the little beast. The pocket holster keeps the pistol from imprinting in your clothes so you can keep it in your front pocket or your back pocket. I keep mine in my front pocket, for a faster draw. I've had mine for about 10 months now, and it goes everywhere I go. I highly recommend CORBON POWR'BALL as your carry ammo.

 

[gorknoids]

I carry an AMT Backup .380 SA, which I can cover with my wallet. You're not going to find a new one, and you might find a dozen crappy DA's, but if you find one from the Covina, CA factory, buy it.

 

[Defender]

Kahr PM9

http://www.kahr.com/PA-1_9mm_pm.html

Ammo capacity---6+1 9mm
Overall length---5.3"
Barrel length----3"
Overall height---4"
Slide width---9/10 of an inch
Weight w/ empty mag---15.9 ounces

 

[harleysilo]

Nice chart: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=171820

I'm leaning towards the LCP after a lot or reading.

 

[pioneer461]

Many, if not most, veteran gunners believe the .32 and/or .380 are not sufficient for self defense. Many, myself included, believe the minimum handgun for self defense should be a .38 special or 9mm. We often hear stories about the number of people who get killed with .25, .32, .380's, but how long does it take them to bleed out and die? Usually it takes minutes. How much damage can a doped up violent career criminal do in a matter of minutes?

The idea of self defense is not necessarily to kill, but to stop aggression, which takes a bigger, hard hitting, expanding bullet. More often than not, several of them. Pistols are poor people stoppers, but they are easier to carry and conceal than rifles and shotguns.

My primary carry caliber is .45 apc, but I carry a S&W lightweight J-frame .38 (642) very comfortably in my pants pocket, as a back-up gun, on duty and as a primary gun off duty, in the summertime. With modern SD ammo, the .38 should do the job and serve you well.

My opinion. I don't know these things because I read them in a book. ​

 

[h8dirt]

I use a Glock 26 with a 10 round magazine in a iwb when lightly dressed. It lays flat and a light shirt covers it fine. When I can't carry a 1911 in 45 acp, I prefer 9mm in lieu of 380 (or smaller). Works for me.

 

[harleysilo]

talked to local shop about ruger lcp. Said he's sold but won't sell any more until ruger admits the problem existis and takes steps to fix them. So it's back keltec .380.

 

[bgeddes]

I have a LCP. My issue now is getting it to feed JHPs. First try was Hornadays, not so good. It will feed FMJs all day long, and it's reasonably accurate. I consider it a BUG, but you can hide it wearing almost anything.

 

[harleysilo]

I wish I could find some more positive reviews on the Beretta Bobcat. Some have been favorable, many reviews have not. When you do find a good review of it the bash the caliber lol. Maybe they are trying to tell me something....... at any rate it seems if you were to get one you would definitely want the Innox version.

I like it because it has a manual safety(which i'm used to), an exposed hammer enabling DO or SO (which i'm used to).