Need Small Carry Gun

The j-frame smith is going to be a lot easier to carry in your pocket in real life than it looks on paper. The difference is the weight.

A XD subcompact weighs 26 ounces the j-frame weighs about 15 ounces. Put it this way, two j-frame revolvers in your pocket would only weigh 4 ounces more than one XD SC. That's a huge difference when carrying in a pocket.

You'll also find the grip of the revolver is slimmer and round, while the grip of your current auto is rectangular and more bulkly.

I have an M&Pc in 9mm, not much different from your XD and j-frame is much easier to pocket carry.

Head to a gun show and ask the clerk if you can try a few j-frames in your pocket and you'll see what we mean.
 
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).
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Your experience with failures of your father's Elsie Pea is a rare event with these little guns. Most people will report similar experances as mine. My LCP has been 1--% reliable with a wide range of ammunition right out of the box. No break-in at all. although I did fire about 200 rounds through it as a "proof" test, there were no failures. I also continue to shoot it regularly, as should ber done with any CCW firearm Most often with FMJ rangr ammo, but I also fire a few magazines of my carry round, Hornady Critical Defense, every couple months for practice drills, and keeping my ammo fresh by buying new ammo to replace what I practice with.
"Ruger LCP, the gun you can carry when you can't carry a gun."
 
Ruger LCP

I've been using the Ruger LCP 380 with a CT Laser for 3 yeas now as a BUG. Breaking it in, if you're not used to a Mouse Gun, is just getting used to it and figuring out how it works. Up close and personal at 5-7 Yards, after a few hundred rounds you'll get used to it.
 
Consider a Sig P290. Smaller than a LCR and a little bigger than the LCCP. Big enough to shoot comfortably. (It is actually fun to shoot) Mine has had zero issues. It is about as small as you would want a 9mm (IMHO) but heavy enough to control recoil , but it is in no way too heavy in my opinion. Feels very good in hand. Also comes with night sights, a (removable) laser and an extra 8rd mag all for under $500

These photos are with a Ruger LCR (.22lr but same size as a 357 LCR) and a Tuarus TCP 738 380acp.

It is a little bit smaller than the LCR and a little bit bigger than the TCP. The only major differences are the Sig is heavier than both and both are quite a bit wider than the TCP. But keep inmind the TCP is a 380.



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This one is interesting to me. The TCP is on top of the P290

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Some people are surprised when they find out I am carrying 11 rounds of 9mm in a Kel-Tec P11 DeSanti pocket holster. Spare mag gives me at least 22 rounds of ammo and more with the 12 round mags (excluding my BUG).
 
PT-92 said:
Some people are surprised when they find out I am carrying 11 rounds of 9mm in a Kel-Tec P11 DeSanti pocket holster. Spare mag gives me at least 22 rounds of ammo and more with the 12 round mags (excluding my BUG).
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S&W third gen 59 series mags fit the p11. Carry that as a backup with 15 rounds
 
TennJed

Quote:
Originally Posted by PT-92
Some people are surprised when they find out I am carrying 11 rounds of 9mm in a Kel-Tec P11 DeSanti pocket holster. Spare mag gives me at least 22 rounds of ammo and more with the 12 round mags (excluding my BUG).
S&W third gen 59 series mags fit the p11. Carry that as a backup with 15 rounds
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Great point--Lots of good choices mentioned in this thread but for some reason the P11 tends to get 'overlooked.'
 
I'm surprised nobody has mention the S&W Bodyguard 380. I have one and love it. I've got about 200 rounds through it so far and it has been absolutely flawless. Also the slide locks back when empty which the lcp doesn't do, and it has a safety. Some people don't like the safety part, but I do. I carry mine every day either in pocket or IWB and love it. I carry Hornady XTP hollow points in it and keep a back up mag of FMJ in my Jeep.

Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2
 
@Erikbal

I've been contemplating the Bodyguard .380 so anything you could tell me about it (what you like, what could be better, any nuances you've noticed in firing/disassembling it) would be greatly appreciated. You can just PM me if you don't want to hijack this thread, though it does seem like something the OP might be interested in.
 
my bodyguard is really snappy comparing it to my PPK and Bersa....i do not get the accuracy that i get from the walther and bersa either, but it is a well made firearm and had zero function problems.. my personal experence
 
In my opinion, Ruger about steals the show here (with the exception of S&W .38 snubs and their Bodyguard)..

I like my Ruger LC9 for pocket carry with a thin pocket holster. The trigger is heavy and not target-friendly, but at close SD distances, the LC9 is a good choice. Nowhere near as heavy as the Keltec P-11, though. More importantly, it has a safety you can use or decide not to use. It's a very SAFE gun, and it would take an act of God to make the thing misfire. Skip the laser version, IMHO. I can pocket carry the LC9 in the front of a pair of pleated dockers shorts, although I find cargo shorts work best.

On another note, I want an LCR just because I like wheelguns, too. The .38 Special version has, by far, the best trigger.

If you truly want a "go anywhere" gun, then look at the LCP and load it with some Buffalo Bore SWC.
 
Well i am at both ends of the scale .
Small SEECAMP 32.,BERETTA 21 A 22LR .
BIG RUGER SP101, SW MP 40 C.
Something is better than nothing .
But I have a small and a big with me at all times.
 
stoney1666

KelTec P-11
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Nice to see some P11 love in this thread as IMO it often is overlooked in favor of the PF9 or P-3AT. It really is an under-appreciated little gem for "what" it's designed for and that is close-up self-defense, nothing more, nothing less.

-Cheers
 
PT-92 said:
Nice to see some P11 love in this thread as IMO it often is overlooked in favor of the PF9 or P-3AT. It really is an under-appreciated little gem for "what" it's designed for and that is close-up self-defense, nothing more, nothing less.

-Cheers
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100% agree
 
stonewall50


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,
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This link is to a .pdf which shows pictures and specifications of many small handguns. The Ruger LCP is among them.
http://www.mouseguns.com/PocketAutoComparison.pdf
It should be a resource to help you compare.

Have you considered what you feel is the minimum cartridge you are willing to try to stop a determined attacker with?
Have you held the handgun to see whether it can be held and controlled while firing?
While the Kel-Tec PF-9 is heavier and taller than the Ruger LCP it also fires a more powerful round. The extra size and mass can be a plus for control.
I have not shot either of them.

Ruger LCP .380 ACP
Frame: Aluminum/Polymer
MSRP: $330
Operation: DAO, Slide Hold Open
Capacity: 6 +1
Barrel/Overall Length: 2.75/5.14”
Height: 3.6”
Width: 0.80”
Weight Empty: 9.8 oz.
Weight Fully Loaded: 12

Kel-Tec PF-9 9 x 19mm
Frame: Aluminum/Polymer
MSRP: Blued Slide $333
Parkerized Slide $377
Hard Chrome Slide $390
Operation: DAO, Slide Catch
Capacity: 7 +1
Barrel/Overall Length: 3.06/5.85”
Height: 4.36”
Width: 0.84”
Weight Empty: 14.7 oz.
Weight Fully Loaded: 18 oz.
 
I love my Kel-Tec P-11.

Disappears nicely IWB, feels very safe with the hammer-fired DAO action, and has impressive capacity for such a small pistol.

The trigger is incredibly long and heavy, but I know it will work if I need it to.
 
My three go to carry guns are an S&W 642, M&P Shield, and a Walther PPK. I'm not a fan of ultra light guns. I like to know it's there.
 
I had an LCP and it worked great. However, I sold it and bought a S&W Bodyguard 380. I think it is a superior weapon for several reasons. First, it has much better sights. I know plenty will say it doesn't need good sights yet they don't go around without sight on their other carry pistols so take that for what its worth. Not to mention I've shot clay pigeons with my BG at over 25 yards so its perfectly capable of using its sights. The LCP and P3AT Keltec are also plagued by "smileys" where the next round in the magazine slams into the bottom of the feed ramp deforming the bullet of even setting it back in the case. The BG380 doesn't do that. The BG's barrel is much more robust that the others. The BG chamber at its thinnest point is about three times thicker than the LCP at its thinnest. I would feel much better about shooting stouter ammo through a BG than the others. Personally, I wouldn't shoot ammo like Buffalo Bore in a LCP or a P3AT. Finally, the BG also has a well designed manual safety and the slide locks back on the final shot making reloads much easier and quicker. My LCP was 100% and was a great shooter. My BG has also been totally reliable, I just think it is a better weapon.
 
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