List 1, Handguns owned that qualified for pocket carry:
S&W 36, 60, 37, 637, 42, 642, 48, 648, Taurus 85 UL, Colt Detective, Colt Cobra, Glock 26, 27, 33
List 2, Handguns purchased for testing:
Kel-Tec PF9, Ruger LC9, Beretta Nano, Sig P290
Gentlemen,
Recently I decided to start back carrying a pocket pistol full time. I used to carry a S&W model 42 and 48 in my right front pocket (in an Akers pocket holster), but when I retired and moved to the country 14 years ago and bought jeans that fit “tighter” than my old town Dockers, pocket carry wasn’t practical. So during this time I’ve been alternating carrying a G27 and G33 in a Kirkpatrick TSS belt holster. I carry daily, and have for 40 years.
I admit this up front, I prefer Glock’s “go-to-a-gunfight” qualities. And if push came to shove, and I can get to a Glock (or shotgun), I would do so. But carrying every day now has lent itself more to pocket carry. I’ve had to buy looser fitting jeans to accommodate this change.
Bearing in mind that I had my choice of the firearms in List 1 above, I decided to give some of the current, small semi-auto pistols a try. And my determination was to not go below 9mm Luger in caliber.
After doing some reading…no, a lot of reading, I bought the four pocket pistols shown in List 2 to test for dependability (feed and function) and accuracy.
Making a long story short, all four--the Kel-Tec, the Ruger, the Beretta Nano, and the Sig performed well. They were all 100-percent dependable--no malfunctions, and all plenty accurate for the purpose which they are intended. It was not easy to determine the one I preferred. But at the end of the process I went with the Sig P290. My second choice was the Beretta Nano; third choice was the Ruger LC9, and the Kel-Tec came in forth. This is in no way saying the second thru forth choices are not good pistols. They are very good pistols in my experience. It is just that my preference was in this order. If the Sig gets misplaced or someone offers a trade I can’t refuse, I will comfortably go with the Beretta or Ruger. The Kel-Tec got “talked away” from me by my close friend who assisted in the testing. He carries it daily in an ankle holster. I may live to regret letting him have it, but it’s a done deal now.
So there you have it. I wanted to share my experience since I see questions asked about pocket pistols in this Forum. Someone may benefit from my experience.
Gene Pool
S&W 36, 60, 37, 637, 42, 642, 48, 648, Taurus 85 UL, Colt Detective, Colt Cobra, Glock 26, 27, 33
List 2, Handguns purchased for testing:
Kel-Tec PF9, Ruger LC9, Beretta Nano, Sig P290
Gentlemen,
Recently I decided to start back carrying a pocket pistol full time. I used to carry a S&W model 42 and 48 in my right front pocket (in an Akers pocket holster), but when I retired and moved to the country 14 years ago and bought jeans that fit “tighter” than my old town Dockers, pocket carry wasn’t practical. So during this time I’ve been alternating carrying a G27 and G33 in a Kirkpatrick TSS belt holster. I carry daily, and have for 40 years.
I admit this up front, I prefer Glock’s “go-to-a-gunfight” qualities. And if push came to shove, and I can get to a Glock (or shotgun), I would do so. But carrying every day now has lent itself more to pocket carry. I’ve had to buy looser fitting jeans to accommodate this change.
Bearing in mind that I had my choice of the firearms in List 1 above, I decided to give some of the current, small semi-auto pistols a try. And my determination was to not go below 9mm Luger in caliber.
After doing some reading…no, a lot of reading, I bought the four pocket pistols shown in List 2 to test for dependability (feed and function) and accuracy.
Making a long story short, all four--the Kel-Tec, the Ruger, the Beretta Nano, and the Sig performed well. They were all 100-percent dependable--no malfunctions, and all plenty accurate for the purpose which they are intended. It was not easy to determine the one I preferred. But at the end of the process I went with the Sig P290. My second choice was the Beretta Nano; third choice was the Ruger LC9, and the Kel-Tec came in forth. This is in no way saying the second thru forth choices are not good pistols. They are very good pistols in my experience. It is just that my preference was in this order. If the Sig gets misplaced or someone offers a trade I can’t refuse, I will comfortably go with the Beretta or Ruger. The Kel-Tec got “talked away” from me by my close friend who assisted in the testing. He carries it daily in an ankle holster. I may live to regret letting him have it, but it’s a done deal now.
So there you have it. I wanted to share my experience since I see questions asked about pocket pistols in this Forum. Someone may benefit from my experience.
Gene Pool
The Beretta is a nice little gun, and I'm a Beretta guy. The consensus, though, seems to say that it suffers compared to the M&P Shield. The 290 didn't really sit in my hand when I tried one and I don't like Kel-Tec for the same reason I don't like Taurus (awesome designs, poor implementation. LC9 I haven't had a chance wth yet. Kahr PM9 I am testing in the next few months.