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Pocket Pistol?

11K views 100 replies 55 participants last post by  mrmike7189 
#1 ·
Hey guys so I've been on a quest to find the perfect concealed carry/self defense firearm. I'm essentially a firearms newbie. Never fired a semi auto in my life. Only revolvers, which I like a lot, but don't think are practical for self/home defense that much. So, as someone totally new to autos, can you guys recommend a good smaller sized one for occasional carry and also to double as a home defense gun? Preferably below 400 bucks or so? I've thought about the LCP or the Kel Tech 32 or something similar. Maybe a Glock 22. Anyway, the other day, I ordered a Bulldog in 44 spl, a round I've had great luck with and can shoot well, and had one a few years ago, but let it go. It's a good size in a good caliber that I can shoot, and I had my local gun shop order it for me. But now after thinking it over, I'm thinking I'd be better served by an auto for self/defense/home defense. Because of the greater capacity of an auto. So I'm considering getting an LCP or Kel Tech or something along those lines instead. Done a lot of thinking and just think an auto is better for a life and death situation. What do you guys think is a good pocket/self defense pistol for a first time auto user?
 
#2 ·
A good pocket pistol will depend on the size of your pockets. A Glock22 is a full size duty pistol not a pocket gun. There's nothing wrong with carrying a revolver.

Your criteria, IMO, should be what do you shoot well and what will you carry every day.

I usually carry an LCP but sometimes its an LCR or Glock 26.
 
#3 ·
You should rent a few at the range. I have an LC9s that I consider a great gun but it's just a little too big for me to comfortably pocket carry. Everyone's mileage varies. I also have an LCP that is a great pocket carry. .380 is a compromise caliber. It's also pretty dog gone small to get a grip on. I'm happy and comfortable with mine now that I have a lot of rounds down range. So... you gotta decide on your own what you can shoot well and how you'll carry it.

Also, don't know why you're ruling out revolvers? Many of the pocket pistols are limited in capacity too (LCP 6+1)- although you can carry extra mags. Again, It's what you are comfortable with.
 
#5 ·
The OP sounds a little bit confused. A pocket pistol (LCP, Kel Tec, etc) is a last-ditch, no other option type of gun. They are perfect for shorts and tee shirt weather, but the small caliber of the weapons combined with the small sights and difficulty of holding onto the little things make them poor choices for a primary defense pistol. I have a Taurus TCP and it is the most difficult gun I own to shoot well. The Glock 22 on the other hand is a full-size duty pistol. It is a perfect house or truck gun, but it is kind of large to try and conceal. Glock makes many compact handguns that will be much easier to use as a CCW pistol, as well as offerings from every other major maker. The general purpose carry gun falls in between the two types of gun the OP mentioned. The Bulldog .44spl falls right into that category. I'm baffled why anyone would even think of a Kel Tec .32acp as being a better carry gun than a short barreled .44 revolver. Thunder Ranch's Clint Smith asked the question "Would you rather be throwing rocks or throwing bricks?". In a short-range defensive engagement I'll take five bricks over six rocks every time. The well-heeled armed citizen would be well served by a large bore snub-nose revolver in a good holster AND a .380 pocket pistol to serve as a "New York Reload".
 
#7 ·
I think a pocket gun and a home defense gun are two different guns. I own both semi-autos and revolvers. My carry pistol is a Bersa .380 but my nightstand and home defense guns are both revolvers (.38/,357). I like to know that if I have to get up in the middle of the night and grab a gun, I don't have to think about a safety or if there is a round in the chamber. I can just point and squeeze.
 
#9 ·
Just my experience: I have carried the LC9 (original, with Lasermax) in the pocket, even in shorts (Dickies with deep pockets and in large pocket in cargo shorts), but now have a P238, which is thicker but smaller overall. It's in the pocket whenever I go that route.
 
#10 ·
I love revolvers but I feel it's highly advantageous and high time I start familiarizing with autos. Because my primary purpose in handguns is for self defense and home defense and such an incident would likely occur in the middle of the night with little to no warning, and may involve more than one perpetrator, I just don't despite my love for revolvers feel comfortable any more that they could be enough firepower alone in a sudden, adrenaline filled incident. For pocket carry, I'm leaning towards an LCP either in 380 or 9mm. Or a keltech. Something that wouldn't print much or any (although I usually don't wear baggy clothes so that could be an issue but I wouldn't be necessarily carrying everywhere anyway. Just as a backup. I'm going to have to hit the range and do some serious practicing though, to learn about autos and figure out how to use them effectively much less carry them. The name of the game is practicality. A friend told me, I know you like revolvers, but trust me, don't depend on a revolver in a dangerous, sudden incident where firepower is critical. He said, get a pistol that you can shoot and than holds several rounds you can quickly discharge. So, I've pretty well decided after some serious thought that I'm going to go with an auto instead.
 
#47 · (Edited by Moderator)
..... A friend told me, I know you like revolvers, but trust me, don't depend on a revolver in a dangerous, sudden incident where firepower is critical. He said, get a pistol that you can shoot and than holds several rounds you can quickly discharge....

From the op's #10 post. This statement is lack of maturity , insecure and a definite lack of propper training. Don't forget your mind set is just as much a weapon as the gun.
I would find more intelligent friends.
 
#11 ·
I struggled with pocket carry for several years. I spent a lot of money on just about every small auto pistol I could afford(budget $500). I never found something that was small, light and had enough firepower to make me comfortable. The lightest little pistol I still own is a Kel-Tec P32, and it is very nice in the pocket, but the 32 ACP isnt a round I want to be in a gun fight with. It might get you to cover during an attack, but barely.

I have owned the Ruger LCP, Ruger LCR 357, Ruger LC9, Ruger LC380, Sig 238, Sig 938, Kahr CM9, Kahr CW9, Kahr CM45, Kahr CW45... Im going to stop there. There are others, but I think you get the idea. If a pistol has a reasonable amount of firepower, it was too large and heavy for my comfort, for pocket carry. I finally decided pocket carry just isn't a good method of carry for me.

I started looking at other methods of carry. I found the Kangaroo Carry. I think its perfect. You can comfortably carry a larger pistol than anything you can carry in your pocket, plus extra magazines, and you never feel like your carrying a brick. I settled on the Kahr CM45, and have been very happy with that pistol, and holster(Kangaroo Carry)

Since you would like one pistol to do double duty of Concealed Carry, and Home Defense, I would recommend something that has an abbreviated grip, like the Ruger SR9c or SR40c, and carry it with the small mags, then order several of the full size mags, and grip adapters. When you get home, take out the 10 round mag, pop in the 17 round mag. You now have the best of both worlds.
 
#12 ·
I concur on carry and home defense are two different things. I use different guns myself.

Personally, I carry the LCP because a) I avoid dangerous situations so I'm not likely to need a hand cannon and b) it's light and easy to carry. To me self-defense is "last ditch."

I would not recommend it to a newbie. It's a bitch to shoot, and shoot accurately, until you figure it out. Remember, every gun is a compromise depending on what the designer is prioritizing. The LCP is optimized for slipping in a pocket, not shooting.

My suggestion would be to look at a Glock 42 or 43. I don't own either, but I have other Glocks. Should be almost as reliable as a revolver, flatter and therefore easier to carry (thickness is the most important dimension for concealed carry), and a breeze to field strip and clean. Just practice. A lot.
 
#13 ·
If you are one a budget and can only get 1 gun and are definitely set on an auto, I would consider what I carry. Walther P99C-AS. 10+ or 15+1. Trigger is good for a newbie. It's compact and has enough capacity to get the job done. It's not a pocket pistol though.
LCP Custom if you want a strict pocket carry.
Having said all this, a 44 Special Bulldog is perfect for a beginner. Very effective round. Most fire fights are over in two shots. Don't get too hung up on the capacity argument. Shot placement is it.
 
#16 ·
I carried a Ruger SR9c for a few years, but went to the dark side and bought a Sig P938 because I wanted something I could pocket carry. My main requirements were to get something in 9mm that would fit in my pocket, and then I researched my choices and chose 3 to seriously look at...then I shot all 3.

You will get a list of what people carry when you ask a question like that, so the best thing is for you to compile a list of Needs and start looking...but definitely shoot your possibles before you choose.
 
#17 ·
IMO a pocket pistol is not a good home defense weapon, for many reasons. OP you need two different weapons.

I am not a fan of pocket weapons myself, but a Glock 22 can be concealed, just not in a pocket. I concealed a 1911 for years as a LEO with no difficulty. Getting a handgun out of a waistband holster is much quicker, IMO, than digging in a pocket.

If you can only have one gun, under $400, I would suggest Sar B6P. A compromise between a full size, and a compact, and about $300 new. Tanfoglio Witness is a tad more expensive, but they are basically both CZ clones.
 
#18 ·
For pocket carry, I'm leaning towards an LCP either in 380 or 9mm. Or a keltech. Something that wouldn't print much or any (although I usually don't wear baggy clothes so that could be an issue but I wouldn't be necessarily carrying everywhere anyway.
I've carried an LCP daily for 7 years so I guess I'm biased but what I've found is it's all about weight.

I tried a Sig 232 first and yeah it fit my pocket but at 16ozs(empty) it felt like a bag of rocks pulling and banging, my Kel-tec P-11 also "fits" but it's size and weight isn't what I consider a pocket gun. Because to me a pocket gun is something you carry and forget like a wallet, sure there's limitations but those are acceptable IMHO for always having a gun on my person.
 
#19 · (Edited)
It will probably be awhile before I feel ready for actual pocket carry, although I have carried a gun with me in the car before when I've gone places. I too avoid most dangerous situation and always tend to have my wits about me and be aware of my surroundings, so I'm really not in many diecy situations out in public. That said as we know anything can happen. I realize that for pocket carry and home defense you need separate weapons. Mainly what I'm trying to decide is if I should keep the Bulldog for a home defense gun, or go with say a Glock 23. I like revolvers. But I like the higher capacity of autos such as a double stack. And I feel it's advantageous in any situation to have the most firepower you can comfortably and practically have.
 
#20 ·
From a purely firepower and shootability point-of-view, a quality large frame, double-stack 9mm with good quality defensive rounds such as the Federal HST, Speer Gold Dots or Hornady Critical Defense, would be hard to beat for home defense purposes. There is nothing wrong with choosing a revolver, (I have a .357 Service-Six) but the extra rounds are nice. It's better to have them and not need them than need them and not have them.

For pocket carry, a .380 like the LCP or LCP II with it's extremely compact size and low weight is just about ideal. For belt or shoulder rig carry, there are better choices like a sub-compact 9mm, or 40. I have the LCP II for pocket carry, a 9mm S&W Shield for concealed belt carry, a 1911 with a laser/light combo for home defense, the .357 Service-Six for open woods carry/hunting and a Mark I target for plinking. I may have additional wants but I don't have any more needs.
 
#21 ·
The 9mm is a good shootable round from all I hear. My buddy who is ex army swears by the 40 s&w he said he loves it. I don't see myself belt carrying too much unless I'm out and about on the weekends or traveling out of town or something. Bottom line I just need to shoot more and familiarize myself more with auto loaders.
 
#22 · (Edited)
Mainly what I'm trying to decide is if I should keep the Bulldog for a home defense gun, or go with say a Glock 23.
A G-23 is the second part of my CC plan, if I'm going to carry a gun on my belt it will have at least a 10 round capacity. The only place a revolver fits in my gun battery is as a woods gun because I hunt deer with it.
 
#23 · (Edited)
I remember being a newbee and going on the perfect pocket pistol quest, many years ago. What a trip. Started with a J frame 38 special, moved up to 45 acp 1911's , several different incarnations of those , the 9mm Luger's many tried all found wanting , 32 acp's a few came and went the 380's were tried...no perfection there . 45 acp snub nosed revolver , almost but not quite perfection. After all that , the closest thing to perfection for me, is right back where I started all those years ago , with a J-frame 38 special but this one's an air weight. That's the one that's closest to perfect.
That's as close to the perfect pocket pistol I can come up with.....truth is , there is no perfect...everything in life is a compromise.
Good luck in your perfect pocket pistol quest.
Gary
 
#24 ·
IMHO, Safety is an issue for pocket carry. And although there are several really nice small 9mm's I would recommend for holster carry, I would NOT carry a "cocked and locked" for a pocket carry.

Therefore, I would recommend a CZ Rami 2075 D. The decockers are extremely safe and quite simply, wont go bang unless YOU make them go bang with a full trigger squeeze. They are 100% reliable , very accurate, and will run any ammo you feed it flawlessly. Point and pull. No safety needed.
But they are $600, not $400.

Revolver wise, I like the Ruger LCR 9mm. Nothing to snag, fits in a pocket, and its stiff trigger makes it very safe. Point and pull. No safety needed.

Keep in mind, if you buy a cheap auto, you will generally get exactly what you paid for.

There are some cheaper priced revolvers, like charter arms, that will run and function fine though.

Do your homework on reviews.

Good luck. :)
 
#26 ·
I have both revolvers and pistols and carry both, but most of the time I carry a LCR size , about 80% of the time. But for my nightstand it is always my six shot, 4".357 mag with two speed loaders right there. I have been a revolver boy for over 50 years, I shoot them better and I am confident that 99.99999999+ % of the time, when the trigger is pulled there will be a loud noise.
 
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