looking for a good pocket pistol

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bryanj0077

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Hello everyone. Wanted some advice on a good semi-auto pocket sized pistol... Looking to spend $200-$300. Wouldn't want anything bigger than a 9mm and was wondering if .22lr is even worth considering for SD purposes... What are your thoughts on .380, .25, .32 or even a .38 derringer...
Any advice on makes and models would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Bryan
 
I carry a Polish P-64 chambered in 9mm Makarov (close balisticly to a .380 Auto). They run in the $150 to $225 depending on area you live in, and how much the local dealers mark them up. Mine runs flawlessly. Though I will admit it is at the maximum size I will go with in a pocket gun.

It looks and feels very similar to a Walther PPK. 9mm Mak even during the worst of the ammo drought a few years ago it was still able to be ordered online, at prices comprable to 9mm Luger. I bought it due to the fact that I knew I could get ammo for it without too much difficulty.

Up until the post election drought of ammo (especialy .380 Auto) I was a huge proponent of .380 Auto for concealed carry, in a small light weight gun that was not too brutal with recoil.
 
go with the biggest you can handle. 22 and 25 are out. Most also don't consider 32 as viable self defense cartridge so your looking at 380, 38 and 9mm of those you mentioned. Unless you can shove that derringer up against your assailant you can scrub that one also as they have no accuracy at all with less than a 1 inch barrel not to mention very hard to cock etc.

Almost everyone makes 380 and 9mm pocket sized guns with Kel Tec probably being the lightest. Something like Kahr being heavier but considerably farther up the food chain.

Try finding some to actually shoot and see what feels best for you. On the rare occasions that I have to carry small I carry a Kel Tec P32 which is about like being naked considering a Kimber 45 is my regular carry.
 
I'd suggest sticking with a .380 or bigger as far as cartridge goes.

A good example of a .380 pocket pistol is the Ruger LCP. Good gun, easy to CCW and very reliable. Can be a bear to shoot depending on hand size and how you handle recoil. Kel-Tec, S&W and Taurus all make some thing very similiar.

A .38 snub nose can also make a good pocket gun. Lots of makes available.
 
I carry a Polish P-64 chambered in 9mm Makarov
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Me too. The only downside is being an all-steel gun it is heavier than a similar sized modern .380 made of alloy or polymer.
 
For me the choice would be a Kel-Tec P11--highest capacity 9mm on the market well <$300. You would be well-served.

-Cheers
 
Ruger LCP

I've had good luck with my Ruger LCP (.380). Have put several hundred rounds through it without a single problem. It's lightweight, accurate and easily concealable.

You may also want to think about a Kel-Tec PF9. It's a bit larger, but also moves you up to 9mm and I believe CTD (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/2KTPF9PKGN-1.html) is selling them for about $230?
 
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The two pocket firearms I alternate between are a Kahr P380 and a S&W Bodyguard .38 Spl.
They are both lightweight, reliable and easy to use.
I can recommend both.
 
I can also throw my vote in for the Ruger LCP. The recoil can be a bit much but it is managable with practice.

Here's mine:
14bjpl0.jpg
 
I would not go below .380, and recommend a Ruger LCP .380 or, if your pockets are large enough, a Ruger LC9 9mm.
 
Ruger LCP

I've been packing a Ruger LCP for a couple of years now. She's a Plane Jane looking thing, with no bells or whistles, except for a CT Laser. A typical mouse gun though in that you have to get used to dealing with the recoil. Once you settle down with it she ought to do the job.

Mr Brownings .380 caliber round has been around a long time now. Although a .22 or .32 caliber round (s) will get the job done I'd wouldn't want to bet the farm on them.
 
I have two Keltec P32's and PF9'S. I carry the hard chrome models. PF9 for my big pocket pants and P32 for all others. I favor the P32 for size however. With a +1 mag extender and a laser it rounds out a nice overall tiny package. The 32acp has less recoil and noise and is easier to hold onto as well as being lighter. Also the Keltec P32 is one of the few small guns that automatically lock back on the last round. If 9 rounds of 32acp is not enough, it was not my day.

All that being said, I usually have something bigger on the hip to compliment the little pocket rocket. ;-)
 
PF9 and PF11 are good pocket guns, but only in jacket pockets or cargo pants. In regular pants or jeans the don't fit well at all.

If you want something insanely carryable (which you should) get a Ruger LCP, Kel-tec P32, or Kel-Tec P3-AT. These guns are all reliable, inexpensive, incredibly small, and have very long Double-Action trigger pulls making pocket carry with one in the chamber and without any form of holster very safe. The nod for me goes to the P3-AT due to the belt-clip accessory that you can use to keep it at the top of your pocket instead of letting it slip to the bottom, and it being a more powerful than the P32.

I would not recommend going for anything larger as the bigger it is the more likely you are to leave it behind when you need it most. The most important thing is to have the gun on you, not how powerful it is. Just the other day a 65-year-old man got jumped by 3 teens and he killed one, injured one, and got one to run away just using a .22lr pistol. So get one you will definitely carry 100% of the time... And that means small and light. You can get something bigger that you will likely end up carrying only part-time later on.
 
Te Anau said:
Do not get a gun in .25acp........its next to worthless!!!
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Funny you should say that. Several years ago (maybe 10?), I picked up an FIE .25 Auto that I literally found laying in a parking lot. Little tiny cheap pistol, looked like it was made on the Beretta pattern. Picked it up, dropped it in the console of the truck. It eventually made its way into a drawer in near the reloading bench. Several years later I picked up a box of ammo at a gun show. Dropped it in the drawer as well. Forgot about both the gun and the ammo. Cheap gun, worthless caliber.

Fast forward to my adult son digging around, found the little pistol. Asked about it. Told him story. Cheap gun, worthless caliber. SO, we decide to go out and shoot it, just for giggles. He sets up a seven yard target and loads the cheap pistol. Found in parking lot, hasn't been cleaned in 10 years. Puts five shots in target you can cover with your fist. Really? Yeah, really!

I know, the .25 ACP is a worthless caliber, but it'll put five shots in a goblins chest as fast as you can punch the trigger.

Having said that, I don't carry it. It's not my first choice although my first choice is hard to determine. I alternate betwixt a Ruger LCP and a Smith model 38, depending purely on my flighty preference at the time. This morning, right now, the Airweight is in my pocket, although the LCP is within arms reach.
 
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Well im glad to see your .25acp experience was better than mine.My first gun was a .25acp Excam GT-27 and both were a total joke.And by the way,how come I never see PawPaw trees anywhere? Ive yet to taste its supposedly wonderful fruit.

:)
 
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