Recommend a pocket gun

Which pocket-pistol / BUG would you reccomend?

  • NAA Guardian 32

    Votes: 2 1.0%

  • NAA Guardian 32 NAA

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • NAA Guardian 380

    Votes: 5 2.6%

  • NAA Mini 22 Mag

    Votes: 4 2.1%

  • Kel-Tech P32

    Votes: 15 7.9%

  • Kel-Tech p3at

    Votes: 29 15.2%

  • Seecamp 32

    Votes: 18 9.4%

  • Seecamp 380

    Votes: 14 7.3%

  • Ruger LCP

    Votes: 41 21.5%

  • Other

    Votes: 63 33.0%
  • Total voters
    191
Socrates,

I used to carry NAAs Mini Revolvers (.22LR and .22MAG versions) until I wised up about them (via personal experience with the .22MAG gun). And since you should practice with them A LOT to get good with them, the more you practice the more you're setting up one of the internal parts -- like the brittle hammer spring -- to fail due to wear-and-tear of regular practice sessions. I don't care for guns that won't hold up being used.

As for the Beretta 3032 inox, sure, it's "chunky" but very well made and solidly built, so personally, I don't find it being "chunky" any negative whatsoever. And my Tomcat never malfunctioned in any way (I used Aguila 71-grain FMJs in it, which met the prescribed "power level" ammo the Beretta 3032 Owners Manual recommended be used). I had NO interest is using any hot .32ACP ammo as some people insist on doing with the 3032 (in spite of instructions to the contrary, which I see as abusing a gun and I won't do that), since gelatin ballistics results were ALMOST IDENTICAL (maybe an inch of penetration difference, if that) for any of the .32 FMJs...so I stuck to the lower-powered stuff as the manual stated...made it easy on the gun AND gave me the penetration I needed. Win-win.

Plus, being a small gun with no barrel protruding -- and being firmly held in one's hand -- it would be REAL hard for some assailant to grab the gun and get any leverage at all to pry it OUT of your hand...especially when you're pulling the trigger. ;-)

Unlike 50 years ago (or more), nowadays there are few currently-produced .22LR autos. But of the few there are, I go with Beretta. And the tip-up barrels are great to check the chamber, and for people who have trouble (from arthritis or whatever) racking a slide.

As for the .32ACP, there are a number of choices available, but I still went with Beretta partly because I had a Beretta 21A and the 3032 works the VERY SAME WAY...so I had two guns that handled/functioned THE SAME so my handling experience with the 21A easliy transferred to the 3032. No relearning/operating a different gun design, especially under stress.

But again, I do not like DAOs so that ruled out lots of other small .32ACP guns. I prefer SA because these guns are more accurate than most people can shoot, but the way to realize said accuracy is via SA, not DA...and if you need to take a longer shot -- for whatever reason -- SA is the best choice for getting hits at longer ranges. For me, DA is (1) a safety and (2) the FIRST shot out of my pocket if I need to "rush" the gun into use. Otherwise, I cock the hammer and do it all SA.

Beretta makes quality guns, but I'm not trying to convince anyone of that or, to buy a Beretta...I'm just stating my $20 worth here.

-- John D.
 
I voted for the Seecamp .32 but I currently pocket a LCP. Sold the Seecamp a while back but have regreted it every since....it's on my list for this year. My LCP is a great little gun, however it's just mot a Seecamp. After owning the Seecamp I now understand the phrase "once you get it, you get it". :)
 
I've no experience with the Seacamps, but you'll be hard-pressed to find much of anything negative said about them.

My vote was for the LCP. Just picked mine up recently. It is a great little gun and will work just fine when even my S&W J frame is too large.
 
How do the NAA Guardians stack up against a Seecamp? Its rare to find a Seecamp around here (they occasionally turn up at gunshows) so I would probably have to find one online. I generally like to see any guns i buy before actually buying them, so as to make sure everything is fine with it, so I would probably end up waiting for a Seecamp to turn up at one of the shows, and for a fair price at that.

Also, I generally prefer stainless to blued (there are exceptions of course), which is why I am a bit more inclined to opt for a Seecamp or NAA over a Kel-tech or Ruger. However, its not enough to keep me from one if they are great guns.
 
My "Other" vote is a Rohrbaugh R9s Stealth.

An exceptionally well made "down to business" 9mm pocket pistol that never leaves me feeling under-gunned.
 
How do the NAA Guardians stack up against a Seecamp? Its rare to find a Seecamp around here (they occasionally turn up at gunshows) so I would probably have to find one online. I generally like to see any guns i buy before actually buying them, so as to make sure everything is fine with it, so I would probably end up waiting for a Seecamp to turn up at one of the shows, and for a fair price at that.
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The NAA Guardian is a good gun, but it is definitely a second tier gun when compared to Seecamp. Plus, the Guardian .380 is more the size of the Beretta Tomcat than it is the Seecamp.

Try looking over at the Seecamp forum. You might even find a used one for sale. If not, you might decide to order one from the factory. You can even get them with a customized serial number for a few extra bucks. We had one made for my father-n-law. Here is a mock up of it.

Seecamp.jpg


Here is my own little Seecamp I have two, but this is the one I carry.

SeecampPunisher.jpg


Here is a size comparison between the Seecamp and NAA Guardian .380 pistols.

Guardian-Seecamp.jpg
 
I vote for a small DA revolver. I have no trouble at all carrying my Colt Cobra, which is slightly larger than a J-Frame, in my right front pants pocket unless I'm wearing very tightly fitting pants.
 
If I were choosing from that list, I'd get either a Kel-Tec P32 or P3AT. I've owned two Kel-Tecs and they've served flawlessly. But they are what they are: low-cost, compact, lightweight carry pistols. They're not range guns meant for extended firing sessions.

Carry a lot, fire a little. Perfect for BUG duty. Here in Texas, we have 5-6 months of REALLY uncomfortably hot weather, and cover garments are out of the question. One of these slips into a pocket and remains unnoticed, even in shorts.
 
Plus ONe

however it's just not a Seecamp. After owning the Seecamp I now understand the phrase "once you get it, you get it".
__________________
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My most carried pocket guns:
S&W M&P 340 J Frame with Crimson Trace Laser Grips and is rated for .357, I prefer 38 spl plus P, I have this as it is a couple ounces lighter than the X42 and bodyguards.

Seecamp LWS .380 as the weather here in the SE heats up.

P2120034-1.jpg


Kahr PM9. You will fill alot of controversial bandwidth on this one. But I have one and it went back to the factory once and each time I take it to the range since it has performed flawlessly.
 
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If I were choosing from that list, I'd get either a Kel-Tec P32 or P3AT. I've owned two Kel-Tecs and they've served flawlessly. But they are what they are: low-cost, compact, lightweight carry pistols. They're not range guns meant for extended firing sessions.
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Translation from Kel-Tecese to English: Do not shoot them often or they will break. :)
 
Ruger LCP

My LCP has been good at the range and is quite comfortable in the pocket. 380 Auto not wimpy for such a small package. :D
 
What we are getting into here is, "the compromise".

It all depends on how little you want to go, how much you are willing to spend, and how reliable you want it to be.

Once we step down from 12 gauge slugs out of a pump shotgun, it is a lot of compromising. Round count, spring problems, size, caliber, etc, etc, etc...

For me it always comes down to reliability. I will not keep a carry gun that is not reliable for me. (Range gun different story.) You can carry a 500 S&W but if you can not hit the side of a barn... You can carry a .22 and make one hole at 10 yards. Regardless it has to go bang with each and every pull of the trigger, and hit reasonably close to your POA.

I normally carry 10mm. Sub-compact Glock 29. When I need smaller S&W model 60 snub. And even smaller, on occasion, I have carried a Beretta 950. (Mine disappears in a jean pocket like a magic act, and has always been "truly invisible" and reliable.) I also carry different .45 acp from time to time. I have even carried .44 specials and mags CC; although it has been a while for these. And .357, and 9mm...

For me, there are social occasions where CC must be deep concealment. I considered a LCP, just could not convince myself to buy one. Every time I picked one up at a gun shop, just did not click with me. Have picked up Seecamps, same story - just did not click with my hand.

If you want a true disappear in your pocket handgun, listen to the good folks here (even though there are many differences of opinion, there is still a ton of information to consider), and then try different guns on for size at a gun shop. Buy one that you like, try it out, don't like it - sell it/trade it for the next one. This is what I have done for years. I always have a few "trial guns" that I am testing. Some become "keepers" and some get sold/traded off for the next trial guns.

If you like it, it's reliable, you shoot it well, and carry it - sounds like a good start.
 
Thanks for all the responses, everyone! I am grateful to hear so many views and experiences on the matter.

As of now, I am looking into the NAA Guardian 32 and Seecamp 32 or 380, as they seem the smallest yet very reliable. I may end up waiting until the next gunshow (mid-March) to see if I can get a Seecamp, but otherwise will probably invest in a Guardian.


I do very much like DA revolvers, such as Smith & Wesson J-Frames, but just find them to be too big for what I am looking for. I have a Taurus 651 which is of comparable size, and its too big for me to comfortably carry in a pocket (unless its a winter jacket pocket).
 
Although I voted for the KT P3AT, it is really a tie with the KT P32. The .32 is a little thinner and more easily concealed in a front pants pocket, but the.380 provides more power.
 
I made another "Other" vote for a Rohrbaugh R9S. I carry mine daily either in a Sig Tac leather coat pocket or IWB holster. In the summer months in my pocket holster it disappears in my Dockers pants pocket. They are very high quality, accurate and reliable pocket pistols. They definitely are not cheap but very very well made. Here are a couple pics of mine.


 
My first pick would be a small revolver, but sometimes they are still just a little too bulky. Then again I probably could benefit from a better pocket holster, but that's a different subject ;). So from that list I've only had experience with the KelTec P32 and P3at, and the Ruger LCP. I'd have to go with the LCP I suppose. It's not any better than the KelTec IMO, just a little more smooth in both finish and trigger pull.

I picked one up at a gunshow not long ago and have been carrying it everywhere since then. I don't really like it much but that's just because I don't care for semi-autos as a broad rule, let alone the small ones; it has nothing to do with the pistol itself. It does, however, serve a very valuable role in my CCW lineup. It's the one that I can always have with me, regardless of conditions......and for that it's a welcome addition IMO. I'd rather have a nice .38+p than a .380, but 7 rounds of .380 rapid fired should deter bad behavior well enough. :)
 
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