Need Small Carry Gun

S

stonewall50

New member
I am in the market for a small carry gun. I am torn too. My current primary carry gun is an XD SC 9mm. It is really easy to carry on almost every day. There are a few occasions that I would love to have a smaller gun though. I already have a .22WMR from NAA. I can shoot it ok, but I am not all that willing to rely on something that small. So please help me given the thoughts I have here:

I understand that a .380 is an acceptable caliber, and I have seen dozens of .380 autoloaders. My problem is that I question their reliability. I understand that many have "break in periods?" I do like that they are small and easy to carry. Do most of them have a break in period? Or is a lot of that due to improper shooting and limp wristing the guns? I enjoy shooting my father's LCP, but I have seen it jam a few times (brand new).

I love revolvers. I trust them. I specifically like hammered revolvers. I can shoot revolvers just fine, and I know I can rely on them. The problem is that I know they can only be so small. I am looking for something I can drop in my pocket, or carry easily in clothing that is more fitted (church clothing, work out clothes, and basically any of the clothing that takes a little more effort to carry).

I have a tendency to put a gun through its paces. So my requirements are a gun that is small, cheap (I am on a limited budget...but I am going to trade in my NAA .22WMR and all the stuff with it), and reliable. I don't want anything fancy. Just reliable. Ideas on where to look or advice on the gun size would be appreciated,
 
Smith & Wesson 642. 14oz. Revolver. It will handle. 38Special +P.

It 's easy to carry, just drop it in your pocket. It's about as snag free as your going to find.

There is also the Ruger LCR.

If you want more punch jump up to the Ruger SP 101 .357 Mag.

I carry both, the SP101, and my 642 in my front pocket. ( not at the same time) . And yes you can carry the SP101 in your pocket it just takes time to get used to it. Whereas the 642 is lighter and easier to carry that way.
 
A Ruger LCP or a S&W 637 would both be good choices.

A Ruger LCP should not need a break in period. Mine has been 100% reliable although any auto can jam once and again.

A snub of course is very reliable and a .38 is a great self defense round.
 
S&W m638 shrouded hammer in a good pocket holster good choice. If you want more the 5 rounds look at the Kel Tec P-11 9m/m small pocket pistol but has a lot of recoil and muzzle blast.
 
A 642 is barely (if at all) smaller than the XD in length.

An LCP is very small and light...if you trust the .380 cartridge, this might be the one for you.

When I pocket carry, it is the Kahr PM9. It is significantly shorter in overall length than any j-frame, and slimmer as well. It also holds two more rounds than a j-frame, and a reload is much quicker as well.

As far as a P-11, might as well stick with your XD.
 
I believe the OP specifically excluded revolvers because they weren't small enough.

Bottom line is that he needs an LCP or P3AT but doesn't trust them, and doesn't want to pay up for a Kahr P380 or Sig P238. My only suggestion is to get an LCP and shoot it enough until you decide it's ok or send it back to the factory for repair.
 
Yeah, it's unusual to have any reliablity problems with an LCP... I find I need to grip mine REAL tight as it's quite snappy/jumpy... With all due respect to your Dad, I wonder if he might be inadvertantly "limpwristing" his once in a while due to holding it with the same casual grip as he uses with bigger, heavier guns.
 
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The only subcompact auto I have shot that has never jammed would be the Walther PPS, but the PPS really is not a "just drop in the pocket" gun. Too tall, and too long.

LCPs have a good reputation for reliability, as small autos go.

Most small guns are more sensitive to ammo choice and shooter technique. Also, most will have shorter intervals between recommended recoil spring replacements.
 
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Well guys yall are starting to put me at ease with the autoloaders. I would say my dad may have had a tendency to limp wrist because he is a .45ACP minimum guy. He taught me with a .357 magnum (not .38s in the gun lol) because that was the first he ever shot, and so I would say that makes a lot of sense.

I didn't "exclude revolvers" but I did understand they are bigger. I DO know that revolver require very little to maintain. My primary being the XD is so reliable and tough.

I reckon I need to start looking around at auto guns a little more? I see some brands I know. the LCP is an easy gun for me to get at because it is what my dad has and shoots. I just gotta buy the bullets I guess. How do yall feel about lasers on such guns? I know that a lot of the guys in my family hate pistol sights and so my father just grabbed the one with the CT laser. It works just fine for him.
 
Look at the LC9. It's a hair longer and taller than the LCP and you get standard 9mm which is cheaper to shoot than .380. It's small enough that you can pocket carry with some clothing and it almost disappears IWB. It's large enough too that you feel like you're holding something significant enough to trust. It's also reliable. I've used 5 different types of ammo through mine and never a jam.
 
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stantheman1976 said:
Look at the LC9. It's a hair longer and taller than the LCP and you get standard 9mm which is cheaper to shoot than .380. It's small enough that you can pocket carry with some clothing and it almost disappears IWB. It's large enough too that you feel like you're holding something significant enough to trust. It's also reliable. I've used 5 different types of ammo through mine and never a jam.
Click to expand...

And lasermax makes a trigger guard laser for it
 
Many small 380's out there. Do your research and pick one.

I carry a Ruger LCP with a Crimson Trace laser in a Alabama
Holster Works kydex pocket holster. Right front pants pocket
Have been for about 3 years now.
Showing some holster wear from the kydex, but it has been
100% reliable right from the first shot.

I carry it every day. All day. Work, play, everywhere that I'm
allowed by law to carry it--and here in Oregon the list of places I
can't carry is pretty short. Carrying it right now, sitting at the
computer.:)
 
My Ruger LCP doesn't have a lot of mileage on it yet, but so far (100 rounds or so, through it), it has proven to be very reliable. I carry it stoked with hard ball.
 
Sig P 238 380 caliber like a pint sized 1911, fits a front pocket holster and you can hit something with it.
 
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