Multi-Purpose pocket guns

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fifthbell

Inactive
Hello all,

This isn't exactly my first post here, but it's been a while (so long I can't even remember my old log in name or even the e-mail address it was attached to). Anyway, I'm back. Hopefully long-term this time.

Well, I was thinking today about adding another handgun to the safe and was wondering if you all had any suggestions. Ideally, it would be .22 cal (.32 might work depending on the gun maybe an older I-frame or Colt PP) and it needs to be: small/light (not necessarily a pocket gun, but pocketable); accurate (enough to bag a rabbit or squirrel or dispose of snakes/skunks/possums); reasonably priced, we'll say ~$300 (I don't mind spending money on guns, but in all likelihood this one is going to be a knock-around), reliable with most brands of ammunition, under most circumstances (even dirty/dusty etc.); and either built tight enough to keep the dirt (revolver) out or comes apart easily enough that cleaning is no big deal, like a p3at, but meeting the other requirements (cough *accuracy* cough-cough).

I think that about covers it, right now my shortlist consists of the Walther P22, Bersa .22 Firestorm (the front runner right now), one of the NAA minis (not sure which one), or maybe a used Bearcat or a .22 Beretta Cougar (if I can find one for a price I'm willing to pay). Well, that's it for now. What do you guys think? I'll be checking back in tomorrow.
 
I had bad luck with the Walther P22. It is a very nice gun, but it is too ammo sensitive. I've heard others voice this same complaint. The slide is made of zinc alloy, which is a soft metal. So slide wear will be a concern after a while, shortening the overall life of the gun.

The Beretta Bobcat is definitely a true pocket gun, and in my experience a super reliable gun that eats almost everything you feed it. It is also built to last, all steel and well put together. It will last you a very long time.

I got rid of my Walther P22 and bought me a Ruger MKIII (not a pocket gun, but works 100% with any .22lr ammo I feed it at the range.)
 
Of the ones you mention, my front runner would also be the Bersa/Firestorm .22. Ultimately I didn't keep my T380CC--should have gone for the slightly larger regular version with the decent sights and grip tang-but it certainly was a well-built gun for the money, and accurate.
 
I had considered the KT p32 and had cut it (perhaps too hastily).
Awhile back, I had a p3at and eventually sold it due very poor accuracy (and I was doing a lot of DA shooting at the time) and its annoying habit of dropping magazines during recoil (it was actually doing a near back-flip and the mag release was hitting my thumb, I tried all sorts of things and never could hang on to it tight enough to stop this). When I sold the 380 it was my intention to replace it with a p32, but my local shop had this gorgeous SMLE, and well, it didn't get replaced...

Actually, I was kinda curious about the Beretta 21a I like the looks of them, but always figured an auto that small with a barrel that short was probably really difficult to shoot accurately (assuming it could). I might have to give them a second look.

That's too bad about your P22, I nearly bought one when they came out but then I heard about the slide composition and changed my mind, but I haven't really heard it mentioned since, so I added them to the list. I hadn't heard them being ammo picky, that knocks them off.
 
fifthbell said:
Actually, I was kinda curious about the Beretta 21a I like the looks of them, but always figured an auto that small with a barrel that short was probably really difficult to shoot accurately
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Not at all actually. I grew up shooting that gun. My dad's. Killed my first prairie dog with it at about thirty yards. An extremely well built firearm. Just keep it quite clean and use high quality, high velocity ammo. I recall ours being finicky about bulk brick .22
 
I have a Bersa Firestorm and like it a lot. As long as I feed it CCI Blazer its very reliable . . . have only had two FTEs out of about 500 rounds. It doesn't like Federal bulk at all though. Its accurate and very easy to take down for cleaning too. I highly recommend it.

From what I've read on Bersa Chat there is a limited production run and they can be kind of hard to find. If your near Tulsa, I saw one at SportsWorld this past weekend for $258.95.

Here's mine. Its also the exact same size and shape as the Bersa Thunder 380.

IMG_4723-1.jpg
 
I have the Walther P22 ...
It's been very reliable with CCI MiniMags, has great ergonomics, and is nice and compact. I only wish it was a little more accurate. :(
 
If one practices like he/she should with his carry pistol/revolver it would satisfy you "multi gun" criteria.

I carry a 642 in my pocket with 150 grn LSWCs. I live in a part of the country where actually self defense would be slim. Heck, I don't even have keys to my house and truck keys are left in the truck.

But I do use my pocket revolver. Last fall I killed a rattler under my back steps. Killed another I found while crawling through the grass antelope hunting. Couple years ago I whacked a fox trying to get in my chicken pin. I've used it to put rabbits in the pot while camping on horse back. And finish off muffed shots on deer while hunting.

It's cheap and reliable as all get out, but what makes a pocket pistol/revolver is how much you shoot it & dry fire it.

It's not a target revolver but I have shot it in ICORE matches. The club I shoot at lets you pay $3 for a second gun, I use the 642 drawing from the pocket and reloading loose rounds from another pocket. Granted, I don't win and I can't load it as fast as I can with my regular ICORE revolver, but I'm learning to shoot that little revolver.
 
+1 for the S&W Mod 642. I set up first one or two shots with shot-shells and the rest with wad-cutters. Actually your favorite 5 shot revolver will work very well for outdoor activities, but lightweights are nicer to carry in a pocket. I bought a Ruger BearCat .22 revolver for those purposes and I find .22 shot-shells lacking in killing power on snakes. I only kill poisonous snakes as they may harm myself, family and pets. The others I move or scare away from the house so they will not be harmed by my mowing or whatever.
 
Well, I do practice with my carry gun a lot, usually at least one session per week, but I was really looking not for an inexpensive .22, because I don't really care for toting a 36oz 357 around the farm when I don't need to, nor do I really want to subject any of my Colt snubbies (my other carry pieces, never have been a S&W kinda guy) to chore duty.

I saw a nice revolver in .32 here a while ago (at a pawn shop) but the owner wouldn't budge on the $500 price tag, I made the guy a pretty reasonable offer and tried to convince him of how hard of a time he was going to have getting rid of a .32 S&W Long revolver but he either wouldn't listen or didn't care. That was like six months ago, and it's still there, gathering dust. It's too bad too, it looked like it was in really good shape.
 
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